Glacier National Park: Mesmerized By Montana
Grinnel Hike. Photo by Laura Mills
A few months back I received a text from a good friend I hadn’t seen much since the start of the pandemic. She had reservations booked for Glacier National Park, but no one to go with because her previous travel partner had to cancel. She knew I would take any chance to travel, especially if it meant access to some of the country’s best landscapes. Glacier National Park proved to be everything I didn’t know I needed. This trip rejuvenated the adventurer inside of me and inspired me to spend more time immersing myself in nature.
We flew into Missoula, Montana, and after a day of recharging, started the five-hour drive to the Many Glacier entrance where we would be staying for the next few nights. Taking our time on the drive allowed us to stop and appreciate the sights we would have otherwise overlooked — vast fields with yellow flowers and massive mountains in the background. As you approach the junction of Route 93 and 35, you come over a hill to see the enormous Flathead Lake. If you would have told me it was the ocean, I would have believed you. Cherry orchards lined both sides of the road; we stopped to indulge.
I wouldn’t usually expand on the road trip portion of a trip like this, but the drive was truly one of my favorite parts. As we got onto Route 2 to make it up to the Many Glacier entrance, it was as if Mother Nature was saying, “You thought that was the best? Let me show you more.” The soft blues of Flathead Lake faded behind us and the mountains seemed to grow as we kept going. This two-and-a-half-hour leg of our drive quickly turned into three and a half, due to frequent stops for dipping our toes in the freezing river and marveling at what was around us. Lots of cherries were consumed.
We finally arrived at The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, our home for the next few nights. These collections of cabins are simple without being primitive. Think tiny home with less need for storage. The cabins were one large room with a bed, sink, table and a small bathroom attached, all painted a fresh white and very clean. There is no WiFi available at the individual cabins, but you can access it at the lobby.
If you are looking to spend your time hiking, immersed in nature, I highly recommend the Many Glacier area. There are cabins (which are part of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn) and a campground. The cabins and campground are separated by a large parking lot that leads to the Swiftcurrent Trailhead. There is a clearly marked board with information about every hike accessible from the lot — the difficulty, distance, elevation gain, estimated time of completion and even complimentary guided hikes.
The Swiftcurrent Restaurant serves simple to-go food. I suggest perhaps bringing some of your own snacks due to the high cost of importing food into the park commercially.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, local members of the Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai and Pend d’Oreille tribes speak to guests about their culture and its relationship with Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park’s Native American Speaks program is the longest-running of all national parks, starting back in 1982. We had the pleasure of listening to Blackfoot tribe member Robert Hall share stories of his people and their relationship with the land thousands of years ago. This was one of the highlights of the trip. I really felt like the audience gained a lot of perspective from his words, delivered with perfectly timed dry humor.
The next day we set off from our cabin, conveniently located a half mile from the Grinnell Trail Head, to embark on our 8.5-mile round-trip hike to Grinnell Lake. Not only does this hike offer incredible mountain views with wildflowers lining the trail, but the whole way you hike alongside Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lake, crossing rivers with orange, red, blue and purple pebbles. As you walk along wood and rope bridges, you’ll finally reach one of the most breathtaking views in the park — Grinnell Lake. With only 351 feet in elevation gain, this was a perfect hike for us as we were still getting used to the increase in elevation. We found a secluded corner on the shore to enjoy lunch, took hilarious self-timer photos and dipped our feet in the freezing glacial water. On our trek back, we took the opportunity to swim in Lake Josephine, formed by glacial run-off but a bit warmer than Grinnell. After almost 8 miles and 80-degree heat, it was exactly what we needed.
The rest of our time in Glacier National Park was spent driving Going-To-The-Sun Road and crossing even more things off the bucket list. A fellow Spoke+Blossom colleague had a connection at Glacier Raft Company (located at the West Glacier Entrance) and was able to set me up with Skylar, a hilarious and spunky raft guide. Skylar led our group of nine through one- to four-grade rapids, cracking jokes the whole way. In the end, almost all of us took the opportunity to jump off the side of the raft into the freezing cold water. You can reach out to Glacier Raft Company for individual or group guided tours and whitewater trips. Ask for Skylar if you get the chance to go!
In your plans for summer 2022, definitely consider adding Glacier National Park to the list. There are accessible trails for every skill level with awe-inspiring views and adventure around every bend.
Originally published in the Fall 2021 issue of Spoke+Blossom
Laura’s Top Gear Picks From Her Glacier Getaway
Looking for the perfect day pack with a little extra room? The Gregory Maven 45L is a great candidate. The 3lb 5oz pack is fully equipped with a side access zipper and plenty of extra pockets giving every necessary item a home. Supportive straps and a secure hip belt with easy access to snacks and electronics. This pack feels custom fit right out of the box.
Merrell Women's Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
Breathable, supportive and not a blister in sight. The Merrell Moab 2’s have the right amount of room in the toe box to account for the swelling of a long hike without excess space leading to blisters. Ankle support, high arch support and killer traction that fits true-to-size. These boots can truly do it all.
Smartwool Hike Classic Edition Extra Cushion Crew Socks
Made from recycled nylon and responsibly sourced Merino wool, the classic and dependable Smartwool sock. A little extra padding comes in handy in this model, for those high-mile days. Flat knit toe seam for additional comfort means no more awkward seams rubbing against your boots, just happy feet!