Johns Lake Loop Trail

Johns Lake Loop is a 2.6-mile circuit from Johns Lake Trailhead that links a small lily-covered lake, Sacred Dancing Cascade, McDonald Falls and a forested stretch of McDonald Creek. The climb is gentle: the park lists about 160 feet of gain. Allow roughly 1.5 hours, longer if you stop by the water. Mileage varies: the park lists 3 miles, while several route guides give 1.8–2.1 miles. The connected walking line for the full lake-and-creek circuit measures 2.58 miles, so plan for the longer version. The creek and falls are the stronger half of the walk; turning back at the lake misses them.

The first part winds through shaded cedar and hemlock. At the early junctions, go left at the first fork and right at the next to stay on the Johns Lake route. The lake is small and pond-like, with lily pads and wetland grasses; its shore spur can be boggy. In still conditions, Stanton Mountain and Mount Vaught show above the trees and may reflect in the water. For a photo, keep lily pads in the foreground with the peaks behind them.

After the lake, take the loop left onto Avalanche Trail toward Going-to-the-Sun Road. Cross the road and follow the short ramp down to the creek bridge; turn left on the far side. Sacred Dancing Cascade is by this crossing. Farther along, watch for the fork beside a wooden bench and stay left along the creek. McDonald Falls is a broad, roughly 15-foot cascade. The bank is steep and the rocks beside the water can be slick, so keep to the tread.

Continue through tall hemlocks to North McDonald Road, then follow the return toward Going-to-the-Sun Road. A narrow side path beyond the bridge heads back toward the trailhead; a gated gravel road just before it is easy to mistake for that path. The Johns Lake pullout is small, and a separate lot at Sacred Dancing Cascade is another access point. Dogs are not allowed on Glacier trails.