As the trail nears the lake vista expand to include Gunsight Mountain and Gunsight Pass and then the gorgeous lake. Throughout much of this hike the trail passes through several long sections of chest high vegetation. The Orange and Green shuttles stop here, but you'll have to transfer to the red bus at Logan Pass to get back to the Gunsight Pass … The trail begins to switchback up Mt. At about 6 1/4 miles, the trail arrives at the camp on the eastern end of Gunsight Lake. To your right, you’ll see Fusillade Mountain and the trail you’ll climb as it switchbacks up Mount Jackson. The rock shelter there was built about the same time that … Jackson off to your left. Then we drive the spectacular Going to the Sun Road, a stunning architectural achievement, to the trailhead at the Jackson Glacier Overlook. While you’re resting, you might learn something new from your guides, who are passionate and encyclopedic about Glacier National Park. Watch the beauty of the park change season by season with our monthly newsletters. All rights reserved. Your guide will give a quick orientation, check over your gear for the day, and go over last minute details. Elevation Gain: 1,500ft / 450m. Our trail lunches are largely locally and organically sourced, and generally include homemade cookies, fresh fruit and vegetables, chips, and your choice of a turkey, ham, roast beef, or veggie sandwich. At 6.2 miles you’ll arrive at Gunsight Lake. At Gunsight Lake’s outlet, the trail crosses a wooden bridge and continues to the right ( Jackson Glacier Trail heads to the left). From here, you’ll be rewarded with awesome views of Gunsight Mountain, Gunsight Pass and the Continental Divide at the other end of the lake. 12 pm – 1 pm: When you reach Gunsight Lake, you’ll be rewarded with jaw dropping views of not only the lake, but also 9239-foot Mt. Gunsight Lake (mile 6.2) Gunsight Lake is a great place to have a snack while hiking the Gunsight Pass Trail in Glacier National Park. Gunsight Pass Trail. As Communications and Marketing Director for Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, I strive daily to meet our mission of providing exceptional active travel vacations and experiences in and around Glacier National Park, while preserving and protecting Glacier's unique ecosystem using the best available, ecologically sound practices. As a day hike, this could be done but it would be an extremely long outing. Jackson’s north face as the terrain begins to shift from dense vegetation to rockier, scree slopes. Purchase your pass in advance here. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Jackson. Distance from Trailhead: 13.2 miles (one way) Ending/Highest Elevation: 7,050-ft. Elevation Gain: 3,190-ft. At the foot of Gunsight Lake the trail turns south, traverses the foot of the lake and then crosses a swing bridge over the St. Mary River at the lake’s outlet. The 1,400’ hike up and over a pass provides wide open scenic vistas and views of spectacular peaks and craggy rock formations. The trail begins to switchback up Mt. No trails lead to lake but it can be accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 680. On the far end of the lake is 9258-foot Gunsight Mountain, Gunsight Pass and the Continental Divide. To continue on towards Gunsight Lake hikers should proceed straight ahead at this junction. Guests are welcome to check in with us the day prior to departure: 406-387-5555 or info@glacierguides.com. Additional Fees: Glacier National Park entrance fee. The hike to Gunsight Lake in Glacier National Park begins from the Jackson Glacier Overlook, located 12.6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance Station on the Going-To-The-Sun Road. The hike to Gunsight Lake is about 10 kms one-way. Logan, Blackfoot Glacier, Jackson Glacier and 10,052-foot Mt. Also, there is the option to do a short road walk and trail to access Jean Lake. Mount Jackson rises more than 4,700 feet (1,400 m) above Gunsight Lake to the south. If you get there before September 1, there is a hiker shuttle that will take you from Lake McDonald to the Gunsight Pass trailhead, greatly simplifying the … Gunsight Lake to Sperry Chalet Area. Beneath the debris in a number of places were several feet of packed snow and ice. The day of the trip please arrive at our office by 7:45 AM. From the lake hikers have the option of continuing up to Gunsight Pass, which would add another 1.5 miles of hiking and another 1600 feet of climbing. What should I bring? Sounds easy enough, but don't forget you'll have to climb back up this same trail on your return trip! Walk just