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Essex, Montana

Top Spots in and near Essex

  • Essex, Montana

    Cross Country Ski at Izaak Walton Inn

    The Izaak Walton Inn was established in 1939 to accommodate workers and visitors from the rapid expansion of the Great Northern Railway. Conveniently built near Highway two, it is a short drive from both the West Glacier and East Glacier Entrances. If driving from West Glacier, continue on Highwa...
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  • Essex, Montana

    Hike to Dickey Lake

    5.2 mi / 1463 ft gain
    *Parking for this hike is very limited, as the parking area can hold one, maybe two, vehicles.  This 5.2 mile roundtrip hike begins near Essex, Montana, at 4,620 feet of elevation, and leads to a small, hidden lake nestled in the Great Bear Wilderness. Immediately after leaving the parking area, ...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Swim in Graves Bay Swimming Hole

    To get to this swimming hole you drive south from Hungry Horse on the West Side Road (Forest Road 895) 33.6 miles to the Graves Creek Campground. Park in the small parking lot with the bear box and outhouse, opposite the campground closer to the lake. Follow the path as it leads you past the casc...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Explore Graves Creek Falls

    Graves Creek Falls are a series of pleasant waterfalls viewable without much effort. To get here From Hungry Horse drive south on the West Side Road (Forest Road 895) 33.6 miles to the Graves Creek Campground. From here turn right into the campground, park and take a short walk of a couple hundre...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Snowshoe Skiumah Trail

    1.9 mi
    The trailhead for Skiumah Creek Trail is located just off of highway 2, and is well marked from both directions of the road. It is roughly 15 miles East on Highway 2 from the West Glacier Entrance of Glacier National Park. Parking is located on the other side of Highway 2 than the actual trailhea...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Flathead Lookout

    5.0
    2.4 mi / 666 ft gain
    Flathead Lookout is an out-and-back trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Kalispell, Montana.
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Backpack to Black Lake

    7 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Begin at Camp Misery (elev. 5,717 ft). This is a total misname by the way! It should be titled Camp On The Way To Awesomeness! Anyway, head .6 miles on Trail 8 to the intersection of trail. From here turn right on Trail 68 and hike .7 miles until the intersection where you turn right on Trail 7 f...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Backpack to Clayton Lake

    9 mi / 1500 ft gain
    From the Camp Misery Trailhead (elev. 5,717 ft) take the left Trail 8 for .6 miles. At the junction continue left for a 1.3 mile gently ascent into Jewel Basin. Nearing Twin Lakes continue left on Trail 7 for .6 miles until you reach Trail 55. Continue right, and make sure that after a short .3 m...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Hike to Summit of Mount Aeneas

    4.9
    6 mi / 1700 ft gain
    This hike can easily be overlooked since it is in such a geographically rich area, with Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness so close, but it is absolutely a hidden gem that doesn't get enough attention. Mount Aeneas sits at just over 7,500 feet and from the summit it gives amazi...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Explore Two Medicine Lake

    5.0
    Two Medicine Lake sits in the southeastern part of Glacier NP away from the more popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. The 2-mile long lake has a 100 site campground that serves visitors on a first-come-first-serve basis; the campground opens mid-April and closes in November. From the main parking area...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Hike to Two Medicine Pass

    7.9 mi / 2350 ft gain
    Starting at the South Shore trailhead on Two Medicine Lake (parking available), you'll follow the lake through alternating forest and meadows and eventually cross a small suspension bridge.  Afterwards the trail forks. Take the "Two Medicine Pass" trail on the left rather than the Twin Falls/Upp...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Hike to Scenic Point in Glacier National Park

    5.0
    7.74 mi / 2205 ft gain
    Park at the trailhead and begin the hike. The trail starts out relatively flat until you reach a small waterfall. Then, hike up the switchbacks for about 4 miles while gaining around 2300 feet. From the top, you can see both Upper Two Medicine Lake and Two Medicine Lake. The views are stunning. ...
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  • East Glacier Park, Montana

    Dawson Pass

    5.0
    12.01 mi / 2450 ft gain
    This is a somewhat strenuous but extremely rewarding hike in Glacier National Park. It is much less crowded than the more popular Logan Pass and High Line trails, and in my opinion, more rewarding. Dawson Pass is on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 7,598 feet. It sits between Mt. Helen ...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Pitamakan Pass

    15.36 mi / 3064 ft gain
    This gripping, 16 mile round trail reveals adventure at every turn. Nestled behind Pray Lake in Glacier National Park, the Pitamakan Pass hike will begin at the North Shore Trailhead. To access this trailhead, a fifteen dollar fee may be payed to cross Pray Lake by boat. If your pocket book is ru...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Upper Two Medicine Lake

    9.67 mi / 719 ft gain
    I did this trip during the end of autumn, and was pretty much the only person on the entire lake. With it being so serene and so quiet, I had the perfect nature getaway. I made sure to watch an epic sunrise on Two Medicine Lake, then spend the day taking my time to the upper lake and back, with a...
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  • Martin City, Montana

    Drive around Hungry Horse Reservoir

    About 100 miles of mostly gravel roads (14 miles of pavement) will take you around this beautiful reservoir.  With that many miles of road and the shoreline to go with it, it is obvious that there is plenty to see and do in the Hungry Horse area. Check out some of my other adventures for ideas of...
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Camping and Lodging in Essex

Murray Bay Campground (Mt)
Essex, Montana

Murray Bay Campground (Mt)

Devil Creek Campground
Essex, Montana

Devil Creek Campground

Riverside Campground (Mt)
Hungry Horse, Montana

Riverside Campground (Mt)

Zips Place Cabin
Essex, Montana

Zips Place Cabin

Anna Creek Cabin
Bigfork, Montana

Anna Creek Cabin

Challenge Cabin
Essex, Montana

Challenge Cabin

Guides, Insights and Stories from Essex

10 Must-Do Adventures In Glacier National Park

10 Must-Do Adventures In Glacier National Park

The Outbound Collective

Jumbo Glacier: Where Do We Go From Here?

Jumbo Glacier: Where Do We Go From Here?

Chloe Donlan

A Walk into the Past: Returning Three Decades Later to Glacier NP

A Walk into the Past: Returning Three Decades Later to Glacier NP

Matt Johnson

15 Amazing Hikes in Glacier National Park

15 Amazing Hikes in Glacier National Park

The Outbound Collective

Watch This Video and Witness the Glory That Is Glacier National Park

Watch This Video and Witness the Glory That Is Glacier National Park

Rob Feakins

From the Glaciers to the Tundra: 15 Photos from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

From the Glaciers to the Tundra: 15 Photos from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Sonja Saxe