Day 110 Glacier National Park-Going to the Sun Road

Fri., Sept. 6

Glacier National Park Drive Going-to-the-Sun-Road

What an amazing day!!  The sun is shining as we head into Glacier to do the Going-to-the-Sun-Road.  In June we only got about 13 miles up the road to Trail of the Cedars just a little past McDonald Lake which is about 10 miles long.  The road didn’t open until June 21, there was just too much snow and road repairs. We got to the park entrance and there were two lines of vehicles waiting to get in.  Where’s everyone coming from, it’s Friday??  Glad we have our park pass, saved us $25.  Parking already full at Avalanche Creek, Trail to the Cedars!

West Entrance to Glacier Nat’l Park

West tunnel 192 ft built in 1926

Amazing road!

As we drive from 1000 m to 2025 m at Logan’s Pass we notice the clouds reaching over the mountain tops like fingers.  The info centre is fogged in.  I thought we should keep driving and hope it lifts but Ross said let’s just do the hike since they are calling for thunderstorms.  It was 14 degrees in the parking lot.  We decided to put our jeans on right there, no one would have seen us if we stripped!!  The first 1.5 miles is on a boardwalk but lots of steps, steady climbing up to the view point.  Near the view point fog started lifting so we could see the mountains surrounding us.  The valley to Hidden Lake was clear, magnificent view.  Walking along a ground squirrel sat at the trail eating leaves keeping his eye on us.  I thought I saw something white move below on the meadow.  We watched, it looked like a rock but then it moved.  Four goats were making their way up from the lake, grazing along the way. The marmots were sunning themselves on the rocks and running by us.  They look very healthy. We were told there were two bucks in the valley but we didn’t see them instead we saw a doe and her calf on the trail near the lake.  We had our lunch on the beach before attempting the climb back up.  Two brave guys stripped and dove into the lake for a swim!!  I think it was a little colder than they expected.

Triple Arches, engineering marvel

Arriving at Logan Pass



Climbing the boardwalk

Grd Squirrel

Hoary Marmot

Viewpoint – Hidden Lake

Two mammas & two youngans

Trail to Hidden Lake

Mule deer with calf

Hidden Lake & Mt. Bearhat

Hidden Lake

So that’s what it looks like!

On the way back we spotted the mountain goats soaking up the sun.  The marmots were sprawled out on the rocks watching us walk by.  Lots of people were on the boardwalk now that the fog had lifted.  A golden eagle flew over us.  We stopped to talk to a warden and she suggested if we weren’t squeamish about heights to walk the Highline trail which we spotted walking back at first thinking it was the road we had driven up on.  The clouds were coming back so we headed for the Highline trail to do the first ½ mile.  It was along the rock edge looking straight down on the road.  The first thunder hit as we were out on the cliff.  We decided to get back before we got caught out there.  We made it back to the parking lot when the raindrops were hitting us.   From inside the info centre we could see it began pouring and more thunder.   Only Cash Sales now!!  Luckily we had left an umbrella in the pack.  We made a run for the truck.  A river was running through the parking lot.  We decided to drive to St. Mary where we stopped in June.  With all the rain some rocks had come down onto the road, one was about a foot around.  Scary!  At Sunrift Gorge we turned back, we had hiked the trail and walked under the bridge in June.  One the way back the west side of Logan Pass was in the sun.  We drove to Apgar Village and the campground.  The campground was almost full.  Nice campsite but no services except bathrooms. 

Highline trail

East tunnel 408 feet thru Piegan Mtn

View at Bird Woman Falls

More rock fall due to rain

McDonald Creek

What an amazing day!  We took about 500 pictures.  We probably have that many from June. 

There were more look outs and hikes but there’s always next time.  We got back to our campsite and booked another night.  About 9 pm we had a short thunderstorm with a little rain.  Whew!!

Daily Stats: 

Today's distance:  160 km
Weather:  Blue skies, foggy, clearing, thunderstorm pouring rain, sun/clouds; High: 22 degrees; Lo: 14 degrees (great day considering weather reports were calling for 90% rain, thunderstorm)
Wildlife: Ground squirrels, hoary marmots, 4 mtn goats, 2 mule deer, golden eagle, chipmunk
Campsite:  Glacier Campground $27 w/e
Walking: 11.25 km

Annual Park Pass USA:  $80 (which we bought back in June)
Annual Park Pass Cdn:  $136.40