Thursday, September 9, 2021

A Glimpse of Glacier National Park From Going-to-th-Sun Road

Eric and I have just one day to visit Glacier National Park, which covers 1,584 square miles.  Fortunately, we are driving Going-to-the-Sun Road.  Access to this very popular 50-mile route is limited with a ticketing system.  From our experience, it's best to start trying to sign up for the $2.00 tickets for this drive and not be disappointed.


  


Eric & I weren't able to book a
ticket to drive Going-to-the-
Sun Road & expect to be directed
to another section of Glacier
National Park.





The Park Ranger we spoke with allowed us to drive this route and we were thrilled!  It was early, around 9:00 am on a weekday and I think that had something to do with the Ranger's generosity.  Our drive on Going-to-the-Sun Road is from the eastern end of Glacier National Park to the western end.




St. Mary Lake is sooo blue.





Going-to-the-Sun Road is narrow and the pull-offs don't have room for lots of cars and trucks to park.





Touring Cars bring large numbers
of visitors to the pull-offs & take
up valuable parking spots.






There was an empty spot for us
to pull off so Eric & I could



Eric & I get a selfie of us with
the Glacier in the background.






A nearby sign details the current state of the Park's Glaciers.  Because of rising temperatures throughout the decades, 26 named Glaciers here, many  have receded so much that they are not considered Glaciers any more, 





It looks like sections of mountains
have been carved away to allow
for building this route.





 




I am aware of the changes in
light & shadow along the route.







There are hotels and campgrounds in Glacier National Park.  





Traffic slows as visitors get
photos of this roadside
waterfall.











There are over 200 waterfalls here in Glacier National Park.  There's a recommended list for visitors on the Park's website.  





A retaining wall stabilizes
the outer edge of this road.  





The hairpin turn is ahead...

I hope there's a parking spot
for us at the pull-off.





Eric & I found a spot on 
the upper pull-off.





This is a great spot to get
some beautiful pictures.




The brown sign designates
a trailhead.  

Because of the available
parking, I think it's a very
popular hiking trail.








The road parallels a stream in











Our first Park Ranger SUV
sighting of the day.
Cars have partially pulled off the road and everyone is looking across the creek.  Cars are moving into the oncoming land to get around the people who have parked on the road.  The Ranger is here to tell illegally parked drivers to move their cars.  





Everyone is looking at the
Moose grazing on the
opposite side of the creek.

























Look carefully at the ears.  There are dark brown horns in front of them.






Eric & I are nearing the end
of Going-to-the-Sun Road.





The western entrance to
Glacier National Park.







Our drive in Glacier National Park is over.  Eric and I talk about our experiences on the way back to our campground in Browning.

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