Glacier National Park - Hidden Lake

After leaving Waterton we came to Glacier NP. Just another day of driving around looking at spectacular views and doing a short hike or two. This post will contain more pictures than dialog.

Here is what a glacier really looks like. We stopped in the Many Glacier Hotel to walk around and down one long hallway there are posted on the walls a pictorial explanation of the shrinking glaciers. This one looks large, but in the early 1900's when pictures are available of this same area, this glacier covered this entire field with the three areas actually being part of one large glacier. They are shrinking. There is no denying that fact!

This is the Many Glacier Hotel at the east entrance into the park. It is a beautiful old wood and rustic structure inside and out. Have you ever seen a Hotel more happily situated?

If anyone visits Glacier you must ride on Logan Pass Road aka the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It splits Glacier in half and is a super scenic drive. We are at the Visitor's Center which is about mid way through the drive.

If you walk up and behind the Visitor's Center for Logan's Pass, you see this lovely boardwalk that starts the trail that leads to Hidden Lake. Do you see how this walk goes up, up, up? It turns out to be about 2.5 miles of up and disappears to the left side of the hill beside the mountain. All I could think of was this better be some cool looking lake!

So here was the first surprise we encountered. Due to the glacier run offs, this beautiful field of flowers brought the whole hillside alive with butterflies and bees. This is two different angles of the same shot but so worth sharing!

Yes, we did make it up and the views were worth the walk. Here is Hidden Lake. It's just amazing how these lakes in Glacier and Yellowstone are nestled in among the mountains up so high.

This was a bonus surprise. Just to the right of the platform to view the lake we got to see these goats. Mama was on the right side of the tree and the baby was on the left. I loved the sounds she was making.

Mama kept an eye on all the visitors taking pictures but never became so concerned that she got up.

This guy got extra points for strength and creativity. He's carrying a child that was about 18 months old and sound asleep on his back, AND the little dog in the bottom. We counted 4 kids for this couple. They got "busted" by the Rangers for letting the dog down without a leash so on the descent they had a visible leash on the dog and the guy had to hold the controlling end in his hand even though the dog was still in the sack. Tough life for the dog, huh?

Going back down....

Another ground squirrel too cute to pass up.

More fierce wildlife. This is a pica. He came right up to my shoe. We were so shocked Bob didn't get a picture of it. I would have started hopping around if he had tried to climb my leg! He went over and decided to pose for us.

Here is a waterfall on this path that you can walk right up to. Another outlet for the glacier run-off.

This was about 4 to 5 miles walking/hiking. Then we crossed the street in front of the Visitor's Center and went on the Highline Trail. And that will be the next blog subject!