Glacier National Park

We flew into Calgary and made the drive down to Many Glacier Hotel, where we’d be staying for the week. The hotel sits right on the edge of Swiftcurrent Lake and has been welcoming visitors since 1915. It’s one of those grand old lodges that feels like stepping back in time.

Getting on Going-to-the-Sun Road

Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road

We couldn’t get reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road, so we set our alarms for way too early and headed out before the rangers made it to the station. The road opened in 1933 after 11 years of construction and is considered an engineering marvel. We started from the east entrance and drove all the way to Lake McDonald before turning around. The 50-mile route crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass and offers some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen from a car window.

Wildlife Encounters

White-tailed Deer

Bighorn Sheep

The wildlife viewing was incredible. We spotted white-tailed deer near the trails and bighorn sheep on the rocky slopes. Many people on the hikes told us they’d seen grizzlies, but we never crossed paths with one. We did have one memorable encounter with a cinnamon black bear on the trail, about 100 yards ahead of us. We kept our distance and it went about its business without any trouble.

Moose

Red Squirrel

The smaller wildlife was just as entertaining. We watched moose feeding in the wetlands and spotted a red squirrel chattering away in the trees. Even saw a lazuli bunting, which was a first for me. The males have that brilliant blue color that catches your eye right away.

Lazuli Bunting

Hiking and Exploring

Iceberg Lake Hike

We hiked out to Grinnell Lake one day and did the Iceberg Lake hike on another. The Iceberg Lake trail is about 9.7 miles round trip and takes you to a glacial lake that holds ice well into summer. The turquoise water and floating icebergs make it worth every step.

Fishercap Lake

Fishercap Lake was another highlight. It’s a smaller lake that you can reach on an easier trail, perfect for a more relaxed day of exploring.

On the Water

We went kayaking a couple of times on Swiftcurrent Lake. You can rent kayaks right at Many Glacier Hotel, which made it easy to get out on the water whenever we felt like it. There’s something peaceful about paddling around with those mountain peaks reflected in the water.

Many Glacier Hotel

A Quick Stop Before Home

Before heading back, we stopped by Waterton Lakes just across the border in Canada. It’s part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the world’s first international peace park, established in 1932. The two parks share the same ecosystem and it felt like a nice way to cap off the trip before making the drive back to Calgary.

Had an amazing time but already looking forward to being home.