Hikes in St. Mary Lake Area

There are a number of nice hikes to beautiful sights in the St. Mary area, especially around the west end of the lake.

Sunrift Gorge: A small waterfall best viewed in the morning. Only 200 feet/ 60 m from a parking area at Going-to-the-sun-road. From here there is a shortcut walk to Baring falls, a 0,3 mile /500 m one way trail. A 260 feet / 80 m elevation drop that feels “good” in your leg muscles on the way back.

Beaver Pond Loop: An easy 6 mile / 9,7 km loop with small elevation change at the east end of the lake. The trail starts from the old  ranger station, just east of the St. Mary Visitor Center.

Red Eagle lake trail: A 7,5 miles /12 km long walk from north east side of St Mary Lake to Red Eagle Lake. Tough / strenuous walk alongside red eagle creek.

Otokomi Lake: Start at Rising Sun campground, go northwest on Otokomi Lake trail for 5,5 miles to the lake. Also supposed to be strenuous and water resistant clothing is recommended due to wet forest undergrowth.

Sun Point Nature Trail. 9,5 miles / 15 km west of St. Mary visitor Center; a turn left from Going-to-the-Sun Road. A 1,4 mile / 2,25 km round trip trail with views of Baring Falls and St. Mary Lake.

St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls are two of the premiere attractions in the St. Mary area. It is 0,8 mile  / 1,3 km (one way) to St. Mary Falls, 260 feet /80 m elevation drop. Virgina falls: An additional 0,7 miles / 1,13 km from St Mary Falls with a 285 feet / 87 m elevation gain.

Hidden Lake: A hike from Logan Pass visitors center. 3 miles / 4,8 km long easy walk. Be early since the parking lot at Logan Pass fills up at noon.

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

August 2007