Amazing day! This was our best animal sighting day yet, and once again wowed me with how unique and surprising each day in a national park can be. After so many days of parks in the Rockies, I wouldn't have been shocked to feel that a new place was more of the same, but that never happened on our trip.
Our first long stop was the Hidden Lake Overlook hike at Logan's Pass. As soon as set off, we found a hoary marmot right next to the path, and two bighorn sheep lying in the grass nearby as if it was their job to pose for the perfect photo. Next we spotted some mountain goats far off high in the mountains, and were so excited to see them. We'd laugh at our distant goat pictures soon enough.
People heading back kept telling us that there was a grizzly ahead, visible from the overlook. The trail was longer than Zadie was happy with but we wanted to push onward in hopes of seeing the grizzly. We walked through snow and Zadie even forded the little snow melt streams in her Crocs (cold!).
Our saving grace, which we never would've seen without the temptation of that grizzly sighting, was that several mountain goats came down the mountain and were walking immediately around us on the path. Up close, they were much larger than I expected, and super muscular.
Seeing those animals so close re-invigorated Zadie, who decided to "summon [her] inner mountain goat."
I am one with the rocks. Maaa.
By the time we reached the overlook, the grizzly was gone but the views were worth it. By far my favorite hike of the trip.
We stopped for a quick "car lunch" picnic, then drove Going to the Sun Road. Majestic mountains, steep cliffs, impossibly deep valleys, dramatic waterfalls - what a beautiful drive. We learned at the Visitor Center that they expect all the glaciers here in Glacier National Park to be gone by 2030. If you haven't visited, now's the time.
After a stop at Lake MacDonald, we returned to the campground, stopping a few times where traffic was backed up to see the bears that others helped point out. Back at camp, we relaxed and swam a little, then went over to Two Sisters Cafe for dinner. The Happy Cow app never disappoints with recommendations for places with good vegan/vegetarian options! The girls were more than happy to try new huckleberry desserts, though we were disappointed to learn that the Huckleberry Black Forest cake special was sold out. Mmm.