Big Sky Country - 2016
Missoula to
St. Mary &
Glacier National Park, MT
Day 7 - August 24
Signs on the road from Missoula to Kalispell come in English and Salish, a local Indian tribal language
Flathead Lake has slightly more surface area than Lake Tahoe, making it the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi - by that measure. Lake Tahoe is 6 times its volume
Big Arm, Montana, along Flathead Lake. I could live here - part of the year…
We had lunch at the Buffalo Cafe in Whitefish, at Bob and Denise Sale’s recommendation. Great burgers!
Glacier National Park - starting up Going to the Sun road
Lake McDonald, on Going to the Sun Road
Avalanche Creek, along Going to the Sun Road
Avalanche Creek
Avalanche Creek - the clearest water ever
Spectacular…
You go very slow on Going to the Sun Road. Very steep, very narrow, pretty crowded. You fight for a spot at every turnout
This car sped into another universe
Endless beauty…
More…
Logan Pass is the highest point on Going to the Sun road
This 1.5 mile trail climbs about 500 feet to the overlook of a small lake. It was late in the day, and we were sure we would return in the next 3 days. We never did; there is just too much to see in Glacier National Park
Wildlife on Logan Pass
We saw Mountain Goats and the south end of these Bighorn Sheep. I felt like I was in the Sound of Music
Back on Going to the Sun Road. Sensory overload
The clouds were starting to roll in, so I caught this silhouette panorama
Our room at St. Mary Lodge, at the eastern end of Going to the Sun Road
The view from our room
Sundown from St. Mary Lodge
Day 7 - August 24
Missoula & Glacier National Park, Montana
We departed Missoula early, driving along Flathead Lake toward Kalispell. Flathead Lake is huge - we probably drove 50 miles along its western shore. After making our way through Kalispell (a big town for how remote it is - and with a big traffic problem), we headed north another 20 miles to Whitefish, a popular winter ski area. At Bob and Denise Sale’s recommendation, we ate at The Buffalo Cafe. Great burgers - I had the Hellfire!
We had planned to take the south route into Glacier National Park. We hear it is a pretty drive, but not as spectacular as Going to the Sun Road. The weather was turning beautiful - puffy clouds in a deep blue sky - so we decided to take advantage of Going to the Sun Road now.
The road, constructed from 1921-1932, is 50 miles long. It is known to be the most difficult road in the US to snowplow - up to 80 feet of snow can lie on Logan Pass, its highest point. It is typically open 2-3 months per year. It’s narrow with many winding hairpin turns - drive slow! Many turnouts, and ask Kathy, we stopped at every one of them!
It was truly one of the most breathtaking experiences ever. God is so creative!
We ended our day at our next stop, the St. Mary Lodge at the end of Going to the Sun Road. A memorable day!
Glacier National Park
Day 8 - August 25
Morning calm of St. Mary Lake
Behind us are high, jagged-peaked mountains. Here, a softer range. So different
Our morning destination. Headed up Going to the Sun Road just a short way from our hotel to St. Mary Falls Trail. On our 4-mile roundtrip we will see St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls - and many smaller falls as well.
Such color! The area here was hit with a small forest fire a year ago
A heart-shaped rock in the middle of the trail
This guy was an insistent sort - only a fire would kill its spirit
St. Mary Falls
St. Mary Falls - not very tall, but very noisy!
No, we didn’t buy the photos at the gift shop - we really did make the hike!
That’s Kathy way down there - I’m at the top of the falls
Past St. Mary Falls, on the way to Virginia Falls, are many other mini-falls. But not really mini
Red!!
Virginia Falls - much taller than St. Mary Falls. Not as loud, but much wetter!
The professional hiker…
The other professional hiker.
She looks much perkier than I do!
Back up the trail
This is one of the most photographed scenes in the park. On Going to the Sun Road, at the upstream end of St. Mary Lake
The small island in the foreground is Wild Goose Island
From the same viewpoint, a close-up of higher peaks in the distance. Logan Pass is at the right
And a panorama…
Many Glacier, taken from the Many Glacier Hotel, north of Going to the Sun Road. The day is turning cloudy
From cloudy to rainy. Those aren’t lights on the mountain; I took this through the hotel window
Two Sisters - we liked this restaurant so much we ate there 3 times
Day 8 - August 25
Glacier National Park
St. Mary Lodge had a great little coffee shop/bakery, and here’s where we started each day.
