Hiking the Johns Lake Loop Trail in Glacier National Park
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Johns Lake Loop Trail in Glacier National Park is a collection of a few different trails to create this short and easy 2.0-mile (3.2 km) loop around Johns Lake and Upper McDonald Creek on the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
However, I unfortunately I was not able to complete the full loop because of construction on Going-to-the-Sun Road when I lasted visited, but I still wanted to share my adventure as far as Johns Lake, which is what’s shown below.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Johns Lake Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Johns Lake Loop Trail is typically in one of three different areas.
The first and most popular is the Johns Lake Trailhead, which is the most popular because this is the closest you can park to Johns Lake. These are the photos below off Going-to-the-Sun-Road.
The second is where the loop turns into the Upper McDonald Creek Trail, located just a little further up Sun Road.
Finally, the last parking area is located directly off of North Lake McDonald Road just prior to the North Lake McDonald Historic Ranger Station. All three are linked below.
Google Maps Directions:
Hiking Checklist - Glacier
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Glacier National Park.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Johns Lake Loop Trail
This post is written from the Johns Lake Trailhead, which, as I mentioned, is the closest available parking area to the lake, at only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away.
Upper McDonald Creek-Avalanche Junction
Within the first 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Johns Lake Loop splits with the trail that heads south toward the Lake McDonald Lodge.
Go left to continue toward Johns Lake.
Horse Loop-McDonald Creek Cutoff Junction
Then, within another 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the trail comes to another split with the horse loop that parallels the Johns Lake Trail, followed almost immediately by the Upper McDonald Creek split.
Stay straight at the first, then go right at the second to continue on to Johns Lake.
Past the three junctions above, the Johns Lake Loop follows the same trail for the remainder of the hike to the lake.
As the trail approaches Johns Lake, you’ll likely start noticing the water off to the left side.
I never saw one best trail to go and see lake, so I simply followed one of the many paths that headed toward the water.
Johns Lake
Perhaps there is a better viewpoint further down the loop, but from what I can tell, the loop starts to make its way back to Sun Road to begin the Upper McDonald Creek side of the hike.
In either case, I will have to return someday when the full loop trail is open.
More Glacier Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Glacier National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
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Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Always be mindful that Glacier National Park and the surrounding area is Grizzly Bear country. Therefore, you need to be hiking with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Brizzly Bear encounter.
Aside from wildlife, Glacier National Park, like any area in the Mountain West, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that when micro-spikes are necessary for an early-season adventure, micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Glacier National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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