GETTING OUT IN GLACIER

“Far away in Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain peaks, lies an unmapped northwestern corner—the Crown of the Continent.” So wrote famed naturalist George Grinnell in 1901, describing the land that would become Glacier National Park. Thanks to the preservation efforts of Grinnell and countless others, Glacier Park remains a rare North American jewel.

Fun Facts: • The aptly named Triple Divide Peak, near Cut Bank, sends its waters to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic

Oceans. • Morning Eagle, the Lake Josephine tour boat, was hand-winched half a mile upstream on the creek between

Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Jo-sephine over six days in 1975. It hasn’t been moved since. • Each year, Rotarians from Canada and the U.S. honor the legacy of the Waterton-Glacier International

Peace Park by pledging to main-tain the peace between the two nations as they shake hands across the border. Getting Out Glacier in

“Far away in Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain peaks, lies an unmapped northwestern corner—the Crown of the Continent.” So wrote famed naturalist George Grinnell in 1901, describing the land that would become Glacier National Park. Thanks to the preservation efforts of Grinnell and countless others, Glacier Park remains a rare North American jewel.

Fun Facts:

• The aptly named Triple Divide Peak, near Cut Bank, sends its waters to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. • Morning Eagle, the Lake Josephine tour boat, was hand-winched half a mile upstream on the creek between Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine over six days in 1975. It hasn’t been moved since. • Each year, Rotarians from Canada and the U.S. honor the legacy of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park by pledging to maintain the peace between the two nations as they shake hands across the border.

Paddleboard Lake McDonald

One of the best ways to explore Lake McDonald— or as the Salish People named it, The Big Lake in the Mountains—is by paddleboard. Standing above the water, you can easily take in the gorgeous rainbow of the lakebed, created as pieces of rocks from different geologic eras washed downstream, settling into the water the receding glaciers left behind. You may also spot submerged trees, swept into the lake long ago, and even some manmade objects. The remnants of an old ship, now known simply as the Fish Creek Bay Wreck, lie in less than 10 feet of water near the Fish Creek campground. Board and boat rentals are available in Apgar Village and from nearby retailers and outfitters.

Bike the Sun Road

When Congress established Glacier Park in 1910, only a few miles of rough wagon roads existed within its boundaries. Crews began surveying for a road across the Continental Divide, originally called the “Transmountain Highway,” in 1924. The surveyors had to climb 3,000 feet to get to their sites and often hung over cliffs with ropes to take measurements. But the hard work paid off: the Goingto-the-Sun Road, named for the nearby peak of the same name, opened in 1933.

One of the best ways to soak in the magnificence of this engineering feat is in the spring by bike, before the road opens to cars. Bike and e-bike rentals are available in Apgar Village and from a variety of Flathead Valley businesses.

Stay at Sperry Chalet

After Congress created Glacier National Park in 1910, the Great Northern Railway built nine chalets in and around the park to encourage tourism. Avalanches, fires, grizzly bears, and economics ruined six of them; by the late 1900s, only the Granite Park, Sperry, and Belton Chalets still welcomed guests. Sperry Chalet sits about six and a half miles and a (literally) breath-taking 3,300 feet above Lake McDonald, as it’s accessible only by hiking or horseback. The 2017 Sprague Fire tragically consumed the dormitory, but it was rebuilt with supplies brought in by helicopter and pack strings. For reservations and more information, visit www.sperrychalet.com

Hike Red Rock Falls

Choosing a hike in Glacier can feel overwhelming, especially if not everyone in your group thinks that a 2,000-foot elevation gain sounds like a good time. From Many Glacier, on the east side of the park, Red Rock Falls is a great—and relatively flat—out-and-back hike for any group. It first passes Fishercap Lake, a known moose haunt, then arrives at Redrock Lake, with incredible views of Mt. Grinnell and Swiftcurrent Glacier. The sharp-eyed might even spot the fire lookout tower atop Swiftcurrent Mountain. At the head of the lake, small trails lead to different vantage points of the upper and lower falls.