Granite Park Chalet Bike and Hike 2019 hike734 2019-06-17 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/granite-park-chalet-bike-and-hike-2019With Going-to-the Sun Road in Glacier National Park closed to cars, but open to bikes, we got a little creative and hiked up to Granite Park Chalet after biking to the Loop. We found a stunning array of wildflowers while birds serenaded us up into the alpine landscape.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Driving & Biking Guide Announcement hike734 2024-05-16 | This past winter we made a fun update to our Going-to-the-Sun Road Driving Guide by adding spring biking! It's a natural fit for the guide with many of the stops being similar. We added biking information, distances between junctions, tweaked some descriptions and artwork.Pick up the new map/guide by itself here: hike734.com/shop/going-to-the-sun-road-driving-biking-guideOr as a package with the best-selling Day Hikes of Glacier National Park Map Guide here: hike734.com/shop/glacier-day-trippers-package-with-biking
Apgar Lookout Spring 2024 hike734 2024-04-25 | Full Blog with Photos at: hike734.com/trip/apgar-lookout-spring-2024With the trail being on a south-facing slope, Apgar Lookout is the easiest way to get some elevation in Glacier National Park in the spring. The forecast called for a bluebird day, so we packed our lunches and hit the trail for a lovely spring warmup.
Granite Falls and Haynach Lakes hike734 2024-03-28 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/big-meadows-granite-falls-and-haynach-lakesThe short hike to Big Meadows offers great birding, wonderful wildflowers, and a chance to see moose. Further on, the waters of Tonahutu Creek spill over the granite as the lovely Granite Falls. Further still, greater effort leads to the solitude of Haynach Lakes where a pristine lake full of trout sits below rugged mountains and the boulder fields are full of pikas.
Big Prairie Ski 2024 hike734 2024-02-19 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/big-prairie-ski-2024Crisp air, fresh snow and endless blue skies were the perfect excuse to head up to the North Fork area of Glacier National Park and ski up to Big Prairie for a lovely Valentine's Day.
Avalanche Lake Hike on NewYears Day 2024 hike734 2024-01-03 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/avalanche-lake-hike-on-new-years-day-2024With a low snowpack to the start of our winter, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to hike up to Avalanche Lake on the first day of 2024. We ended up with the gorgeous lake all to ourselves. With nobody else around, most all of the animals not making a peep, and snow to absorb any other stray sounds, it felt like we'd entered into an enormous, stunning room.
Jewel Basin Hawk Watch 2023 hike734 2023-11-15 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/jewel-basin-hawk-watch-2023As summer wanes in later August, my fellow bird nerds and I get excited for an annual event, raptor migration. I take you up to the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch site for the last migration count of 2023 on a chilly November day.
North Inlet with Cascade Falls, Lake Nokoni and Lake Nanita hike734 2023-11-02 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/north-inlet-with-lake-nokoni-and-lake-nanitaWhether you're looking for a lovely stroll through some meadows along a creek, a slightly longer hike to some cascades, or an epic day to two gorgeous alpine Lake, the trail along North Inlet in Rocky Mountain National Park gives everyone a plethora of options. From Summerland Park to Cascade Falls, Big Pool, and North Inlet Falls, all the way up to Lake Nokoni and Lake Nanita, the varied landscape gives you plenty of places to enjoy.
Mirror Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park hike734 2023-10-24 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/mirror-lake-rocky-mountain-national-parkTucked in the remote northwest corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, it will take you just as long to drive to the trailhead as to hike to this stunning alpine lake. You'll have to work a bit to get there and pass through the scar of the 2020 Cameron Creek Fire. While taking away the shade from the trees (and making it hotter), the hike now offers many more views than in the past as you ascend.
Piegan Pass with Cataract Mountain - Fall 2023 hike734 2023-10-11 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/piegan-pass-with-cataract-mountain-fall-2023Forecast called for a sunny day and with the fall colors poppin', the trail was calling. We hadn't been to Piegan Pass for a bit and thought that we might climb Cataract Mountain if we had time/energy/desire. It turned out to be a glorious day of colors, birds, mammals, and views in Glacier National Park.
