Park 23: Glacier National Park, Mt:  We broke up the long drive from North Cascades NP to Glacier by stops in Omak, WA and Sand Point, ID following WA-20 and ID-2, both scenic highways flirting often with the Canadian border.  At Kalispell, MT, the spectacular Rocky Mountains loomed before us like we have never seen before, stretching across the horizon as far as our eyes could see!  We entered at the Apgar entrance of Glacier and were disappointed to learn that the Going-to-the-Sun Road was partially closed because of snow; they had 3 inches of fresh snow yesterday. However, we were greeted by bright sunshine and radiant blue skies over Lake McDonald, where we were staying for the night!

First glimpse of Glacier and
Lake McDonald

Our cabin-only the left side-front!

Glacier peaks from our cabin

Avalance Creek on our hike

After checking in to our small cabin, emphasis on small, we changed to hiking boots and set off to hike the trail to Avalanche Lake, at the end of our drive up Going-to-the-Sun Road.  This breathtaking 2.5 mile trail, not only for scenery but altitude, wound close to the river part way then snaked into the quiet woodland evergreens. I carried my bear bells and my hiking stick because we had been seriously warned about the possibility of bear along the way.  We did see three grizzlies feeding along the lake, but from a safe distance.  We had a great meal at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge and then strolled back to our cabin along the lake shore.  

First grizzly of the trip

Avalance Lake

Glacier and Lake Mary on the east side

We awoke to rain and cold temperatures, but no fresh snow, and decided to travel to the east side of the park where the weather might be nicer.  Glacier is a huge park with over a million acres and only one road through it, so our ride around to the St. Mary entrance was 2 1/2 hours.  On this side of the park, the terrain of gently rolling plains was remarkably different with the mountains stopping the rain.  The highway took us through the huge Blackfeet Indian Reservation with open range cattle and horses.  Although the clouds still obscured the high summits and glacier carved walls and horns at their peaks, we could enjoy this drier eastern portion of the park with vistas of St. Mary Lake and numerous waterfalls.   

We must return again when the weather will allow us to make the full 50 mile Going-to-the-Sun drive, plus include the Canadian side of the park, now known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site.  We learned that the 22 glaciers remaining today, down from 150 in 1870, are expected to be gone by 2030, so we can’t wait too long to come back!
Odometer: 9,939 miles.