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Map of Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest)
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IntermediateShore entry

Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest)

Montana, United States
Open Water suggested3–30 m depthShore entry

Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest) at a glance

Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest) is a intermediate shore dive site in Montana, United States with depths of 3–30 m (10–98 ft). Typically most favorable Jan–Apr · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Lake trout, Cutthroat trout, and Lake whitefish. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Wind model · graded 8h ago

Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Very cold alpine water; high-altitude dive profile; remote park location.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Fri
Mon7:00–22:00
Tue7:00–22:00
Wed7:00–22:00
Thu7:00–22:00
Fri7:00–22:00
Sat7:00–16:00
Sun

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:26 · Sunrise 6:04 · Sunset 21:20

Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 8h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Best time: Summer.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan100% 5 kn
  2. Feb100% 7 kn
  3. Mar100% 6 kn
  4. Apr100% 8 kn
  5. May99% 7 kn
  6. Jun97% 8 kn
  7. Jul100% 8 kn
  8. Aug98% 7 kn
  9. Sep100% 6 kn
  10. Oct98% 7 kn
  11. Nov99% 7 kn
  12. Dec95% 6 kn

January, February, March, April, July, and September havetypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Lake troutOccasionally seen
  • Cutthroat troutOccasionally seen
  • Lake whitefishOccasionally seen

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Site details

The largest lake in Glacier National Park, about 472 feet deep, with submerged trees and historic debris on the bottom. A popular and easy dive entry is at Apgar Village, home of the 'Pitchfork Forest' - a field of rakes, axes and pitchforks discarded onto winter ice in the park's early days that sank when the ice melted and were later stood upright by divers. The clear, very cold alpine water and submerged forest near Sprague Creek make it a unique high-altitude freshwater dive.

shore

Very cold alpine water; high-altitude dive profile; remote park location.


Reviews

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