2014 Map of Lake McDonald West

About this map

Lake McDonald dominates the landscape of this 2014 survey, serving as the central geographic feature of the western entrance to Glacier National Park. The map documents the primary access points and visitor infrastructure of the era, including the village of Apgar and the start of the iconic Going-To-The-Sun Rd. Settlement patterns are concentrated near the park's edge, where West Glacier sits near the Middle Fork Flathead River, which forms a natural southern boundary. High elevation features such as Howe Ridge, Snyder Ridge, and the Belton Hills surround the deep glacial waters of the lake. Transport and recreation routes are well-defined, from the Apgar Loop Rd to the secluded Howe Lake, illustrating the careful balance between wilderness preservation and public access in the Flathead National Forest and national park interface.