Glacier is located in northwest Montana, borders Canada, and is not easy to get to. However, it is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been to. The park was named after the glaciers that capped the Rocky Mountains that surrounded the park. Since that time, over 100 years ago, most of the glaciers have melted and only small patches can still be seen. What is seen is the aqua blue water that fills the streams and lakes from the remaining melting ice.
The park is enormous and much of it is only accessible by long wilderness hiking trails, but what you can see is amazing. There are beautiful lakes, streams, and mountains. There are stunning vistas at every turn. We hiked a number of trails in different sections of the park and each provided a different experience. One thing that was common was bear advisories, including warnings to carry bear spray. Unfortunately, the only bear we saw was crossing the road when we were driving and he disappeared before we could get a picture.
Our major bonus was meeting up with our very good friends, Laurie and Marv Baker. We got to hike, dine, and catch up for a day and a half. As usual, it was a great time. They stayed at two of the iconic Glacier lodges and toured a good portion of the park.
The highlight of our visit was driving and exploring the “Going-to-the-Sun” Road. This is a 50 mile long road that goes from one side of the park to the other. It includes long sections that climb the mountains with drop-offs of thousands of feet and incredible views. No vehicles over 20 feet are allowed on the road due to the narrow, twisting lanes. It takes a couple of hours to drive it one way, but well worth it.
On our last day, we drove up the west side of the park to Polebridge. Polebridge is a small outpost just outside the park that looks like an old western town placed in our current time. It’s become something of a tourist attraction for those willing to drive up dirt roads to the middle of nowhere. It has a general store, tavern, supply store, seasonal food truck, a few houses, and no paved roads. The animals roam free around town. In other words, it’s charming and we loved it.
The pictures below tell our story, but they really don’t do it justice.
