Glacier National Park
Montana
 
View of Hidden Lake Glacier National Park renews my faith in national parks. It is everything its supposed to be and more. The lakes and streams are clear and alive with fish. The mountain views are awesome and you can really climb to the glaciers! This is a land of high-mountain adventure, a land that sets the senses soaring and the spirits winging. Here you'll find lofty mountain ranges with sculptured glacial valleys, ice cold lakes that mirror mountains and sky, wildflowers and wildlife flourishing in alpine meadows, and prairie grasslands.
These exquisite elements make up Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and the adjoining Glacier National Park in the United States. To commermorate the long history of peace and friendship between our two nations. Waterton and Glacier have been designated the Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park.
One of the Glacier Park high lights is the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Going-to-the-Sun Road, 50 miles long skirts Lake McDonald, if you start from west to east then climbs to the highcountry alon the Garden Wall, crosses the Continental Divie at Logan Pass 6,646 feet and descends to St. Mary Lake.

The road, completed in 1932, is considered a great feat of engineering. It is generally open from early June until mid October. The two segments of the Going-to-the-Sun Road open in winter are the 10 miles between West Glacier and the head of Lake McDonal and the 6 miles from St. Mary to Rising Sun. Vehicle size limitaions are in effect between Avalanche Creek and Sun Point. One trip on this narrow road and you will understand why. Trailers may be parked temporarily at Sun Point on the east side while you drive over Logan Pass. On the west side, inquire about parking at the West Entrance, Apgar Visitor Center, or at a ranger station.

Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake

Fishing on St.Mary

  
There are many hikes right off of the main road through the park. We hiked a few of the shorter hikes and all were wonderful. Avalanche Lake is about a 3 mile hike to a great little lake. In the early part of the summer you can really see the waterfalls feeding into the lake from the snowmelt. A great place for a picnic or a snack. There were people fishing, though you would want to walk a bit further from the small people throwing rocks in the lake. Another great hike that wasn't too long, 3 miles or so, was the view going to Hidden Lake. If you stop at Logan Pass and hit the board walk is where the trail starts. It is possible to hike right to Hidden Lake, but that is probably another 2-3 miles. 
On our way back to the visitor center we could see people looking in their binoculars, but couldn't quite tell what they were looking at. We finally heard that they were watching a couple of grizzly bears grazing about a half mile away. We finally saw them, very cool. Jayson said he wished we had brought Byron to bait the bears a little closer. There is also a nice nature trail around Swiftcurrent Lake and the the trail continues onto Lake Josephine.
 

 
   
  Where to Stay if you decide to go...

Lodging is available in each park and adjacent areas. Concessioner-operated accommodations within the parks, include hotels, lodges, chalets, and cabins for which reservations are advised. When in doubt make a reservation as soon as your travel plans are firm. For information on rates, opening dates, and services in Glacier write to: Glacier Park, Inc., The Viad Corporate Tower, Phoenix AS 85077-0926, or call 602-207-6000. For accommodations in Waterton, call 1-800-215-2395. Make reservations EARLY!! Making your reservations in March/April is not too soon for the summer months.


 You would think we were in Europe!-Glacier

Lodging accommodations on Swiftcurrent Lake
     
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