Why Off the Beaten Path Oregon Is Surprisingly Awesome

Chris Boothman
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2
Why Off the Beaten Path Oregon Is Surprisingly Awesome

From Portland to Crater Lake, Oregon is one of those states that has some iconic landmarks and destinations, yet a myriad of uncovered landscape that is rarely covered. Off the beaten path Oregon is exactly what we explored during our incredible road trip that saw us drive from Spokane, Washington to Salt Lake City, Utah.

We experienced some real hidden gems on our travels through Oregon plus of course we were able to sample a little stretch of the Oregon Trail (come on folks, a trip to Oregon wouldn’t be the same without experiencing the Oregon Trail!). We want to share just a few of our experiences and why we believe off the beaten path Oregon should be on your radar especially if you are planning a USA road trip!

historic oregon trail

What is Off the Beaten Path Travel?

Off the beaten path…what does it mean to you? Whether you agree that it refers to locations away from the norm or perhaps unknown quantities waiting to be uncovered, we believe the true definition is exploring parts of the world that offer true reflections on local cultures and day to day living.

Leave the beaten track behind occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do, you will be certain to find something you have never seen before. (ALExander Graham bell)

Essentially we have found that ‘off the beaten path’ traveling provides the ‘real’ destination as opposed to the tourist traps that we all frequently fall into as we explore different parts of the world.

Just as the great Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell stated above, every time you are willing to head off the beaten path and possibly explore something away from your comfort levels, you will likely stumble across something incredible. I am convinced that we did exactly this during our time spent wandering around the back roads of Oregon but more on that later.

Oregon Trail in Baker City

The infamous Oregon Trail is a 2,200 mile route that runs from the Missouri River to the Oregon valleys. There is no better place to learn about the Oregon trail than by exploring some of the trails and historic landmarks in the state itself.

baker city oregon

Baker City, Oregon was the perfect spot along I-84 to take a break on our epic road trip plus at the same time learn more about what the Oregon Trail meant for emigrants that made their way along this trail.

off the beaten path oregon

What is the first thing that springs to mind when you hear the words Oregon Trail? Perhaps it’s the computer game or maybe it’s those iconic wagons but the history of the Oregon Trail actually dates back to the Lewis and Clark expedition in the early 19th century.

off the beaten path oregon

Baker City has a number of spots scattered around the town that even to this day immediately makes you think about the Oregon Trail. Whether it’s the carriages that you imagine being pulled by mules or oxen, or perhaps the murals on the side of buildings depicting the trail, Baker City is clearly a proud part of this historical route.

baker city off the beaten path oregon

We spent a while exploring the Visitor Center and investigating all of the memorials and iconic objects outside that represent the Oregon Trail.

off the beaten path oregon

Regardless of how much time you spend exploring Baker City, I think just setting foot in this town gives you a feeling that you are a part of history and certainly inspired us to learn more about what the thousands of emigrants lived through during their trials and tribulations on the Oregon Trail.

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

If you are really interested in researching the history of the Oregon Trail, head on down to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center which is just five miles east of I-84 and within a short distance of downtown Baker City.

oregon trail

I really wish we would of had time to experience this center as by all accounts it offers in depth interpretations through the trails themselves (four miles of them) and live demonstrations. However, missing out on this did convince us one thing…we will just have to make a return trip out west to Oregon and check this out while heading along I-84.

baker city oregon

If you are in this neck of the woods, take some time to check it out and if you have already visited this please let us know your opinions and whether it provides a true depiction of the Oregon Trail.

The Back Roads of Oregon

Miles and miles of scenic wilderness are waiting to be explored and fortunately we were able to capture some amazing memories just from driving through these back roads that you would probably never encounter, unless of course you are an Oregon local.

off the beaten path oregon

After passing through the wonderfully named town of Walla Walla in Washington, we crossed the state line into Oregon for the first time and arrived in Milton-Freewater.

back roads oregon

Ok…so I am not going to lie and say this was a bustling town because it was far from it, but it was just one of those iconic towns that had a relaxing ambiance. The city hall in particular is eye-catching but our time here was simply spent driving through en route to Baker City.

off the beaten path oregon

We were both really impressed by the ‘old’ farm tools that were still being used by the local Oregon farmers. We couldn’t resist pulling over on the side of the road and admiring how these tools continue to help these local farmers thrive.

