Glacier National Park and The Road to the Sun.

We leave Polson on Friday 16 August. Trevor is keen to get on the road early. I want to walk first. When I get back to the RV he has already raised the levellers and is 'good to go'. I have a quick breakfast and shower ... things are getting pulled in and shut down around me; almost as if he is saying 'what part of "get away early" don't you understand?'

He is prepared to stop on our way out of town though so that I can get a coffee from Starbucks in Safeway.

I may not have mentioned it, but we (me) are now finding coffee everywhere!
Safeway, a large chain of supermarkets all over the country, almost always has a Starbucks in their store. There will also be several Starbucks in town and lots of little 'coffee cabins' - small, brightly painted stand alone shacks, sometimes with parking - which sell the best espresso.

We continue on Highway 93 up the west side of Flathead Lake. It is a beautiful drive along the lake with fantastic views. It is also a pretty day; a clear blue sky; about 65F.

We enter Kalispel a town at the north end of Flathead Lake. A parade is about to start. The parade is part of Kalispel Fair. Main Street is closed.  We are directed through back streets and into residential areas; lots of overhanging trees and bumpy roads!

We have a rental car booked for 11 o'clock. We check into the Spruce Park RV Park on the Flathead River.

Kalispel is about an hour's drive from the Canadian border and half an hour from the Glacier National Park. It was founded in 1891 as a railroad town. Its period of railroad prosperity didn't last long as the Great Northern Railway relocated the main line to the north with Whitefish MT as its new destination.

Kalispel however had by then established itself as the trade and financial centre for the Flathead Valley. That prosperity continued as highways opened up. It was to become the Gateway to Glacier National Park after the Park was created.


Trevor gives blood at the American Red Cross in Kalsipel. He has continued as a blood donor while we have been away - every 3 months. Then we go to the Visitors Centre; again we are overwhelmed with information, maps and brochures - all we need to explore Glacier National Park. We are advised to arrive in the Park early
otherwise we could become completely bogged down in traffic!

Cowboy town!

On Saturday we arrive at the West Entrance to Glacier National Park about 9.15. Already there is a steady stream of cars into the Park but its not too bad yet.  And what scenery!!


We drive along the shore of  Lake McDonald with tantalising glimpses of the lake through the trees. Fortunately there are places where we can pull over; we stand in awe of the beauty of nature and take photos.




The beauty of it all brings to mind a quote -
Life is not about the breath that you take but the moments that take     your breath away! 

You all need to come here!!



The water is so clear; you can count the stones on the river bed!

It is also fairly cold!






Glacier National Park was established in 1910. It is 1,013,594 acres or 1,583 square miles.
Glacier has 762 lakes the largest of which is Lake McDonald which is 10 miles long and 6,680 ft wide.
The Park also has 563 streams or rivers.
Only 25 glaciers remain that are large enough to be named - down from an estimated 150 in the mid-1800's.
Glacier has 175 mountains, six of which are over 10,000 ft high
The Continental Divide runs through the Park for 106 miles.

More than 2.7 million people visit the Park each year.

We take the famed Going To The Sun Road.

Considered one of the most epic engineering feats in the world, the 50 mile long Road takes travellers through the heart of Glacier National Park. It climbs 3,000 ft to the 6,646 ft high Logan Pass at the top of the Continental Divide.

It is carved out of sheer mountain slopes. It is a National Historic Landmark.

The road is windy; it twists and turns with stunning views at each turn.

If you want, you can take free shuttle bus, a Red Bus. After driving the Road from end to end the shuttle makes a lot of sense!












We stop at the Logan Pass Visitor Centre. Now we understand about getting to the Park early. Although we have been in a continuous line of cars as we drive, it is when you look for a park in a carpark - such as at Logan Pass - that you want to be at the head of the line! Fortunately we find a park.


I am reminded of Trevor's usual practice at home if he is looking for a park at Garden City, Booragoon - once round the carpark - if no park, he goes home! Thankfully he stuck to it and we eventually find a park. Sorry Trev!

We take a hike to Hidden Lake which is about 1.5 miles each way- straight up and straight down!! The round trip takes us about an hour and a half; it is a good climb!

More views! Although it is a fine and sunny day, there is a lot of haze from forest fires - I think they are a long way away.