Lake McDonald — Attraction in West Glacier

As we planned our trip out to Montana we had seen some pictures of places we wanted to visit. Lake McDonald was one that we really wanted to see due to the clear waters and colorful rocks that lie on the lakebed. This lake sits next to the main visitor center and is one of the more well-known lakes within the park. There are a handful of locations to stay at around the lake but because of the prime location they can fill up very quickly. We suggest looking at other travelers and get suggestions on where to go and explore but also venture on your own. Since we stayed along Lake McDonald at the Sprague Creek we got to drive by and find these little areas to stop along the way and get some unique pictures from right behind our tent at the private beach. For this particular shot we wanted to get near a certain coordinate we had researched based on the view. The coordinates for this picture were approximated but we were glad to have been able to find the look we were going for. We suggest going during calmer weather to avoid ripples on the water or to take advantage of some long-exposure photographs to get a smoother look to your...

The Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana, on the border with Canada, is home to more than 700 lakes, although only 131 of these lakes have names. Approximately 200 lakes are over five acres in size, and a dozen of them exceeds thousands of acres, which in unusual for mountain lakes. Additionally, the waters of the lakes are remarkably clear. This is owning to the year long low temperatures that prohibit the growth of planktons. It is not unusual to see details on the bottom of the lakes at depths of 30 feet or more. One of the most striking feature of some of these lakes is the presence of a variety of colored rocks and pebbles just below the water surface and on the shores. The rocks range in color from dark red to maroon, and from green to blue. Colored pebbles are seen in abundance on the shores of Lake McDonald on the western side of the park. Lake McDonald is the largest of the lakes of Glacier National Park with a surface area of 6,823 acres. It is also the longest, at over 15 km, as well as the deepest lake at 141 meters. If you like my information then like and...

Immediately inside Glacier National Park at the Apgar Visitor Center, is where you join the 'Going to the Sun' Road. Lake McDonald lies just to the left of the road. It is 10-miles long and you will drive along it's length. It's narrow and quite deep so the water is clean, fresh, and cold making it ideal for fishing for several varieties of trout. Lake McDonald Lodge is near there. You can also find equipment rentals at the Lodge.

As it had been raining when we were there, we got out just to take photos. The water is clear and the pebbles at the bottom are many beautiful colors. The shoreline is tree-lined and there are pull outs. These are the safest way to see the lake and take photos.

We did stop in at the lodge and took some photos there as well. It was built in 1913 and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark since 1987. Bar at the Lodge. Check with local regulations for pets...