Even the hay bales are intricately organized and strategically placed on the farmland. I think I am just easily impressed but they certainly provide great photograph opportunities!

off the beaten path oregon

The GPS decided to take us along the Weston-Elgin Highway through some pretty dense forest but still providing some equally stunning views and scenery.

back roads oregon

As we made our way to lower elevations, we reached the town of Elgin which was a perfect location to appreciate the backdrop of mountains ranges – the Wallowas to the East and the Blue Mountains to the West, and the Grande Ronde River flowing through the heart of the town.

off the beaten path oregon

Summary

We have so much fun exploring off the beaten path destinations and we want to share our experiences with others to hopefully inspire you to leave the tourist trail and find some of your very own hidden gems.

Our journey through off the beaten path Oregon rewarded us with many memories, some of which we had hoped for (e.g. learning more about the Oregon Trail) while others were spontaneous and very random (thanks Apple Maps for sending us on a seemingly ‘wild goose chase’) yet all were amazing!

Don’t let the lack of media coverage stop you from exploring off the beaten path because you never know what awesome locations you will stumble across.

Experience Amazing Landscapes in the Grand Tetons

Chris Boothman
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13
Experience Amazing Landscapes in the Grand Tetons

Frequently lying in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park because its location, Grand Teton National Park is a majestic area of natural beauty that we recently visited during our epic drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone. The Grand Tetons are a gorgeous mountain range with a myriad of majestic landscapes that will literally take your breath away.

We want to share our experiences driving through this part of Wyoming and hopefully inspire you to explore the Grand Tetons for yourselves.

Key Information

Admission into Grand Teton National Park is $30 per vehicle if you are only planning on visiting this park.

grand teton national park

If you have read many of our other national park posts, you will know that we are huge proponents of the America is Beautiful annual pass which for $80 is pretty much a no-brainer if you have any plans or thoughts of visiting multiple parks.

With Utah’s national park system and Yellowstone in close proximity, this is certainly something worth considering before arriving at the entrance.

grand teton national park

If you don’t want to stay inside the national park, Jackson (part of the Jackson Hole valley) is only a few miles south of the entrance and provides an excellent town as a resource for accommodation, food and other attractions that you may be interested in experiencing.

But that’s enough about the basic information surrounding the Grand Tetons, I am sure you are all ready to see some of the breathtaking images that this national park has to offer.

The Grand Tetons

As we passed through the entrance we paid a short visit to the Visitor Center, but we were immediately encapsulated by the sight of the Teton Range in the distance. The beauty of taking the Teton Park Road loop is that the Teton Range will be directly to your left all the way as you drive north. The highlight of the Grand Tetons is the collection of the tallest mountains, commonly referred to as ‘The Cathedral Group.

the grand tetons cathedral group

Although there are a number of peaks within the Cathedral Group, the most notable are Grand Teton which stands at 13,770 feet, Middle Teton which is over 12,000 feet and South Teton, also over 12,000 feet.

the grand tetons

It’s fairly easy to spot each of these mountains as you gaze up from the side of the road but there are several viewpoints that provide handy guides so you can cross-reference and identify each of these iconic peaks.

the grand tetons

Mount Owen standing at just under 13,000 feet alongside Grand Teton and Teewinot Mountain (12,325 feet) surround the Teton Glacier which is another great view and many believe these three peaks alone should be classified as the Cathedral Group.

Scenic Overlooks

Driving along Teton Park Road, you will notice countless overlooks and turnouts that offer magical views over the Teton Range.

the grand tetons scenic overlooks

On the other side views across the lowlands are equally as beautiful, especially if you manage to see some of the wildlife wandering around Grand Teton National Park. We didn’t have much luck here but certainly made up for this later in the trip when we experienced the wildlife in Yellowstone.

grand teton scenic overlooks

The Teton Glacier Turnout is located about 8 miles from Moose Junction and is probably one of the best spots for views across the Teton Range. What is more impressive here though is being able to identify the glacier that is retreating over the years.

teton glacier

A detailed history with analysis of how much this glacier is retreating is available at this overlook. If you love geology, you will love this spot! If you love stunning scenery, you will love this spot.

the grand tetons glaciers

Further north after passing Jenny Lake is the Mount Moran Turnout which provides great views overlooking this 12,605 feet peak. This also represented the southern tip of Jackson Lake which is a substantial mass of water that offers great views with the mountain range as a perfect backdrop.

