Glacier National Park Trip Days 5: North Fork/ Bowman Lake
We had timed entry passes into the North Fork section of the park on Sunday Sept. 7th. for 7-9 am. We were up early enough to start in the park and go past Apgar Village. Thank goodness too as even going this way we had nearly an hour on unpaved, bumpy roads.
The North Fork is VERY rural-- no water, no electricity, no paved roads, etc. It was very pretty though and we were hoping to spot a moose or perhaps a bear (from the comfort and safety of the car).
We were headed to the Polebridge Mercantile (just outside the national park boundaries) but we arrived with a few minutes to spare before they opened. So we decided to head on into the park.
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| Can you see the mercantile at the end of the road? |
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| we saw quite a few deer |
Once in the park we saw a sign for Bowman lake 6 miles away-- so another 20 or perhaps even 30 minutes on another bumpy, dirt road. We pulled into a parking spot and walked to the lake. We immediately agreed the views were totally worth it!
We sat and ate breakfast (of a sort) while enjoying the view and the quiet.
We headed out on the Bowman lake trail and walked it for a good mile and half before turning around. I was very aware that were in a very remote area of the park and in bear country. We saw plenty of signs of bears but thankfully no actual bears.
We stopped back by the lake and just sat and soaked it all in for a bit before heading back to the mercantile and then to our rental.
We took a nap then got ready for an early dinner at a place called Dave's Famous BBQ; it's a chain but one we had never heard of. We got a sample platter for 2 and some side salads.. there was SO much food! It was delicious though.
Days 1 & 2: Arriving & Grinnell glacier
Day 3: Conrad Mansion Museum & Hungry Horse Dam
Day 4 part 1: Lake McDonald Scenic Boat Tour
Day 4 part 2: Hiking Trail of Cedars & Avalanche Lake
Days 6 & 7: St. Mary & Virginia Falls & Coming home
Linking up with: Spread the Kindness, Nancy's Fashion Style, Fine/Whatever,
One day is more beautiful than the next- what a perfect trip for you and your hubbie- you truly embrace hiking and nature- you must have been in your happy place!
ReplyDeleteI felt like each day I kept saying "oh this is my favorite" and then we'd go somewhere new the next day and I'd think "oh THIS is my favorite!"
DeleteJoanne,
ReplyDeleteWOW!! Looks like a great trip and thanks for sharing the pictures with us..Also thanks for visiting! I truly appreciate it!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
You're welcome! It was a really fabulous trip.
DeleteWas your rented car meant for rough, bumpy roads? I'm surprised that part of the park still had a timed entry if it was so remote. I seriously don't know how you hiked where there were grizzlies around. I would have been a nervous wreck and unable to enjoy myself. Beautiful scenery. We have a Famous Dave's in my town. It's so funny the different chain restaurants that monopolize in certain parts of the country and not in others. The same with grocery stores. Visiting from Wordless Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteWe rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle and unlike the rental in Hawaii that flat out told us dirt roads were not covered we were not told that in Montana; in all fairness I don't think they could as many roads in the nearby towns were dirt... even the roads near our rental. This was the only day I felt really aware that we were in grizzly territory and I don't think I stopped talking once on the trail. And I talked rather loudly too! The other days the trails were quite heavily populated so I was much more relaxed on those trails.
DeleteWhat stunning pictures! It looks like it was a partly or mostly cloudy day? (Maybe because it was morning?) I wonder what the pictures would have looked like on a sunny day. I like the pictures that you got- they are very moody/atmospheric. I just wonder what they´d be like with different weather conditions. I would have been a little nervous about bears; you guys are brave!
ReplyDeleteWe had lots of cloudy/smoky sky days and I too often found myself wondering what all the places we visited would look like in different weather. And yet I still loved the moody photos we got.
DeleteWonderful "tour". I loved the mirrored lake photos. Definitely a place we still want to visit.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWow, that lake is so pretty! Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I can't wait to paint this one; I think it will be a quick and easy painting for sure.
