First impressions can be so wrong.

As we approached the west side gate of Glacier Nat’l Park I’ll admit I kept wondering, where are the mountains? I kept thinking that around the next bend we’d see some fantastic beauty. This is the part where I also felt very spoiled. As you approach the Teton Range in Wyoming you’re just in awe of their stature and beauty for MILES. So this very uninformed first timer to Glacier assumed we’d have the same initial feeling.

Entering Glacier from the west you’re surrounded by mountains: The Whitefish Range, Livingston Range and the Lewis Range. Those mountains are pretty dang impressive and you drive through all that impressiveness for miles then you get to a very simple pine forested west entrance.

We got our parks passport stamped at the visitor center, drove to Lake McDonald—and it’s beautiful. A big flat lake leading into the mountains. And yet somehow I’m quietly still wondering, this is it? Where’s the towering Mount Cleveland? Where are the glaciers? ALSO, you should know. As we drive from Lake McDonald ALL along the road is a big beautiful river with LOTS of big and little falls. I didn’t even say this out loud to Jackie. Why am I so underwhelmed? I’m not even going to admit this to her!

Then we stop at Lake McDonald Lodge. Built in 1914 and it’s fantastic. Built even before there was a road to bring people to it! They built it for steamboat traffic!!! The big exposed timbers and Swiss Chalet architecture, combined beautifully with National Park Rustic, really makes an impression. Large game heads are mounted everywhere. Simply amazing.

Now I’m getting warmed up. I chat up a professional tour driver and decide I’m gonna start up the Going-to-the-Sun Road. BTW the Sun Road has vehicle size restrictions and my truck pretty much exactly meets those limits. This road is famous for tight switchbacks, low guard rails and jagged granite sticking out into its two narrow lanes! Perfect.Read more