San-Suz-Ed

All Vacationers Montana R.V. Park, Campground & Bed and Breakfast

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Tour of Our Area and Glacier Park

We are at San-Suz-Ed R.V. Park and campground, now where do we go? Well, let me take you on a tour of Glacier Park and the West Glacier area. Heading towards Glacier Park we have Kruger Helicoper-Tours, on up the road is the RAWHIDE restaurant and steak house and TRAIL RIDES. Another option is Glacier Heli Tours (Minuteman Aviation, Inc.) and RENTAL CARS. A rafting trip provides exhilarating views of the wild and scenic river, for reservations call Montana Raft Company, Great Northern Whitewater Raft & Resort, or Glacier Raft Company. OH? I see the Railroad Depot (Belton). This is where the Glacier Historical -Association have many of their books, besides loading and unloading anxious people either coming or going. Across the street is a restaurant and up another block is the famous Belton Chalet restaurant. (Check our area links and telephone numbers for more information)

We now have to drive back one block and go under the railroad tracks, and here is our little West Glacier. We have a post office, gifts shops, grocery and clothing, restaurant, gas station, and photo stop. On down the road is our 18 hole golf course.

The Canadian’s have a extensive information center, and this is a must to see. Now cross over the Middle Fork River and on to Glacier National Park Headquarters and the administration building. You can buy your Golden Age pass here. On through the gate, and we are in Glacier Park and NO bears yet. At the junction you can take a left to the North Fork and Apgar. Apgar is a little village here at the end of Lake McDonald (check my Pictures for this view.) Ranger present informative programs at the amphitheater nightly. Leaving Apgar, head to the famed Going- To-The-Sun Road. You cannot get lost.

Lake McDonald is on the left and over half way up is the beautiful Lake McDonald Lodge . It was built in 1913, and it has a fireplace large enough for you to stand in. All kinds of animal mounts are displayed. This is must for anyone and everyone to see. They have a boat trip on this lake, and they also have information programs every night. You can just sit out and enjoy the scenery, it is breathtaking.

Upper Lake McDonald - turn off here and you can hike the Johns Lake Loop. This a short one. I think it is about 3 miles round trip. Take you kiddo’s on this one. You will see all the magical parts of the forest: mt. hemlocks, red cedar trees, maple, and, in season, those juicy huckleberries. Look and listen for the animals - could be bears, deer, or more people. Just pay attention.

The two mountains to the north that backdrop Johns Lake are Stanton Mountain at 7,750 feet in elevation and 8,850 foot Mount Vaught. You will see them again when you are traveling up the Going-To-The-Sun Road.

Now you will hear the rushing of McDonald Creek and the cars across on the highway. Soon you will cross the footpath to McDonald Creek, cross over the wooden bridge and after the cascade the trail approaches McDonald Falls. If we have had lots of snow and rain these falls are something to see. Going back you will want to take pictures of Lake McDonald and Apgar Mountains.

Stop at all the turnoffs along the Creek and listen to the rushing water, in the Fall it is calm.

Now stop at the Avalanche parking area. Here you will find The Trail of Cedars which is a boardwalk, so people with a handicap disability, you can enjoy this hike. You will see western red cedar and black cottonwood. Some of these trees are more than 350 years old. There will be hemlocks as you walk along the creek. As you make your way back you will be in the Avalanche Creek Campground, developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp., known as the CCC.

For the an easy hike take off from the Trail of Cedars to Avalanche Lake - WOW. It is about a 4 mile round trip - MY FAVORITE. Well, one of my favorites. The lower segment of the trail passes through Avalanche Creek Canyon. Here over thousands of years the whirling waters have shaped and polished the red argillite rock into a beautifully sculpted watercourse. You will stand admiring the churning waters in the gorge. Don’t be surprised when a bird will goes zipping by. This small gray bird is a water ouzel, also known as a dipper. They live here along the fast moving water. They stay here all the time. At an elevation of 3,950 feet, Avalanche Lake, originally called Beaver Head Lake by the Kootenai Indians, sits in the narrow valley once glaciated. As the glacier melted it left a depression with run off. Much of that water comes from the Sperry Glacier. As you face the Lake, the mountains from the left to the right are Bear Hat Mountains 8,684 feet, Fusillade Mountain 8,750 feet, Little Matterhorn 7,886 feet and Mount Brown 8,565 feet. On a good year you will see five beautiful waterfalls. (I am enjoying these just telling you about them.)

Back on the highway and here it says Moose Flats. Where are they? I have to tell you my story about this one. We saw this moose in the river, and she was pushing this tiny wobbly long-legged baby around in the water. We still don't know what she was trying to teach it. Maybe to swim, who knows. It was the only time we ever saw that.

If you continue on the Going-To-The-Sun Road you pass an area burned by a large forest fire about 30 years ago and more recently in 2003. As you climb towards Logan Pass you come to the Loop. Turn into the parking lot at the top of the loop for a view west across the mountains. Part of this area was burned in the Summer of 2003. You can take the trail to Granite Park Chalet - easier done from Logan Pass, however.

As you continue towards Logan Pass you pass numerous waterfalls (in a wet year). Watch for the Weeping Wall and a sign that points out Bird Woman Falls across the valley.

Just before you reach Logan Pass the road is carved out of the Garden Wall. The Highline Trail from Logan Pass is above you at this point in your trip. Even if you do not hike the whole trail, it is an unforgettable experience to hike the first 3 or 4 miles of the Highline Trail. You'll likely see bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and maybe a bear.

The Logan Pass Visitors Center is the center of activity at the Pass. You can obtain information on the various hikes from the rangers. If nothing else try the Hidden Lake trail – it’s spectacular. Mountain goats are almost a certainty. Reynolds Mountain (over 9,000 feet) is just east of the lake. The parking lot often fills by 11:00 a.m., so start for the Pass early.

Continuing east from the pass you will descend toward St. Mary. At the first loop you can take hikes to either Piegan Pass (about 4.5 miles) or bear right at the marked trail junction to take the Siyeh Pass trail to Sunrift Gorge (10.3 miles). Continuing east you'll be able to see Jackson Glacier from a marked pullout. As you drive along St. Mary Lake watch for signs to shorter hikes to St. Mary and Virginia Falls at the head of the lake or to Sunrift Gorge. Along the way to St. Mary you'll pass the Rising Sun Campground and Motel - beautiful setting.

Watch for the pullout to click pictures of Wild Goose Island in St. Mary Lake. It is one of the most photographed scenes in the Park. Boat tours are available on St. Mary Lake - check at web site for Glacier Boat Company (see area links and telephone numbers).

After you enjoy the town of St. Mary, be sure to explore the Many Glacier and Two Medicine areas of the Park.

You can make a loop from the famous Going-To-The-Sun road to St. Mary, then south to the Two Medicine area, on to East Glacier, be sure to stop at the Big Hotel and Train Station. Head back west on U.S. Highway 2 and stop at the goat lick to see the mountain goats licking the natural salt formation, then stop at Essex to see the famous Izaak Walton Inn & Train Station, then head on back to SSE Montana R.V. Park. This trip makes a full day of sightseeing of the most spectacular scenery Montana has to offer.

Another great day trip from San-Suz-Ed would be to head east through West Glacier, stop to see the goats at the Goat Lick pullout and then continue on to Essex. There you find the Izaak Walton Inn. A great ski and snowshoe area in the winter, and you have a spectacular view of Glacier Park any season. Stop and watch the trains go by. Try their great mud pie.