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Glacier 2020

A Travel Diary

Glacier 2020

Lakes, goats, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road — August 2020

134Photographs
9Days
10Places
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The Crown of the Continent

A week in Glacier National Park, Montana — turquoise lakes you can see the bottom of, waterfalls down every cliff, mountain goats on the high rocks, and the unforgettable climb of the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the wildflower meadows of Logan Pass. From the cedars of Avalanche Lake to the turquoise of Hidden Lake, this is the Crown of the Continent at its August best. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

A week in Glacier National Park, Montana — the Crown of the Continent, and it earns the name. The lakes here are so clear you can see straight to the bottom, waterfalls spill down every cliff, and mountain goats pick their way across the high rocks like they own them.

The centerpiece is the Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the great mountain drives, climbing to the wildflower meadows of Logan Pass and the turquoise of Hidden Lake. From the old cedars of Avalanche Lake to the high traverse of the Highline Trail, this was the Rockies at their August best.

This trip ran 9 days, August 3–16, 2020. Along the way we spent time at Lake McDonald, Logan Pass & Hidden Lake, The waterfalls, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier's wild residents, Avalanche Lake & the cedars, The Highline Trail, Alpine wildflowers, and St. Mary Lake. The gallery below tells it day by day, in 134 photographs.

Planning your own trip? Read Glacier National Park: our family itinerary & tips →

Day 1

Mon 3 Aug

Lake McDonald · The waterfalls

Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsSnowmelt thundering over red argillite rock.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsOne of the park's countless waterfalls, loud and cold and clear.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsWhite water folding over the ledges on the way down the valley.

Day 2

Tue 4 Aug

Lake McDonald · St. Mary Lake · The waterfalls

Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary LakeSt. Mary Lake, wind-brushed and ringed with peaks.
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary LakeWild Goose Island sitting small and perfect in the middle of the lake.
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary LakeThe east side of the park, drier and wider and just as blue.
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary LakeStorm light moving over St. Mary, the mountains coming and going.
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary LakeSt. Mary Lake, wind-brushed and ringed with peaks.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsA cascade catching the light at the bottom of the canyon.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsSnowmelt thundering over red argillite rock.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsOne of the park's countless waterfalls, loud and cold and clear.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsWhite water folding over the ledges on the way down the valley.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsA cascade catching the light at the bottom of the canyon.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsSnowmelt thundering over red argillite rock.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsOne of the park's countless waterfalls, loud and cold and clear.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.

Day 3

Wed 5 Aug

The waterfalls · Avalanche Lake & the cedars · Going-to-the-Sun Road

The waterfalls
The waterfallsWhite water folding over the ledges on the way down the valley.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsAvalanche Lake at the end of the trail, fed by ribbons of snowmelt.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsThe Trail of the Cedars — old growth, green light, and boardwalk underfoot.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsAvalanche Creek running impossibly blue through the gorge.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsCliffs rising straight out of the lake with waterfalls down every face.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsAvalanche Lake at the end of the trail, fed by ribbons of snowmelt.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsThe Trail of the Cedars — old growth, green light, and boardwalk underfoot.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsA cascade catching the light at the bottom of the canyon.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsSnowmelt thundering over red argillite rock.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsOne of the park's countless waterfalls, loud and cold and clear.
The waterfalls
The waterfallsWhite water folding over the ledges on the way down the valley.
Avalanche Lake & the cedars
Avalanche Lake & the cedarsAvalanche Creek running impossibly blue through the gorge.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadGoing-to-the-Sun Road, carved impossibly into the mountainside.

Day 4

Thu 6 Aug

A mountain table
A mountain tableEarned it. A cold one with the mountains still in our eyes.

Day 5

Fri 7 Aug

Going-to-the-Sun Road · Lake McDonald · Polebridge

Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadOne of the great drives in America, switchbacking toward the pass.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadThe road threading between cliff and sky on the climb to Logan Pass.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadTunnels, hairpins, and a new view around every bend.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadGoing-to-the-Sun Road, carved impossibly into the mountainside.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadOne of the great drives in America, switchbacking toward the pass.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadThe road threading between cliff and sky on the climb to Logan Pass.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadTunnels, hairpins, and a new view around every bend.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldEvening light settling over the biggest lake in the park.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldMountains stacked behind the lake, fading blue into the distance.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe famous rainbow pebbles of Lake McDonald, glowing underwater.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldLake McDonald going still and silver as the afternoon clouds rolled through.
Polebridge
PolebridgePolebridge Mercantile, end of a long dirt road and worth every mile.

