Glacier National Park, Montana
Updated: Jun 6, 2022
In June of 2021, I visited the beautiful national park, Glacier National Park in Montana. I have so far been to three national parks, and this one is by far my favorite yet. The park includes over 65 different hikes, more than 700 miles to explore, over 700 lakes, and 66 species of mammals. The park has plenty more to offer. There are lodges and hotels located throughout the park.
To start off our trip, we went to the famous Lake McDonald. This lake is known for its views and naturally colorful rocks. We were told to stay at the lake for a few hours to see the sunset. With the mountains behind the lake, the sunset was supposed to be one of a kind. We didn't realize that the sun does not set until around 1o P.M. during the month of June which left us waiting for nearly 5 hours, however it was absolutely worth the wait. At the lake there are kayak and paddle board rentals which can give you a little adventure with a fantastic view of the mountains. I definitely suggest you visit Lake McDonald during your stay at Glacier. You can choose if you would like to hike to the lake, or drive through the small town-like street that leads to the lake. Both are great options.
On the second day of our adventure, we traveled to Many Glacier. There is a roughly 1 mile hike you can take around Many Glacier, or you can simply walk to it from where you park. Many Glacier is not as well known as Lake McDonald, but does also contain colorful rocks which appear to be thinner and have a slate-like texture. On the opposite side of Many Glacier, you can see a bridge with a small, rushing waterfall. It adds to the view, and because of the large rocks near the waterfall, you can climb up for a better place to enjoy the sights.
While in Glacier National Park, you will notice that there is a multitude of things to look at out your window and places to pull over on the side of the road. By stopping at some of these attractions, I was able to get some beautiful pictures and saw many things I never would have seen if I just drove past them. Below are some pictures I took of things I drove past while in Glacier National Park. Unfortunately I do not have the exact location of each of these pictures, but if you visit the park, you are guaranteed to see things quite similar, or even better.
Going to the Sun Road is a very popular tourist attraction in the park. It remains closed until a majority of the snow can be melted or shoveled to the side of the road. Because it goes up to a high point in the mountains, the snow can last throughout most of the summer. On the last day of my vacation in the park, the road opened so that you could drive from one end to the other. There are plenty of places to stop while driving down the road so that you can get pictures of the outlook it offers. Along the side of the mountains are many waterfalls. You will get a view of the valley which includes rivers, waterfalls, and nature. It feels like a scene out of a movie.
The final trail I am going to talk about is called Avalanche Lake. This was my personal favorite for a few reasons which I will explain in a moment. The hike to the lake is roughly 4,5 miles each way with a total elevation gain of 730 feet. The highest point is 4,031 feet and its difficulty is rated moderate at 5.96 due to hikinginglacier.com Because I am from somewhere with little no elevation at all with an average elevation of nearly 20 feet, this hike was more difficult due to having much thinner air than I was used to. Despite my slight trouble hiking, it was beyond worth it. I would without a doubt do it again. The view at the end is indescribable. I have pictures, but they just don't do it justice. As I stood there looking up at the mountains, I felt so small. The lake was Crystal clear. You could see every piece of petrified tree trunks that lay there under the water from previous avalanches. In all my pictures you cant see how tall these mountains were. But while standing there, I felt so peaceful in this extraordinary terrain. The trail warns of high grizzly activity, however I did not see any while on the hike. However, do be prepared and take bear spray which you can rent from the park. If you ever go to Glacier, the number one hike I would suggest is Avalanche Lake.
If you are ever looking for a national park, or a place to explore, I highly recommend you visit Glacier National Park. I don't know if I'll ever find another national park that can top it! Thank you so much for reading about my trip to Glacier. Follow my instagram @theteentrvlr for my photography, and updates on my blog. You can also subscribe to my mailing list to get notified whenever I post a new blog.
Products I used while in Glacier National Park
Camera: https://amzn.to/3mkUCrV
Backpack: https://amzn.to/3GUSoJa
Thermos: https://amzn.to/3Ns0ADl
Hiking Boots: https://amzn.to/3NrsLC6
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