Glacier - Day 5

From Kalispell, MT to Kalispell, MT: about 200 miles

This was the day we’d been riding for; taking the ‘Road to the Sun’ through Glacier National park. We headed north out of Kalispell to get to West Glacier, the entrance to the park. The day was only slightly cool and the weather promised to be outstanding. Someone had told us earlier that the entrance fee to the park was $25. That seemed a bit high for just being in the park for one day, but we’d traveled about 2000 miles to get to this point so we weren’t about to let some extravagant fee prevent us from riding through the park. Here’s the sign at the entrance to West Glacier; the location was not conducive to placing our bikes in front of it for the obligatory sign shot.

Entrance to the park was cheaper than anticipated as the cyclist rate was only 12$. I was already prepared to pay $25 so I covered Kevin's. Soon we were cruising beside Lake McDonald lake on our way to Logan pass.We took most of our pictures on this day so I’ll try to skip some commentary and allow the pictures to do the talking. Of course, the lens is so limiting when trying to capture an area so expansive as this park. You just can’t get the whole thing.

These are some of the scenes you’d encounter as you enter from the west side of the park.

Then of course we had the roadblock situation one more time. This was a timed blockage of 30 minutes… at 1pm they would be letting us travel up the road to the pass. So we took a few pics while we waited and talked to the trio of Harley riders from Montana that were touring the park as well.

Soon they allowed us to continue on our journey and we commenced with the photo taking. It’s so nice to have bikes with automatic transmissions and cruise control so we can take pictures while riding, don’t you think?

Then we finally reached the pass and had magnificent views of the mountains all around us. Being the end of the summer season the glaciers were kinda small and dirty… but there was some snow that had still stuck around.

I was quite surprised at the overall elevation of the pass being only 6646 ft., quite low in regards to some we’d traversed in Colorado as well as the one we would be tackling on the way back into Wyoming – Beartooth. The weather was quite warm and we hardly saw a cloud in the sky all day.

There was a short hike of about 1.5 miles to an observation area higher up the pass that provided a view of Hidden Lake. I decided that this would be a good change of pace for us. However, Kevin felt that such an endeavor would not be good for those that might be ‘faint of heart’ or ‘large of body’. He, being the latter, opted out of this little venture and found another trail that led to some mountain goats hiding from tourists.

There was quite a long boardwalk that started the trail before it dumped you off to the rock/dirt around the top portion of the mountain. But it did allow for some great shots of the rock that tops the mountains.

Captured this shot of the moon hanging out by the rocky tops.

Once on the top of the pass you still had a ways to traverse to get to the observation point to see the lake. On the way I came across this guy, resting in a grove of trees close to the trail but pretty much undisturbed by everyone else walking by.

Reaching the observation point gave these great views of the Hidden Lake and the surrounding mountains.

Further up the trail I found these two guys, also trying to hide from the tourists.

As you can see from the pictures below, the hike up to Hidden Lake Pass is certainly more than a few steps and I think it’s an elevation change of about 800 ft. as well. Click on the map below to enlarge it.

On the way down I met my brother close to the end of the boardwalk, carrying some water that he shared with me thinking I probably needed some. After a brief rest we ran into this fearless little guy that felt he owned the place.

For you older folks that might be contemplating a trip such as this, on the east side you can catch these nifty little open air transports that will shuttle you too and from the pass. We saw numerous elderly types taking advantage of this service. If you don't don't pack so many in there you don't have to poke your head out of the top.

We still needed to get the sign shot, but still couldn’t get our bikes by it so you have to settle for me and Kevin standing by the sign. Proof we were actually there.

While we were there a couple came up and asked if we’d take their picture as well… so we did.

Ooops… I wonder if I was supposed to use their camera? If anyone knows this couple please let them know they can find their picture here.

Well, here it was, 3pm and we’d gone a whole 50 miles so far out of the 200 we had planned. We decided we’d better get mounted up and headed out if we were going to make it back to the Hotel that evening.

On the way out there was a free car wash offered, but we opted out of that one. The water looked like it was just shooting out of the mountain.

Kevin watched me stumble a few times as I walked down the road with my helmet on trying to get some waterfall shots. Thinking I might tumble down the mountain, and what a great shot that would make, he was already snapping pics of me.Overall the park was very impressive.

On the way out on the east side you cruise beside St. Mary Lake. And the time of day we were leaving gave us opportunity for some great shots.

Then finally we found a park sign that we could place our bikes in front of:

We hadn't traveled too far out of the park when we ran into a new kind of road block. Livestock on the road that weren't in a hurry to move for anybody. We finally squeezed by. Fist time I had to share the road with a single horsepower vehicle.

Soon we were out of the park and headed south on US 89 working our way around the south end of the park. This ended up being a great road with super sweepers and a high speed limit… what more could you want?

Before reaching Browning we turned right onto 49, also known as Looking Glass Hill Rd. This proved to be a great road for twisties as it went up and over a mountain and then connected to US2 which led us to the small town of East Glacier.

We followed US2 all the way around the southern tip of the park and then back to West Glacier where the road turned south allowing us to return to Kalispell. But by this time it was we were due for gas… at least for me anyways. We ended up pulling up to gas in Martin City, where lo and behold, someone was interested in the Valkyrie. Usually in these parts of the country it’s Kevin’s V-strom that gets all the attention. But this guy had one out in California that he put 100k miles on before he sold it. We talked for a short bit and then Kevin got some eating options from some locals and we headed down the road in search of eating opportunities.

Soon we were pulling into the Elkhorn Grill in Hungry Horse, MT.

Neither one of us had Elk, or horse for that matter... but there was this little guy what was mesmerized by the motorcycles once he saw them. Kept hanging by the window looking at the bikes. Both his parents were in the Air Force, stationed at Mountain home and were out for the day. Kevin offered to let him sit on his bike and after placing it on the center stand, his father set him on the seat. Not sure he knew what to think of that.

He either got it out of his system, or he’s now ruined for life. Not sure which, but either way it’s Kevin’s fault. After that we rode back to the Hotel and put the bike’s up for the night. Tomorrow we have a long haul with some slab riding to put us in position to ride Beartooth highway the next day so we needed some rest. Plus we did a lot more walking than riding, and you know how that walking tires you out.