Glacier National Park - Day 1

Sep 3rd, 2010
Going to the Sun Rd - West to East:

A drive across the park on the GTTSR is the highlight of any trip. Its 50 miles of unparalleled scenery gets even better after gaining some elevation - perhaps somewhere around the point where you drive through the west tunnel. It goes right through the national park and some of the highest mountains in the area - the continental divide. In most other parks - the roads migrate around the mountains. This road goes through. That is why it is a marvel. An engineering marvel.

Arriving at Kalispell:
We landed around Noon and our friends were there to pick us up at the airport in the huge rented Sienna ( they drove down from Spokane).

The next destination : Mackenzie River Co. in Whitefish for some Beer and Pizza.Out in Kalispell when the rest of the world was working & the beginning of a long weekend that we keenly looked forward to - reasons enough to celebrate. The pesto breadsticks and the mozzarella rollini were unbelievably yummy. The pizzas, even better.

Right after this , pit stop @ a Safeway gas station ( is there a safeway gas station in the Bay area? i haven’t seen one yet) - You can see our giant sienna in this pic.The drive to the parks west entrance takes less than 15 mins and the entrance cannot be missed( pic on top).

The Visitors Center @ Apgar: As is with all national parks. we were greeted by a nice little visitors center - The Apgar visitors center. After picking up maps,brochures,guides and vetting our plan with the friendly rangers we devoured huge scoops of Huckleberry ice cream!
Tip: When in Montana don’t miss anything huckleberry
Tip: Check on the weather forecast. It changes drastically and plans may have to be tweaked.

Our Agenda was to drive along Going-to-the-sun-rd ( i will just call it GTTSR from this point on) and to stop by at all the vistas all the way up to Logan Pass and then spend sunset at “Sun Point” ( on St Mary Lake, right after the pass). Tip: Don’t forget to pick up the park newsletter which has a whole page on the highlights and stops on GTTSR

Lake McDonald:This was our first stop. The lake was glistening. the water was clear and we could see all the stones and pebbles on the river bed. Looking ahead, we could see the reflection of the mountains in the water - the kind of sight i totally missed in Yosemite's mirror lake.

McDonald Creek overlook:It was a relatively calm creek when we went. But early season visitors get to see a thundering torrent carrying trees and boulders.Bright sunlight, cool weather , the sound of gushing water and butterflies!

Avalanche Creek & the Trail of Cedars:This is the first “shuttle stop” after the visitors center. ( You could take a park shuttle, if you dont want to drive). The trail of cedars starts off beside the creek on the right side of the road, while driving eastward. It’s a handicap accessible boardwalk. It's a nice wooded trail with a gorge about 1/4 mile in.There are parts where moisture levels are so intense that you see it dripping down the shrubbery even on a bright sunny day.

The Loop, Heavens Peak: The loop is that part where the drivers side of the road goes from mountain side to cliff side - the only switchback on the GTTSR. At this spot you’ll spot a whole bunch of cars parked with tourists clicking away at the one peak that towers over all the others - Heavens Peak.

Trapper Fire:At the same stop you can see the landscape filled with burnt trees. This was from the trapper fire of 2003 , where it burned across the road.

"Bird Woman Falls" into the Hanging Valley: Shortly after, the views get even more panoramic. It starts off with the hanging valley and the bird woman falls draining into it from the slopes of Mt.Oberlin. You’ll be able to spot two patches of snow&ice and then a the falls rigth under. The sight visually resembles a funnel.


Haystack Creek: It’s a beautiful cascading creek that flows right beside and then under GTTSR. It’s looks better from about 150 yards - where you can see both the creek and the road.

Weeping Wall: It’s that part of the road for which visitors are warned to roll the windows up but there was barely a trickle when we went.

Triple Arches: This comes right after the big bend ( we sort of missed the bend on our way - apparently not very big) . The thing about the arches is the construction stone. The architecture here validates the intention of the designers to have any human construction blend into the landscape of this dramatic road - Further adding to it, rather than take away.

Oberlin Bend: Just west of Logan pass, below cascading waterfalls of Mt.Oberlin is Oberlin Bend.I have read there are always mountain goats around here and i did see mountain goats here. A mom and a kid.

There is a boardwalk that one can take to look into the hanging valleys.

Logan Pass:This is the highest point on GTTSR. it’s located at an elevation of over 6600 ft and on the continental divide. The views from here are brilliant. Merely stepping out onto the parking lot gives that magical “top of the world” feeling. There is a visitors center here and just as i was approaching it, i found a deer frolicking in the grass.

Right behind is the lovely hike to the “hidden lake” ( on the agenda for Day 3) . Here, right under Reynolds mountain, Alpine meadows filled with wildflowers carpet the hillsides. The highline trail begins here and heads north along the west side of the continental divide.

We also had a stag roaming the parking lot, and a lazy ram ( big horn sheep) grazing.

Jackson Glacier overlook:Our next stop was at a vista that gave us views of the jackson glacier. one of the 26 viable glaciers remaining in the park out of the original 150.

Sunset at Sunpoint:Didn't get very good colors. But sunset is always feels good and we had a nice time.

Dinner at two dog flats:There were multple vegetarian options available - Soba noodles with Broccolli and walnuts in a huckleberry teriyaki sauce, tortollinis in a tomato sauce ( they say “spicy” on the menu, but it’s far from it, Hummus sandwich, Veggie burger, black bean quesedilla! - with 5 dishes to choose from , we were spoilt ;)

Tip: The Box lunches are great - but they need to be ordered before 8pm, for the next day. Make sure you do it!