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Scenes from Glacier National Park (2004)
Twenty-four hours is not enough to do justice to Glacier National Park in Montana, but even in that short time I gained an appreciation for the wonders of this wilderness along the Canadian border. Soaring mountains, rushing waters, flora and fauna compete for your attention in this 35-image set.

Soaring Clouds Over Lake McDonald Our visit to Glacier National Park began with probably the most important Soaring Clouds Over Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald Kaleidoscope A close-up view of some of the incredibly beautiful rocks in Lake McDonald: we saw countless shades of yellows, oranges, greens, red and purples. Can you imagine mile after endless mile of such pretty rocks? Some were even many colors at once -- in the lower left corner, you can see a rock with cream, pink and beige ands. Lake McDonald Kaleidoscope
Small McDonald Creek Fall McDonald Creek feeds McDonald Lake, and the creek parallels much of the western half of Going-to-the-Sun Road above the lake. Naturally there are many falls and cascades due to the changes in elevation. Small McDonald Creek Fall
McDonald Creek A pretty view, looking east, of the rushing green waters of McDonald Creek. This sunlit image was taken mere moments before we were hit with a torrential downpour. McDonald Creek
Trail of the Cedars This scene is definitely not one I had expected to find at Glacier National Park: a thick grove of cedar trees with incredibly luxuriant undergrowth. In fact, this wonderful, fragrant forest and the wooden path that meandered through it made me feel like I was in a coastal redwood forest like Muir Woods, not near the continental divide in the Rockies! My understanding is that it is the position of this area on the western slope of the divide that leads to the moist conditions that permit the forest to flourish. Whatever the reason, it was wonderful to walk through. Trail of the Cedars
Devil's Club Along the Cedar Trail Devil's Club is both a famous and infamous plant: it is poisonous but has been used for medicinal purposes in the past. It grows in abundance along the Trail of the Cedars. Devil's Club Along the Cedar Trail
Dripping Water, Ferns and Moss This capture gives you an idea of the lushness of this cedar forest. To really appreciate it, though, you'd need to be able to see and hear the water dripping down the rock faces feeding the mosses, and smell the fresh, moist air. Dripping Water, Ferns and Moss
Avalanche Creek Cascade Avalanche Creek intersects McDonald Creek near the Trail of the Cedars area of Glacier National Park. In late June, it was still roaring with the spring thaw that continues well into July. Avalanche Creek Cascade
Into the Sun As we began the main part of our late afternoon ascent on Going-to-the-Sun Road, the scenery became more and more spectacular. This image was taken looking back into the sun behind us, facing southwest, with McDonald Creek far below the snow-capped peaks of the Livingston Range. Into the Sun
Late Afternoon Sun on the Garden Wall This shot was taken very shortly after the preceding one, only looking in the opposite direction. It shows part of the Continental Divide section called The Garden Wall, which runs through the heart of Glacier National Park. In fact, part of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is in this image, though you can't see it from this distance -- it is carved right into the edge of the mountains on the left. Late Afternoon Sun on the Garden Wall
Waterfalls Galore Combine tall mountains, wide valleys, Pacific moisture and spring thaw, and what you get is a whole lot of waterfalls! As we drove along the road we saw hundreds of cascades, large and small. Waterfalls Galore
Mountain Goat Near Logan Pass We found this fellow at a rest stop close to the top of Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass. Obviously losing his winter coat, he was not shy at all, though we kept the respectful distance from him that is owed any wild animal -- especially one with horns! There was still quite a lot of late season snow and ice on the ground. Mountain Goat Near Logan Pass
Mountain Goat Cameo A closer view of the same mountain goat that appears in the preceding capture. I must say that I was very grateful that he decided to pose for me! He's standing on the edge of a rock wall that borders the parking area where we stopped. Mountain Goat Cameo
Saint Mary Valley Once you go Saint Mary Valley
Golden Hour Near Rising Sun Our overnight stay in Glacier National Park was spent at the Rising Sun Motor Inn near the eastern edge of Glacier National Park, just north of the middle of Saint Mary Lake. It was a beautiful evening, and I captured this Golden Hour Near Rising Sun
New Growth and Fading Light at Rose Creek Very late evening light illuminates the mountains near where Rose Creek spills into Saint Mary Lake. The rocks are beautifully colored, just as they were at Lake McDonald earlier in the day; the bridge you see is the Going-to-the-Sun Road passing over Rose Creek. New Growth and Fading Light at Rose Creek
Afterglow Over Wild Goose Island, Saint Mary Lake Wild Goose Island in Saint Mary Lake is an icon of Glacier National Park, and probably its single most photographed subject. I Afterglow Over Wild Goose Island, Saint Mary Lake
Golden Sunrise at Saint Mary Lakeshore The next morning, while my family slept, I did what crazy photographers everywhere do -- I got up at the crack of dawn to try to capture the sunrise. This was my first Golden Sunrise at Saint Mary Lakeshore
Good Morning at Wild Goose Island Here we are back at Wild Goose Island, which as you can see, is in a very different mood than it was the night before. The clouds cleared out to allow the early morning rays to illuminate the peaks around the lake, as well as the island itself, while faint high clouds arched overhead. Good Morning at Wild Goose Island
