Our hike from Sperry Chalet to the Comeau Pass Staircase and Sperry Glacer was simply amazing. This is about 8 miles round trip from the Chalet area and is steep. It is best done camping in the Sperry backcounty camp, as it is another 6 miles one way to the Sperry Chalet area from the nearest road. The Chalet is now gone, having burned last year. See my post on our stay at the Chalet to see what it used to be like. Sperry Glacier is one of the few glaciers left in the park that you can hike to and walk on.
All photos are my original works.
Right from the start, while still near the Chalet area, is a field of beautiful wildflowers.
This is quickly followed by climbing. A lot of climbing! Mountain goats are very common here, and many were sporting orange paint. They picked this up from the glacier because researchers had sprayed paint to measure the glacial movement, and apparently some of the goats lay down in it or rolled in it.
There are various water crossings, most with wooden bridges.
And then you really start going up! I love taking trail photos like this.
This is a photo looking back at the Chalet. You can see it in in the distance.
Waterfalls are common alongside the trail.
Meanwhile, the views are spectacular, and there are more flowers along the trail as the climb continues.
Then, there are a series of small lakes among a field of large boulders. We ate lunch in that area, and some fellow hikers played in the cold water.
The area is rich for climbing and exploring.
Finally, you reach this waterfall coming out of the rock and will cross the water to climb it. Wait... What? That is right, you will be climbing that!
At the entrance someone had written "Now Entering Mordor." I do not approve of such defacing of the environment, but did chuckle a little.
Cut into the wall is a stone staircase with a guide rope that climbs to the top of Comeau Pass.
At the top is the glacial plain of the Sperry Glacier.
Astounding views.
Views in every direction.
There are various rock pools of snow melt. It was very windy up there and rather cold, even though the day itself was quite warm.
Going down the staircase gives a good view of a few of the lakes below.
The trail down gives views of the chain of lakes. First these come into view.
After rounding the first, you are greeted with this view.
Once back, there is a field of bear grass to greet you.
And a good chance of an orange coated goat!
About 8 miles for the day by the time you reach the Chalet area.
I hope you enjoyed my photo tour of the Sperry Glacier trail. I will be covering our hike out to Lake McDonald Lodge next. I also have more hikes to post about.
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
Iceberg Lake Glacier National Park: Glacier Park Photo Tour #6
Sperry Chalet to Lake McDonald: Glacier National Park Photo Tour #7
#glacier #hiking #nature #travel #photography #nationalparks #mountains #montana #animals
