McDonald Falls Hike
Waterfall | Montana
1.8 mi loop
225 ft
Easy
McDonald Falls Hike at a Glance
The McDonald Falls hike via the Johns Lake Loop is 1.8 mi loop with 225 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,240 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Johns Lake Loop |
| Distance | 1.8 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 225 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 55 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 400 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1.8 mi distance and 225 ft of gain for this hike are verified (hikinginglacier.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About McDonald Falls
McDonald Falls is a waterfall in Montana, on land managed by Glacier National Park (National Park Service).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Johns Lake Loop: 1.8 miles as a loop with about 225 feet of elevation gain, from Johns Lake Trailhead. Distance from hikinginglacier.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Glacier National Park (National Park Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to McDonald Falls?
The Johns Lake Loop to McDonald Falls is 1.8 miles as a loop with about 225 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the McDonald Falls hike start?
It starts from Johns Lake Trailhead.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The McDonald Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- hikinginglacier.com
- Distance
- hikinginglacier.com
- Falls location
- waterfallhikes.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of McDonald Falls.