The magic of the Rockies strikes again in Glacier National Park! The Rockies? Yep, here we are again! Just over three months ago, we had our first unforgettable taste of the Rocky Mountains in the stunning Waterton Lakes National Park. That’s where we first discovered with awe, fascination, and pure wonder these incredible landscapes. Today, we are just a few kilometers from Waterton, but on the U.S. side! Here, it’s called Glacier National Park. And let’s be real, whether you are in Canada or the U.S., the Rockies never disappoint.
Monday, September 12, 2022
We arrive at Glacier National Park after exploring the incredible Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. The one downside of our long-awaited stay in Glacier? Wildfires. We never actually saw the flames, they are hundreds of kilometers away, but the thick cloud of smoke hanging over the park is hard to ignore. So we discovere the park and its breathtaking scenery through a smoky haze.
Just past the entrance booth, we take the park’s legendary road: Going-to-the-Sun, one of the most scenic drives in the world! The sun is out, technically, but it barely makes it through the mist. We drive along the cliff face, overlooking a magnificent mountain landscape with sharp peaks, forests, rivers, and lakes. Now this is a real mountain road: narrow, winding, and seriously vertigo-inducing!
We cross Logan Pass at 2,026 meters (6,650 feet) above sea level before starting the descent. We have an urgent mission: we want to reserve a campsite at the only open campground in the area, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. And judging by the crowds on the road, we know we have to hurry! Luckily, even though it is getting late in the morning, we find a site at St. Mary Campground. Little bonus: hot showers! After far too many days without one, we are more than ready, too long ago to mention here without shocking anyone 😉
With our site secured, we head out to the Many Glacier area. We aren’t feeling super ambitious, so we just settle for a short walk, no 12-kilometer trek to the glacier for us today.
By 4 p.m., we are back at our site, where we shower, set up the tent, and take the rest of the afternoon off to relax. It feels so good to just chill! Tonight, it’s a festive meal: burritos! 🎉 Too bad it’s another evening without a campfire, there’s a fire ban in effect.
Tuesday, September 13
After an amazing night in the tent and a solid breakfast, we pack up and drive back up to Logan Pass.
🥾 Highline Trail – 12 km (7.5 mi)
This trail is absolutely gorgeous, even though we only do part of it. The full out-and-back is 24 km (15 mi), but we decide to do only half. The path overlooks the Going-to-the-Sun Road for many kilometers, with some vertigo-inducing sections and spectacular views all along the way. Incredible!
After lunch, we head back to the campground for another hot shower. We might as well take advantage; we don’t know when the next one will be 😁. Then, time to leave Glacier National Park. We truly loved it, even with the smoky skies that dulled the views a bit. The park reminded us a lot of Waterton Lakes in Canada, which still holds a special place in our hearts. It was our first time in the Rockies, and it left us speechless.
On our way home from the Pan-American trip, after shipping Jeepy back from South America to Houston, we will be back at Glacier National Park to rediscover it differently..
Wednesday, September 14 to Friday, September 16
Montana, what a beautiful state! Endless fields, countless cattle ranches, bison, horses, sheep, cowboys, straight highways, road signs praising Jesus, fences stretching to the horizon, boundless pastures, and amidst it all, coyotes and bears still trying to live in peace. We drive across Montana with our eyes wide open, soaking in the rural, cowboy vibe that defines this part of the U.S. Montana is rodeo country, and lucky for us, we will catch one later on in the trip!
We take the scenic route through farmland to really soak in these rural landscapes and wide-open spaces.
After three days of driving through Montana’s wide landscapes, we are here: at the gates of the world-famous Yellowstone National Park. We’ve got a feeling the next few days are going to be packed with adventure 😎
