St Mary and Virginia Falls

For my second hike today at Glacier National Park, I hiked to St Mary Falls and Virginia Falls, this is a 5.6 mile round trip hike with 500' gain.

Warning signs at the trailhead. 

The trail starts along the north end of St Mary Lake. This area was on fire when we were visiting Glacier National Park four years ago.







St Mary Falls in the distance

St Mary River below the falls












wide angle view of St Mary Falls

From St Mary Falls the trail goes up along Virginia Creek to Virginia Falls, there are many cascades along Virginia Creek below the falls

Leaves beginning to change colors

















more cascades along Virginia Creek

A split in the trail, to the left the South Shore Trail and a lower view of the falls and to the right the Virginia Falls Viewpoint

view of Virginia Falls from the lower trail

Virginia Falls as seen from the trail

Virginia Falls from the viewpoint

Enjoying the fall colors and the views as I return back down the trail

  

some of the flora seen from the trail:

   

    

Hidden Lake Overlook

Decided to do 3 short hikes on my fourth and last day at Glacier National Park. For the first hike, I returned to Logan Pass, hoping to get a view from Hidden Lake Overlook.  This is a 3 mile round trip with 500' of gain.

Looking east, clouds are getting thicker.

Clement Mountain

 There were a couple of ponds on the way to the overlook.

Hidden Lake remained hidden to me today, this was my view from the overlook.

Looking east, the view was more obscure than when I started the hike.

small waterfall near Clements Mountain

I saw one paintbrush in bloom


















 and a few asters

Beaver Pond

For my last hike in Glacier National Park, I decided to do the Beaver Pond Loop, a 2.5 mile trail with 300' of gain. 

warning sign at the trailhead

Between the parking area and the trailhead near St Mary Lake, there were some cows that were not happy to see me. One cow gave me the stink eye, stood up and started mooing and moving towards me. I made a bit of noise and they headed over to the lake. 

Apparently, free range cattle do like to be around people.

The trail alternated between going through meadows and forests. In the meadows, I could the mountains

The first part of the trail travels near St Mary Lake

There was a short spur trail that led to the lake shore.

The aspens are beginning to turn yellow.

At the trail sign, I turned to return on the loop back towards the historic ranger station and the beaver pond.

Looking back towards the mountain views.

a spur trail leads to Beaver Pond on the south end

view of Beaver Pond from along the trail

view of Singleshot Mountain to the north

nice fall colors in the meadows
Some other hikers told me they spotted an elk. I did not see the elk, but could hear them bugling.

more free range cattle who were not happy to see me as I neared the end of the loop

Historic 1913 ranger station and home at the end of the trail

a bit more fall color