Glacier National Park 2015

It’s May 1, and it’s finally beginning to feel like spring! Which means summer and camping season are right around the corner.

I grew up camping several times a year with my parents and younger brother. From the mountains of Grand Teton National Park to the towering mounds of sand at Bruneau Dunes State Park or the pine trees of Ponderosa State Park, we explored it all. It was something special we did together as a family.

Now I’m 26 years old, and little has changed in the love-of-the-outdoors department. My favorite place to camp and hike is Glacier National Park. About five hours to the east in the soaring mountains of western Montana, Glacier is my happy place, my refuge, my escape. My spirits lift as soon as I see the iconic snowcapped spires that surround the western entrance to the park.

John Muir wrote this in his book The Mountains of California:

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

Agreed, Mr. Muir. Agreed.

With that, I’d like to share some of my hikes and experiences from my last trip to Glacier in July 2015. It’ll help satiate my Glacier bug until I get out there again in just a few months!

My partner, Chris, and I spent five days in Glacier that summer, which was the longest either of us had ever spent there. This gave us time to do several hikes and relax in our campsite and by the lake in Sprague Creek Campground (the best in my opinion).

Avalanche Lake

Distance: 4.5 miles

This hike is great for families with small children or folks who only have a few hours to spend on the trail. The trail itself is well maintained and steep in some places. My calves were definitely burning during the second half of the hike on the way to the lake. The views are totally worth it, though. We also saw a deer on this trail.

Two Medicine Lake

Distance: ~13-14 miles

This hike was a tough one. I forgot bug spray so I was eaten alive by mosquitoes the entire time, and it was brutal. The scenery was gorgeous though! We started on the south shore of Two Medicine Lake and took the south shore trail all the way to Upper Two Medicine Lake. We spontaneously decided to branch off to go see Twin Falls and No Name Lake. Both locations were beautiful, but it did make the hike significantly longer than we’d planned.

Grinnell Glacier

Distance: 7.6 miles

This is probably my second favorite hike in Glacier, with the first being Highline Trail. The scenery is breathtaking, and the hike is challenging so you definitely feel like you’ve earned it when you make it to the glacier. The glacial lake at the end of the hike is a beautiful cloudy blue, and it is FREEZING. Chris and I used the frigid water to cool our water packs. I highly recommend this hike!

Ptarmigan Tunnel

Distance: 10.7 miles

I will begin by saying that this is tough hike. You’ll gain 2,300 feet in elevation, 500 of which comes at the very end with steep switchbacks. The view is 1,000 percent worth it, though. Chris and I were both nervous on this trail because we didn’t see another human being until the very end and this trail is in major bear country. We were glad to have our bear spray, just in case. This was just one of those “it’s quiet…too quiet” kind of things. Luckily, it turned out fine and was a wonderful experience!