Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/2016/08/no-end-of-sights-on-a-fine-day-hike-in-the-beartooths/)
The view of Glacier Lake is well worth the effort on the steep, 2.2-mile trail.
The mystery of the discarded sunglasses was not solved. An accident? Sudden nightfall?
Green walls of aspen leaves shimmer in the afternoon breeze.
Crystal-clear Rock Creek rolls down the canyon.
The road to the trailhead is known for its rocky challenges. Just ask this shiny hubcap.
Raspberry bushes yield some tasty treats along the trail.
Lichen and granite combine to present a colorful trailside display.
Though the tree has long since expired, it maintains a tight grip on its stony foundation.
Wildflowers brighten up a meadow next to Rock Creek.
A small, quiet pool reflects its 10,000-foot surroundings atop the Glacier Lake trail.
Strong mountain winds haven’t freed these seeds – yet.
Next to a beautiful pond a short distance from Rock Creek, someone left a memorial to a loved one.
Looking south from the trail, mountain plateaus rise above the Wyoming border.
If your vehicle can handle the rough, rocky and now-being-reconstructed road to the Glacier Lake trailhead in the Beartooth Mountains, a wonderful day hike awaits.
Armed with a camera, fishing pole, some rain gear, snacks and some billy-goat energy, you’ll have all you need to make the most of the steep 2.2-mile hike to the lake and back.
Rock Creek roars through this wide valley, crossing from Montana into Wyoming and back again. Wildflowers, critters, rushing streams, unusual discoveries, grand vistas and other sights will keep your camera busy. From the trailhead, you will climb more than 1,000 feet to a 10,000-foot elevation before the trail drops to the lake at 9,700 feet.
To get to the trailhead, head southwest out of Red Lodge on Highway 212, go about 10.9 miles and turn right onto FS-421. After you pass the Limber Pine Campground, the pavement ends. Take a left on the road that follows Rock Creek. If the seven-mile road gets too rough for comfort, you can park short of the trailhead and add a few warm-up miles to your hike.
If you have time and want more adventure on this trip to Glacier Lake, you can explore nearby Little Glacier, Emerald, Mountain Sheep or Mountain Goat lakes.
To those afflicted with the Beartooth bug, you can pick another trailhead on another day and trek to another of the over 300 lakes in the range. Sure beats a treadmill.
