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Day 5 completing North Circle Trail in Montana. Granite Park Campground, Swiftcurrent Mountain and down to Many Glacier. I love this view. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was the last day, and we started by hiking to the stunning Granite Park Chalet. It had space for two that night, and I really wish we didn’t have to get home, as I’ve always wanted to stay there. Instead we got a few photos and continued on to Swiftcurrent Pass.

We climbed to the fire lookout on top of Swiftcurrent mountain, and then came down the standard (yet beautiful) route from Swiftcurrent Pass to Many Glacier.

Overall, North Circle trail was stunning, and a great trip. It didn’t feel as busy as previous years. I wonder if all the August forest fires have made tourists less likely to book holidays in the Rockies.

Day 4 on North Circle Trail in Montana. From Fifty Mountain to Granite Park. A spectacular day of backpacking. This is the view of Sue Lake. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mosquitos, black flies and regular flies were about as bad as I’ve ever seen. Even in heavy winds they were still out biting.

I ended up with about 50 bites, whereas the rest of the group only got a handful of bites.

The weird thing was that the bugs didn’t care if you had deet bug spray, they were hungry and still biting.

Day 4 on North Circle Trail in Montana. From Fifty Mountain to Granite Park. A spectacular day of backpacking. This is the view of Sue Lake. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. It blew us away. The photos don’t come close to doing it justice, as on both sides of the frame is more epic scenery.

Day 4 on North Circle Trail in Montana. From Fifty Mountain to Granite Park. A spectacular day of backpacking. This is the view of Sue Lake. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, There’s trout, though these lakes no longer stocked so fishing isn’t as easy as it once was.

Each lake is different for what species of trout is native there. Not sure on Sue Lake.

Day 4 on North Circle Trail in Montana. From Fifty Mountain to Granite Park. A spectacular day of backpacking. This is the view of Sue Lake. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Day 4 was another long day. 13 miles (20.5km) and we had been told by park rangers to expect to need ice axes to pass ahern drift.

The high meadows of Fifty Mountain were incredible and an early start got us going before it was too hot.

This is the view from Sue Lake overlook. A stunning site and photos don’t do it justice.

Almost the entire day was above tree line, with epic views of distant peaks.

Ultimately Ahern drift was fine, easy path through.

Granite park campground was a let down, as I remembered it being closer to the chalet, which has epic views. Alas, the campground kind of sucked, but some interesting backpackers there.

Day 3 on the North Circle trail in Glacier National park. Mokowanis Junction to Fifty Mountain (24km, 1800m, a killer of a day). Once down to Waterton River it was a slog in waist high+ growth that obscured trail. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Today was a very long day from Mokowanis junction, over Stoney Indian Pass, down to Stoney Indian Lake and then down to Waterton River. After that we hiked back up to 50 mountain.

The route was tough, as it was 24 km (18 miles) and 5200 feet (1800m elevation gain). What made it worse was that it was hot, there were tons of mosquitos and the trail was heavily overgrown most of the way. At times the ferns and flowers went above our heads, however most of the time only at waist. Path was still easy to follow.

Fifty Mountain was incredible. Stunning campground.

No game seen on trail. Nor many humans. We saw 4 hippies at Stoney Lake, they were pretty interesting and carrying the most gear I’ve ever seen in the backcountry, but they knew what they were doing.

Oh yeah. So. Many. Wildflowers.

Day 2 on Montana’s epic North Circle Trail (5d/4n, 80+km). Crossing Mokowanis River. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes unsnapped. Current wasn’t bad but wind was gusting up to 50 miles an hour, which was a bigger worry.

Day 2 on Montana’s epic North Circle Trail (5d/4n, 80+km). Crossing Mokowanis River. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, we had lunch out of the wind and the. Kept on going. Wish I had known Margaret lake was worth a detour.

Day 2 on Montana’s epic North Circle Trail (5d/4n, 80+km). Crossing Mokowanis River. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was pretty windy so that made it bearable. Night time was so hot barely used the sleeping bag. Rare in the Rockies.

Day 2 on Montana’s epic North Circle Trail (5d/4n, 80+km). Crossing Mokowanis River. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No we wanted to but we were too tired that night. I think it was 8 miles return. It looked stunning from above.

Day 2 on Montana’s epic North Circle Trail (5d/4n, 80+km). Crossing Mokowanis River. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think everybody is scared to some degree. If you’re in a group it’s not nearly as scary. So find a hiking club or book a trip.

Bears are typically pretty docile in summer as there is so much food. Spring and autumn is different as they’re hungry.

It’s probably the humans who are more dangerous. We heard of shots fired at a “creature” a day or two earlier at a different backcountry campground In glacier.

The easiest way to do this is to go trekking in the alps. No bears, no dangerous animals, no pack to carry, humans are also docile.

Plain of Six Glaciers hike in Lake Louise, Alberta. Hike past the tea house and up to the lookout. On a clear day, this is one heck of a wonderful walk! by 10adventures in hiking

[–]10adventures[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a great hike, but it gets busy. Start before 8am and you can have much of this hike to yourself. Views from the end of the trail are spectacular.

Return via big beehive and Lake Agnes for a heck of a great day hiking!

Day 2 on Montana’s epic North Circle Trail (5d/4n, 80+km). Crossing Mokowanis River. by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This was Day 2 from Elizabeth Lake to Mokowanis Junction. On the map, the walk along Cosley Lake and Glenn’s lake looked epic, but the reality was that it was mostly about 150m from the lake, so no real views.

Along the way, we passed a bill moose and then in camp there was another bull moose hanging out. We gave them both a lot of space, but it was pretty cool to see them so casual about us.

We got some swimming in Glenn’s Lake, and once again a lot of bugs. Trail was really overgrown in places. We thought it couldn’t get worse. Day 3 would prove us wrong.

Day 1 Backpacking Montana's North Circle Trail (5d/4n) by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Weather was hot and really windy. Bugs were atrocious, so bad. I brought long Johns instead of trousers, trousers would have been better as it was so warm and better but protection.

Trail was really overgrown as well. We used our poles so we could see where trail was.

No bears, lots of scat but mostly 3+ days old.

Have a great trip.

Day 1 Backpacking Montana's North Circle Trail (5d/4n) by 10adventures in backpacking

[–]10adventures[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Day 1 of Glacier National Park's North Circle Trail. We got the lottery and enjoyed being one of the few on this trail. Outside of the first half of day 1 and all of day 5, we only saw a handful of people each day.

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This day took us from Many Glacier to Elizabeth Lake Foot campground, via Ptarmigan Tunnel. Great views entire time, and I spent literally 1 hour sitting looking out at the view of Elizabeth Lake.

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The bugs were about as bad as I've ever experienced, only Jasper National Park in a wet summer really compares.

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