Glacier National Park with Kids
Glacier National Park (GNP) is practically in our back yard. And yet it surprises me each and every time I go, The scents of the trees, the majestic mountains, glacial lakes with their caribbean-blue waters… it’s a marvel. It never ceases to impress. And, although much of it requires significant travel time and planning, there are parts of the park that can be easily accessed. This is essential with small kiddos. For our kids (8, 4, and 4,) the drive up to Logan Pass isn’t worth the time and effort. The hiking and scenery there is no more impressive to young eyes than the wonders of the cedar trees along the Avalanche Lake trail or the multicolored rocks at the edge of Lake McDonald.
Our family spent a memorable 1/2 day at the spot where McDonald Creek meets the lake, right beside Lake McDonald Lodge, late last spring when the weather was finally warm enough to begin exploring the park. We usually like to pop in at least once in May, before the crowds arrive and before entry reservations have to be made. The same is true for September, which is usually a peaceful time to explore the Apgar Village and the Lake McDonald Lodge area.
My older daughter has the stamina for bigger adventures and last summer (when she was 7) we attempted Mount Oberlin. Mount Oberlin is accessed via Logan Pass. We woke at 5am and hit West Glacier by 5:45am. Alas, we weren’t able to find a parking spot at Logan Pass. After an hour of circling the parking lot, we drive on to Siyeh Bend, where we found a parking spot, and hopped on the shuttle back up to the Logan Pass Visitor’s Center. The hike was gorgeous! Wildflowers and small creeks. Dramatic clouds. And then… wind. Crazy, dangerous winds as we neared the top. After braving the last steep scree field (my least favorite type of terrain for hiking,) we basically had to duck beneath some rocks to keep from blowing away. At that point, we decided to turn back. Luckily, hiking with kids helps remind us that the journey IS the destination and she didn’t linger on the fact that we didn’t make it all the way to the top. Instead, she enjoyed hopping across rocks, stopping for snacks, examining flowers, and talking about what we’d eat when we got home.
We also had a fantastic camping trip in Sprague Creek over Memorial Day. It was rainy and cool, but we loved breaking out the camping gear from its winter storage. The campsites at Sprague Creek are not big enough for our trailer, so we camped in a tent for the first time in years. And we had a great (and super inexpensive) buffet breakfast at Lake McDonald Lodge.
Later in the summer, we camped at the Saint Mary KOA in the east side of Glacier Park and enjoyed a short hike into the Siyeh Bend trail area. What a great spot to explore!
