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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Hike

Mcdonald Lake

Passes a waterfall
Camp 1 mi away

3.4 mi out & back · 507 ft gain · 165 ft high point · Moderate

From Mcdonald Lake Trailhead

AK · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Mcdonald Lake is a 3.4 mi out and back route from Mcdonald Lake Trailhead, climbing 507 ft with a waterfall along the way.

Elevation

507 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

1.4 mi from the trailhead
Mcdonald Lake Cabin
Campground · AK

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

7 mi from you
Shelokum Lake
- Ends at a hot spring
- 83,786 ft of climbing
- Camp 3 mi away
4.2 mi out & back · 83,786 ft gain · Very hard
AK · Camp 3 mi away
24 mi from you
Naha River National Recreation

Out: 210 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

WaterfallAlong the way · 0.3 mi in

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 3.4 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 507 ft round trip
High point: 165 ft
Low point: 12 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 3.4 mi and 507 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: AK
Camps within 15 mi: 6
Start: Mcdonald Lake Trailhead
Trailhead: 55.9162° N · 131.7968° W

Get directions Open the map

5.9 mi from the trailhead

Blind Pass Cabin

Campground · AK

11.0 mi from the trailhead

Reflection Lake Cabin

Campground · AK

Passes a waterfall
Inside Tongass National Forest
1,936 ft of climbing

10.8 mi out & back · 1,936 ft gain · Hard

Tongass National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Orchard Lake Spur

Ends at a waterfall
Inside Tongass National Forest
Camp under a mile away

0.8 mi out & back · 279 ft gain · Easy

Tongass National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Reflection Lake

Passes a waterfall
Inside Tongass National Forest
Camp under a mile away

4.5 mi out & back · 811 ft gain · Moderate

Tongass National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Anan Creek Trail

Ends at Anan viewing deck
Inside Tongass National Forest
Camp under a mile away

1.6 mi out & back · 335 ft gain · Easy

Tongass National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Mcdonald Lake Shelter Spur

Passes a waterfall
Camp 1 mi away

2.5 mi out & back · 422 ft gain · Easy

AK · Camp 1 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Mcdonald Lake Shelter Spur
- Passes a waterfall
- Camp 1 mi away
2.5 mi out & back · 422 ft gain · Easy
AK · Camp 1 mi away
Low Lake/big Lake
- Passes a waterfall
- 1,213 ft of climbing
- Camp under a mile away
4.5 mi out & back · 1,213 ft gain · Moderate
AK · Camp under a mile away
Windfall Lake Trail
- Camp 3 mi away
6.5 mi out & back · 805 ft gain · Moderate
AK · Camp 3 mi away
McDonald Mountain Trail
- Summits McDonald Mountain
- 2,393 ft of climbing
8.2 mi out & back · 2,393 ft gain · Hard
Washington · Camp 15 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Wed48°34°Mostly Sunny
Thu46°34°Sunny
Fri46°36°Sunny
Sat44°37°Mostly Sunny
Sun45°39°Light Rain
Mon46°40°Rain Likely
Tue47°Chance Light Rain

Wed: Mostly Sunny · wind 5 to 10 mph NE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain