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:

   

    

Sun Point to Virginia Falls, Glacier NP

As we drove along the Going to the Sun Road to Sun Point to hike this afternoon, we saw this grizzly bear walking through a field. We were happy to be in the car  (zoom photo)

We hiked from Sun Point along St Mary Lake to Baring Falls, St Mary Falls and Virginia Falls. This was a 6 mile round trip hike with about 700 ft of elevation loss/gain.

Lovely lupine along the shore of St Mary Lake.

views along St Mary Lake

Baring Falls was about 0.3 miles down the trail

Evidence of the fire from 3 years ago along St Mary Lake.

more views along St Mary Lake

Wildflowers were plentiful

many tiny wildflowers were growing on the side of this rocky wall

So glad we took the longer trail along St Mary Lake to St Mary and Virginia Falls for the views and wildflowers.

lots of beargrass in bloom

view of the bridge going over St Mary Falls

St Mary Falls

wide angle of St Mary Falls

Gorgeous blue water flowing from the falls down St Mary River

beautiful cascading along Virginia Creek as we continue up to Virginia Falls

Lower view area of Virginia Falls

Virginia Falls from the upper view area

Small ground squirrel pausing in the rain

the hike back was as enjoyable as the hike in.
View along St Mary River

wide angle view along St Mary Lake

another view along St Mary Lake, it was interesting to see the views change as the clouds moved around.

views and wildflowers

a few of the wildflowers we saw in bloom today:

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