Glacier Park!

Here is a list of the places that I recommend seeing in Glacier National Park. I made this word document in order to organize all of the information and maybe someone out there will find this of help while they are in their travels.

I recommend getting a map like this and printing it off. I found this to be helpful in figuring out where things are and how far it will be till the next stop.

So without further ado, lets get into this! These are the things that I had went and seen at Glacier National Park.

· Going to the Sun Road (had only been open from west side) – total of 50 miles but takes at least 2 hr of driving

o 2 entrances: st marys (east) or apgar (west) visitor center entrance

o Logan Pass (highest point at 6,646ft) - make sure to stop here for some hikes

o Usually fills between 9:30am to 4pm

o No $$

o Food @ Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun and Apgar Village

o Bathrooms @ Apgar, Logan Pass, St Mary visitor centers

·   Apgar Visitor Center

o Super pretty lake esp when its foggy outside

o Least impressive visitor center (apparently st mary is better)

o Very little parking so see first thing or late after dinner

o LaCasita (very good Mexican just outside of Lake McDonald)

·   Lake McDonald Lake (1st from the west)

o Youll drive quite a long ways along where there are multiple pull off points

o Can rent canoes at Apgar town

o Can do mcdonald creek (not busy; 5 mi and easy)

o @ Fish Creek Campground theres a hidden gem of a trail called Rocky Pt Trail (goes to water—might want to take)

· McDonald Falls

o See via a small set of stairs (quick stop worth taking)

· Avalanche Trail

o Gentle 4 mi in and out

o Big lake to spread out

o Go early for parking!!!!!

·  Trail of the Cedars

o THERES A COOL BRIDGE and easy trail (starts on same trail as avalanche) so take this and make sure to see Avalanche Gorge!! This was probably my favorite part of the whole trip); real easy hike. At the top of the loop it continues on to avalanche lake (lake trail is 4.6 mi and 2-3 hr long)

·  Big Bend (BEST SUNSET SPOT IN GLACIER)

o This is a curve before the Logan Pass Visitor Center and immediately following the Weeping Wall (when going west to east)

o Stay a bit longer after sunset for Blue Hour; the light is still rich with color and most crowds have dispersed by this time.

·  Logan Pass (where to park long term and what to do):

o Prepare to drive around the lot a few times for parking

o Visitor center closes at 7pm (the latest of all visitor centers)

o See heavens peak @ 8,987ft tall

o Begin the Highline Trail (this is considered the “end” but you can go backwards) is a one way 11.8mi that takes you through some of the most dramatic view of the glacier national mountains (takes 5-7hr); challenging and 1950 ft elevation gain

§ Most common: start trail at logan vis center and end at “the loop” then take a shuttle back to the top

§ Things to see:

· Super great views but maybe a longer hike; very very photogenic!!!!!!!!!!!!!

·  Take a break at the granite park chalet

·  Walk along the GARDEN WALL (super stenuous but 110% worth it; loose rock?; not really any flowers?)

·  Peer down 100ft cliff wall (closest to trailhead start)

·  MOST LIKELY THE MOST INTERESTING TRAIL IN AMERICA (said somebody... but I did do a small part of this and I would recommend it for the sights)

o Hidden Lake

§ From vis center

·  1.5mi for the overlook or 3mi to the lake; easy

§ trip walk that overlooks Bearhat Mt and Hidden Lake directly below

§ Lots of stairs so get ready --> moderate

§ More popular hike

§ Usually covered in deep snow even in mid-July so may need hiking poles and the correct shoes

· Jackson Glacier Overlook

o 7th largest glacier

o Quick

o Might not be around much longer --> need binoculars

· St. Mary Waterfall

o Very iconic waterfall and bridge (2.4mi to St Mary) à1hr

o And can continue on to Virginia Falls (3.8mi to Virginia Falls round trip) à 2hr

o Can get here either: st marys trailhead which parking is iffy but can get lucky or st marys shuttle stop

· Virginia Falls

o SUPER COOL and THERES A BRIDGE and THERES WATER FALLS

· Baring Falls

· Sunrift Gorge

o Can easily visit Baring falls, St mary and Virginia falls from the trailheads

o Good views cuz of burnt trees

·  Rising Sun

Least crowded areas but has good dining, and shopping

If You Have Extra Time:

· Sun Pt Nature Trail (by st mary lake)

o 0.1mi to a giant rock!

·  Wild Goose Island (by st mary lake)

o Climb quickly to the spot --> super easy and worth the stop

·  Bowman Lake

o REALLY pretty esp when foggy or snow capped

o Can drive right to it

· Siyeh Pass

So this is not a comprehensive guide but it is a guide from a Montana girl who found these things to be "the little things" but the best things. Pictures to come!