One of the great and famous tourist destinations in Montana is Glacier National Park. The park gets its name from the snow-capped dozens of glaciers made by nature for millions of years so we can enjoy its beauty. The trip to Montana is incomplete without visiting the national park, which has the most incredible scenery.

Sadly human activities and climate change have resulted in a drastic decrease in the number of glaciers. There were over 100 glaciers in the park back when in 1910; there are only around 25 now. The climate experts predict that there will be no glaciers at the national glacier park if we don’t take climate change seriously.

The best time to visit the Glacier is summer, from April to September. There are many things to do; you can hike in the mountains and enjoy the fantastic scenery of nature and enjoy the sightseeing wildlife. It is home to many wild animals, and you can get the chance to interact with them.

Besides the glaciers, it is home to several best lakes you can visit. Here is a list of 13 beautiful lakes in Glacier National Park. These lakes are the epitome of beauty and are simply the marvel of nature you will surely visit.

Lake McDonald

Lake Mcdonald’s is a must-visit lake as it is the largest lake in the park. It is 10 miles long and is located on the northern side of the Glacier National Park. It was formed by the Ice age glacier, developed by nature million years ago.

When it comes to the name of the peculiar character of this lake, nobody knows exactly how it got the name: Lake Mcdonald. There is a dispute between the local people about its reputation. According to some people, the lake was named after Duncan McDonald, who camped at the lake while traveling to Canada. During his stay, he carved his name and all the information on the stone, and people assumed it was the lake’s name. 

There are many activities to do here, such as kayaking and boating. The beautiful lake has the only limitation that the lake’s water isn’t very warm and thus isn’t ideal for swimming. However, there is a small pool near it where you can go swimming. This lake is heaven to enjoy the fantastic scenery as the glaciers’ beautiful reflection falls on the lake’s blue crystal clear water.

Iceberg Lake

Iceberg lake is also among the most beautiful lakes in the Glacier, and there are two favorite activities to do here, such as walking and hiking. You can hike through the trail to the iceberg lake to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains.

However, the lake is not ideal for swimming as the water of the iceberg lake is supplied through the snow-capped mountains and is cold even during the summer. If you still want to swim, there is an increased chance of hypothermia, so avoid it.

Saint Mary Lake

Saint Mary Lake is the 2nd largest lake in the Glacier national park, the first being Mcdonald Lake. It is almost the same length but not as wide or deep as that of Mcdonald Lake.

The lake’s water is a bit cold and is not ideal for swimming. The lake has become completely frozen in the water, and thus you can come here for skating but the perfect time to visit this lake is in the summers when you can enjoy a great variety of activities than in winter.

Saint Mary Lake is named after the Saint Mary River, which supplies this lake. It is located along the Going to the sun road. Saint mary river offers a fantastic view of the mountains while hiking, and among the mountains, red eagle mountain is the most prominent.

You can go fishing in Saint Mary Lake, but most of the fish can be caught away from the shore, and thus you need to roam in the boat. Therefore you can have both experiences of boating and swimming at the same time. You can also go camping near the lake as there are two campgrounds as saint mary lake campground and the rising sun campground.

Avalanche Lake

The Avalanch Lake is located in the northwest corner of Glacier National Park. This lake is famous for its wildlife, amazing landscapes, and glaciers around the Avalanche lake.

Hiking through the lake is the most popular thing to do, and this lake is visited mainly for hiking as the path is well developed for it. There is a separate wheelchair nature hike too, which we think is a good gesture.

There are a few parking options at the lake, and it is tough to find a good parking spot while in Avalanche lake.

Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake and Mcdonald lake compete in terms of the beautiful scenery as Bowman Lake stretches into the high mountains. The bowman lake is fed by the water coming down the hills, so the water is cold all the summer, and the lake is frozen during the winter season. 

It is perfect if you want to have a remote experience because most people do not visit it as there are no definite parking lots and accommodations where you can stay. Getting to Bowman lake is also not easy because the road which leads to the lake called North fork road isn’t built correctly, and the ride is quite bumpy. The drive to the lake might be a pain, but the scenery you enjoy on your way is the reward.