Saint Mary Lake Tranquility Another early morning view of Saint Mary Lake, this time a panorama taken looking east back over the lake. The water was still and calm, and the quiet was wonderfully enjoyable. While it may be tough pulling oneself out of bed at 5 am while on vacation, the rewards can be, well, rewarding! By the way, if you look very closely, there's a small bird perched on a rock about a quarter of the way into the image from the left; its tiny profile is set against the reflected light on the water. Saint Mary Lake Tranquility
Going to the Sun Panorama After enjoying the early morning light in and around Saint Mary Lake, I decided to head back up Going-to-the-Sun Road towards Logan Pass to check that area out a bit more. Along the way, I took this five-shot panorama from the edge of the road, facing roughly south. You can see that most of the valley is still deep in shade despite it being a couple of hours after sunrise at this point of the day. Going to the Sun Panorama
Twisted Evergreens and Reynolds Mountain Trees that flourish in the valleys cling precariously to life in the higher elevations, continually challenged by temperature extremes, heavy precipitation and howling winds. These stunted, gnarled specimens are rather typical of the region around Logan Pass. In the distance rises Reynolds Mountain, one of the better-known landmarks of Glacier National Park. Twisted Evergreens and Reynolds Mountain
Runoff Waterfall Near Logan Pass This was easily the prettiest waterfall I saw in my visit to the park, especially framed against the snow-covered, flat mountaintop above it, just being tinged with early light. More stunted evergreens around the steep cascade mark its location as being in the higher elevations. Runoff Waterfall Near Logan Pass
How Rose Creek Gets Its Name Well, the honest truth is that I don't really know what the origin is of the name of Rose Creek. It did seem fitting, however, that I found these wild roses blooming along its banks. How Rose Creek Gets Its Name
Columbia Ground Squirrel Portrait The Columbia Ground Squirrel is one of the most famous of the rodentia who make their homes in the Rocky Mountains; it can be easily recognized by the reddish fur of its face and underside, and the distinctive spotted pattern on its back. This one was kind enough to pose for me as it dashed around in and among these rocks. Columbia Ground Squirrel Portrait
Camouflage in Action This is the same Columbia Ground Squirrel as in the preceding photograph; this time he is poking his head out from his burrow. I have to admit that I never really understood the rust color of this squirrel species' face and belly until I encountered this scene -- the match to the color of the rocks is quite incredible. Camouflage in Action
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel Here we have what might be considered a smaller cousin of the Columbia Ground Squirrel -- the Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel. This little critter is so named for the tan or beige color of its face, neck and shoulders. (This one is actually quite pale in color compared to others that are a stronger, almost brown shade.) Many folks, especially tourists, mistake these squirrels for chipmunks; one easy way to tell the two apart is that true chipmunks have lines on their faces, not just their bodies. Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
Pretty Morning on the Sun Point Nature Trail Once my family arose from their slumbers and we had a chance to pack up, we continued on our way, but had to stop for a quick hike on the Sun Point Nature Trail. This hillside was awash in colorful rocks and pretty wildflowers. Pretty Morning on the Sun Point Nature Trail
Tiger Swallowtail Breakfast This tiger swallowtail was definitely ready for a liquid meal as the day rapidly warmed. We have tigers back in the Northeast and so I was surprised to see them here as well. Tiger Swallowtail Breakfast
East Flattop Mountain at the Saint Mary Entrance The very aptly-named Eastern Flattop Mountain is the dominant landscape feature near the town of Saint Mary on the eastern edge of Glacier National Park. Here it is framed by fair-weather clouds above, and layers of evergreens, deciduous trees, grasses and wildflowers below. East Flattop Mountain at the Saint Mary Entrance
Rocky Mountain Penstemon Guards the Shore of Lake Sherburne Lake Sherburne is an artificial lake created in 1919 by damming Swiftcurrent Creek, which runs along the access road to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. Here I framed the lake -- at a very low water level, as you can see -- with some blue/purple Rocky Mountain Penstemon flowers in the foreground; the northern Rockies are an ever-present backdrop. Rocky Mountain Penstemon Guards the Shore of Lake Sherburne
Clouds Soar Over Mount Wilbur at Many Glacier The distinctive shape of Mount Wilbur is mimicked by both billowing clouds and the shape of a windswept tree in this scene from the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park. Clouds Soar Over Mount Wilbur at Many Glacier
Mount Grinnell and Swiftcurrent Lake, Many Glacier A warm mid-day scene from the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake, taken just below the famous Many Glacier Hotel. The pyramid-shaped mountain on the left is Mount Grinnell, a name it shares with a lake and a glacier not visible from this angle. Mount Wilbur can be seen further off on the right. Incidentally, the water is much colder than it looks! Mount Grinnell and Swiftcurrent Lake, Many Glacier
Swiftcurrent River Panorama A simple, panoramic view of the Swiftcurrent River valley, taken from the Many Glacier access road. Swiftcurrent River Panorama
Wildflowers at Lake Sherburne The Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park is effectively a Wildflowers at Lake Sherburne

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