grand teton national park

Lakes of Grand Teton National Park

It’t not just the majestic mountain range in the Grand Tetons that makes this such an attractive national park. The park’s largest lake is Jackson Lake and along with several smaller lakes, these were formed thousands of years ago when the glaciers carved the present day shapes.

jackson lake the grand tetons

Fishing is obviously a primary activity at Jackson Lake with whitefish and trout two of the more popular species found here. Fishing trips can be organized but for us simply pulling over in yet another of the scenic overlooks and breathing in the fresh air was enough to satisfy our appetite. The views are unbelievable and honestly unlike anything else I have seen before.

jackson lake the grand tetons

Meanwhile, further south is the smaller Jenny Lake. It may be smaller in size but it certainly packs a punch with the views of the Cathedral Group looming in the background.

jenny lake the grand tetons

The dramatic scenery is only the beginning though as hiking trails deep into the Cascade Canyon and Hanging Canyon are available, with landmarks such as Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point waiting for those fearless enough to hike that far off the beaten path.

the grand tetons

Summary

Grand Teton National Park may not receive the same media attention as Yellowstone but after you visit this part of Wyoming you will likely have your own opinions on the stunning beauty that you experienced. Gorgeous alpine peaks are prevalent throughout the panoramic views but with lakes, lush lowland areas and a thriving wildlife community to experience, the Grand Tetons are well worth paying a visit.

the grand tetons wyoming

Before driving on to Yellowstone along the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, be sure to cherish those memories you experienced in Grand Teton because it won’t be long before you are marveling at the scenery throughout America’s oldest national park. But for now let’s appreciate Grand Teton and allow it time in the spotlight that it richly deserves!

Have you visited Grand Teton National Park? If so, what is your favorite attraction here?

Weekend Wanderlust


How to Enjoy the Drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone?

Chris Boothman
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98
How to Enjoy the Drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone?

Salt Lake City…The gateway to so much natural beauty in and around the state of Utah. If you love the outdoors and you are looking at the map of USA, throw a pin directly at Salt Lake City and book a flight there because you won’t be disappointed. From the Mighty 5 National Parks that cover much of Utah to the breathtaking drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone that we are going to cover in this post, this city is the perfect spot for a getaway (and that’s not even considering the beauty that lies within the city itself!)

There are a number of alternative routes you can take from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and depending on exactly what you want to see in between and how much time you have will determine the optimal route for you.

While the focus of this post is highlighting what we consider to be the optimal route to experience the inherent natural beauty of the locations you will pass through on this journey, Salt Lake City is undoubtedly a great hub to explore a myriad of national parks and areas of the US that you will quickly fall in love with.

drive from salt lake city to yellowstone

We contemplated a couple of different routes which we will share with you later, but ultimately the stunning landscapes on offer albeit on one of the slowest routes was the deciding factor. As you will see, I think we made the right decision!

If you have more time to experience each of the various towns and attractions along this route, we also have a few recommendations on the best places to stay in each location.

Salt Lake City – Gateway to Natural Beauty

Before we look at the scenic drive we encountered between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone, let’s take a look at some of the alternative aforementioned routes you could take to support choosing Salt Lake City as the perfect hub for a fun-filled outdoors, adventure getaway.

Convinced yet that Salt Lake City is the perfect spot? Ok, well let’s head in a different direction and find out what we did during our drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone. Needless to say, you have no need to head outside of Utah for natural beauty, but given that we had already experienced 3 of Utah’s national parks we decided it was time to head north!

We arrived in Salt Lake City late in the evening and opted to stay at a hotel near the airport before waking up early and hitting the road. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express which is affordable and offers a shuttle service to and from the airport. Check out the latest prices and availability here.

Drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone

If you plan on making the drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, you first need to determine which route you want to take. The most direct route is to take I-15 North via Idaho Falls and at just over 320 miles will likely take anywhere from 4 1/4 to 5 hours depending on traffic.

The more ambitious and adventurous travelers (of course we would fall into that category!) will opt for a route that takes you through Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park. Here are a couple of benefits of taking this route:

  • If you have the annual National Park pass and want an impromptu visit to Grand Teton National Park, this is the perfect route.
  • If you want gorgeous scenery along the journey, this is the perfect route.
  • If you don’t mind making several stops throughout the trip (trust us, after making this trip you cannot help yourself!), this is the perfect route.

