On a very busy Sunday, we drove into Glacier National Park and stopped at the Apgar Visiter Center at the southern end of Lake McDonald. We got some suggestions on where to hike and got bear spray - they caution that even on well traveled trails, it is possible to encounter bears.
We drove along Lake McDonald until we reached the John's Lake trail head and found a parking space. The John's Lake trail is a three mile loop through the woods and along McDonald River.
The trail has some elevation change and pleasant walking in the woods.
John's Lake is very small, really just a pond. We could not get close enough to it to take pictures because it is densely forested and the trail just did not take you to the shore.
We continued on and crossed the highway at a point where there is parking for people to stop and visit the upper falls. At this time of the year, the river was roaring nicely as it went over these small falls and under the pedestrian bridge that takes the trail to the other side of the river.
The trail follows the river for the next half mile or so. Note the can of bear spray on my belt, ready to protect us if needed.
Did I mention that the river was roaring? Hopefully this short video clip caught some of the sound.
And here is a short video of the second set of waterfalls the trail passes.
The trail then veers away from the river before coming out on a dirt road that crosses back over the river, allowing a view of the falls upstream and of the river emptying into Lake McDonald.
We did not see any bears but we did see this deer meandering in the woods next to the trail.
We then drove to Avalanche Picnic area where we had our lunch in the shade - temps again soared into the 90s and the temperature on our car showed 106.
After lunch we took the short Trail of the Cedars, a 3/4 of a mile handicapped accessible trail. Other than the fact that there were a lot of people on the trail, including one in a wheelchair, it was a pleasant walk in the woods and across a stream that feeds into the McDonald River.
We then drove back to the southern end of Lake McDonald and hiked part of the Oxbow Trail which follows the McDonald River as it leaves the lake. While the trail was mostly in the woods, it included many areas where grass and wildflowers grow. We saw lots of white daisies, yellow buttercups, orange paintbrushes and purple clover - very picturesque.
Then it was back to the hotel for some pinot noir and cheese and crackers, and later, dinner in our room. Happy birthday to me!
We drove along Lake McDonald until we reached the John's Lake trail head and found a parking space. The John's Lake trail is a three mile loop through the woods and along McDonald River.
The trail has some elevation change and pleasant walking in the woods.
John's Lake is very small, really just a pond. We could not get close enough to it to take pictures because it is densely forested and the trail just did not take you to the shore.
We continued on and crossed the highway at a point where there is parking for people to stop and visit the upper falls. At this time of the year, the river was roaring nicely as it went over these small falls and under the pedestrian bridge that takes the trail to the other side of the river.
The trail follows the river for the next half mile or so. Note the can of bear spray on my belt, ready to protect us if needed.
Did I mention that the river was roaring? Hopefully this short video clip caught some of the sound.
And here is a short video of the second set of waterfalls the trail passes.
The trail then veers away from the river before coming out on a dirt road that crosses back over the river, allowing a view of the falls upstream and of the river emptying into Lake McDonald.
We did not see any bears but we did see this deer meandering in the woods next to the trail.
We then drove to Avalanche Picnic area where we had our lunch in the shade - temps again soared into the 90s and the temperature on our car showed 106.
After lunch we took the short Trail of the Cedars, a 3/4 of a mile handicapped accessible trail. Other than the fact that there were a lot of people on the trail, including one in a wheelchair, it was a pleasant walk in the woods and across a stream that feeds into the McDonald River.
We then drove back to the southern end of Lake McDonald and hiked part of the Oxbow Trail which follows the McDonald River as it leaves the lake. While the trail was mostly in the woods, it included many areas where grass and wildflowers grow. We saw lots of white daisies, yellow buttercups, orange paintbrushes and purple clover - very picturesque.
Then it was back to the hotel for some pinot noir and cheese and crackers, and later, dinner in our room. Happy birthday to me!
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