Glacier National Park, Montana

We spent a week in Glacier, yet we were barely able to see and do all the park has to offer. Backpacking was our priority. We arrived at the height of the summer without camping reservations or backcountry permits. Our first stop was St. Mary's on the park's eastern boundary. We found a great old campground called Johnson's, which we really liked. The next morning we got up early to secure a campsite at the first come first serve campground in Many Glacier and get backcountry permits.

There was a mad rush of campers by 8:00 am driving through the campground seeking out the few available spots. Campers were still eating their breakfasts or sleeping and people were claiming their sites. Crazy, but we did get one. Next, we spent an hour in the backcountry ranger's office putting together a three night trip in the "belly" region. Most permits were already taken and some areas of the park were still under snow. We managed to get a decent itinerary, with two very hard days and two easier days.



We hiked in on the northeast side just south of the Canadian border, up Lee Ridge. Our first campsite was at Slide Lake, an 8.5 mile hike, 2450' elevation gain and 1400' loss. No one really likes to go to Slide Lake because you have to hike up the very same 1400' in the morning to get to your next campsite. Who really cares about the uphill when it's so beautiful.






Because of the record snowfalls last winter, summer was late and the wildflowers were still in full bloom in August.



The backcountry sites have primitive toilets, designated private tent sites and a cooking area with bear hangs. Bears definitely are a consideration in Glacier. We saw one young grizzly and a black bear. And we made lots of noise while hiking. Even though the campsites were at full capacity, you generally are alone on the trail. So you don't want to surprise a bear and there are lots of them.



Slide Lake. We saw a moose and a beaver and two hikers from California.



The trails are all well maintained and consistently signed. It is so hard to get lost (unless traversing snow fields) that the ranger told us we didn't really need a map. Our second day was a 6.3 mile hike, up 1400' and down 2700'. Yes, all the climbing from the first day in reverse. We camped at Gable Creek.



All the rivers and even the small creeks we crossed had bridges.



Spectacular Dawn Mist Falls. You can hear it well before you see it.



Our third campsite was Elizabeth Lake. It was an easy day of hiking with little elevation gain. I was thankful because my feet were sore with large blisters. I just cannot seem to find a pair of boots that work for me. I hiked for two days in my Chaco sandals.



Our last day, hiking out and making sure to get lots of pictures.
















The next day we toured the Going to the Sun Road in one of the vintage red buses. This is a great way to take in all the sites without the stress of driving this mountain pass.






Lunch stop at McDonald Lodge.












Cannot wait to return!