Lake McDonald West Shore Trail
Situated on the shore of Lake McDonald, this hike is known for its lake views.
Plan Around Lake McDonald West Shore Trail
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Lake McDonald West Shore Trail Details
Situated on the shore of Lake McDonald, this hike is known for its lake views. Most of this trail is in a forest area that burned in 2003. You'll catch glimpses of charred snags and hike through young forest regrowth. This relatively short hike around the lake offers plenty of turn around points, whether it's a pebble beach just a couple of miles in, or the Lake McDonald backcountry camp about 4.5 miles down the trail. Remember, Glacier is grizzly country. Carry bear spray, make noise and travel in groups. The trailhead is in the Fish Creek Campground on the west side of the park.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
6.6 miles
Estimated time
5 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Lake McDonald West Shore Trail
Compare nearby parks around Lake McDonald West Shore Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Lake McDonald West Shore Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Lake McDonald West Shore Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.4 mi away
Rocky Point Trail
This hike is a beautiful walk in the woods, taking you near the shore of Lake McDonald.
0.9 mi away
Fish Creek to Apgar Hiking Path
This easy walking path only changes about 25 feet in elevation.
1.0 mi away
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald, at almost 10 miles long and near 500 feet deep in some parts, is the biggest lake in Glacier National Park.
1.4 mi away
Village Inn at Apgar
On the shore of Lake McDonald just two miles inside Glacier's west entrance is the Village Inn at Apgar.
