Glacier National Park

St. Mary Lake

Glacier National Park is a magical place. Kyle and I enjoyed Glacier more than Banff, Jasper, and the Tetons. We got to Glacier in September. There were not a lot of people which was nice. However, the Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed.

●Over 35 Hollywood films were set in Glacier National Park.

●If current trends continue, scientists believe there will be no more glaciers by 2020.

●Glacier was established as the 10^th National Park.

St. Mary Falls

Top 7 Places to Go:

1.       The North Fork: This is one of the most uncrowded sections in Glacier. Rough dirt roads tend to deter people. However, the trip is well worth it because once there you can see views of Bowman and Kintla Lakes, visit a homesteading site, and see recently burned areas.

2.       Goat Haunt: You can either visit by boat from Waterton Lakes National Park or you can hike there. This is a remote area of the park that is very peaceful and tranquil.

3.       Lake McDonald Valley: This area is located at the west end of the park. Thousands of years ago glaciers carved out this valley. Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park at 10 miles long. You can access the popular Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars (.7 miles) from this valley.

4.       Many Glacier: This is the heart of the park. Mountains, glaciers, lakes, hiking trails and wildlife are located here. The Grinnell Glacier trail and the Iceberg Lake trail take off from here.

5.       Two Medicine: This area includes amazing vistas, extensive trails, waterfalls, and lakes. Many backpackers and hikers come to this area.

6.       Logan Pass: From here, Reynolds Mountain and Clements Mountain tower over fields of wildflowers. Logan Pass is the highest elevation in the park at 6640 feet. It is extremely popular so get there early to ensure a parking spot or take the Lake McDonald Valley or St. Mary Valley shuttles. The Hidden Lake trail and the Highline trail take off from here.

7.       St. Mary Valley: St. Mary is the eastern gateway to the park. A drive along St. Mary Lake provides some of the most incredible vistas available in the park.

8.       Sperry Glacier



Other things to do:

1.       Go on a guided tour: boat, bus, hiking, horseback ride, raft

2.       Go camping: There are 13 campgrounds in the park.

3.       Go cross country skiing or snowshoeing

4.       Go on a ranger-guided hike

5.       Go biking