Not every ride at Lake McDonald has to be the Going-to-the-Sun Road climb. The Apgar Bike Path and Fish Creek Bike Path are the easy option — flat, paved, shaded and completely separate from car traffic for most of their length. Together they connect West Glacier, Apgar Village and Fish Creek Campground in one continuous, low-effort ride that works for families, casual riders and anyone on a cruiser or rental bike.
In short: Apgar Bike Path (1.5 mi, paved, flat) connects Apgar Village to West Glacier. Fish Creek Bike Path continues about 2.2 mi further to Fish Creek Campground on a mostly paved surface. Combined, that's roughly 3.7 miles one-way, almost entirely flat — open whenever the paths are snow-free, typically May through October.
Also called the McDonald Creek Bike Path, this fully paved, flat, mostly shaded route follows McDonald Creek between Apgar Village and the town of West Glacier. It's the only dog-friendly path inside the entire park (leashed, when snow-free), and it's open to wheelchairs and strollers. The path crosses Going-to-the-Sun Road once — stop and look both ways, since that's a live traffic crossing.
Picks up from the Apgar Bike Path and continues to Fish Creek Campground on the lake's western side. The surface is mostly paved with some packed-earth sections, still fine for most road bikes and any mountain or hybrid bike. Noticeably quieter than the Apgar side, with more forest cover.
Along the Way: Sacred Dancing Cascade & Red Rocks Point
If you keep riding a little further north past Apgar on Going-to-the-Sun Road itself (not on the bike paths, but the same flat, lakeside stretch of road), you'll reach two named waypoints on McDonald Creek worth a short stop: Sacred Dancing Cascade — a wide cascade whose name comes from a Kootenai phrase meaning "a good place to dance" — and Red Rocks Point, where the creek tumbles over rust-colored argillite bedrock. This stretch is easiest and safest to ride during the spring car-free window, before the road opens to vehicle traffic for the season.
Bikes & Rentals
You don't need your own bike — the same Apgar Village outfitters that rent bikes for the Going-to-the-Sun Road climb also rent cruisers and hybrids better suited to a flat, easy ride. See the Biking hub for current rental shops and what they carry.
Camping Along the Route
If you're riding out to Fish Creek for the night, the campground has both standard sites and dedicated hiker/biker sites. See the full Fish Creek Campground guide for reservations and amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apgar Bike Path paved?
Yes. It's fully paved, flat and mostly shaded for its 1.5-mile length between Apgar Village and West Glacier — suitable for road bikes, cruisers, wheelchairs and strollers.
Can you bike from Apgar to Fish Creek Campground?
Yes. The Fish Creek Bike Path continues from the Apgar Bike Path to Fish Creek Campground, about 2.2 miles further, mostly paved with some packed-earth sections. Combined, it's roughly 3.7 miles one-way from West Glacier, almost entirely flat.