DeleteWow!! Your photos are so beautiful and I can imagine it was even better in person. Did you have bear spray with you?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! The place we stayed at offered bear spray rentals and it was only $15 for the week but well worth the peace of mind. I honestly don't think I saw anyone hiking without it.
DeleteThose photos are truly amazing. It goes to show how incredible Mother Nature is.
ReplyDeleteSuper glad you didn't see any bears...eeek, that would be crazy
XOOX
Jodie
I kept saying I did want to see a bear or a moose or elk-- but only from afar or while I was indoors/in the car. I was terrified of finding one on the trail. The sheep we encountered on our Grinnell Glacier hike were more than enough for me.
DeleteYou really went off the grid! The lake pictures look otherworldly.
ReplyDeleteWe really did; though I draw the line at actually camping.
DeleteI am so enjoying these posts. The views...... incredible.
ReplyDeleteThey really were just incredible.
DeleteCurious if you carried bear spray? The views are just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, absolutely! I think pretty much every single hiker saw the whole week had a can with them... just in case. We didn't run into anyone that had needed to use it though.
DeleteHi Joanne, it looks so beautiful there. I love your photos - particularly of the lake! Thank you for linking up & sharing with us at #WWWhimsy xo
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOK, Joanne! It's time to admit you're using ChatGPT to create these gorgeous photos! Just kidding...I cannot believe how unearthly some of these images are. They are breathtaking! You are definitely braver than I am. The minute I saw anything that remotely indicated bears were nearby, I think I'd be back in the car. My husband would be trying to get them to come out! I am just blown away by the beauty of this place! Thanks so much for sharing these with us!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Right?! It was so funny; we walked up to the lake, I held up my camera to take a picture and turned to my husband and said "it doesn't look real!" In my camera it looked like I was taking a photo of a painting or something.
DeleteGosh those images were stunning..and then I saw that there was smoke around which can hinder the brightness but I loved seeing the spaces and places. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a very smoky week so everything was a bit hazy.
DeleteAnother great day! The size of that plate is pretty unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteWe saw them drop 2 off at the table for 4 next to us and I whispered to my husband that I thought that was the sampler platter... we could not get over the amount of food that they say "feeds 2!" The 4 people next to us just started laughing and saying they were going to need to go boxes when they were done for sure.
DeleteThe pictures on the lake with the mountains? OMG, Joanne. 💜
ReplyDeleteRight?! It's amazing to say but honestly the pictures hardly do it justice!
DeleteFantastic photos, the views are amazing and defiantly worth the drive!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteWow! So many stunning photos. Your trip looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat an incredible day! Bowman Lake looks absolutely stunning — I can only imagine how peaceful it must have been to sit there with breakfast and just soak in those views. The drive sounds like quite an adventure in itself with all the bumpy roads and bear country reminders… I think I’d be a little on edge! Dave’s is the perfect way to end the day… nothing better than good food after a full day of exploring. We’ve been to a BBQ placed called Famous Daves…I wonder if it’s the same.
ReplyDeleteIt was so peaceful sitting there just watching the lake. Most of the grizzly bear country reminders are at the start of most hiking trails so you can be bear aware while hiking.
DeleteWow! This is so stunning. I need to catch up on your trip!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I could not get over the views... or how "fake"/perfect the lake looked!
DeleteHad a great time reading about your trip. That really is a gorgeous lake and your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Thank you!
DeleteWonderful photography. This place is on my bucket list!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is definitely worth the trip. We loved glacier so much.
DeleteHaving breakfast surrounded by nature like that sounds very nice and also very special.
ReplyDeleteIt really was!
DeleteThe lake looks so peaceful and love the reflections of the mountains in the water. So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely the most peaceful part of the park we encountered.
DeleteIt looked like a wonderful time! The first time we bought bear spray was in Glacier as we knew there are grizzly bears there, while Colorado only has smaller and milder black bears, We carried it on hikes but thankfully did not see a bear but we did see a moose in one of the streams early one morning.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we're a bit more accustomed to black bears too. We were able to rent bear spray for just $15 for the entire week we were there so it was well worth the peace of mind.
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