Mountain tour of Montana's Glacier National park, part one A

Granite peak may be the highest peak in Montana, and the many mountains surrounding Granite may be impressive but, there is nothing more awe inspiring than one mountain every 8 1/2 square miles. Only at Glacier National park in Montana.
 

Wikipedia photo link.
 

Our tour of Glacier National park's mountains should take about three days at a relaxed pace. You will see more than thirty of the park's most prominent and notable mountains, all visible from your car.
 

Your tour starts with 18 mountains visible from the park's west gate to the Jackson Glacier overlook, on Going-to-the-sun road.
 

This magazine does not recommend driving the Going-to-the-sun road from the Jackson Glacier overlook to St. Mary's. That is unless, you are a thrill seeker and like driving along a sheer cliff for 2 to 3 hours.
 

Hence our tour turns you around and takes you back down the hill, to the west gate. And who knows how many great views you missed while going up the mountain.
(about 5 hours round trip)
 

The second segment takes you around the park on regular highways, from the west gate on Hwy 2 to the east gate, then continuing on Hwy 2 to Browning, Montana. In Browning, you will catch Hwy 89 north, to Babb, Montana. Just north of Babb is where you will turn west onto the 14 mile long, Hwy 17 going towards the Canadian border.
 

Your primary objectives on Hwy 17, are to view the east face of mount Cleveland and the Chief, from your car.
(about 6 hours round trip)
 

For your remaining segment, stop in Babb after viewing mount Cleveland, and find your way to the east park entrance at rte3, off Hwy 89 (vehicle restrictions will apply).
 

Rte3 will take you west about 15 miles to Swiftcurrent lake and the Many Glaciers hotel. There are lots of mountains in plain view from the hotel and the water is crystal clear.
 

This side trip will add an hour or two to the six hour segment you are already on but, you will find it to be worthwhile. In fact, many people grab a room and spend a few days hiking, and partying.
( 1 to 2 hrs round trip from Babb, Montana)

After beginning your drive along Lake McDonald's eastern shore, on the Going-to-the-sun road, prepare to be mesmerized by the giant mountains across the lake, when looking north.
 

Stanton mountain is the closest at 4,600 feet above the lake, and behind it is mount Vaught at 5,700 feet above the lake.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

Home of the historic mount Brown Fire lookout built in 1928, is mount Brown.
 

Mount Brown is on your right and in your face when you near the end of Lake McDonald. Towering more than 4,500 feet above your head, don't fall over backwards while you snap away.
 

Turns-All-Year photo link.

Arriving at The Loop (hairpin turn) on Going-to-the-sun road, at the 24 mile marker, puts you at an elevation of 4,400 feet, and in perfect view of Heavens peak, to the southwest of you.
 

Wikipedia photo link.
 

There is parking at The Loop but, it fills up quickly.

Bird Woman fall's overlook, features spectacular views of Clements mountain's north-northwest face and mount Oberlin's northwest face.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

This mystery mountain, creeps up behind you now and then, while driving from Bird Woman falls to The Bend at Jackson Glacier Overlook. Only glimpses of McPartland mountain can be seen to the west, while driving through this corridor, and finding a place to stop for photos can be even more difficult.
 

It is well worth your time however, should you find the perfect spot for a photo.
 

Wikipedia photo link.
 

Locating hint:
McPartland can be seen, looking in a westerly direction, and in the background, framed between mount Cannon, Heavens peak, and mount Vaught.

More than ten mountains can be seen from Logan pass at 6,647 feet, and in some cases, the only way to see certain mountains from your car.
 

And Bearhat mountain is one of them, where the northeast face can be seen behind Clements mountain.
 

Other mountains you may not have already seen are, the east face of mount Cannon, Reynolds mountain's north-northeast face, the west face of Going-to-the-sun mountain, and the west-northwest face of Pollock mountain.

Mount Cannon is named after the first person to scale the mountain.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

Also located on the Continental divide, Pollock mountain was named after the commissioner who negotiated the Federal acquisition of Glacier National park's land, east of the Continental divide.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

The north-northeast face of mount Jackson, can be seen from the Jackson Glacier Overlook (the Bend).
 

Wikipedia photo link.
 

Other mountains visible from the Jackson Glacier Overlook are the east-northeast face of Gunsight mountain, and the east-northeast face of mount Logan (behind Citadel mountain)

Mount Logan is visible from the southeast of the Jackson Glacier overlook.
 

Cautions on traveling to St. Mary's from the Jackson Glacier overlook:
 

From the Jackson Glacier overlook to St. Mary's, there are no significant mountains. And most of the journey will be along a sheer cliff. The road is less than 20 miles long but it takes no less than one to three hours to drive it.
 

We are a mountain magazine hence, we recommend that you return to the west gate and use Hwy 2 and Hwy 89 to circumvent the park, putting you in Babb, and just down the road from Many Glaciers hotel.
 

Hwy 2 is longer in miles but, about the same in travel time as it is driving slowly along the sheer cliff to St Mary's, and it is a far more pleasant drive overall.
 

And there will be lots of mountains, big and small to view for most of your journey, to the east side of Glacier National park on Hwy 2.

You should be able to view Lone Walker mountain from Nyak, Montana, on Hwy 2.
 

Wikipedia photo link.
 

For this segment, you will be traveling from the west gate of Glacier National park, on Montana highways 2, 89, and 17 where you can see mountains in Glacier National park from state highways.

You should be able to see Rampage mountain inside the park, to the east from Pinnacle, Montana, or to the north from Essex, Montana, on Hwy 2.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

The southeast face of Little Dog mountain can be seen from Maria's pass, on Hwy 2.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

Mount Cleveland is noted for its large, steep rise above the local terrain. The west face rises over 5,500 feet in less than two miles. And the northwest face is the steepest on the mountain at 4,000 feet, in only .4 miles.
 

Mount Cleveland is one of the more popular peaks at Glacier National park, and the park's tallest mountain. It is however, the least visited because of it's remote location.
 

This view from Hwy 17, of Cleveland's east face is seen on much of the park's advertising. Just over two hours round trip from the park's west gate.
 

TripAdvisor photo link.
 

Other mountains visible from Hwy 17 are Chief mountain, Bear mountain, Sentinel mountain and Kintla peak, at a distance on a clear day. 

The top of Kintla peak's east face can be seen with a telephoto lens. It will be behind and to the right of mt Cleveland from Hwy 17, looking due east.
 

Alternatively, Kintla may be seen from Hwy 17 where it crosses the Canadian border.

Bear mountain has great views of mount Cleveland and other mountains surrounding it.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

Some of the mountains that can be viewed from Many Glaciers hotel.
 

For this segment, you will spend most of your time at Swiftcurrent lake and Many Glaciers hotel, climbing and/or hiking great trails.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

From rte3 between Babb and Swiftcurrent lake, the very top of mount Siyeh's infamous north face, can be seen from your car.
 

Summit Post photo link.

The historic Swiftcurrent fire lookout on Swiftcurrent mountain is one of the mountain's many charms. This mountain can be seen from the Many Glaciers hotel.
 

Wikipedia photo link.

You don't have to cut your trip to three days. Take a room at the Many Glaciers hotel for a day or two and hike the 7 hour round trip, on Siyeh pass, to see the north face of mount Siyeh at 4,000 feet. Mount Siyeh's north face has one of the steepest cliff faces in the park, well worth the strenuous hike to see it.
 

Glacier-Natinal-Park-Travel-Guide photo link.