July 26, 2015-Travel day to Glacier and our first trip into Glacier National Park

Sunday, July 26, 2015-Travel day to Glacier and our first trip into Glacier National Park

It was strange not coordinating the time and route for our next leg of our trip with Jeff and Amy. We decided to leave whenever Mike was awaken by Max for his morning potty walk. So we were up and gone by 530am.

We headed back across some of the same route we took from Spokane. We turned north a little after Butte, MT and headed toward Glacier. It was a long day and we arrived at Columbia Falls RV Park at around 145pm. It is a small but nice park and about 16 miles from the West entrance to Glacier. We have a drive through slot and full hookups.  They also have a big and small dog park that you must use. After we got all set up we decided to take a short trip into the park.

There is a fire on the Eastern side of the park but it has not affected this side except that the road that transects the park called the Going -to-the-Sun road is closed near the highest point. We can still get to the eastern side but we have to go around the long way.

We had seen the mountains on the drive into Columbia Falls and they were what we expected the Rockies to look like. But as we entered the park and started to drive through we were amazed at the sights that met us at every turn. Our first stop was at Lake McDonald Lodge.  It was built in 1913-14 and is made of natural stone and red cedar.  They had no roads till 1921 ao the front of the lodge faces the lake.  There were 500 foot waterfalls that were formed from the melting glaciers. There were the glaciers themselves and the mountains are just gorgeous. After the drive up to the closed area of the Going-to –the-Sun road we decided to return to the RV Park and have dinner.

What a great start on this new leg of our trip. We will head out again tomorrow and explore the southern portion of the park and look for more glaciers. 

Everyone,  Mike has agreed to pick up where Jeff has left off on Facebook.  Jeff did a great job and gave Mike some pointers.

Happy Birthday to our nephew, Terry Jr.

The Rockies ahead of us

Nice Lodge on Salmon Lake it is on an island 

Big Eagle that was for sale

Our RV Park

Check out the first row

Haven, Brandon and Aubrey check out who got in the picture

South Fork Flathead River

Inside the Lake McDonald Lodge

Lake McDonald taken in front of the lodge

Lake McDonald Lodge

Ragged edges of  the mountains

Beautiful built tunnel

Glacier on Heavens Peak we think 

Water coming off of the mountain

Bird Woman Falls

Snow on the tops 

Weeping Wall- water just drips

Haystack Creek

Check this out a waterfall in the center of the trees

Another shot of Lake McDonald

Our site and the dark coach is just like ours but a dark gray