Triple Divide Pass 2023 hike734 2023-09-12 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/triple-divide-pass-2023Triple Divide Peak straddles the Continental Divide where water hitting one of it's aspects can go not only west to the Pacific Ocean or east into the Atlantic Ocean (via the Gulf of Mexico), but also north into the Arctic Ocean via the Hudson Bay. Just below that summit sits Triple Divide Pass which is a longer day hike full of wonderful forests, the lovely Cutbank Creek, and stunning views of Medicine Grizzly Lake and the towering peaks surrounding it. Oh and the drainage is home to many large animals such as bear, moose, elk and mountain goats which we were fortunate to spy throughout the day.
Climbing Calf Robe Mountain 2023 hike734 2023-08-15 | Full blog with photos: Rising to the west of Marias Pass lies a crumbling ridge of named summits. On the north end, a saddle-shaped summit known as Calf Robe Mountain makes for a fairly short climb with plenty of rewarding views in this quiet corner of Glacier National Park.
Poia Lake 2023 hike734 2023-07-28 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/poia-lake-2023The beautiful Poia Lake sits in the Kennedy Creek drainage just north of the main Many Glacier Area of Glacier National Park. With a little bit of effort going over Swiftcurrent Ridge, you can enjoy this beautiful lake in a quieter area of the park.
Climbing Iceberg Peak 2023 hike734 2023-07-12 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/climbing-iceberg-peak-and-south-iceberg-peak-2023It's a big day full of trail miles and elevation, but the payoff for covering over 20 miles and 5,000ft in elevation gain is the jaw-dropping vantage looking down on the iconic Iceberg Lake and incredible views all day long from Iceberg Peak and it's neighbor down the ridge, South Iceberg Peak, in Glacier National Park.
Climbing Mount Helen 2023 hike734 2023-06-29 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/climbing-mount-helen-2023While not the most notable summit in Glacier National Park, Mount Helen sits just above Dawson Pass in the Two Medicine area and is a wonderful addition to your day, that is, if you have any gas left in your tank after climbing to the pass.
Lake McDonald Trail 2023 hike734 2023-05-04 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/lake-mcdonald-trail-2023The lower trails of Glacier National Park are drying out quickly with this recent stint of warmer weather. Since many of the roads are closed, the list of hikes without snow is pretty small. We settled on the Lake McDonald Trail on its western shore, hiked a bit, had lunch and turned around on a beautiful spring day.
Apgar Lookout Spring 2023 hike734 2023-03-24 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/apgar-lookout-spring-2023The forecast called for a sunny, bluebird day in the high 40s, so we packed up and decided to see how far up the Apgar Lookout Trail in Glacier National Park that we could get. Imagine our delight when we realized that there was a decent boot pack all the way to the summit and the snow held (for the most part) so we could get the sweet views with some boots and micro spikes! (We were glad to have on our Kahtoola EXOspikes for the icy bits amzn.to/3FOs8Rm)
Spring Into Training hike734 2023-03-20 | Full blog at hike734.com/fitness/spring-into-trainingWhile the winter snowpack has yet to give way to dirt trails, green grass, or wildflowers (at least in NW Montana), springtime is still a wonderful time to get out and put some training miles and elevation on your legs. If you have summer plans that involve hiking, I'd encourage you to harness the excitement of spring like we did in the video and start your training -- so that you'll be confident, fit for the trail, and ready for all the adventures you want to do!
Fish Creek Picnic Ski hike734 2023-03-14 | Full Blog at : hike734.com/trip/fish-creek-picnic-skiWhen Glacier is all locked in snow, a great place for a spring picnic on a sunny day is Fish Creek Picnic Area. You can snowshoe in, but we skied and enjoyed the beautiful views under a blue sky all while avoiding a chilly wind coming down from the mountains.
