Two Medicine and Many Glacier
Glacier National Park
On Thursday, June 24, 2021, we drove north from Helena toward the Blackfoot Nation through the town of Browning, about 175 miles north of Helena. We drove west from there and entered Glacier National Park at Two Medicine. After a picnic lunch (and a passing rain shower), we took a walk to Paradise Point for a great view of Two Medicine Lake. We thought it was beautiful, but there were even better views coming up.
Then we drove north (outside the park) on US 89 to Many Glacier, which took about 1:45, in part because there was road construction between Babb and Swiftcurrent lake. We checked in to the Many Glacier Hotel, built in 1915, on Swiftcurrent Lake, where we would stay for three nights. Due to COVID, things were a bit odd at the hotel, such as only take-out food for which you had to stand in line. And then you had to find a place to eat it, which most people did in the hotel lobby…so not much different than indoor dining. But the location could not be beat.
It was cloudy with on and off light rain when we arrived. But the next day, June 25, 2021, the sunrise at Many Glacier was spectacular. We got this view:
Absolutely breathtaking! Our room faced the lake in this annex wing of the hotel.
We took a walk to Fishercap Lake after breakfast, but alas, we did not see any moose.
After a picnic lunch at our lodge, we took a boat tour across Swiftcurrent Lake and then walked a bit to nearby Lake Josephine where took another boat across that lake. At the west end of the second lake, we hiked one mile to nearby Grinnell Lake, going over a wobbly suspension bridge to get there. The afternoon tour took about four hours, but the scenery was beautiful!
Here is a photo from our boat on Swiftcurrent Lake.
And this next photo is Grinnell Lake. Stunning.
The next day, Saturday, June 26, 2021, we walked around Swiftcurrent Lake for about two and a half miles. We also sat on our hotel porch and looked at the amazing scenery. We took another stroll in the area in the afternoon. Below are several photos from our walks in the area.
We were sad to leave Many Glacier, which is truly one of the most beautiful spots on earth, but the park is big and there are more places to see. Tomorrow, we will take our first drive on part of the “Going to the Sun Road.”
