- #HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS PATCH#
- #HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS FULL#
- #HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS SERIES#
- #HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS FREE#
My wife decided to turn back around here somewhere, as it was late in the day, getting chilly, and the snow and mud crossings became tedious.
#HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS PATCH#
In many places, the snow was still so thick that it completely hid the boardwalk, and path of trampled snow led onto a soggy, muddy patch of tundra instead of the wooden walkway.
#HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS SERIES#
After we climbed the first patch, there was an undulating series of snow crossings to be had as the trail traversing the base of the Clements Glacier cirque.Īt one point we had a nice look at the small but impressive Clements Glacier, only to wonder what this mass of snow and ice looked like in years past. With lots of foot traffic coming through, the snow was tramped down and slick, which made for a bit of a challenge to walk up. During the first half mile, everything was clear, but eventually we headed far enough uphill that the boardwalk veered right through a slippery snow bank. Our July visit included a good dose of snow still present on the tundra…and the trail. Of course, these flowers only bloom en masse once every five or ten years, so count your blessings if you catch them when they explode.Ī visit during August, perhaps even early September will reveal another wave of different wildflowers to enjoy - featuring among others, my personal favorite: yellow columbine. These odd but charming bulbs are more common in the subalpine forest below Logan Pass, but a few had grabbed hold of the tundra along the trail. We also happened to catch a banner year for blooming beargrass. The glacier lilies bloom shortly after the winter snows have melted from the tundra, so July is the absolute best time to catch them in action. These tiny but gorgeous blooms are visibly fragile, making for visible evidence that one step of the boardwalk could be like a scene from Honey I Shrunk the Kids for these wildflowers. When we visited, fields of glacier lillies carpeted many of the hillsides. July and August provide a spectacular wildflower show along the Hidden Lake Trail. Always the tough critic, my wife was not that impressed with Glacier’s lower elevations, but when we set off down the boardwalk among the fields and the peaks, she said, “Now this is pretty!” Wildflower Extravaganza
I visited with my wife in mid-July and the tundra was alive with greenery. On the confines of the boardwalk, the surrounding scenery is jaw-dropping. As such, if you visit, please stay on the boardwalk and help keep Logan Pass beautiful and healthy for the future.
#HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS FREE#
There are so many people tromping through during the summer months that the NPS decided that allowing visitors free mobility would ultimately lead to irreparable destruction of the sensitive plants and grasses of the area.
Eventually, the pavement turns into a boardwalk that guides visitors through the tundra without excessive damage by footsteps to this fragile ecosystem.īy the way, off-trail hiking has been outlawed in the Logan Pass area for this same reason. There’s a little paved nature trail that makes a two minute detour and has some more interpretive signage to further explain the surrounding environment. The Hidden Lake Trail heads south from the back door of the Visitor Center onto the alpine tundra. There’s a nice little exhibit about the plants and wildlife that inhabit the alpine tundra that you will soon be traversing. Once you’re at Logan, definitely swing through the Visitor Center here. Of course, utilizing the park shuttle service can eliminate this concern as well. There will still be crowds, but at least you will be able to find a parking space without problem. It’s best to arrive early in the morning or later in the evening.
#HIDDEN LAKE LOGAN PASS FULL#
Most days in July and August, the parking lot at Logan Pass is plumb full between 10am and 6pm. At the summit of the infamous Going-to-the-Sun Road, the landscape surrounding Logan Pass in summer is a wonderland of alpine wildflowers, green fields, high peaks, and wandering wildlife. Logan Pass is perhaps the top destination for every Glacier visitor. Related: 11 Dazzling Airbnbs Near Glacier National Park, Montana Logan Pass
For experienced hikers it will seem crowded, but for the average Glacier visitor, it’s a great foray into the Rocky Mountain permafrost. Located a mere 1.5 miles uphill from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, the hike up to Hidden Lake Pass is a popular one. What about folks that want an easy to moderate hike under 3 miles that will achieve a spectacular view of Glacier’s alpine peaks and lakes? Enter: Hidden Lake Pass. Of course, the hikes up to renowned saddles like Swiftcurrent Pass or Pitamakan Pass are long and tough - being a strong hiker is a prerequisite to make it up while having a good time too. Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise, with the beauty and majesty of a view from a high mountain pass being many of the top hiking destinations.
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