Bowman Lake Ski 2023 hike734 2023-02-21 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/bowman-lake-ski-2023In the warm air of the summer, a rough dirt road takes you to the sparkling shores of the bustling Bowman Lake. In the winter, however, the road is gated and only those on skis and snowshoes make it to the lake. The sparkle of the water is replaced by snow and the noise of the summer visitors is replaced by the quiet of the remoteness in the winter. On a chilly February Tuesday, Kristen and I headed out to a lake we enjoyed all to ourselves.
Half Dome, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall hike734 2023-01-13 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/half-dome-vernal-fall-and-nevada-fallThe hike up to Half Dome in Yosemite National Park is pretty hard to beat. You have two unbelievable waterfalls, loads of habitat types, incredible views, the unique experience of the cables up the granite dome of Half Dome, and the opportunity to stand on a national park icon with sweeping views.
Climbing Never Laughs Mountain and Mt EllsworthClimb hike734 2023-01-05 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/climbing-never-laughs-mountain-and-mt-ellsworthNot sure if it gets any better than a crisp, fall morning in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park when Two Medicine Lake is glass. Sinopah Mountain stands tall at the head of the lake, reflecting in the mirror at its feet. Today wasn't for gazing into water, however, we had our eyes to the heavens as we were planning on climbing Never Laughs Mountain and Mt Ellsworth.
Logging Lake Fall 2022 hike734 2022-11-08 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/logging-lake-fall-2022I've had my eye on Logging Lake in Glacier National Park as a fall hike destination for some time. While often fairly muddy, fall affords a slightly drier trail, no insects, and an abundance of golden larch trees that dazzled us throughout the day.
Siyeh Pass 2022 hike734 2022-09-14 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/siyeh-pass-2022Alpine meadows, expansive views, a glacier, and a creek that tumbles into blue/green pools over red rocks all await on the Siyeh Pass Trail. While we like to do this hike when Preston Park is full of flowers, hiking it later in the summer yields less insects and more huckleberries.
Climbing Mt Jackson 2022 hike734 2022-09-06 | Full Blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/climbing-mt-jackson-2022Of all of Glacier National Park's sublime summits, only six of them crest over the 10,000 foot mark. Mt Jackson, with its long, rounded ridge is one of those summits and it is as rewarding as it is a long grind. While you could (and probably should) break it up into two days by camping at Gunsight Lake, we decided to bust it out in one mammoth day.
Pitamakan - Dawson via the South Shore Trail 2022 hike734 2022-08-30 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/pitamakan---dawson-via-the-south-shore-trail-2022The Pitamakan-Dawson Loop is one of our favorite hikes in Glacier that we try to do once a year. With the North Shore Trail of Two Medicine Lake closed, we ended up having a slightly longer day doing the South Shore Trail. We donned our running packs to do a faster version of the hike and headed out on a perfectly sunny day.
Reverse Garden Wall Trifecta 2022 hike734 2022-08-25 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/reverse-garden-wall-trifecta-2022The traditional way that we've done the "Garden Wall Trifecta" (climbing Bishops Cap, Pollock Mountain, and Piegan Mountain) has been starting at Logan Pass, climbing them in the order of Bishops Cap, Pollock, then Piegan, then coming out via Lunch Creek. Since we only had one car, we decided to drop bikes at Logan Pass, then park at Lunch Creek and do them in the reverse. It was a fun way to explore the summits on a perfect, sunny August day.
Danny On Trail hike734 2022-08-12 | When Whitefish Mountain Resort sheds its winter coat, it transitions into a summer play land that extends way into fall. You can mountain bike, zip line, walk in the trees, and hike up/dow/both the mountain on the Danny On Trail.The Danny On Trail gives you a great tour of the mountain bouncing between open ski runs with views and fantastic forests teeming with birds and berries. In the fall, huckleberries abound and the shrubs explode in burgundies, yellows, reds, and oranges.Check with the mountain to see if the chairlift is still running. If it is, you can choose to hike up and save your knees on the way down, or you can ride up and cruise down the mountain. For those looking for a full day you can hike up and down and even take a couple of loop trails to East Rim and Flower Point to make an incredible day full of colors and views.This blog is part of a six part series of hikes in and around the Whitefish area in coordination with Explore Whitefish. Check out their website at explorewhitefish.com to find out more ways to explore the area, things to do, places to stay, and how you can recreate responsibly while visiting.
