Here is the beginning of a “bucket list” trip that I have wanted to take for decades…
We actually had this trip completely planned, including campground and hotel reservations booked and paid for, back in 2020. But those plans were thwarted when the Canadian government closed the boarders due to the onset of COVID. We had to cancel all reservations and put the trip on the back burner. Four years later, we try again!
Glacier
After a grueling 2 1/2 days of driving from our home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, we finally reach Glacier National Park at 3pm. We checked in with the Apgar Campground ranger who verified our reservation and gave us the rundown on food storage in bear country.
After a quick drive down the eastern shoreline of Lake McDonald, we set up camp and made some grilled burgers for dinner. After cleanup we walked to the lake for some golden hour photos. Such a beautiful spot! As the sunlight faded, we walked into Apgar village to find some souvenirs. Walking back to camp in the near darkness, we met a couple of young boys who were picking fresh Huckleberries and graciously offered us a sampling. Yummy!
Back at camp time to relax and dream of our big day tomorrow… Up and over the Going to the Sun Road!
Glacier National Park day 2
Up at 4am to beat the crowds and secure a parking spot at Logan Pass…
The drive up the Going to the Sun Road was surreal in the pre-dawn light. Towering mountains rising from the valley floor and cascading waterfalls flowing down everywhere.
Upon arrival at Logan Pass, we were greeted by a heard of Bighorn Sheep grazing right next to the parking lot and believe it or not, according to a park ranger, licking antifreeze from the parking lot! We brewed up a quick breakfast on the tailgate in the parking lot and then headed off on our hike to Hidden Lake overlook.
On the hike up we were lucky enough to see a Rocky Mountain Goat casually walk right past us! What a National Geographic moment! The view from the overlook was truly stunning! We sat taking in the views for some time and spotted more goats high up on a cliff nearby.
Then down the pass we drove to get away from the crowds and find a shady spot to eat some lunch. After lunch we made our way to the Many Glacier valley where we would stay the next 2 nights at the campground.
We set up camp, cooked a yummy dinner and played a round of Yahtzee before retiring to bed for the night…
Glacier National Park day 3
Big day! We were up at 6:30 cooked a big breakfast to fuel up for our hike on the Grinnell Glacier trail.
We had booked a boat tour across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine which was beautiful and saved us about 4 miles of hiking. On the ride across, a Moose was spotted foraging on the shoreline.
The hike was grueling, steep and hot! We sweated profusely as we gained significant elevation. We had hoped to make it all the way to Grinnell Glacier, but this proved to be more than my old body could carry me. We reached a high point overlooking the turquoise colored Grinnell Lake with an incredible view and more cascading waterfalls. We ate our lunch, rested and enjoyed the view from a shady spot the trail where squirrels and chipmunks visited us hoping for some scraps.
The hike back down to the boat dock on Josephine was painful and my left quad was screaming! The reward was a mama Moose and her young calf very near. The calf was sooooo cute frolicking and playing in the water. I was able to capture some great photos with my long lens.
Back at camp we cooked dinner and then ventured over to the nearby Swiftcurrent Lodge store and enjoyed some soft serve ice cream on the bench outside. A welcomed treat in the evening heat!
Tomorrow off to Canada…
