Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Many Glacier: The Epic Montana Finale

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When we reached Many Glacier, I thought someone was playing a cruel practical joke on us. Surely, this couldn’t be real…could it?

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

That such perfection exists within our own country’s borders always astounds me. Americans get a lot of flack for (allegedly) not embarking on as much international travel as other nations, but realistically, why do we need to when such natural wonders are in our own metaphorical backyard? We spent a few solid minutes just standing there staring at our surrounds.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

I’ve been to many places in my travels—more than 100 countries at this point—and few have held the magic that arriving in a lodge smack in the center of a remote and sprawling national park like Glacier Country have held.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Accessed via the east side of the park, Many Glacier is about as remote as you can get without forfeiting services like accommodation and food. And for those who want to go even more off the beaten path, another mile is Swiftcurrent Inn and Cabins, where hikes often make their base due to the 11 trailheads in close proximity.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

The whole area felt equal parts New Zealand and Switzerland, what with the crystal clear lake, tall peaks surrounding it and chalet-like lodge sitting at the water’s edge.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

We would be spending the night here at Many Glacier Lodge, which was more than OK with me; the early-1900s property couldn’t occupy better real estate and is in the middle of extensive renovation efforts, too.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

When we first arrived, we didn’t take much time to settle in as were given an immediate crash course to the area via a hike with Glacier Guides, who offer various guided treks of all lengths and skill levels throughout Glacier National Park.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Poor Corrie, our guide; she thought she was going to get a nice workout, seeing as we’re all the active types. Little did she know, it would be more of a leisurely stroll as she’d be stopping every few feet to wait for us to get our photos in.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Or to show off our verticals.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

I blame Kent and Canaan for that. They might take more photos than I do—and that’s a tall order—but neither had ever been victim of a jumping shot. I quickly changed that.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

I will say that Canaan nailed his Alvin Ailey on the first try. But in terms of a tandem shot, well, it took awhile to perfect.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park
Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Tia, on the other hand, was a natural.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

We arrived at Many Glacier Lake at the perfect time: just as the Morning Eagle was heading out for its first test run of the season. They told us as long as we were OK with possibly breaking down in the middle of the lake, we could come along for the ride. We took the chance.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

We didn’t break down.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

If we thought our Two Medicine boat ride was fantastic—and indeed, it was—it still couldn’t hold a candle to seeing the glassy water under bright sunlight and dramatic clouds. We were all smiles as we disembarked the boat and started on our short walk back to the lodge.

Many Glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Normally, if you’re visiting Many Glacier, you can opt for the 1.5-mile walk from the lodge through the woods and around the first lake to the boat company, who will either drop you off on the other side for another 1.5-mile hike around Grinnell Lake or the much more serious Grinnell Glacier Hike. We weren’t up for this on that particular day, so we admired Grinnell from below then turned around and began our journey back to the lodge.

Glacier Guides hike in Many Glacier

Corrie was a most knowledgeable guide, pointing out myriad flora to us, as well as trees where bears had stopped for a backscratch. Next time, I’d love to go out with her again but actually tackle the Grinnell Glacier (after a bit of training, that is, and with SVV in tow).

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

That night, we all dined at the Ptarmigan Dining Room, where we ordered a mix of game and other Montana delights.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

Such as huckleberry.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

You didn’t think I’d escape a meal without huckleberry, did you?

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

Lucky for me, the bar direction and bartenders seemed to share my obsession.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

There are few drinks I like more than a huckleberry smash (including bourbon, duh). If only someone would ship me some huckleberries now that they’re in season—**cough, cough, Tia, cough, cough**—then I would attempt to replicate this back home.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

And there were some epic s’mores, too. What? S’mores are totally a Montana thing.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

The next morning, I did something I never do and that’s get up at 5am to see the sunrise. Then I took my picture and promptly went back to bed until our meet-up time as we had to make the three-hour drive back to Kalispell in time for my midday flight.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

Although as we pulled out of Many Glacier, we were all beaming from an incredible week, I’d be remiss if I said we weren’t the slightest bit bummed we’d still not seen a moose. Correction: We saw a mama and a baby from the lodge’s wraparound porch, but they were so far across the lake, we only saw little moving dots—and that was from behind binoculars at that.

Moose in Many Glacier-3

But then…this happened. A giant antlered creature appeared—it’s almost as he could hear our disappointment echoing throughout the valley—in a field just a few miles beyond the hotel. Spencer, the one of us who most wanted to see such a majestic creature, spotted one in a field and said, all casual like: “Oh…a moose.” Like that’s an everyday occurrence for all of us.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

We got out of the car and slowly walked around the brush for a better look. Moose are aggressive, y’all; you don’t want to get too close.

Many Glacier Lodge in Montana's Glacier National Park

Ignoring us, he inched closer and was just about to cross our path, no doubt invoking all sorts of “why did the moose cross the road?” jokes when a huge truck materialized, seemingly out of nowhere, and scared him away. Oh well. At least we had him for a few brief minutes.