Lupine Lake Trail hike734 2022-08-11 | Be sure to enjoy the drive from Whitefish out to the Lupine Lake Trailhead as you travel through open meadows, riparian areas along streams, and dense forests as you never know what kinds of animals you might see. Once at the trailhead, you'll duck down through the dark forest alongside an amazing canyon with a waterfall that turns to a trickle in later fall. The canyon is several degrees cooler as you drop down, cross the creek and then gently climb back up on the other side.You'll move from wetter spruce forests to the drier larch, fir, and lodgepole. Speaking of the larch, October is a fantastic time to hike to the lake as the golden colors of the changing larches are stunning. The trail travels on a beautiful bench passing through small meadows before dropping down to the foot of the lake. This small, wooded lake is a great little lunch spot before heading back.This blog is part of a six part series of hikes in and around the Whitefish area in coordination with Explore Whitefish. Check out their website at explorewhitefish.com to find out more ways to explore the area, things to do, places to stay, and how you can recreate responsibly while visiting.
Stanton Lake 2021 hike734 2022-08-11 | A short hike takes you to the shores of the small, wooded Stanton Lake with incredible views looking up at Great Northern Mountain. With an initial steep section, it quickly levels out and takes you through the damp forest, eventually dropping down to the lake.While this is a great hike in many seasons, the middle of October is a particularly special time as the larch trees turn a vibrant gold. Arriving at the lake earlier in the morning also gives you a better chance of seeing the lake as still as glass.This blog is part of a six part series of hikes in and around the Whitefish area in coordination with Explore Whitefish. Check out their website at explorewhitefish.com to find out more ways to explore the area, things to do, places to stay, and how you can recreate responsibly while visiting.
Glacier View 2021 hike734 2022-08-08 | Epic views of the west side of Glacier National Park are the hallmark of this aptly named mountain. Even if you don't go all the way to the top, you'll get plenty of views no matter where you stop. You'll earn every view, however, as this trail is a steep one from the moment you set foot on it.The beginning features nice vantages of the North Fork Flathead River and the summits to the east explode into the sky. Eventually you'll get views of Huckleberry Lookout to the south and the Whitefish Range to the west. Mid to late September gives you golden aspens and cottonwoods while October gives you golden larches.This blog is part of a six part series of hikes in and around the Whitefish area in coordination with Explore Whitefish. Check out their website at explorewhitefish.com to find out more ways to explore the area, things to do, places to stay, and how you can recreate responsibly while visiting.
Swift Creek to Smith Lake - Whitefish Trail hike734 2022-08-07 | The Whitefish Trail is a great collection of trails in the Whitefish area that affords locals and visitors alike to get out and hike, bike, run and ride horses on a wide variety of terrain that is increasingly being developed.The flagship of The Whitefish Legacy Project, the Whitefish Trail's goal is to connect all of the trails for a complete loop around Whitefish Lake.A fun route is to start at the Swift Creek Trailhead (where you can just do a shorter, level loop) and hike up to Smith Lake and the Smith Lake Trailhead. Experience dark forests through cottonwoods and spruce near the creek with a couple overlooks and cruise through fir, larch, and pine forests that open up to sprawling views of the surrounding hillsides, culminating in the quaint, wooded Smith Lake.This blog is part of a six part series of hikes in and around the Whitefish area in coordination with Explore Whitefish. Check out their website at explorewhitefish.com to find out more ways to explore the area, things to do, places to stay, and how you can recreate responsibly while visiting.
