My husband and I hiked 13.5 miles over Gunsight Pass to the hike-in Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park. We then stayed two nights at the chalet and hiked out via the 6-mile Lake McDonald trail. Sadly, Sperry Chalet, a national historic site, burned last year in the Sprague fire, and efforts are being made to rebuild it. This is NPR's report on a hike to the area after the fire.
All photos are my original works.
Gunsight pass is a high pass on the East side of Logan Pass over the Going to the Sun Road. We left our car at the Jackson Glacier Overlook parking lot with plans to take the park bus back to it after our multi-day trip.
The hike starts along a stream with side hikes to several waterfalls.
It next climbs over a ridge and drops into Gunsight Lake which is reached after crossing a short suspension bridge.
Gunsight is a glacier-fed lake that is turquoise from heavy glaciation from the moving glacier.
From here it is a steep climb to the top of the ridge. We were accompanied part of the way a marmot.
As you climb, the lake gets smaller and smaller.
There are snow crossings along the way, and the trail is sometimes closed because of snow hazards.
Water crossings are typical as well. We filtered and refilled water bottles at several of them.
Don't forget to watch for the smaller animals.
At the top of the pass there is a historic stone warming shelter.
From there the trail drops down to Lake Ellen Wilson on the opposite side of the ridge. As soon as you get down, you go right back up again.
The hike follows the lake and climbs to the ridge over the back end of it.
Mountain goats greeted us at the top of the ridge.
After that, the trail drops down to the chalet. We arrived just in time for dinner.
I will cover my days at Sperry and the hike to the Sperry Glacier in a separate post in the Glacier Park Photo Tour.
Here are other posts in the Glacier Park Photo Series:
Highline Trail Glacier National Park: Glacier Park Photo Tour #1
13 Miles in Glacier, Gunsight Pass to Sperry Chalet: Glacier Park Photo Tour #2
2 Nights at The Backcountry Sperry Chalet: Glacier Park Photo Tour #3
Would You Climb the Stone Stairs? Glacier Park Hike to Sperry Glacier: Glacier Park Photo Tour #4
Grinell Glacier Hike in Glacier National Park: Glacier Park Photo Tour #5
#glacier #hiking #nature #travel #photography #nationalparks #goats #mountains #montana
