Glacier National Park Trip

Glacier National Park Trip - East Side

West Side | Going to the Sun Road | East Side

After Logan Pass we continued on the Going to the Sun road to the eastern side of the park. On the way down we got a view of Jackson Glacier which is one of the 25 remaining glaciers in the park. In 1850 there were 150 glaciers. It is estimated that all the park's glaciers will be gone by 2030.

I had hoped to do one more hike before exiting the park, but there was no where left to park at the trailheads. Perhaps this was a good thing as a storm cloud was following us as we drove east. We left the park and drove towards our hotel in East Glacier. On the way down we entered the park again at Two Medicine and did a short hike to Running Eagle Falls. It was an simple nature trail to a waterfall that poured out of a rock wall. On the way out the park the rain started to fall with some thunder an lightning. We were fortunate to be staying indoors that night.

The next day we headed back to the Two Medicine entrance to take a short boat ride across Two Medicine Lake. The boat "Sinopah" had been in use on the Lake for over 70 years. At the other end of the lake we took a short hike to Twin Falls which consisted of two waterfalls no more than 100 feet apart. We headed back and waited an hour for the boat to return. This gave the girls lots of time throw rocks in the lake and for Vivian to completely soak her shoes and pants.

We left the park for the last time and started the long drive home. We spent the night in Sandpoint Idaho and the next day drove for hours along the nearly empty Highway 2 which was interesting and boring at the same time. We stopped at Grand Coulee Dam for a break and took a tour. We arrived at home late at night with the girls all asleep in their seats.

We had a good trip despite the less than ideal weather conditions. We probably would have stayed a day longer if it had not been for the rain. The Going to the Sun road was definitely a beautiful drive and though it was better than the drives through the North Cascades or Rainier it wasn't significantly better. In any case we're glad we finally got to visit the park, especially before the glaciers are all gone.