Glacier Park was established more than a century ago, back in 1910. Over 350 locations in the park are on the National Historic Landmarks record of historic places.
Day 2: Glacier Park & Polson, Montana
Our morning drive to East Glacier started out at 9 a.m. as we set off to explore Glacier Park. While we’d already seen it at other seasons, it turned out that it was even more spectacular in the fall.
Even the rain seemed to enhance its beauty!
Goat Lick in East Glacier.
With far less traffic than we’d ever encountered before, along with the fall colors, I can honestly say that fall in Glacier Park may be its best season.
Hiking at Goat Lick in East Glacier Park.
Our first stop was accidental–we saw a pull-off and realized it took a bend we hadn’t seen that led to a parking area. An information sign told us we were at Goat Lick. (Located along U.S. Highway 2, approximately two miles southeast of the Walton Ranger Station.)
And what’s goat lick? Well, exactly what it sounds like. A place where animals, particularly mountain goats, come to lick the minerals that are exposed on the cliffs. Why goats? Well, the steep drop offs that expose mineral laden clay isn’t a challenge for them! Each year the drop offs change due to the swift moving water of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. For us, it meant a chance to listen to the water gurgle and breathe in the fresh mountain air–a great way to find some morning energy!
A paved trail takes hikers to an observation stand that gives you a view of the river below. For more about the goats in Glacier, click here.
Fall in East Glacier Park
The drive through East Glacier was beautiful — West Glacier had fewer amazing scenes, although it is the gateway to the Going to the Sun Road.
West Glacier had some amazing sites too!
Outside Glacier
From Glacier, we travelled on to Polson, Montana, which is a small community where we spent the afternoon visiting the Miracle of America Museum.
It was absolutely amazing!
Tractor at Miracle of America Museum in Polson.
Snowmobiles.
Open Air Museum at Polson, Montana.
From Polson, it was on to St. Igatius, Montana, to the Sunset Motel, for a relaxing evening.
Sunset Motel in St. Ignatius, Montana
And drinks across the highway at the Altitude Bar & Grill!
Altitude Bar & Grill