McDonald Creek, Montana, United States

5MaryEllenM27 5:00 PM Jul 30, 2020

The Creek is Beautiful & so is the McDonald Creek Trail Which Many Visitor's Don't Even Realize is There.
True...this rushing creek follows the Going to the Sun Road until it begins to climb and rise up to the Loop area. Its gorgeous and a stunning blue green most of the time when the sun shines from behind it. The Trail is one we most often take in the Spring when the waters rush full...or when the parking at Avalanche is full. The trick to find it is to begin looking for a left hand turn once you pass Lake McDonald Lodge heading toward Logan Pass. Turn there and drive over the little river bridge and park near that. There are two accesses to the trail because it makes a loop. Take the trailhead nearest the bridge and walk along the river to at least where it crosses over a foot bridge to one of the overlooks along the GTTSR. The loop-trail that comes out further away from the bridge where you began, is one used by horses and goes through some tree-jail forest. We prefer to simply walk back the same way along the river. Look for Glacier's famous Harlequin Ducks or even river otters along this creek. A few years ago a special study was conducted in Glacier about them. On a warm day the mists from the cascade, rapids or waterfalls along it help to cool you off.

4phat_dawg_21 5:00 PM Oct 25, 2020

Beautiful Stream
We spent quite a bit of time walking along the creek while on the Johns Lake Loop. The rushing water and the slabs of stone are beautiful. Two points of interest are McDonalds falls which is near the lake, and the Sacred Dancing Cascade which can be reached from the Going to the Sun Road.