Moving to Saint Mary to explore the east side of Glacier National Park. Light rain on and off all day.
EAST on US-2:
Many scenic spots, but too difficult to pull over in the rv. Did this sightseeing in the Jeep on several different days.
Belton Chalet--first of the iconic lodges built by the Great Northern Railroad. Served as the original gateway to Glacier National Park for over a century when it opened its doors in the summer of 1910. Restaurant not open the day we stopped and, unfortunately, never made it back here again.
EAST on US-2:
Many scenic spots, but too difficult to pull over in the rv. Did this sightseeing in the Jeep on several different days.
Belton Chalet--first of the iconic lodges built by the Great Northern Railroad. Served as the original gateway to Glacier National Park for over a century when it opened its doors in the summer of 1910. Restaurant not open the day we stopped and, unfortunately, never made it back here again.
Issac Walton Inn: Another historic inn built in 1939 by the Great Northern Railway as a soup kitchen and lodgings for railroad workers.
Goat Lick Overlook--short paved path to an observation stand overlooking the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The river's current created steep drop-offs and exposed a mass of gray clay containing minerals sought after by mountain goats and other animals. Wrong time of year to see goats.
Bear Creek: Nice large gravel parking area with boat access
Silver Staircase Falls: Cool spot right off the road, only a trickle of water.
Goat Lick Overlook--short paved path to an observation stand overlooking the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The river's current created steep drop-offs and exposed a mass of gray clay containing minerals sought after by mountain goats and other animals. Wrong time of year to see goats.
Bear Creek: Nice large gravel parking area with boat access
Silver Staircase Falls: Cool spot right off the road, only a trickle of water.
Glacier Meadow RV Park, where a friend will be staying for the week. Grassy meadow surrounded by mountains. An hour's drive from both the West and East entrances to Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Mountains got steeper, and road condition not as good, bumpy.
Marias Pass: 60-ft obelisk monument for Theodore Roosevelt & a tablet that was erected in honor of "Slippery Bill" Morrison, a trapper and prospector who donated the rights to his land so that it may be used as a site for Roosevelt's memorial. Also a statue of John F Stevens who was responsible for routing the Great Northern Railroad over Marias Pass. Great spot to be at sunset.
After the pass, the landscape got flatter with rolling hills. Interesting to see the large buffalo farm.
Blackfeet Nation Sculpture: From scraps of rusted automobiles, bits of barbed wire and stones of an old mission school; artist Jay Laber created a statue of two Native American warriors astride their horses at all four entrances to the Blackfeet Reservation.
Browning, the central hub of the Blackfeet Nation. Turned east at the roundabout onto MT-89 to St. Mary.
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Mountains got steeper, and road condition not as good, bumpy.
Marias Pass: 60-ft obelisk monument for Theodore Roosevelt & a tablet that was erected in honor of "Slippery Bill" Morrison, a trapper and prospector who donated the rights to his land so that it may be used as a site for Roosevelt's memorial. Also a statue of John F Stevens who was responsible for routing the Great Northern Railroad over Marias Pass. Great spot to be at sunset.
After the pass, the landscape got flatter with rolling hills. Interesting to see the large buffalo farm.
Blackfeet Nation Sculpture: From scraps of rusted automobiles, bits of barbed wire and stones of an old mission school; artist Jay Laber created a statue of two Native American warriors astride their horses at all four entrances to the Blackfeet Reservation.
Browning, the central hub of the Blackfeet Nation. Turned east at the roundabout onto MT-89 to St. Mary.
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ST MARY/EAST GLACIER KOA HOLIDAY - 7 nights
Very convenient location only 5 min drive to east entrance of Glacier National Park. Communicating with them for reservations and changed we needed to make was all by email; quite often would never get a response back.
Sites: very close together, full hookups, picnic table, well maintained.
Great recreation area with pool & hot tub--pretty crowded in the late afternoons and evenings. Gorgeous views from campsite with towering peaks all around.
Very convenient location only 5 min drive to east entrance of Glacier National Park. Communicating with them for reservations and changed we needed to make was all by email; quite often would never get a response back.
Sites: very close together, full hookups, picnic table, well maintained.
Great recreation area with pool & hot tub--pretty crowded in the late afternoons and evenings. Gorgeous views from campsite with towering peaks all around.
2025-02-16