Mt Aeneas and Picnic Lakes Loop - Jewel Basin Hiking Area hike734 2022-08-04 | The Jewel Basin Hiking Area sits high above the flat floor of the Flathead Valley. The high point of this area is Mt. Aeneas which affords 360 degree panoramic views. A wonderful loop brings you to the summit, then wraps around to the subalpine basin and visits Picnic Lakes, a pair of beautiful lakes tucked underneath the rocky ridge. In the fall, colors from the lush vegetation pop, insects are sparse, the pikas are calling, and migrating raptors hug the ridgeline as the migrate south. The cooler weather also means less visitors. Bring a warm hat, gloves, and a jacket and explore the loop after driving the rocky road up to Camp Misery high up in the Swan Mountain Range.This blog is part of a six part series of hikes in and around the Whitefish area in coordination with Explore Whitefish. Check out their website at explorewhitefish.com to find out more ways to explore the area, things to do, places to stay, and how you can recreate responsibly while visiting.
Climbing Whitecalf Mountain and Kupunkamint Mountain hike734 2022-08-02 | Full blog with photos:hike734.com/trip/climbing-whitecalf-mountain-and-kupunkamint-mountainStraddling the divide between the St Mary Valley and the Cutbank drainage in Glacier National Park lies a great ridgeline. We had already climbed Divide Mountain and we decided to take off and climb both Whitecalf Mountain and Kupunkamint Mountain. It was a big, beautiful day full of epic views, perfect weather, and all the limestone boulders we could handle.
Mt Brown Lookout 2022 hike734 2022-07-11 | Full Blog with Photos at: hike734.com/trip/mt-brown-lookout-2022As the snow continues to recede, we've been finding more places to hike for views. We headed up the Sperry Trail and took the trail to Mt Brown Lookout. In the past, trees obscured much of the views as you steeply climbed, but the burn from a couple of years ago has really improved the vantages as you stop and catch your breath.
Cosley Lake Looning 2022 hike734 2022-07-05 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/cosley-lake-looning-2022The Belly River area of Glacier National Park is such a fantastic background location. We headed out to do Common Loon surveys at Cosley Lake and Glenns Lake which is up in the Mokowanis River drainage. Perfect weather, wildflowers, big mountains, a roaring waterfall, and pristine lakes (with not TOO many mosquitos) made for a fantastic backpack.
Scenic Point Spring 2022 hike734 2022-06-21 | Full blog with photos at hike734.com/trip/scenic-point-spring-2022The hike up to Scenic Point in Glacier National Park in the spring frequently delivers bighorn sheep and sweeping views. With few options that don't involve copious amounts of snow travel, we set out on the trail and got both the sheep in the views in spades.
Carlon Falls hike734 2022-06-07 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/carlon-fallsTucked away in the remote western edge of Yosemite lies a pretty series of cascades along the South Fork Tuolumne River known as Carlos Falls. The hike is mostly level and is great in the spring with a wonderful variety of flowers and higher water.
Avalanche Lake Spring 2022 Bike and Hike hike734 2022-04-26 | Full blog with photos at: hike734.com/trip/avalanche-lake-spring-2022-bike-and-hikeThe forecast called for a lovely spring day on Kristen's birthday, so we decided to load up the bikes and head on up to Glacier National Park to bike, then hike up to Avalanche Lake.Past videos of hiking and biking in Glacier:Avalanche Lake April 2016 - youtu.be/CCr7Blx-axEAvalanche Lake June 2018 - youtu.be/USCGcA8DZJwBiking Going-to-the-Sun Road April 2019 - youtu.be/eG2e8PpWOxMGranite Park Chalet June 2019 - youtu.be/nNt4wP6nso8
Tuolumne Grove hike734 2022-04-20 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/tuolumne-groveWalk down an old road through a forest of large trees to come to the even larger Sequoias of Tuolumne Grove. While not a vast collection, a few lying on the ground and an old tunnel tree (where cars used to drive through) makes for a fun experience.
