Glacier NP

“DOes anyone Know some great trails IN glacier NP. I am going for 8 days in late June. Lookng for a couple two or three day trips. Thank you.!”

“so youre going to what might be the greatest national park in the country in less than two months and you havent done the research yet?

buy a map and a guidebook and get to lookin

search the threads here for trip reports, because i know people here have done it

randall, for one. dub and chinmusic also. plenty others, im sure”

“There are tons of great spots. I would personally break the trip up into 3 segments.
1. back country (multiple days)
2. day hikes 2 listed below are a must
3. one day at least to just be a tourist

I will give you two dayhikes to look into:
1. Highline Trail http://www.bigskyfishing.com/National_parks/glacier/hiking-highline-trail.shtm There is a side trail well before you get to the Granite Park Chalet that take you STEEPLY up to the Garden Wall.....TAKE IT. You then can look DOWN at the Grinnell Glacier. There is another (unmarked) trail to the right as you get to the top of the Garden WALL.....TAKE IT but NOT if the footing is slippery. This last trail is kinda dangerous. The side trail will add a couple hours to your hike. I would suggest the Highline to the Side Trails to the Granite Park Chalet and then down to the Going to the Sun road. This makes it a point-to-point trail. If you need to loop just go to the Granite Park Chalet and head back or better yet, spend a night at the Granite Park Chalet.

2. Grinnell Glacier (out and back)”

“We have no good trails in GNP. It's all a big lie. This place is hideously ugly and boring.

Really.”

“THanks lilmountaingirl but I know your fibbing. I have been there a few times. All Fighting fires. twice in 03 and once in 05.tought it was a time to visit with out fire eing involved. And to the people I have done research I was just curious to see what others might have really enjoyed.”

“Moi? Fibbing? Never!

ok...we did a great dayhike last year from Logan Pass to Lake McDonald (1/2 trail, 1/2 off-trail). It's a rugged 21 miles. You could potentially do it in 2 days and cut the mileage in half if you stayed at Sperry Chalet overnight. I highly recommend the hike either way.

Here's my Trip Report if you are interested:
http://www.adventurematters.com/trmontana4.htm

There's also a link to the TR that my better half wrote in there - it has great logistical info if you are interested.”

“my tr from a few years back is on here (i think still) somewhere - search for "Glacier"

but check out the Garden Wall and I particularly enjoyed Lake Francis.”

“Packers Roost TH north to Goat Haunt is a good trip.

HighLine trail from Logans Pass to Goat Haunt would be even better.

You need to shuttle a car into Canada. (Waterton) taking the Ferry boat across into Canada.
last edited: 5/16/08 8:32:41 AM”

“we did the Highline from Logan to Goat Haunt - then turned west and finished at Bowman Lake - GREAT trip.

Spent a couple hours laying in the grass by Waterton Lake soaking up sunshine and watching eagles fish. Took a little nap too.

:)


hard to beat - for sure.”

“Late June - - you'll have a lot of snow on the Highline Trail - the rangers may say nay to giving you a permit for that. just a heads up. The central Rockies in CO had a PHENOMENAL snow year - still looks like Winter west of the Divide and the seasonal melt hasn't really gotten started much on the east either - had more snow fall this week in the CO Rockies. Not sure if MT had the same or not.”

“did the above Logan to Goat Haunt taking the boat Waterton Lakes(Canada) hike 2 years ago, You will need your passport to get back into the US”

““we did the Highline from Logan to Goat Haunt - then turned west and finished at Bowman Lake - GREAT trip.

Spent a couple hours laying in the grass by Waterton Lake soaking up sunshine and watching eagles fish. Took a little nap too.

:)


hard to beat - for sure.”
doof
1:37:47 PM

Yeah, sounds like an even better route for sure. Easier car shuttle too. Whats the trail distance from Goat Haunt to Bowmen Lake.

We drove to and camped at Bowmen lake. The dirt road leading back in there, seemed long, if my memory serves me correctly? (30 miles of dirt road?) Bowmen Lake is beautiful!
last edited: 5/16/08 12:58:24 PM”

“I second the Highline to Grinnell Overlook trail. The view from the top of the wall is amazing. The additional goat trail along the wall is, for lack of a better word, scary. However, if it is dry and not windy, I would suggest it. The view is even better.

Other great dayhikes are Iceberg Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and Swiftcurrent Lookout. You can make a nice trip if you spend a night at the GP Chalet. Hit the Grinnell overlook trails on the way, have a meal and a night at the chalet, then hit the lookout trail the next morning before heading back.

There are numerous pics on my webshots page:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/554202048PBMpSm

If you want backcountry nights, though, you better get permits, ASAP.”

“ditto on the permits! i had to change routes because of available sites when I went. I also recommend the Highline. Watch out for grizzlies :) I got to see one up pretty close (too close for comfort)”

“Thanks for all the info. some reall great ideas to add to my own. I am from oregon so I am well aware of all the extra snow this year. I was hoping to maybe get into some snow while up there. I think camping by one of those high lakes would be great with snow. I love winter camping, I am bringing my touring skis for sure!!”

“GNP? I'm so jealous...but happy for ya. I've dreamed of going to Glacier but it hasn't worked out that I've made it that far west. Besides hiking and camping there, I've always wanted to drive the highway to the sun.”

“Many Glacier up thru the Ptarmigan Tunnel down to Eliz Lake. E Lake to Glenns Lake. G. Lake to Stoney Indian. Sto to Fifty Mt. Fifty to Granite. Back to Many. About 50 miles. Did this trip Aug 2006. (Except that due to bear activity, Ptarmigan was closed so we went in above and hiked to Eliz Lake). Pics on Webshots. Type "kareengas" in the Search box.
BTW, make sure you secure fuel somehow. You cannot fly fuel canisters and when were there, NO ONE had any. At least not for the Pocket Rckets. Not even the outfitter at St. Mary's. Had the stoves...no fuel. The folks at the inn at Many came up with a couple of partially full cans and we bought Sterno. On our 1st day in, we passed some folks on their way out. They traded us the Sterno for one brand new can of fuel.
Best trip I've ever done.
last edited: 5/20/08 10:13:20 AM”

“Ptarmigan Tunnel to Ahern Pass via the goat trail on Pinnacle Wall.

Don't look down.

muahahaha”

“Don't look down.

muahahaha”
lilmountaingirl
heh heh heh”

“If you I can help with your trip let me know. I live about 45 min. east of Glacier.

We did get a lot of snow this year but we have had a hot spell that has melted a good bit of the snow. Now is the time to come if you like rafting.”

“Ignore my poor typing...

If I can help you...”