The main drawback of this route is that it is extremely time-consuming. I would also add that on a couple of occasions I was surprised by how poor some of the road conditions were, especially between Bear Lake and Montpelier. The below route on Google Maps is calculated at 326 miles with a time of just under 6 1/2 hours.

salt lake city to yellowstone scenic route

We left Salt Lake City International Airport at 7:30 AM and arrived at Yellowstone around 4:30PM…so work that one out for yourselves but we wouldn’t do it any differently if we could reenact this trip given the beauty we saw along the way. We want to share some of the key spots along this route that are worth taking some time to visit.

Bear Lake

Stereotypically known as ‘home of the raspberry shake’, Bear Lake is a great spot to take a relaxing break a couple of hours into your drive. Unfortunately, we arrived at Bear Lake a little too early as all of the restaurants and spots where you can purchase a raspberry shake were closed!

drive from salt lake city to yellowstone

Don’t worry though, even if you experience Bear Lake and fail to sample the infamous shake, the views across the lake are stunning enough to warrant spending some time here. The town is relatively small but I could image grabbing a shake and taking in the gorgeous scenery with the lake and mountains in the background.

bear lake utah

As you approach Bear Lake from the south, there is an overlook which provides a view over the town and lake before you take the winding road and drop into the town center. Again, we were not very well prepared as we drove right past this hoping for another overlook.

bear lake utah

So be warned that when you see signs for the Bear Lake Rest Area and Overlook make sure you follow them! We even captured a pretty memorable moment when we spotted a hawk taking home its prey for lunch…it’s not every day you have experiences like this, but that’s Bear Lake, Utah for you.

bear lake utah

Afton

One of the great benefits of taking a scenic road trip is that you pass through small towns that you otherwise would probably never visit. This can be said with our experience passing through Afton, Wyoming.

drive from salt lake city to yellowstone

At first, this may seem like any other small town with a population just under 2,000 but as you approach the heart of the town you will notice the real highlight here.

worlds largest elkhorn arch afton wyoming

Home of the world’s largest arch made of elk antlers, yes that’s right they are woven together and create an archway that covers the entire road and is an iconic attraction that you just have to stop for!

Hotel Recommendation

If you are considering staying overnight in the vicinity of Afton, we can highly recommend Cabin Creek Inn in nearby Thayne, Wyoming (about 15 miles north). Check out the latest prices and availability here.

Snake River

After leaving Afton and driving north to Alpine, you will take US-26 through a mountain pass that winds parallel to the Snake River. This stretch of road really is breathtaking and on numerous occasions, we pulled over on the side of the road to take in the scenery.

drive from salt lake city to yellowstone

Whitewater rafting excursions are available along the Snake River for the really adventurous, but we enjoyed simply watching the rafters and kayakers making their way down the river.

snake river rafting

Trailheads along the Alpine/Snake River Canyons are also available for those who wish to spend more time here before arriving at Jackson Hole (prior to entering Grand Teton country!)

from salt lake city to yellowstone

It is difficult to put into words the beauty throughout the section between Alpine and Hoback Junction. Hopefully the pictures do this justice because I cannot emphasize enough how happy we were with our decision to take this route after passing through this alpine route.

snake river wyoming

Jackson Hole

Approaching the Jackson Hole valley, we were excited to see what the bustling town of Jackson had to offer. To avoid any confusion over the difference between Jackson and Jackson Hole, the valley itself is what is referred to as Jackson Hole and comprises of a number of smaller towns including Jackson, Moose, Hoback and Teton Village.

jackson hole wyoming

In many ways Jackson reminded me of Gatlinburg, Tennessee with Ripley’s Museums and a number of bars, restaurants and souvenir shops scattered along the heart of the town center.

Continuing the Wyoming tradition of elk antler arches, Jackson has a number of iconic arches that guard the corners of George Washington Memorial Park. The story behind these arches relates to the National Elk Refuge that is located in Jackson Hole. Every year when the elk antlers shed, groups of boy scouts collect these from the refuge and some of these are used to construct the arches.

Hotel Recommendation

Jackson Hole is a popular spot for visitors to stay, and if you want our recommendation we can highly recommend The Lodge at Jackson Hole. Check out the latest prices and availability here.

Grand Teton National Park

Our final adventure before arriving at Yellowstone was passing through Grand Teton National Park. You can read all about our experiences in the Grand Tetons but this is yet another great example of an American national park that oozes natural beauty.

grand teton national park

The Teton Range with Grand Teton and Mount Moran among others are a stunningly beautiful sight as you drive through the park.

grand teton national park

Just like any other national park, you could easily spend several days inside Grand Teton exploring and hiking the various trails that are available. Whether you want to take a stroll through the lowlands or perhaps head into the mountains, there is something for everyone here.

