Glacier National Park Kayaking

Though Glacier National Park is often ranked as one of the best national parks in the country, it has a rather limited time where you can truly experience the park. The reason for this is the timing of when the Going To The Sun Road is open. This scenic mountain road takes you through the heart of the park and is typically only open from July until October. If you find yourself visiting the park while this road is closed, there are still some great options for exploring and enjoying the stunning scenery. One of the best ways to do this is kayaking in Lake McDonald at Glacier National Park!

Rentals

The primary rental spot is Glacier Outfitters located in the Apgar village area. This is the main area for entering Lake McDonald and provides you postcard views of the crystal clear lake and snow covered mountains behind it. Glacier Outfitters provides a variety of watersport rentals as well as bikes, camping supplies, and even bear spray. We were happy with the service we received here and appreciated the extended hours that they are open which allowed us to do evening rentals.

Kayak Rental Details:

• You can make reservations online or through text.
• They offer both single and double capacity kayaks.
• Rentals include life jackets and waterproof bags.
• The shop is just a short walk away from the lake. They provide with you some wheels that you hook onto the back of your kayak that allows you to easily pull your rental down to the lake.

Looking for some more action on a rafting trip? Here are some great options in the area:

Kayaking

Lake McDonald is approximately 10 miles long and 1 mile wide so there is plenty of room to explore while kayaking. The outfitter does suggest staying closer to the shorelines as the middle of the lake can get windy and you may find yourself getting carried quite a ways away from your starting point. We found our Glacier National Park kayaking experience to be easy and relaxing. It was a great way immerse yourself into the scenery of the park and get some amazing views of its mountains.

Before or after your kayaking experience, take some time to relax along the shoreline in Apgar village. There is a nice gift shop located right by the lake that offers a coffee bar and some tasty ice cream!

We hope this helps you plan your next trip! Check out our outdoor adventure posts for more tips and trip ideas.