a little further down the trail and you'll arrive at Deadwood Falls, a beautiful 10-foot waterfall with deep crystal clear pools of water above and below the falls. Southern expatriate. We think this is one of the prettiest lakes in a park filled with beautiful lakes. […] When you reach Gunsight Lake, you’ll be rewarded with jaw dropping views of not only the lake, but also 9,239-foot Mt. The campground here makes for … Gunsight Pass Trail is an extremely popular backpacking route that ascends to the Continental Divide from the St. Mary valley and crosses rocky ledges and alpine meadows to Sperry Chalets before descending to Lake McDonald. Tags. The trail also goes through thimbleberry patches – a delicious treat if you happen to be walking through when these tasty berries are in season! The lake is surrounded by high peaks including Fusillade Mountain to the north and Gunsight Mountain to the west. You’ll walk through moose habitat that provides excellent chances to observe these amazing creatures from a respectful distance. Difficulty: Advanced. The trail ends at Going to the Sun Road and Lake McDonald Lodge--a Swiss-inspired in-park tourist destination--with a few restaurants and concessionaires leading tours. Once in the basin, you see the massive headwall with Gunsight Pass. While hiking this trail in September of 2011 we were forced to bushwhack through a long section of trail, more than a tenth-of-a-mile in length, that was choked with dead trees and crushed willows. Beaches along the lakeshore are the perfect place to relax, take in the views and enjoy a picnic lunch. We’re going to Gunsight Lake on Fridays in 2020 – go with us! Gunsight Lake and Lake Ellen Wilson is a 22.4 mile out and back trail located near Siyeh Bend, Montana that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Hike with us to gorgeous Gunsight Lake in Glacier National Park. 3 likes. 1:45 – 4:30 pm: We return along the same route, while your guide answers any questions that you might have about the park. Day Hikes of Glacier National Park Map-Guide. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking. […]. From there the trail continues generally west, down to Lake Ellen Wilson and eventually linking with Sperry Trail at Sperry Chalet. Trail Above Gunsight Lake. Be forewarned, this trail through sections of waist to shoulder high vegetation. I'll emphasize again that you should always travel in groups of at least three, make lots of noise, and carry bear spray, especially on a trail such as this. Come join me hiking the Gunsight Lake Trail in Glacier National Park! Learn about lodging, rafting, hiking, fishing, and biking adventures, too. For ambitious folks interested in travelling to Lake Macdonald, the trail continues over Gunsight Pass and down the Sperry Glacier trail down for a total distance of 32 kms. At Gunsight Lake’s outlet, the trail crosses a wooden bridge and continues to the right ( Jackson Glacier Trail heads to the left). Rather go with a guide? Gunsight Lake will be visible from this point and it is just another half mile to reach the lake. This trail is a little more than a mile long and climbs roughly 625 feet to reach the vantage point. There's quite a bit of rock around the waterfall, making this an excellent spot for a snack break or a picnic lunch. As already mentioned, you should keep an eye out for moose in this valley. Jackson. Specials – Glacier National Park Adventures, Typically, we hike to Iceberg Lake on Fridays in the summer. As a result of glare from the afternoon sun diminishing the quality of this spectacular view, I highly recommend starting your hike early. This hike is known for its up close and personal views of Blackfoot and Jackson glaciers on the way to spectacular Gunsight Lake. Gunsight Lake and Pass Ellen Wilson Lake Sperry Camp Sprague Creek to Lake McDonald. Gunsight Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Persistence and flexibility pay off. At roughly 6.25 miles hikers will reach the backcountry campground at Gunsight Lake (which contains seven campsites, four of which can be reserved ahead of time). After hearing the rush of water cascading down Reynolds Creek for some time, the creek finally comes into view roughly 1.1 miles from the trailhead. Upon arriving at Gunsight Pass (6,946 feet), you will be treated to views of Lake Ellen Wilson far below to the southwest, Gunsight Lake to the northeast, Gunsight Mountain to the north, and Mount Jackson to the south. This short path leads to a small beach area near the foot of the lake. 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