June 2006
MONTANA NATIONAL PARKS
Western Montana and Glacier National Park

Drove north from Yellowstone through Bozeman which is a very nice town.

Spent a few hours canoeing on the Jefferson River. Saw lots of White Pelicans and a couple of Bald Eagles. 

Drove to Butte and took an awful tour of some copper magnate's mansion.

After spending the night in Helena we drove to Great Falls and spent some time at the Lewis and Clark Center.  It was very nice.
Then we drove out to the Great Falls of the Missouri River.  Don't bother with this trip as the falls don't really exist anymore. 
Drove to the Canadian side of Glacier to the Waterton Lake area.

Stayed at the Prince of Wales Hotel 

The view from the hotel was spectacular.

 

A view of the Prince of Wales from the dock in Waterton.

The hotel was spectacular but I wouldn't recommend staying there.  We paid $300 for a small attic room.  

I appreciate that historic hotels are often not up to modern standards but the Prince of Wales failed to make up for that in ways that they could, such as in having quality towels. 

You are better of staying in the Town of Waterton.

We rented scooters and road out to Cameron Lake
The lake was scenic and the ride out and back on the bikes was fun.
Drove south to the Many Glaciers Area and the Many Glaciers Hotel.

This hotel was definitely worth it and the area itself was the highlight of Glacier for me.
Took a 2 hour horseback ride around Swiftcurrent Lake to Cracker Flats and back.
Took a day hike to Iceberg Lake.  It was a great hike to a spectacular place.  The lake sits in the cirque at the base of 2,000 foot cliffs. 
The lake is a deep blue color and the cliffs rise straight up out of the lake.
They don't call it Iceberg Lake for nothing.  I went wading and it was cold.  Very cold.
I was happy that I did the distance so easily.  6.2 miles up and back with a side hike which I figure put the mileage up to around 14 miles.
I ate lunch on the way back down beside this nice cascade.
We left the Many Glaciers Area and drove the Going to the Sun Road over Logan Pass.

Stopped at the Visitor's Center and walked out onto the alpine meadow.

I continued on a hike across some large snowfields out to Hidden Lake.

 

Saw a mountain goat along the way.

The trail takes you to an overlook at Hidden Lake.  The hike was surprisingly nice although quite difficult in the snow and on some steeps in the snow.
Got a closer look at some mountain goats further down the road west of Logan Pass.
Spent the last night at the McDonald Lake Lodge.  This is another historic hotel.  The main part of the lodge was nice.  Unfortunately we were in a motel like section that was pretty meager.  Dinner at the hotel was nice.

The next day we drove all day to get back to Idaho Falls and the flight back to Rochester.

 



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