Camping

The Apgar Campground (early May–mid-Oct., $20; Apr. and mid-Oct.–Nov., primitive camping $10; winter camping free with park pass) is the park’s largest and most bustling, although sites are laid out to provide a reasonable amount of privacy. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either conveniently or annoyingly close to Apgar Village [1]. Lake McDonald [2] is a short walk away.

Just slightly off the beaten path, Fish Creek Campground (877/444-6777, www.recreation.gov [3], June–Labor Day, $23, reservations available with additional $9–10 fee) is a triple-looped jumble of trailers. It’s off Camas Creek Road on the northwestern shore of Lake McDonald. Fish Creek is a handy base for day trips around the Lake McDonald area and up the North Fork of the Flathead River. If you get up early, there’s seclusion enough for a bracing naked plunge into the lake (no showers at any park campgrounds).

Sprague Creek Campground (mid-May–mid-Sept., $20), on Going-to-the-Sun Road [4] about a mile west of Lake McDonald Lodge [5], is appealing to some because of its small size and by not permitting towed RVs, but it’s actually less private and secluded than Apgar or Fish Creek. It is, however, a handy jumping-off point for bicyclists heading up the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

For a no-frills hike-in chalet, try the extremely popular Granite Park Chalet [6].