Gunsight Pass Trail to Lake McDonald Lodge

Gunsight Pass Trail to Lake McDonald Lodge is a roughly 19.5-mile, one-way backcountry traverse from Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side to the lodge trailhead on the west. It crosses Gunsight Pass and Lincoln Pass, reaches Gunsight Lake and Lake Ellen Wilson, then descends through Sperry. This is not a summit climb. The shorter 13.5-mile version stops at Sperry Chalet; this route includes the remaining descent to the Lodge.

Treat this as a major backcountry commitment. The route climbs in several sections: the approach to Sperry Chalet is 13.5 miles with about 3,300 feet of climbing, and the Sperry Trail descent adds roughly 6.5 miles and 3,400 feet down. A strong, experienced hiker may finish in one very long day; allow about 14 hours on foot. Most parties will prefer to split the route across two or three days. Arrange transport between the endpoints before starting: this is a one-way hike, not a loop, and the overlook and Lodge are far apart by road.

From the overlook, the path drops roughly 650 feet into the Reynolds Creek valley and crosses several footbridges, then climbs through meadows and marsh with views toward Mount Jackson and the Jackson-Blackfoot Glacier complex. A short side trail leads to Florence Falls; that detour is not included in the mapped distance. Gunsight Lake arrives at about mile 6.2, turquoise from fine glacial rock flour and tucked below Mount Jackson. Rest here before the sustained climb toward the pass.

The trail climbs along Mount Jackson’s west slope, with Gunsight Lake dropping below as the pass comes into view. At 6,946 feet, Gunsight Pass has a small stone warming hut and views back toward the lake and south toward Lake Ellen Wilson. The descent to Ellen Wilson is steep and loses about 1,000 feet; a waterfall crossing near the lake’s head can leave your feet wet. Then comes an abrupt climb of more than 1,000 feet in a little over a mile to Lincoln Pass, the route’s high point at 7,050 feet. From the pass area, a side path toward Lincoln Peak opens views of Beaver Chief Falls between Lake Ellen Wilson and Lincoln Lake. At Gunsight Pass, including the stone hut with a lake basin below gives a sense of how high the crossing sits.

After Lincoln Pass, the route reaches Sperry Backcountry Campground and Sperry Chalet, perched on an alpine ledge above Lake McDonald and the Whitefish Range. The chalet is the end of the shorter Gunsight Pass outing; continue on the Sperry Trail for the full traverse. That final stretch drops about 3,400 feet over roughly 6.5 miles to the Lake McDonald Lodge trailhead.