Frequently left in the shadow of the more infamous Yellowstone National Park to the north, Grand Teton offers an abundance of natural beauty that you will want to explore. The drive to Yellowstone through this part is the perfect tonic for what you will likely consider to be the pièce de résistance of this trip – arriving at the entrance of Yellowstone!

Hotel Recommendation

Ready to stay a little closer to Grand Teton National Park? There are limited options including camping inside the park while another alternative in nearby Jackson, Wyoming that we can recommend is Spring Creek Ranch. Check out the latest prices and availability here.

Summary

Salt Lake City is undoubtedly a great hub for visiting a myriad of locations both around Utah and surrounding states. We had an awesome experience driving from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone with so many cool towns and landscapes to explore along the route. Regardless of the road trip you are taking, you can always stumble across some hidden gems and this is exactly what we encountered en route to Yellowstone.

drive from salt lake city to yellowstone

We have highlighted just a small selection of what you can see on this drive but these are certainly locations that you cannot afford to miss. Have you taken a road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone?

DISCLAIMER – This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to make a purchase via one of our links, we may receive a small commission. This income helps A Brit & A Southerner continue to explore and share inspiring stories. Also note that although we have not personally stayed at all of the hotels included in this post, we used the recommendations of friends and family as well as detailed research to bring you the very best options possible. 

Glacier National Park in a Day – How to Enjoy the Best Landmarks?

Chris Boothman
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22
Glacier National Park in a Day – How to Enjoy the Best Landmarks?

Glacier National Park in a day…we must be absolutely crazy! After exploring Yellowstone in a day and being absolutely exhausted despite having an amazing time, you would have thought we would have learned our lesson. A one day trip to Glacier is actually easier than it sounds so hopefully this guide will share some of the amazing experiences we encountered and give you the inspiration to visit this pretty remote part of the country.

Certain circumstances out of our control, like the weather, meant that we were restricted to exploring certain parts of this national park but regardless of this, we were still able to experience a variety of awesome landmarks and breathtaking landscapes in Glacier.

Glacier National Park in a Day?

Located in the state of Montana and crossing into Canada, Glacier National Park is very different to any other national park in the 48 contiguous states. Renowned in Montana as displaying “Mother Nature’s Best Work”, Glacier is a haven of stunning glacial landscapes which in turn causes issues for visitors given the limited access throughout the year due to rapidly changing climates.

glacier national park montana

Our trip to Glacier National Park started in the mountain town of Kalispell, Montana which is a pretty good base with a number of hotels and providing easy access to the national park entrance (about 45-minute drive south of the park).

We arrived late in the evening with plans to spend the following day inside the park and hopefully take the infamous ‘Going-to-the-Sun’ road across a glacial valley.

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Rising early in the morning, we were unfortunately greeted by some pretty awful weather conditions as it was raining pretty heavily and extremely overcast. However, we didn’t want this to dampen our spirits so we left our hotel and headed towards Glacier National Park.

glacier national park

Our hearts sank as we approached the west entrance of the park only to see a sign indicating that Logan Pass was closed. The park ranger indicated that there were 2-3 inches of snow at the higher altitudes of Glacier National Park and it was too dangerous for Logan Pass to be open.

What we didn’t realize at the time was that there is still A LOT to see in Glacier National Park regardless of whether the full ‘Going-to-the-Sun’ road is open.

glacier national park in a day

After a quick stop at the Apgar Visitor Center to gather some more information (another park ranger here confirmed that Logan Pass was closed indefinitely and would likely not re-open until at least the next day at the earliest, and that was only if temperatures rose above freezing).

As the rain continued to fall making it near impossible to see any of the mountains, our hopes of really enjoying Glacier were starting to deteriorate.

glacier national park in a day

Nevertheless, we ventured out on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and immediately our fortunes changed as the weather started to improve. We found out that Logan Pass is located about 25 miles into the road and we would later find that the Weeping Wall landmark was where the road became impassable.

Let’s take a look at everything we were able to explore along this iconic road.

