The East Side of Glacier National Park

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As it turned out, the Going to the Sun Road did not open this morning. When we got to the Park Gate, we were told they were shooting for a noon opening. We would only be allowed to drive thirteen miles up the road after we left the camper in the parking lot of the visitor center.

We pulled off several times along St. Mary Lake with its towering mountains and emerald green water. Of course the overlook at Wild Goose Island is one of my favorite spots. I think my very favorite is Sunrift Gorge/Baring Creek. That clear rushing water coming through that narrow vertical gorge just delights my senses. The creek moves quickly down from there, making multiple waterfalls, curling under the bridge and tumbling on to St. Mary Lake.

At Jackson Glacier overlook there were already cars lined up waiting for the road to be open. A park truck came past, opened the gate, drove through, then locked the gate behind himself. You could see shoulders droop, and then he came back repeating the sequence. It just wasn’t time to open the road. We turned around and went back toward St. Mary, planning to run the road from the west side tomorrow.

We stopped at the path to St. Mary Falls, a nice walk we were told. Turns out it was 2.4 miles round trip down to the valley floor and back up. Kerry and I gave up before getting halfway down, but Gena and Bob went to the bottom. We did see a mule deer grazing on the fresh grass and drinking water from a small creek running down the path.

After leaving the park we drove down Hwy 89 to Browning, then turning west on Hwy 2. We stopped at Goat Lick to see the mountain goats, but only spotted one. He was really working at getting that salt out of the ground. We drove on past the west entrance to the park and on to Coram, where we’ll be camping the next 2 nights.

We got to talk to all three of our kids today, that was a treat. It’s great to be back in cell phone coverage. Tomorrow we’ll drive the Going to the Sun Road from the west.

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