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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.

Leave it better than you found it.

Hike

Mcdonald Lake Shelter Spur

Passes a waterfall
Camp 1 mi away

2.5 mi out & back · 422 ft gain · 165 ft high point · Easy

From Mcdonald Lake Trailhead via Mcdonald Lake (1.2 mi)

AK · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Mcdonald Lake Shelter Spur is a 2.5 mi out and back route from Mcdonald Lake Trailhead via Mcdonald Lake, climbing 422 ft.

Elevation

422 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: 230 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 hike from its start, the approach dashed. 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: 2.5 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 422 ft round trip
High point: 165 ft
Low point: 12 ft
Difficulty: EasyFrom 2.5 mi and 422 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

Passes a waterfall
Camp 1 mi away

3.4 mi out & back · 507 ft gain · Moderate

AK · Camp 1 mi away

More like this

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Mcdonald Lake
- Passes a waterfall
- Camp 1 mi away
3.4 mi out & back · 507 ft gain · Moderate
AK · Camp 1 mi away
Deer Mt. Shelter - Spur
- Summits Deer Mountain
- 2,557 ft of climbing
3.3 mi out & back · 2,557 ft gain · Hard
AK · Camp 6 mi away
Mcdonald Scramble
- Inside Shasta National Forest
- 1,527 ft of climbing
- Camp 3 mi away
7.3 mi out & back · 1,527 ft gain · Hard
Shasta National Forest · Camp 3 mi away
Spaulding Lake Trail
- Passes a waterfall
- 1,804 ft of climbing
- Camp 4 mi away
10.1 mi out & back · 1,804 ft gain · Hard
California · Camp 4 mi away

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain

Weather

7-day forecast

Tue48°45°Light Rain
Wed49°42°Showers And Thunderstorms
Thu47°40°Light Rain Likely
Fri47°41°Chance Light Rain
Sat48°42°Chance Light Rain
Sun47°41°Light Rain
Mon45°Light Rain

Tue: Light Rain · wind 15 mph SE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly