News Release

Visitor Dies in Lake McDonald

Date: March 27, 2019
Contact: Lauren Alley, 406-888-5838

West Glacier, MT – At approximately 9:00 am on Tuesday, March 26, park dispatch received a missing person notification from a concerned family member for a 48-year-old male of Arizona believed to be in Glacier National Park. 

Park rangers launched a search, and located a vehicle at Lake McDonald Lodge matching the description provided by the man’s family.

Glacier National Park ground crews searched the nearby area, and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team responded to conduct an underwater search.

The dive team deployed a remote operated vehicle (ROV) and found and recovered the man in Lake McDonald on the afternoon of March 26. 

The exact circumstances leading to the victim’s death are unknown. No foul play is suspected. The death remains under investigation by Glacier National Park. 

Lake McDonald is still frozen in some places, though open water exists throughout the lake, including flowing out of Sprague Creek and in other areas near Lake McDonald Lodge. Unstable ice is also prevalent.  

The park thanks the Flathead County Sheriff’s Dive Team for their professional and prompt response to the incident. The team trains regularly on Lake McDonald. 

Water is a leading cause of death in Glacier National Park. The park urges people to stay off frozen water and away from slippery rocks near rushing water. The park has hundreds of icy streams and lakes that can pose extreme hazards. 

The victim’s name has not been released pending the conclusion of family notifications.