Tim Jenkins Web

Glacier National Park, MT 8-12-2006

Just show me the Best pictures The Best

For the Complete Tour just scroll down

Going to the Sun Road

Grinell Glacier Hike

Going to the Sun Road

53 Miles of the most scenic roadway in North America, Period. Not many roadway are a destination unto themselves. We were lucky get a convertible for our trip and it was an absolute gem of a drive. Just plans on stopping every couple of miles to get out of your car and take a look.

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Grinell Glacier Hike

7.4 mile round trip and 1,600' elevation (from the head of Josephine Lake by way of Glacier Boat)

It's one of the most popular hikes in the Park and some of the guide books discount this trail due it's popularity, but don't listen to them. The reason it's so popular is because it is simply stunning. Probably our all time favorite hike. The mileage numbers are varied because there are a couple of different paths that you can take. What I call the Grinell Glacier Hike starts at the dock at head of Josephine Lake. There is a boat that will take you from the Many Glacier Hotel to this dock. If you want to add some distance or simply see more you can hike either the North shore of Josephine Lake or the South shore which are both about 1.7 miles round trip. The north shore is the standard route with better views, but it was closed when we went. The plan was to hike the full round trip, but on the way back we decided to take the boat for the last 1.7 miles back. I figured we hiked about 9.5 miles total doing this. While the south shore is all in the trees without many views I did get a picture of the lake and mountains that ended up being my signature shot of the entire trip.

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Many Glacier Hotel

A simply great place to stay. The view from the hotel is stunning, the location is central to some incredible hikes, and the food was pretty good also. Yes some reviews have called it "quaint" and yes they are right but don't let that stop you. The hotel was built in 1915 so you can tell where they have retrofitted the rooms to have each room have a private bath and shower. So yes the rooms are simple, but they are also clean, and if you are going here and are spending lots of time in your room, you should just stay home anyway. I even managed to bet myself up at sunrise for some great pictures right off the balcony which ending up being some of my favorites.

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Highline Trail Hike (The Garden Wall)

From Logan pass to Granite Park Chalet is 7.6 mile one way and Moderate Elevation*.
Grinell Overlook: Side trail at mile 6.8, 0.5-0.8 mile one way, 800'-1000' elevation gain, hard. No offical measurements

Once again, Every guide book reccommends this trail, and for good reason. Immediate and incredible views. On the day we hiked we did not have time for the full hike and did about an hour out and back, and I can highly recommend it if that is all the time you have. It's definately on my to do list to return some day and hike to the Chalet and the Grinell Overlook.

* As for the elevation, take your pick. There is no offical elevation listing for the trail. It is listed as Easy or Moderate elevation and a gain of somewhere betwen 500'- 750'. Some of the numbers I can find are: Logan Pass 6600', Granite Park Chalet 6750?, high point of trail at 7250'?

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Hidden Lake Hike

3.0 mi rd trip to the overlook, 450' elevation

Starting from Logan Pass, its a nice little hike through the alpine to a scenic overview of hidden lake. With all of the people, you would think there would be no wildlife, but they were so used to people they just kinda ignored everyone. The first 1/2 mile was redone as a boardwalk to lessen the impact of all of the walkers. It makes for a nice easy hike.

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Avalanche Lake Hike

4.0 mi rd trip, 500' elevation

If your thinking we did the highlights hikes, then your right. Given the scale of this park you start saying things like "we only have a week". In any case, as with the rest of these, yes you will have other hikers on the trail. But it's a very impressive lake as the destination and we had a blast. Of interest is the forest hike leading to the lake. I have never see so much deadwood and and dark forest. It seems to be a side effect of the climate. With the intense cold so much of the year the trees do not decay very fast and so build up. I would have loved to get a picture, but it was so dark I would have needed a tripod.

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Mountian Biking

About 8 miles and 2000' vertical drop

We stayed a couple nights at Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain), and guess what? They have mountain biking :) Definately the way to bike ride with a view. Pay your $45 and get a bike and an all day chair lift. Ride to the top and coast down. Wonderfull views the entire way. Your brake hand will be a little tired by the time you reach the bottom though.

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