Tag: waterfalls

Two Waterfalls, Two Miles–Glorious Yellowstone

Posted on by Joy

Here we are, only four miles from Mammoth Hot Springs and we have two waterfalls in two miles. Ah, Yellowstone, with magnificent, pounding waterfalls along the Yellowstone River and these smaller yet glorious falls so close to the road. These two falls, Undine and Wraith, come from creeks flowing from mountains to the west. Undine Falls drops Lava Creek which continues about a mile flowing into the Gardiner River. The Gardiner continues an additional five miles ending as it flows into the Yellowstone River. Driving from Mammoth we pull in the first large parking area on the left. Walking down about 8 steps then ahead about 20 steps and here we are. This is so easy everyone must stop and enjoy again and again!

Undine Falls

One more falls . . .

Ousel Falls Wander

Posted on by Joy

Well, it is that time of year. Not really winter, not really spring. Ice on the trails, lots of brown popping through the dirty-looking snow that’s left. The evergreens are not their beautiful greens, more like a yellow-green and pale. So to make up for this “it’s so much better any other time of year” feeling, we are going to Ousel Falls outside the town of Big Sky, Montana.  A short walk down and up, switchbacks across, through a canyon, and then rewarded with a beautiful waterfall. With all this ice, though, be sure to put on your ice cleats. It is mostly overcast today, but the sun is peeking through a bit and it is supposed to reach 52°.  That’s warm without wind, but we’ll see if the predicted wind changes things. Have those cleats on? Let’s go!

Watch your step . . .

Going-to-the-Sun Road–Western Travelogue

Posted on by Joy

After our beautiful drive up the eastern side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, it is time to travel down the western side to Lake McDonald and West Glacier. We begin our journey at Logan Pass, mile 18.1 west of the East Entrance.

Mile 18.4–Oberlin Bend is a sharp turn that will begin our decent almost 3,500 feet to Lake McDonald near the West Entrance of Glacier National Park. Let’s park and walk up to the falls on Oberlin Creek. Well, the falls are just on the other side of the road, but as the clouds drop we can’t even see the falls. Everyone is leaving so let’s head to the car and wait to see if the clouds clear. Great! Five minutes and the clouds disappear. We now have the place to ourselves so let’s walk up and try for this picture again.

1-oberlin-creek-falls-5062

As we turn around . . . (click here)

Going-to-the-Sun Road–Eastern Travelogue

Posted on by Joy

After breakfast, with a great mountain view at St. Mary Lodge, it is time to head to Logan Pass for a short hike to Hidden Lake. It is 8am and looks a bit cloudy, but we’ll hope for the best as we drive just over 18 miles up Going-to-the-Sun Road from the eastern side of Glacier National Park. We’ll be climbing over 2,100 feet and the views will be gorgeous!

Mile 2.2–Singleshot Mountain rises above Two Dog Flats, where the prairie meets the mountains offering a rich and diverse ecosystem.

Two Dog Flats

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