Day 3 in Glacier we visited Logan Pass, hiked the Hidden Lake Trail, and drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road. We drove 45 minutes from our hotel in Kalispell to the west entrance of Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park
2019 Price: Free due to my Annual Pass (Fee would have been $35 for a 7-day pass)
Logan Pass
We entered the west gate at 7:30 AM and drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the Logan Pass Visitor Center. We arrived at Logan Pass at 8:30 AM. The parking lot was almost full and we were lucky enough to get one of the last parking spaces.
The past two days we had seen cars parked along the road before and after the visitor center, with people walking long distances to even get to the lot. Based on that, we tried to get there early in order to get a decent spot.
Our goal for the day was the Hidden Lake Trail which begins on west side of the visitor center. Columbian ground squirrels were right at the visitor center and periodically along the trail.
Hidden Lake Trail
The trail starts with a long boardwalk with dozens of low steps. First you pass Clements Mountain and Reynolds Mountain. Clements Mountain has a small waterfall facing the path.
We saw a mountain goat in the distance sitting on a mountainside. It was very thrilling as it was my first sighting. Little did we know what excitement was coming!
Hidden Lake
Your reward for all the stairs, and going around some bends, is the picturesque Hidden Lake. The pyramid-shaped peak behind Hidden Lake is Bearhat Mountain.
At Hidden Lake, we spied a golden-mantled ground squirrel and hoary marmots. I had never seen a marmot and there was an adult and pup at eye-level near the lake overlook. Looking down, there were about half a dozen other marmots running around by the lake.
Mountain Goats
Just as we were about to turn around, we noticed a group of people taking photos of an area that shouldn’t have attracted that much attention. When we investigated, it turned out to be a female mountain goat and her kid!
They were both calm for photos for a while and then just walked away. I was so surprised and happy we found them.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
After the trail, we left Logan Pass and completed the Going-to-the-Sun Road for a second time. We stopped at the following places:
Saint Mary Lake
Rising Sun
At a pull-off near the lake we spotted a grizzly bear in the distance.
It is advised to carry bear spray. We each had a can but never had cause to use it.
Saint Mary Visitor Center
Jackson Glacier Overlook
Heavens Peak
There is a stop-off after the West Tunnel to the right where you can park and walk back to the tunnel to view Heavens Peak through two arched overlooks.
Travelodge by Wyndham Kalispell
2019 Price: $842 for five nights
Well Steph, each post only makes me more determined to follow your lead and try this adventure.