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Essex, Montana

Top Spots in and near Essex

  • Glacier County, Montana

    Running Eagle Falls

    5.0
    0.68 mi / 33 ft gain
    Running Eagle Falls is located just 1.1 miles west from the Two Medicine entrance in Glacier National Park. The trailhead parking lot is just off the main road going to the lake– it is essentially impossible to miss. It mimics parking spots on the side of a city street. This hike is handicap ac...
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  • Flathead County, Montana

    Hike to Blaine Mountain

    7.3 mi / 2350 ft gain
    To reach the trailhead for this hike, it is about an hour's drive from nearby Kalispell. You will drive around Hungry Horse Reservoir on the West Side Road, and turn off onto Doris Creek Road. Be sure NOT to get this mistaken with the nearby Doris Ridge Road. Once turning onto Doris Creek Road, i...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Aneas Loop

    3.0
    2.77 mi / 207 ft gain
    Aneas Loop is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Bigfork, Montana.
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  • Columbia Falls, Montana

    Hike to Apgar Lookout

    4.5
    7 mi / 1850 ft gain
    Precursor: I completed this hike in November, hence the snow in the photos. Due to a lack of tree coverage, this hike is best suited for a cool summer day, or in the late spring and early autumn. It is doable in the heat of the summer, but be sure to pack plenty of water. This hike begins by tre...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Capture Sunrise or Sunset at Lake McDonald

    5.0
    Lake McDonald doesn't offer the close-up views of glaciers and mountains like some of the other spots in Glacier NP, but it does offer sweeping views of park's west side. The most popular spot to photograph this grand perspective is along the southwest beach and dock. The dock makes the most in...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Kayak Lake McDonald

    5.0
    Rent kayaks at the shore of Lake McDonald and take them out for the day. Make sure to start early to get a full day in and leave yourself enough time to stop for lunch. There are multiple places to pull off and bring your kayaks onto the shore and do some small hikes. The views are spectacular fr...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Swim at the Belton Bridge

    2.0
    The Belton Bridge is the old entrance to glacier. You can get there by turning right down old river bridge road, which is the first right when you turn in to the West Glacier village. There are some 5-8 ft rocks to jump off, but be sure to check the water below them first. The water is gorgeous, ...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Triple Divide Pass Trail to Red Eagle Lake

    29.22 mi / 5499 ft gain
    A couple of notes to keep in mind before you start... this is a loop that takes you to a different part of the park so you will either need two vehicles (one for the pickup spot and one to take you to the trailhead) or you will need to hitchhike back to you drop off vehicle. Also you will need to...
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  • Hungry Horse, Montana

    Relax at Spotted Bear Beach

    Spotted Bear Beach is a secluded white sand beach in the middle of Montana. To get here from the town of Hungry Horse, drive east on Highway 2 for ½ mile to the East Side Reservoir Road #38. Turn right (south) onto Road #38 and drive on through the town of Martin City. After two miles the pavemen...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Backpack to Lincoln Lake

    16.75 mi / 3747 ft gain
    It's a 1600 ft slow increase in elevation. You can walk around the loose rocks going around the lake for an additional 2 miles of hiking. There is a back-country campground at the base of the glacier-fed lake and an amazing waterfall at the opposite end of the of the campground. To camp overnig...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Camp at Sprague Creek Campground on Lake McDonald

    4.5
    Ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacial National Park. Sprague Creek is a small 25-site campground on the northeast shore of the lake, about 9 miles from the west entrance of the park. Campsites are on a first-come, first-serve basis and fill up early....
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Hike to the Mt. Brown Lookout

    5.0
    The trail is accessible (though sometimes covered in snow) year-round because the trailhead lies in the lower elevation area of the park. It begins at the Sperry Trailhead, located directly across the street from the lake McDonald Lodge. Follow the Sperry Trail for 1.6 miles until you reach the M...
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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Hike to Bond Lake

    5.0
    11.6 mi / 2300 ft gain
    From Kalispell, head south towards Swan Lake along Highway 83 until a sign for Bond Creek Trailhead is located on the east side oft the road near mile marker 71. Turning onto Forest Service Road #680 and after 1.5 miles, turning on FS Road #9507, the trailhead will be 2.3 miles after the intersec...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Bike Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

    5.0
    50.65 mi / 5036 ft gain
    Every Spring (May - June) Going-to-the-Sun road remains closed to cars long after the snow has been plowed and melted. However, just past the Lake McDonald Lodge a sign declares the road open to Hikers and Bikers, providing one of Montana's best adventures.  Follow Going-to-the-Sun Road in from ...
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  • Rising Sun, Montana

    Baring Falls via Piegan Pass Trail

    1.96 mi / 246 ft gain
    Baring Falls via Piegan Pass Trail is an out-and-back trail to a waterfall located near the southern end of St. Mary Lake in East Glacier Park Village, Montana.
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  • Flathead National Forest, Montana

    Hike Montana's Swan Crest Trail

    47 mi
    Getting There: Coming from Seeley Lake, take the road towards Bigfork. Continue until you get to mile marker 27 and turn right into the Morrell/Clearwater turn off. Stay on the road most traveled until you dead end at the trail head roughly 7 miles up the road. Park here. The Trail: The trail ...
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