You can enjoy the incredible scenery in Bowman Lake with the wildlife in a quiet environment. Still, if you are expecting great fishing opportunities, sadly, fishing in the lake isn’t as easy as you think. This is because you need to sit in the boat to get some trouts for dinner, and it might be exhausting for you at the end of the day.

Two Medicine Lake

The Two Medicine Lake is located in the South of Glacier and is an excellent place for camping as it has a large campground.

The two medicine lake is perfect for fishing. You can catch the fish along the shore for fishing. Moreover, access to the two medicine lakes is also not that difficult as the road leading to the lake’s coast is well developed.

The popular activity is boating, which allows sightseeing the mountains. The boating is used as a shuttle for travelers and adventures who want to explore the interior of Glacier National Park, whose entrance is located in the two medicine lakes.

Hidden Lake

A hidden lake is made for you by nature if you are not a fan of a crowded place. As the name suggests, the lake is among the hidden wonders of Montana. The lake is full of crystal clear water.

There are many activities to do while in a hidden lake, such as hiking and enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of the glaciers and camping along the lake. Apart from these, there are water activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, and skiing in the hidden lake. Don’t swim in the winter as the water is cold to a lethal level.

Swiftcurrent Lake

Any traveler who wants to see the breathtaking scenery must visit the swift current lake as it is the best lake to enjoy the beautiful scenes. It is located among the towering snow-covered peaks, which presents a mesmerizing set. The swift current lake water is cool during the summer.

Many people visit the swift current lake, and enjoying a boat ride is the most popular activity to enjoy the scenes of the towering mountains. Apart from boating, you can also go hiking and fishing. The roads which lead to the swift current lake are well developed, thus providing easy access to the lake.

There are also great accommodations (Many Glacier Hotel) where you can stay and have maximum recreation. 

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Grinnell Lake

One of the most beautiful lakes and is named after the George Bird Grinnell. The lake has crystal clear blue water supplied by the Grinnell Lake and the rock floor. The lake can easily be reached through the Grinnell lake trail starting from the shoreline of the swift current lake.

 The exciting activity you can do here is swimming which you can’t enjoy even in the famous lakes. This is because the sun warms the water in the summer while the water remains cool in other lakes such as Mcdonald’s lake.

Kintla Lake

Kintla Lake is located on the southwest side of the national park. The road which leads to this lake is not well developed, and thus it is visited by a few people and isn’t crowded with people like the other famous lakes.

There are no proper places where you can stay; there is only a large campground where you can camp. There are not many activities to do here, and the maximum you can do here is camping in solitude and fishing.

It would help if you were cautious during camping in Kintla Lake because the area is remote and grizzly bears freely roam around the campgrounds.

Cracker Lake

Cracker Lake is famous for its crystal clear turquoise water from the Siyeh Glacier, and the unusual color is due to the rock floors. Due to its turquoise water, it is also known as a turquoise lake. The reflection of the vast mountains falls on the lake, which is simply mesmerizing to watch.

You can visit this lake by hiking as the way which leads to the cracker lake is surrounded by the thick forests, mini waterfalls, and active wildlife. You can stay at Cracker Lake by camping after a full day of hiking and enjoying the mesmerizing scenes.

Fishercap Lake

Fishercap lake is located close to Swiftcurrent Lake, and when you get the chance to visit Swiftcurrent, we suggest hiking and giving a visit to Fishercap Lake. The lake is fantastic for enjoying the breathtaking views, but it is not ideal for fishing, and the lake’s water is shallow.

There is a lot of space for parking, but there is no campground, and you have to travel a few miles away for the camping. In summers, these campgrounds are filled early to keep this thing in mind. The lake is quite remote, and grizzly bears roam around the area, so we suggest you keep a bear spray to be safe if you are camping.

Lake Josephine

Lake Josephine is the most famous lake among the backcountry lakes, and you can quickly get there through a small hike. There are many activities you can do here such as rafting and boating. Lake Josephine is situated in a breathtaking location. Mount Gould, Allen Mountain, and Grinnell Point are all visible from the lake.

The area of Lake Josephine is a grizzly bear region, but there is less chance that you get the opportunity to spot them because the lake is visited by many people and the bears remain hidden.