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Glacier National Park Area


Bowman Lake
Lake McDonald
St. Mary Lake
Sherburne Lake
Swiftcurrent Lake
Two Medicine Lake


Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake campground is located in the North Fork area of Glacier National Park approximately 32.5 miles from the west entrance, and 30 miles from the Canadian border. The drive to Bowman Lake is a very slow, dusty, and bumpy ride on dirt roads, and passes through the tiny community of Polebridge and sections of the park that notably burned in 1988. Click here for more information.

Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake



Lake Mcdonald

Lake McDonald is Glacier National Park's biggest lake; ten miles long and 472 feet deep. Filling a basin gouged out by Ice Age glaciers, Lake McDonald is a classic glacial feature. This long fjord-like lake is surrounded by mountains on the north, south, and east with the Continental Divide, 14 miles away. The mountains provide a spectacular backdrop for the lake and also act as a rain block. Much of the blocked precipitation ends up falling on the McDonald valley. The result is a mild, damp climate. Stands of western red cedar and hemlock flourish in the valley of Lake McDonald. The wildlife-viewing here can be spectacular, with species including bighorn sheep, mountain goat, wapiti elk, black bear, and whitetail and mule deer. Click here for more photos.

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald



St. Mary Lake

Lower St. Mary Lake is in Glacier County, Upper St. Mary Lake is in the park, and the town of St. Mary is between them. St. Mary Lake is on the east side of Glacier National Park along The Going-to-the-Sun Road. This lake is 10 miles long but not as wide as McDonald Lake. You'll want to stop at the turnouts at the end of the lake for a view of 100-foot Virginia Falls across the valley. From the Virginia Falls Turnout or Sun Point you can take some short hikes. Click here for more photos.

St. Mary Lake

St. Mary Lake

St. Mary Lake

St. Mary Lake



Sherburne Lake

Lake Sherburne is located along the entrance road to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park in Montana. The lake is an artificial lake, formed by the Sherburne Dam, which impounded Swiftcurrent Creek and was constructed in 1919. The construction of the dam inundated several small lakes and highly productive riparian and wetland areas, and due to its fluctuating water levels, the surrounding area supports little vegetation. However, trumpeter swans are often observed along the lake in the spring and fall. The lake stretches nearly six miles (9.6 km) at normal elevation. The name Lake Sherburne is derived from an early settler and businessman in the area, Joseph H Sherburne. He settled in the area (Browning) in 1896 and was the proprietor of the Sherburne Mercantile Company which had stores in towns in the area Browning, Babb and East Glacier. During this time he had a cabin for summer use by his family on the shore of what became known as Sherburne Lakes (plural). Once the dam was built in 1919 the name was revised to Lake Sherburne. Click here for more photos.

Sherburne Lake

Sherburne Lake

Sherburne Lake

Sherburne Lake



Swiftcurrent Lake

Swiftcurrent Lake is located in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park, Montana, United States. The Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel in the park, is along the east shore of the lake. Many hiking trails originate from the area and scenic tour boats provide access to the lake for visitors. Swiftcurrent Lake lies at 4,878 feet (1,486 m) above sea level. Nearby lakes include the much larger Lake Sherburne to the east and Lake Josephine to the immediate southwest. The mountains immediately west of the lake rise 3,000 feet (914 m). The fast disappearing Grinnell Glacier is one of several glaciers and snowfields that provide water for the streams that replenish the lake. Mount Gould, Grinnell Point and Mount Wilbur are the largest mountains immediately west of the lake. Click here for more photos.

Swiftcurrent Lake

Swiftcurrent Lake

Swiftcurrent Lake

Swiftcurrent Lake



Two Medicine Lake

Two Medicine was once the hub of park activity. Prior to the building of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, most visitors arrived by train at East Glacier. Two Medicine was their first stop in the park. A typical visit back then involved a multi-day horseback ride stopping each night at one of several backcountry chalets or large modern hotels. The Two Medicine Campstore is all that remains of the Two Medicine Chalets. It is one of 6 National Historic Landmarks in the park today. Today, Two Medicine has become a somewhat off-the-beaten-path discovery for most park visitors. Once discovered however it's easy to see why many people consider this their favorite part of Glacier National Park. Amazing vistas, extensive trails, crashing waterfalls, and sparkling lakes await. Click here for more photos.

Two Medicine Lake

Two Medicine Lake

Two Medicine Lake

Two Medicine Lake

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