Sacred Dancing Cascades

Following a short drive from the visitor center and passing by the imperious sight of Lake McDonald with the mountains in the background, we made our first stop at Sacred Dancing Cascades.

sacred dancing cascades

From the road, we were a little unsure about what to expect, especially given that this was not highlighted on the map but we were delighted as we wandered down the short trail and saw the gorgeous sight of the cascades.

glacier national park cascades creek

Additional viewpoints and overlooks are available further upstream as are a myriad of other rapids and creeks on McDonald Creek, but there was something about Sacred Dancing Cascades that stood out.

sacred dancing cascades glacier national park

Whether it was the footbridge that provided a great view directly in front of the cascades, or perhaps our ability to clamber along the rocks upstream and capture a close-up shot of the creek, this was a pretty special location and definitely a welcome to Glacier National Park!

glacier national park in a day

Be careful if you decide to follow our lead and hike down to the creek because the rocks are pretty slick, especially if it has rained moments before you arrive here. But a visit to this attraction wouldn’t feel quite the same unless you found the adventurous side inside you and scrambled along these rocks to find that perfect angle for the optimal photograph.

glacier national park in a day

A walk across the footbridge allows you to take another short hiking trail and if you are really ambitious, you can climb on top of the cascades though this is certainly not for the faint-hearted!

glacier national park in a day

Glacial Pools

Another impressive feature throughout Glacier National Park is the abundance of glacial pools known as ‘tarns’ that offer a stunning turquoise reflection, especially on a gorgeous day. Unfortunately, we didn’t experience the ‘gorgeous’ weather but we did experience the beauty of these pools.

glacial pools

The beauty throughout Glacier is exemplified in the creeks and rivers that run down the alpine slopes and into the tarns and lakes in the valley. As we drove along the Going-to-the-Sun road, we had ample opportunities to pull over and hike down several trails to admire this incredible natural phenomenon.

glacier national park in a day

I normally don’t get over excited by creeks (now waterfalls are another story!) but when you see pools of water with these colors it’s hard to not appreciate them.

glacier national park in a day

Alpine Scenery

The waterfalls, creeks, and pools in the valley floor are stunning but the real beauty in Glacier is when you start climbing the mountains.

glacier national park loop

There is nothing quite like the scenery that you experience at higher elevations in Glacier and this is even without being able to drive through the ‘best of the best’ with the views from atop Logan Pass.

glacier national park in a day

The Loop is an iconic part of the Going-to-the-Sun road as it is the only switchback on the entire pass. It frequently appears in images representing this stretch of road across Glacier National Park and it is also a great spot to capture some gorgeous scenic images and panoramas looking down through the valley and high into the mountain pass.

glacier national park in a day

While we stopped at the Loop and other scenic lookouts, we encountered an inquisitive raven that was perched on the edge of the wall also admiring the scenery.

glacier national park in a day

Wildlife, stunning scenery and natural attractions are all prevalent throughout Glacier so be sure to have your camera handy so that you don’t miss that perfect shot where all three of these come together!

glacier national park in a day

Weeping Wall

The Weeping Wall is another of the stereotypical attractions on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier. This was notably the final attraction we were able to experience given that the large ‘Road Closed’ barrier was preventing us from climbing any higher.

weeping wall glacier national park

At around 5,000 feet this was still high enough for snow to be falling pretty heavily and the temperatures to have dropped 20 degrees to below freezing.

weeping wall glacier national park

Although the Weeping Wall is not entirely natural (the actual veins of water flowing down the mountain are nature’s own, but when the Going-to-the-Sun road was constructed, the formation of the Wall was put in place) it is still a stunning sight.

glacier national park in a day

Our experience and view were limited not only because of the poor weather and visibility but also because the water flow was relatively low at the time we visited.

However, the views from this vantage point overlooking the valley were stunning despite the adverse weather conditions. An eerily looking landscape that created an inherent beauty that only national parks seem to be able to provide.

glacier national park overlooks

Summary

What an amazing experience it was to visit Glacier National Park in Montana! We are both eager to return in order to fully explore the Going-to-the-Sun road when Logan Pass is open and also gain a deeper appreciation of the natural beauty throughout when the weather is hopefully a little better. Visibility was clearly not all that great during our visit but we refused to let this dampen our spirits.

glacier national park wildlife

As you can see, visiting Glacier National Park in only one day is feasible and you can still experience a lot of amazing landscapes, along with some pretty cool wildlife (cue our friend above!).

Don’t allow the weather or time constraints to prevent you from enjoying one of America’s natural wonders – you won’t be disappointed regardless of how much time you spend here! Trust me though…you will want to return.

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