Day 6

Sat 8 Aug

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldThe water so clear you could count the colored stones on the bottom.
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonaldCedar-dark shoreline and a lake that mirrored the whole sky.

Day 7

Sun 9 Aug

Glacier's wild residents

Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsA mountain goat, perfectly at home on the high rocks.
A mountain table
A mountain tableA frozen huckleberry something, the local flavor.

Day 8

Mon 10 Aug

Alpine wildflowers · Logan Pass & Hidden Lake · Glacier's wild residents · The Highline Trail · Going-to-the-Sun Road

Alpine wildflowers
Alpine wildflowersBear grass in full bloom, those tall white torches everywhere you looked.
Alpine wildflowers
Alpine wildflowersFireweed lighting up the burned ground in hot pink.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeLogan Pass at the top of the world, meadows running up to bare rock.
Alpine wildflowers
Alpine wildflowersAlpine meadows thick with wildflowers in the short mountain summer.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeHidden Lake far below, that unreal glacial turquoise.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBear grass and wildflowers carpeting the alpine meadows.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBearhat Mountain standing over Hidden Lake like a held breath.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeSnowfields lingering into August on the high slopes.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeThe continental divide, where the weather makes its own mind up.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeLogan Pass at the top of the world, meadows running up to bare rock.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeHidden Lake far below, that unreal glacial turquoise.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBear grass and wildflowers carpeting the alpine meadows.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBearhat Mountain standing over Hidden Lake like a held breath.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeSnowfields lingering into August on the high slopes.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeThe continental divide, where the weather makes its own mind up.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeLogan Pass at the top of the world, meadows running up to bare rock.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeHidden Lake far below, that unreal glacial turquoise.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBear grass and wildflowers carpeting the alpine meadows.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBearhat Mountain standing over Hidden Lake like a held breath.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeSnowfields lingering into August on the high slopes.
Alpine wildflowers
Alpine wildflowersA whole hillside of color under the peaks.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeThe continental divide, where the weather makes its own mind up.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsGlacier's most famous resident, unbothered and close.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsA marmot sunning itself on a warm slab of stone.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsBighorn and goats grazing the meadows like they own them — they do.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeLogan Pass at the top of the world, meadows running up to bare rock.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeHidden Lake far below, that unreal glacial turquoise.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBear grass and wildflowers carpeting the alpine meadows.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeBearhat Mountain standing over Hidden Lake like a held breath.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeSnowfields lingering into August on the high slopes.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeThe continental divide, where the weather makes its own mind up.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsDeer slipping through the meadow grass in the evening.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeLogan Pass at the top of the world, meadows running up to bare rock.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsA mountain goat, perfectly at home on the high rocks.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsGlacier's most famous resident, unbothered and close.
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake
Logan Pass & Hidden LakeHidden Lake far below, that unreal glacial turquoise.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailThe Highline Trail edging along the Garden Wall, valley dropping away.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailGreen valleys folding into the haze, miles of them.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadGoing-to-the-Sun Road, carved impossibly into the mountainside.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailA narrow path cut into the cliff with the whole range laid out below.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailThe big country opening up on the walk along the divide.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailThe Highline Trail edging along the Garden Wall, valley dropping away.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun RoadOne of the great drives in America, switchbacking toward the pass.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsA marmot sunning itself on a warm slab of stone.
Glacier's wild residents
Glacier's wild residentsBighorn and goats grazing the meadows like they own them — they do.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailGreen valleys folding into the haze, miles of them.
Alpine wildflowers
Alpine wildflowersBear grass in full bloom, those tall white torches everywhere you looked.
Alpine wildflowers
Alpine wildflowersFireweed lighting up the burned ground in hot pink.
The Highline Trail
The Highline TrailA narrow path cut into the cliff with the whole range laid out below.

Day 9

Sun 16 Aug

A mountain table
A mountain tableEnd of a long day on the trail, savored slowly.

Where we wandered