Glacier – Montana

Date of Visits: July 8-10, 2013 & August 6-8, 2019

How we got there: 2013: Drove from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho during our Seattle to Chicago road trip. Just over four hours.
2019: Arrived From Canada after visiting Waterton Lakes National Park.

Lodging: 2013:Rising Sun Cabins and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
2019: St. Mary Campground

Favorites:

• Highline Trail – 14 mile hike from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet and continuing on to The Loop. The main hike is moderately strenuous, but we also took the side trail up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. That part is very steep, but the views from the top are worth it.
• Two Medicine – This area of the park near the town of East Glacier is often overlooked, but it is definitely worth a visit. It’s just far enough off the beaten path to be peaceful. We took a boat ride across Lower Two Medicine Lake and then hiked an easy 4.75 mile out and back route to Twin Falls and Upper Two Medicine Lake. We saw two moose wading in a pond on the way.
• Ranger-led hike to Iceberg Lake – 10 mile out and back hike with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. We joined a ranger who provided interpretation details along the way.
• Going to the Sun Road – 50-mile scenic drive that traverses the park from east to west crossing over Logan Pass. Considered one of the best scenic drives in the country.
• Hidden Lake hike – 3-mile out and back with 460 feet of elevation gain. Leads to beautiful viewpoint over hidden lake and Bearhat Mountain.
• Boat ride/hike to Grinnell Lake – Boat crossings of Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes leads to a 1.1 mile trail that leads to the shore of Grinnell Lake with views of owering mountains and glaciers all around.

Tips: Even in the middle of summer, some trails are still off-limits because of snow cover. Going to the Sun Road is usually not fully open until late June or early July.

Next time:  Visit the remote Goat Hunt area of the park near the Canadian border.