From there, we headed a short way back up Going to the Sun Road to St. Mary Falls Trail. A 4-mile roundtrip took us through the woods (fire-damaged from a year ago) to two beautiful waterfalls - St. Mary and Virginia.
In the afternoon we made our way about 1 hour north to Many Glacier, another part of Glacier National Park. The road deadends at a cute little hotel. We sat in the hotel and read awhile, watching the beautiful scenery across Swiftcurrent Lake. We also watched the weather degrade, from partly cloudy to very cloudy to rainy.
We then drove halfway back to our hotel and stopped at a little mom & pop restaurant. Well, not mom & pop, but sister & sister - Two Sisters, to be exact. I had chicken-fried steak, Kathy had fried chicken. For dessert, Kathy had Lemon-Huckleberry Bread Pudding. I had Huckleberry Pie. Delicious!
Came back to the hotel and from our balcony watched the sun go down behind the mountains.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Alberta, Canada
Day 9 - August 26
When we woke up, this view from our room was entirely blocked by fog. It’s now breaking up
We are on our way to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. This is Chief Mountain
A panorama, with Chief Mountain on the right
A very common occurrence in Montana. You really have to watch it; the cows’ favorite grazing area is along the highways
Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. The hotel on the hill is Prince of Wales
Upper Waterton Lake
On Red Rock Canyon Highway in Waterton Lakes National Park
The mountain on the right is very red.
But we haven’t seen red yet!
Red Rock Highway
Red Rock Canyon. That’s red!
Red Rock Canyon. A popular place
The entire canyon, at least the portion that is this red, is about 3 miles long
More…
We really loved this place. An unexpected surprise
Back to the lakes, and the hotel
A panorama, with Kathy sitting in a red Adirondack chair. All the Canadian national parks are sprinkled with them
Those chairs!
Upper Waterton Lake
View of Upper Waterton Lake from the Prince of Wales Hotel hill
Panorama from the Prince of Wales Hotel hill
View from inside Prince of Wales Hotel
Waterton Lakes National Park, the Bison Paddock
Day 9 - August 26
Waterton Lakes National Park - Alberta, Canada
We spent the day about 90 minutes north, at Waterton Lakes National Park. It is just across the border in Canada, and is an extension of Glacier National Park. In fact, when you enter Glacier, the brochure/map they give you is entitled Glacier-Waterton.
Although not as dramatic as Glacier, it is indeed beautiful. The Ranger suggested we drive out Red Rock Canyon Road to Red Rock Canyon Trail. What a treat! I have never seen redder rock. Just amazing.
We returned to park headquarters, walked part way around the small town of Waterton. We also visited Prince of Wales Hotel to catch the view there. The hotel sits atop a hill overlooking Upper Waterton Lake, with gorgeous mountain peaks in the background.
On our way out of the park, we dropped by the Bison Paddock, a small fenced-in area where bison (buffalo) are raised. Not that many, and they were a good distance from our viewing. Oh what a zoom can do! But not like the experience in Custer State Park!
Back to Two Sisters for dinner. For dessert, Kathy had Huckleberry Cheesecake, and I had a Huckleberry Shake!
Glacier National Park
Day 10 - August 27
Lower Two Medicine Lake
Beautiful red mountain behind Two Medicine Lake
Two Medicine Lake
Two Medicine Trail
Beaver Pond on Two Medicine Trail.
Sadly, no beavers were sighted
It was VERY windy. Not Laguna Beach weather
Two Medicine Lake. Way too rough for that little boat today
Day 10 - August 27
Glacier National Park
We traveled south today, to Two Medicine. Still in the park; in fact, before Going to the Sun Road was built, this was the favored destination. It is now a fairly quiet location. Just the way we like it.
It was very windy, so we took only a short hike along the southern shore - about ½ mile to a beaver pond. There was a chance we would see beaver or even moose, but all was quiet.
After a snack lunch, we headed back to the hotel, played a little rummy, then headed back to our favorite haunt, Two Sisters, for more huckleberry.