When you think of Montana, what comes immediately to mind? Maybe soaring mountains, expansive prairies, and endless blue sky; but did you know that there are lots of lakes to dive in Montana? One of the best is McGregor Lake, which features a wall, wrecks, and more. Great for all experience levels, this site is one you've got to see if you're visiting Montana.
Outstanding Features
Located a quick 35 miles west of Kalispell, and a favorite destination for many divers from nearby states as well as Montana itself, McGregor Lake covers 1,504 acres inside Kootenai National Forest, near Glacier National Park. Clear and deep, this lake is spring fed with stunning rock formations. Maximum depth is 220 feet, though most areas are much shallower with an average depth of 106 feet. Visibility varies seasonally, from 25 feet to about 65 feet, with even better visibility being the reward for taking an ice dive in the winter.
As you explore the lake, you'll be greeted by the Kokanee salmon and rainbow trout which are stocked regularly, along with arctic grayling, yellow perch, redside shiner, brook trout, and big crawdads that look a lot like their saltwater lobster cousins!
Although you can take a dive almost anywhere shore access is available, there are three popular areas most divers focus on. The first is Glacier Wall, which is a boat dive with a boat anchor and a buoy marker. The second is Mac Point, which has beautiful rock formations that look much like gigantic fingers; the third is called the Wrecking Yard, due to its pair of old cars and a boat, along with other sunken attractions.
As McGregor Lake is popular with all types of water sports enthusiasts, particularly during the summer months when it is most hospitable to divers, you'll need to dive with a flag. Water temperature here varies seasonally, with surface temperatures even during the summer months at only 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and at ten to fifteen degrees less below the thermocline. If you dive here during the winter, expect major brain freeze at first - the average water temperature is just 36 degrees under the ice.
There is no fee to dive Montana's McGregor Lake, and there's no fee for launching boats, either. there are nice amenities here including the cozy, aptly named McGregor Lake Resort where you'll find a bar and restaurant along with cabins and campsites. There are also forest service campsites available, along with other privately owned campgrounds nearby. There are a few dive shops in Kalispell and the nearby town of Columbia Falls that offer airfills and mixed gases, along with scuba gear rentals and sales.
To get to McGregor Lake from Kalispell, head west on Highway 2, and you'll see the lake on your left just after you pass mile post marker 91. An outstanding four-season dive site where the fish are healthy and the sights that greet you are amazing, this beautiful mountain lake is one you shouldn't pass up.