Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Montana's Glacier National Park and Alberta, Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park meet at the border between the US and Canada.  In 1932 the parks, jointly, were designated the world's first International Peace Park to commemorate the bonds of peace and friendship between the two nations.

Although the 2 National Parks are administered by separate countries, they co-operate to manage their natural and cultural resources. The plants and animals ignore political boundaries and claim the mountainous terrain on both sides of the border.

The Parks - as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park - have been jointly designated a World Heritage Site, an honour shared with the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and the Egyptian Pyramids.

Glacier National Park is a spell binding place. We have seen  many fantastic sights over the last 13 months but this has to be right up there. We know we are coming back tomorrow!



The view of Hidden Lake is unforgettable. The trail up the glacier seems never ending; lots of steps and boardwalks. It is OK to stop often to look out over the view!?

We see squirrels, marmouts ... even mountain goats.

Mind you going back down is also tricky. The path is at times quite narrow and there are a lot of people out on it.

We could have continued hiking. There are over 700 miles of trails through some of the most spectacular country in the Rockies;  a lot of people (young-er)  look as if they are going to be out on the trail for most of the day, or days. We are happy to offer our car park to another grateful driver and continue on the Going To The Sun Road.

And ... I 'get it'. The first few miles of the Going To The Sun Road wind around the lake. Trees crowd over and beside the road. The forest is very dense. It is quite dark.
Gradually, as the road gains elevation, the forest thins to alpine meadows; the sun shines down brilliantly. You are truly 'going to the sun'.

We have lunch overlooking a magical valley. We are up high - the view is spectacular!

Water from melting snow runs down the rocky side of a glacier. It falls onto the road in a waterfall.

I don't think I have seen so many people taking photos all at the same time!

The red buses

We reach the end of the Going To The Sun Road at St. Mary after driving beside the St. Mary Lake. The road has taken us about 5 hours - 53 miles!

St Mary Lake

We each have an enormous ice-cream at St.Mary - Moose Tracks and Huckleberry flavours!  Well we have done a hike!!






We continue north to Babb and take the road to the Many Glacier Valley often referred to as the heart of Glacier. We see a number of cars stopped on the side of the road - a sign of wildlife??
We also stop. People are out of their cars looking across a river to the opposite bank. Sure enough ... 2 black bears!!  How wonderful!!

They are not at all concerned by their audience. They nonchalantly wander the river bank; we are all speaking in whispers!!

We finally return to the RV Park at 7pm. What's for tea?
Thinking of a pizza we call in to Papa Murphy's, place our order then discover this is a chain of 'ready to cook' pizzas. Thankfully we are able to cancel our order! It must be Papa John's!!!