Travel Recap #5: Glacier, pt. 2 and Big Sky Country

 

On our second day in Glacier, we drove the full Going to the Sun Road and boy was it spectacular! It passes Lake McDonald with mountain peaks in the distance, along a river and pretty woods and up a narrow, winding road through tunnels and past glorious views of every kind. It was a little nerve-racking being on the steep-edge side in a truck that was a little big for the road, but still so worth it. We saw several waterfalls, a long weeping wall, an actual glacier and the beautiful Saint Mary Lake. It was there that we stopped for a 4-mile round-trip hike with the kids out  St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls. We spotted some mountain goats off on a distant hill and soaked up the crystal clear pools along the trail. The falls were great (St. Mary’s was gushing and Virginia was picturesque) and the kids were nice and worn out by the time we got back to the truck.

We finished driving the road to the other side (East Entrance) and by that time it was mid-afternoon and we had to decide how we were getting back: drive the entire GttS Road all over again in reverse or take the long route that circles around the south end of the Park. Justin was grumbling that we didn’t get to see more wildlife, so we decided to turn around and do it all over again from a different perspective and with high hopes. We weren’t a full mile in when a big black bear jumped across the road in front of us and ran so quickly up into the woods on the other side that I didn’t get my camera out in time to capture the evidence. It was cool! Then, shortly after Logan Pass nearing the hairpin curve and steep dropoffs, another, younger cub trotted on the road right in front of us, looking a bit lost as he had to backtrack once he discovered a sheer wall blocked his path. We saw his cute cuddly face peering back over the wall as we passed by. I think Justin was satisfied after that ;)

The next day we moved our rig to a forest road on the south end (so we wouldn't have drive all the way through the park and back again) and spent one last day in the Many Glacier area on the northeast side of the park. It, too, was a sight to behold! Swiftcurrent Lake against the backdrop of the mountains was quite a picture, but even better was the more secluded Redrock Lake surrounded by trees and peaks. Our last hike to Redrock Falls did not disappoint! (Someday we’ll have to go back and do the longer, more advanced trails when the kids can handle it!)

After Glacier, we headed south to a quiet and serene reservoir just outside of Augusta, surrounded by hills and grazing cattle. We enjoyed a few days riding bikes down the trails, playing by the water, running down hills, flying the kite, throwing the frisbee and teaching the kids kickball. It felt as though Laura Ingalls Wilder might come join us over one of the hills at any given moment. 

We made a pit stop in Helena after that for groceries, gas, and to wash the rig for the first time, then continued on around Canyon Ferry Lake to a spot overlooking the water just outside Goose Bay Marina. Lake play and exploring new areas never gets old, especially when we come across little gems like a jumbo chess board! We stayed there until it was time to say farewell to Montana and drive to our next stop in Island Park, Idaho for the 2023 Lippert Getaway.