Moose checked off the list, we—Jade, in particular—were hoping on a bear, another creature that had continued to elude us, and had about given up when we were driving back along Looking Glass as one lumbered out across our path.

Bear in Montana's Glacier National Park

Cute little guy didn’t much care we were not more than six feet away. He took his time ambling up the cliffside, stopping a few times to pose for photos.

Glacier National Park in Montana

We were so lucky that final morning in Glacier Country that I wondered what I could summon next: a million dollars? A book deal? An in-person meeting with Taylor Swift herself?

Glacier National Park in Montana

As if our Montana trip could have gotten any better, we ended it on the best—and most apt–note we could have hoped for.

Glacier National Park in Montana

Thank you, Montana, for delivering such perfect weather for us. Thank you for giving us patience and proving it would be rewarded. Thank you for all the huckleberry things. Thank you for countless laughs with dear friends. And thank you for giving us a renewed appreciation for our national parks, expansive and extraordinary they are.

COMMENTS
  • August 18, 2014

    Mountains and ice cream, that’s all I need to know! 🙂 I love being out in the mountains, theres so many places like this one that I still have to get to. I was in New Zealand a few months ago and that blew my mind how beautiful it is there with the mountains and glaciers. Although I have never been to the USA before it’s on my list of places to get into the outdoors. These photos are stunning.

    • September 6, 2014

      Oh man, I absolutely love New Zealand—and I’ve yet to go to the South Island even! But that Tongariro Crossing was all I needed to become smitten with the country and its landscape. Montana is surprisingly similar in parts.

  • August 18, 2014

    This place looks amazing. Thank you for sharing it. I’m definitely adding it to my to-do-list.

    • September 6, 2014

      I hope you make it there! It’s such a special place indeed.

  • August 18, 2014
    sbc

    My sister & I hiked to grinnell glacier last Tuesday. Loads of huckleberries on the trail. We ate quite a few & picked some to bring home to our parents. Many Glacier is a special place. Oh yeah the huckleberry cocktails were nice too.

    • September 6, 2014

      So cool! I’ve never been in huckleberry season, but eating them right off the bush is my dream. Was the hike pretty taxing?

  • August 23, 2014
    Laura

    Hello!!! Sorry my english 🙁 I would know How is Tom Felton in person, He is nice? He seems very lovely 🙂 and His girlfriends jade Olivia, How is her in person? she is cute and lovely? She is very pretty, right?
    You blog is perfect 🙂

  • August 24, 2014

    That blue does look surreal.

  • August 25, 2014

    Wow those mountains really don’t look real. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Many Glacier, I’ll have to visit soon. Amazing pictures!!

    • September 6, 2014

      I hadn’t either, despite visiting Glacier three years prior. It’s sort of the final frontier for civilization if you’re going deep into the park.

  • August 26, 2014

    Oooooh, yes. Many Glacier, such a gorgeous place! Blue Eyes and I spent a few days in Glacier on motorcycle a couple summers ago and I am still not over the views! Goodness, so gorgeous!

    xox

    • September 6, 2014

      Awesome! I bet you got to go some cool places by bike that we weren’t able to reach in our big ol’ suburban.

  • August 27, 2014
    Jessica

    After an epic trip to Glacier 2 yrs ago, it is one place we know we will visit again. We stayed for 10 days at the end of August and covered as much of both sides of the park as we could in that time. Beautiful glaciers, amazing wildlife, and gorgeousl flowers all around. My husband took an wonderful picture of the Morning Eagle moored at the dock, which is now on canvas in our living room. We stayed at the Swiftcurrent Inn, and the Village Inn at Apgar (both highly recommended). We hiked the Grinnell Glacier (among many other trails) and got caught in a pop up thunderstorm while up there, a story we love to tell. It is just a beautiful and majestic park that would require a lifetime to really see every aspect of. Hope to take our daughter there as soon as she is old enough to enjoy it!

    • September 6, 2014

      Well, now next time I’m going to have to get YOU to plan my trip! That sounds like a dream!

  • August 28, 2014

    What an extraordinary trip! Mountains, ice-cream, moose and brown bears. It couldn’t get any bear-ter!!
    Thanks for sharing!

    • September 6, 2014

      Ha! Exactly! The perfect trip to take with good friends =)

  • September 9, 2014

    LOVE those jumping photos. I wonder how many takes all of those took? 😉

    This is like the third of fourth post on Glacier National Park. Did Utah and Arizona this year….perhaps Montana is next!

  • August 4, 2018

    Glacier National Park is on our bucket list! Thanks for sharing these great photos!

  • February 7, 2022
    Steven Andrews

    Wow! I can see in the above pictures how much you have enjoyed yourself in Montana. Also, all pictures have been captured beautifully. Thanks for sharing your travel experience with us.

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