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

Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest)

Montana, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested3–30 m (10–98 ft) depthShore entry

Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest) at a glance

Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest) is an 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, Lake whitefish, and Cutthroat trout. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Moderate window now· until 18:00

Wind forecast for this hour · 15:00 · run 4 h ago
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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

Sun14:00–18:00 moderate

11 kn wind (11 kn wind)

Mon9:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Tue9:00–19:00 favorable

3 kn wind (3 kn wind)

Wed9:00–19:00 favorable

3 kn wind (3 kn wind)

Thu9:00–19:00 favorable

1 kn wind (1 kn wind)

Fri9:00–19:00 favorable

1 kn wind (1 kn wind)

Sat9:00–19:00 favorable

1 kn wind (1 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 7:39 · Sunrise 8:11 · Sunset 18:28 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 25 Oct, 11:23 GMT-6

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Lake McDonald - Apgar (Pitchfork Forest)

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

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. January, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 5 knots, historically most favorable
  2. February, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 7 knots, historically most favorable
  3. March, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 6 knots, historically most favorable
  4. April, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots, historically most favorable
  5. May, 99% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 7 knots
  6. June, 97% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 7 knots
  9. September, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 6 knots, historically most favorable
  10. October, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 7 knots
  11. November, 99% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 7 knots
  12. December, 95% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 6 knots

January, February, March, April, July, and September have typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

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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