My camping equipment

My camping equipment
Campsite setup

Friday, July 12, 2019

Summer Trip 2019, Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park

 West Glacier National Park
Fish Creek Campground,


We started our visit at Glacier National Park at Fish Creek campground located on the southern shore of beautiful Lake McDonald. The sites were small and compact just perfect for our Aliner Expedition. This is bear country so campers have to keep their food packed away along with any cooking equipment. The park provides bear proof lockers for campers who have little room to store their perishables. We configured  our trailer and car to make sure that we left no trace of editables or any other item that may attract bears into our campground. The area we camped in was surrounded by old growth forest with views of the surrounding mountains. The shore of Lake McDonald was a short walk from our campsite.

Our Campsite at Fish Creek campground, West Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald, a short walk from our campsite
During our stay at West Glacier we drove up the majestic going to the sun road to Logan pass. Once at Logan pass we hiked out to Hidden Lake on a scenic trail that took us to a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by mountains. Along the way we saw mountain goats, marmots and beautiful fields of mountain flowers in bloom. The scenery in this area is amazingly beautiful with waterfalls, majestic mountain peaks and vast valleys that inspire the senses with a feeling of awe. 

The Going to the Sun Road clings to the cliffs as it ascends to Logan Pass

Beautiful waterfalls cascade down the side of the mountains along the way

Great engineering made this possible

Haystack Falls

The visitors center at Logan Pass

Barbara on the Hidden Lake Trail head at Logan Pass

Marmot seeking some warming sun rays just off the trail to Hidden Lake

The majestic landscape makes a great background for portrait photography

Mountain Goat with her young baby 

We came across several mountain goat families with siblings 

Fields of mountain flowers were quit common in areas along the trail

The majestic Hidden Lake view point at the end of the trail
West Glacier Lodge located on McDonald Lake is a historic landmark. It is a remarkable structure that beckons back to the early days when the park was first created back in 1910 when President Taft signed a bill to create Glacier National Park. Perhaps one of the most recognizable features you see here are the old ford motor coaches that take visitors to the scenic areas that make this park so special. At West Glacier Lodge you can board a boat that will take you out for a tour on beautiful Lake McDonald. 

West Glacier Lodge

The lobby of West Glacier Lodge

The classic Ford motor coaches at West Glacier Lodge

The convertible classic Ford motor coaches at Logan pass

The view of Lake McDonald from the dock at West Glacier Lodge

The boat that takes visitors out on Lake McDonald at West Glacier Lodge





East Glacier National Park
St. Mary Campground

We also visited East Glacier area of St. Mary Lake during our visit to Glacier National Park. We stayed at St. Mary campground not far from the St. Mary's visitors center. During our stay we traveled up to the historic Many Glacier Lodge located about 18 miles to the northeast of St. Mary Lake. Many Glacier Lodge was built by the Great Northern railway to attract visitors to the park providing a great source of revenue for the railroad. The setting at Many Glacier could not be more majestic with a view of Swiftcurrent lake and the silhouette of Mount Grinnell in the background. The hotel is massive with a swiss alpine architectural style that befits the area. Multiple mountain peaks and glaciers are visible from here. 

Our campsite at St. Mary campground, Barbara and I are having breakfast. The temps at
night can get down into the low 40's in the summer months

The Front Entrance to Many Glacier Lodge

The Lobby 

The back of the Lodge has rooms that face out to Swiftcurrent Lake

Swiftcurrent Lake

Mount Grinnell, 8,852 feet tall

Visitors can take a boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake

The rapids of the Swiftcurrent river to the east of Many Glacier
During our stay at St. Mary Lake we took a ride back up to Logan Pass on the going to the sun road. As a part of our trip I took a ranger led hike to Sun Point, overlooking St. Mary Lake, and on to Barring Falls. The views up in this area are amazing with turquoise glacier lakes framed by majestic mountains. We were able to catch glimpses of wildlife in the area which really made for a special day indeed. 

Sun Point overlooking St. Mary Lake

Looking west from Sun Point to the mountains surrounding Logan Pass
Barring Falls near Sun Point
Grizzly Bear near St. Mary's campground, I took this image with my long lense

Female Wood Pecker

Female deer near the Jackson Glacier viewpoint
 Glacier National Park is the crown jewel of the continent. This is our third visit to this magnificent park and each time we see new sites that are unique and special. I hope that through my pictures and narrative that I will inspire my readers, who have not been to Glacier, to visit this unique place on the North American continent. 

Glacier Valley just to the East of Logan Pass

Barbara writing the date with her hiking stick in the big drift just east of Logan pass

Beautiful falls created by snow melt just to the east of  Logan Pass




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