Our Heads in the Clouds -Going to the Sun

We had 4 days to traipse about Glacier National Park. Janelle met up with us and helping us navigate logistics, technology and the trails!

Day 1 We started out early to enjoy the sights along Going to the Sun Road. This 50 mile stretch of two lane road took us from West to East Glacier in Glacier National Park -the only road spanning the width of the park. This was number one on our list to do - and the road itself is only available for a short season each year, usually July through September as it takes until July to clear the snow ( 80 feet in some sections). The drive is not for the faint of heart, as it is narrow, has hairpin turns with quick, steep drops on one side and rocky protrusions on the other. The road has pull-outs along the way to take in and snap pics of the vast array of landscape features - waterfalls, glaciers, large glacial lakes, mountains, alpine tundras, and the many, many colorful mountains. The road itself with the tunnels and pull-outs is an unbelievable civil engineering feat of wonder! We couldn’t imagine the ambition, commitment and shear hard work to make this possible. The stone from one of the tunnels needled to be carried away and down the mountainside by hand. Amaaaaazing - the whole road!

Two Medicine Lakeshore -Paradise Point Hike

We spent some time at the lakeshore and then took a really short hike to Paradise Point- which had an incredible view. We saw some brown headed ducks - the likes we had not seen before!

Highline Trail to Haystacks Pass

We started the day super early so we could get to the Logan Pass parking near the Highline Trail trailhead. This little guy greeted us in the parking lot!

We were hiking from the Highline trailhead to Haystacks Pass ~7.2 mile out and back. About 1/4 mile in - the trail takes you across the famous ledge which would be a fright fest for anyone with a fear of heights. The trail takes you to a ledge that is only 6- 8 feet wide and has drop-offs of roughly one hundred feet or more down to the Going-to-the-Sun Road below! This leg of the trail is fairly short and is not physically difficult - but is certainly a mental challenge. Thankfully, there is a cable along this stretch of trail to provide some security for nervous hikers! ( And since practice makes perfect you get to end this hike with a repeat of this nail biter hiking feat on the trip back!) There is one super steep climb - the total hike gaining 825 feet of elevation. The trail out in the morning was literally in the clouds - we were so luck because as we reached the Haystack Pass - the cloud moved and revealed a stunning view.

Many Glacier -Red Rock Falls via Swiftcurrent Pass

We hiked to Redrock Falls starting at the Swiftcurrent Pass Trailhead in Many Glacier. As we were walking toward Fishercap Lake, we came upon a bull moose!

The hike was ~4.2 miles - taking you to Fishercap Lake, Redrock Lake and Redrock Falls.

Big Sky

Glacier National Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park so we went star gazing one night - the stars were incredible! ( I was not able to capture this at all on the camera!)

The clouds we saw the night we went to see the sunset were the coolest we've ever seen!

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald is Glacier National Park's biggest lake. Lake McDonald was formed by the filling of a basin carved out by Ice Age glaciers. The water is clear and the beach is covered in pretty multi-colored pebbles ( rainbow rocks). The color of the rocks is determined by the amount of iron in them.