Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park has been very high on my travel bucket list,
and with international travel out of the cards this year it was the perfect time to check off this incredible destination! The hype around how beautiful this place is did not disappoint - i’m already dreaming of a return trip soon!
Going To The Sun Road
My podcast listeners and IG followers always come through clutch with recommendations, and by far the most suggested activity was driving the ‘Going To The Sun Road’ that runs through the national park. We spent an entire day cruising this route, and to our satisfaction we were blessed with a perfectly overcast day that set a glorious backdrop of clouds over the peaks of the mountains. After so many weeks in the hot & humid south, the chill in the air was a very welcomed presence.
There’s no better road trip vehicle than a Jeep Wrangler, am I right?? My two friends and I set out early and hit the road, stopping along the way at a few of the most recommended attractions. We started in West Glacier, and had our eyes on Logan Pass as our destination before heading back. The east side of the park was closed during our trip, so this felt like a good out-and-back route.
Without stopping, I imagine you could do the drive in about 2 hours each way. There are an infinite amount of places that you can pull over to snap a few photos of the views and scenery. We took our time and stopped several times to enjoy the journey to the top of mountain.
Once you reach ‘Logan’s Pass’ (which is the highest point in Glacier National Park) you can park your car at the visitor’s center and explore the area. The highlight up here is the hike to Hidden Lake, and it’s a great spot to catch sight of the mountain goats that roam here. You can usually see them with the naked eye, but I always pack binoculars for wildlife viewing so you can really get a good look!
On the way back down the mountain, you’ll pass by a popular site called the ‘Weeping Wall,’ and just past that we made a pit stop for photos in a magical field of purple wildflowers, with the mountains posing perfectly in the background. You can’t tell from the pictures, but it was drizzling ever so slightly and felt amazing!
Logan Pass // hike to Hidden Lake
Going To The Sun Road
Also on our way back down Going To The Sun Road, we did a final stop at the Trail of the Cedars. This is a stunning, shaded, easy loop walk amongst the majestic Hemlock and Cedar trees. Along this walk, you’ll find the trailhead for the hike to Avalanche Lake - an out and back trail roughly 2.3 miles one way that ends at, you guessed it, a beautiful turquoise blue lake with waterfalls cascading down the mountain side. Make sure to stop here for awhile and enjoy!!
Even if you aren’t up for the entire hike (it’s so worth it though!) don’t miss out on the incredible views of the Avalanche Gorge. This is just a couple tenths of a mile from the start of the trailhead, and you’ll find stunning views of glacially melted water powerfully rushing through the narrow gorge. It’s absolutely breathtaking!
Trial of the Cedars
Avalanche Lake
Trail of the Cedars hike
Now for my FAVORITE part of our trip — on the second day we got up just after sunrise for a half-day adventure of kayaking! We rented inflatable kayaks from a nearby hotel at 8am - (which to be honest, wasn’t ideal. The hard sided kayaks are much easier to maneuver in the water, but since we had to fit ours in the back of our Jeep it was our best option) - and made our way to Lake McDonald where our journey began.
***NOTE: To drop any boats or water craft into Lake McDonald, or any other bodies of water inside the national park, you must first obtain a permit (there is no cost!) from a boat inspection site. There is one in the parking lot at Agpar Village, which is where we dropped our kayaks in.
There are tons of options for guided kayak tours if you aren’t comfortable on your own, but Kierston and I really wanted a self-guided experience. Thankfully I had a friend that visited Glacier just a couple of weeks before me, and shared her kayak route with us. We dropped in at Lake McDonald and paddled around a bit, and of course had to take a few photos (it was just so stunning!) before we headed for our destination of Blankenship Bridge. This route takes you from the lake, down McDonal creek for just a few minutes and then spits you out into the Middle Fork Flathead River. The coolest part (and kinda the scariest haha) about this route was that we saw ZERO people until we were about 1.5 hours into the journey
Lake McDonald
. ***PRO TIP: take bear spray. We did not see any bears, but being alone in the wilderness can be a little scary (but so thrilling!!!), so it’s better to be prepared rather than not! Once you get onto the river, you’ll paddle through several rapids that are juuuust big enough to make you feel badass, but require no prior rafting experience. We didn’t do much stopping (although there are several sandbars where you could) and we finished the trip in about 3 hours.
Make sure to pack water and a snack or two in your kayak! Also, highly recommend sunscreen and bug spray… and as far as wardrobe for this activity goes, we did wear swimsuits but I would suggest packing some waterproof layers as the weather changes so quickly. I’d also recommend wearing water shoes of some sort, because sometimes you’ll hit low spots in the river where you may hit rocks and have to walk your kayak through shallow areas, especially in McDonal Creek.
Middle Fork River
Lake McDonald
accomodations
One of the most important decisions about a trip to Glacier is figuring out where to stay. There are many option from hotels to backcountry camping, and since I have enjoyed my time glamping at various Under Canvas locations in the past, we stuck with what we know and made Under Canvas Glacier our home away from home here! The reason I love staying here so much is because you get to sleep outside and connect with nature without sacrificing good sleep and a hot shower. It’s truly the best of both worlds! ;) There are many tent options, but I always opt for a Deluxe tent which features your own in-tent bathroom. This time, we chose a Deluxe Suite so there was room for all of us in one tent. We had the typical king size bed, plus a queen size pullout sofa with the same luxury sheets and warm down comforter.
While Under Canvas Glacier has the same plush king beds and eco-friendly bathrooms as their other camps, what sets this one apart is the option to sleep in a “treehouse tent” which is elevated - some slightly more than others! Book them quick though, their availability is limited and these tents get booked up fast. Other highlights of glamping at Under Canvas are the morning coffee service — they’ll bring fresh coffee to your tent at whichever time you request, which makes for a very pleasant wake up call! They also do nightly S’mores by the fire pit, a perfectly ideal way to end the night!
Having only a few days to take in as much of Glacier as possible, we decided on our last morning to wake up EXTRA early and catch the sunrise at Lake McDonald. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend!! Get a coffee on your way and enjoy the beautiful reflections the sunrise and clouds create on the lake. With even just an iPhone, you’ll capture stunning photos! With only a few hours left before we headed to the airport, we decided to take a little trip up the western side of the park to a teeny tiny town called Polebridge. I had a few people suggest driving up this way for a supposedly INCREDIBLE Huckleberry Bear Claw, and you know what? IT WAS SO WORTH IT! It was about an hour drive each way from Agpar Village, but you get to see different views of the park along the way. The mercantile is pretty much the ONLY thing in Polebridge it seems, but damn if it doesn’t have some of the best pastries and coffee we’ve ever had!
shot by me on my iPhone :)
photos by Rebecca Slaughter
Brandi Cyrus is a DJ and fashion influencer with a passion for travel and a love for animals.