Apgar Lookout Trail in Glacier Park, MT

While we were in Whitefish, we visited Glacier National Park. Due to the thirty foot of snowfall this past winter, the roads are still closed past Avalanche trail head, about fourteen miles into the park. We hiked one of the lower trails in the park to avoid as much snow as possible. The trail is named after Milo Apgar who was among one of the first families to settle at Lake McDonald in the 1890's. 

Sooo, one of the first things you notice is the number of dead trees leftover from the massive Robert Fire of 2003. 2003 marked the fifth year of a five-year drought and became one of the worst fire seasons in the park's history. More than 136,000 acres burned. That's 13% of the park!

After the five-and-a-half mile slog uphill (and I emphasize uphill) we had beautiful views of lake McDonald and surrounding areas. We put in an extra two miles from the parking lot since access to the trail head was shut down, making for an eleven mile round trip. Hooey Jim Bob and me was tuckered out!

Quarter Circle Bridge over the Flathead river. The blue water is from a smaller tributary.

The start of our hike going over the Flathead river.

You can see where the smaller blue tributary mixes in with the brown Flathead river.

The undergrowth of the burned out forest.

No tall pines here, just undergrowth.

Coming around the east side of the ridge. Flathead river below.

Almost to the top!

Top of the ridge, looking at Lake McDonald

Incredible views of Lake McDonald.

Tired and sweaty sitting on top of the Apgar Lookout station (I'm tired, he's sweaty).

This is the mountain we hiked up today!