Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is over 1 million acres of pristine forest that houses all of the original mammals, birds and flowers from its founding in 1891 as a national forest preserve. it became a National Park in 1910.  During the 1910's  the Great Northern Railway constructed several chalets throughout the park to promote tourism, and train travel. The main lodge was accessible by train while the others required hiking or horseback. photos of one are at the bottom of this.

about 100 years ago there were over 300 glaciers in the park area. In 2010 a survey was taken an it was discovered that only 34 remained with only 25 of these being large enough to be considered active. Current estimates are that all glaciers will be gone by 2030 if warming trends continue.

Not all of the places we visited this trip would warrant a return, Glacier National Park is one that really requires multiple trips to fully savor it's beauty and charm.  We are putting this back on the bucket list.

Ground squirrels are abundant and certainly not afraid of humans.

Logan Pass is at the summit of the road through the park. the Park Service provides a free shuttle to here with several stops along the way.  Regardless of the free shuttle many people persist in driving to this location and clogging the parking lot. To the west is US government land and to the east is Blackfeet Indian reservation.

Wild flowers were getting toward the end of their prime but those that remained were abundant.

Marmots are one of the park's resident rodents.  They are very curious and will take anything they can carry.

Interior lobby of one of the original lodges built by Railroad in 1910's

Dining area of the lodge. We had lunch here  and enjoyed wild huckleberry pie for desert.

Saint Mary Lake in front of the Glacier Lodge.

This is the original Front of the Glacier Lodge that faces the lake.  What is now called the front is mainly auto parking.