Four Mile Trail, Glacier Point, and the Panorama Trail hike734 2022-04-14 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/four-mile-trail-glacier-point-and-the-panorama-trailA breathtaking tour of Yosemite Valley begins at the Four Mile Trail and travels up to the iconic Glacier Point with sweeping views. From there the aptly named Panorama Trail takes you down to the John Muir Trail and the Mist Trail with more stunning vistas and three of Yosemite's stunning waterfalls.Utilizing Yosemite's shuttle, the entire hike is 13.7mile/22.1km with an exhausting 4,400ft/1,320m of elevation up and down. The rewards, however, far exceed the exertion.For those looking for for a shorter day with less elevation gain, have a friend drop you off at Glacier Point and travel down either the Four Mile Trail or the Panorama Trail back down to the valley.
Sentinel Dome with Taft Point and The Fissures hike734 2022-03-22 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/sentinel-dome-with-taft-point-and-the-fissuresHikes to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point and The Fissures can be done individually or put together into a 5.2mi/8.4km loop.These two short hikes off of the Glacier Point Road offer exceptional landscape features and great views looking down into Yosemite Valley and north towards the majestic mountains in the Tuolumne Meadows area.
Rocky Point Nature Trail 2021 hike734 2021-08-03 | Full Blog with Photos at hike734.com/trip/rocky-point-nature-trail-2021Just west of Apgar, tucked behind the Fish Creek Campground and Picnic Area, lies a short hike to a unique vantage of Lake McDonald. This short, lollipop-shaped loop takes you through both mature and recently burned forests, along creeks, and out to rocky outcroppings.
McDonald Creek 2021 hike734 2021-07-28 | Full Blog with Photos at hike734.com/trip/mcdonald-creek-trail-2021A quick drive from the West Entrance of Glacier National Park takes you to the head of Lake McDonald where McDonald Creek empties into it. The McDonald Creek Trail works its way up the playful creek, in an easy-going fashion with ample views of the crystal clear water.
Scenic Point 2021 hike734 2021-07-23 | Despite the smoke from fires in the west hanging in the air, we decided to head out to the Two Medicine area to hike Scenic Point, a favorite of ours. While the smoke affected the views somewhat, it also kept the day a bit cooler. We ended up seeing ample wildflowers, picked some huckleberries, and saw plenty of birds.Full blog with photos at hike734.com/trip/scenic-point-2021
New Year. New Office. More Blogs (soon). hike734 2021-01-06 | Well 2021 is (finally) here! I've not published any new blogs since May of 2020 because we were busy building a new house. Now that we're wrapping up, you should see some new content from my travels in Yosemite National Park, Olympic National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.In the meantime, stay healthy and start planning for the summer!
Mirror Lake Loop and Snow Creek Trail hike734 2020-04-06 | In Yosemite National Park, Mirror Lake draws many visitors due to its very accessible trail and the chance to see Half Dome perfectly reflected in the water. A portion of the crowds take the loop around this beautiful valley up and down Tenaya Creek. Very few hardy souls brave the steep switchbacks along Snow Creek to the canyon's rim. Those that do, however, are amply rewarded with views.
Barred Owl in Glacier National Park hike734 2019-11-17 | Full blog with photos and story at: hike734.com/trip/barred-owl-in-glacierYou just never know what you'll stumble upon in Glacier National Park!
Climbing Great Northern hike734 2019-09-20 | Full blog with photos: hike734.com/trip/climbing-great-northern-mountainGreat Northern Mountain just south of Glacier National Park is a beast of a mountain. Kristen and I tried summiting it a few weeks ago, but the weather was terrible and we wanted to do it when we could enjoy the views. While the day started off with the mountain shrouded in the clouds, they parted and we ended up with a cool climb.
Numa Ridge Lookout - Spring 2019 hike734 2019-05-22 | Full Blog with Photos: hike734.com/trip/numa-ridge-lookout-spring-2019May in Glacier National Park doesn't have many opportunities to get into the higher elevation. Numa Ridge Lookout is one glorious exception. Kristen and I were able to hike all the way up to the lookout with snow just near the top. We were treated to flowers, birds, and epic views.
