McDonald Creek
McDonald Creek, running more than 25 miles, is the longest stream inside of Glacier National Park.
Plan Around McDonald Creek
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
McDonald Creek Details
McDonald Creek, running more than 25 miles, is the longest stream inside of Glacier National Park. The clear water of McDonald Creek reveals colored stones beneath the surface. For most of the summer parts of the creek are calm — you'll even spot people swimming in slow moving holes near the shore. But in other places, and during the early spring, the torrent of water rushing the creek bed can be dangerous and even deadly. You can spot the turquoise water from Going-to-the-Sun Road. There are also hikes like the easy 2.5-mile Johns Lake Loop and the longer 6.8 McDonald Creek hike that will give you close views of riffled whitewater and swirling gem-colored pools.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Nearby Parks Around McDonald Creek
Compare nearby parks around McDonald Creek when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around McDonald Creek
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond McDonald Creek while the map context is still fresh.
0.4 mi away
Sacred Dancing Cascades
A few miles northeast of Lake McDonald Lodge is a pullout where you see a series of waterfalls along McDonald Creek called the Sacred Dancing Cascades.
0.4 mi away
Johns Lake Loop
This popular and easy hike takes you through a wooded forest to a woodland lake.
1.1 mi away
Trout Lake Trail
This hike starts near the shores of Lake McDonald, climbing up to a ridge before beginning a steep descent down to Trout Lake.
1.6 mi away
Western Mountain Majesty Tour
The journey begins in the lush Lake McDonald Valley before climbing the famed Going to the Sun Road to Logan Pass at the Continental Divide.
