Glacier’s Two-Waterfall Ramble

Well hi! What a delight to visit Glacier National Park again. Let’s take a two-waterfall hike to Saint Mary Falls then Virginia Falls on the east side of the park. This is the first time for me and maybe you too, so grab your gear and let’s go. It will be 3.6 miles round trip with lots of wide switchbacks taking us first down about 260 feet then up about 280 feet–then doing it in reverse. Let’s take our time and enjoy the ramble because we’ll no doubt be huffing and puffing as we go!

I’m sure your first question is, “Why all the dead trees??” This is a result of fire, many standing, dead trees. We don’t often hear of the fires in the Mountain West unless we live in the area or they burn something or near something of significance. In this case the fire burned back and forth across Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier’s iconic road. It was the Reynolds Creek Fire which burned 4,800 acres in July 2015.

After walking down a steep drop from the parking area, we can enjoy a level stroll.

There are not a lot of red rocks in Glacier, but there are some. Our trail appears to be showing us we are on red rock.

Nice to have fewer trees blocking our view. The mountain at right is Little Chief Mountain standing at 9,546 feet. The water we see is the far western end of about 10 mile long Saint Mary Lake. The mountains in Glacier look huge and super high mostly because the valleys are so low and the way up the mountains so steep.

The highest mountain in Glacier is Mount Cleveland standing at 10,466 feet and found very near the Canadian border behind us. Here the difference between the the lake and Little Chief is just over 5,000 feet. Thank goodness we will only be going up about 280 feet!

We’ve found our red rock!

It is mid-September and not many flowers remain, but we can always count on Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea). Blooming from early summer through fall and reaching two feet tall, this herb is native all over the US except the southeast.

Even from the road we can see Virginia Falls, although we are a bit closer here on the trail.

The mountain to our left is Citadel Mountain and the point and red mountain is Gunsight Mountain. Those hikes are too demanding for me, but when you come up to Glacier, maybe you’ll go for it!

This guy/girl is too busy eating to care about us. A Red-tailed Chipmunk (Tamias reficaudus). Larger chipmunk than many, it is more usual to see them in trees so this is a treat.

The mosses and lichens are everywhere! The moss looks like velvet.

Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens) is all along the trail we’ve walked, but not all have the grapes. Yes, they can be eaten, but apparently taste tart–until the first frost sweetens them. I’m also told they don’t taste at all like grapes. Want to try one? No, me neither. I don’t eat things growing wild, you just never know. They are low-growing evergreens, and the leaves turn bright red in autumn.

Oh my! Last bit of trail before Saint Mary Falls and the rocks are giving us a show of color!

Standing on the bridge to cross the river, could this falls be more beautiful? I’m always in awe of the water’s color in Glacier.

Of course the falls are along the Saint Mary River which starts on Gunsight Mountain, but actually flows northeast to Alberta, Canada. It doesn’t spend much time in Montana.

Looking down the Saint Mary River toward the lake with our back to the falls. It is 8:30am and the sun is just peeking over the mountains and through the clouds turning the clouds pink (straight ahead). Onward to Virginia Falls.

Watch your step! At least the rocks are not wobbly, but you never know for sure until you step on each.

Looking up the small creek we are crossing. The beauty of autumn colors.

What a surprise to still have asters blooming!

Another surprise! It appears our trail will follow Virginia Creek as it makes it way down steep Little Chief Mountain. This is the last drop before it becomes part of the Saint Mary River.

It has almost turned into a rain forest. Unexpected humidity from the creek, the lichens and mosses. The big green leaves of the thimbleberry, although the berries are all eaten.

We’ve been on a steady climb. Never thought I’d be glad for a few stairs.

Here we are, Virginia Falls. The main falls is a 50 foot drop, but as we’ve seen, there are many drops and cascades all the way down to the Saint Mary River.

What beautiful falls and a beautiful hike. Thanks for coming along. Until next time my friend . . .