Boulder Peak looms over the top of this amazing place to the west, and the most prominent feature that you can't help but notice is the giant Hole In The Wall Headwall. Halfway through we stopped for lunch at the end of Lower Kintla Lake. Exercise Food Safety and Leave No Trace.
Lots of things have changed around these parts since then. This is another view of the famous Hole In The Wall. Some of the trail just walks on the rock slabs and is marked by cairns. I think I could spend years there and still be content exploring its landscapes; five days was hardly adequate. It truly is AMAZING!!!! This bright yellow Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad is ultralight and specifically designed for backpackers who really care about how much stuff they carry while on the trail. Small waterfalls formed by snow or glaciers above rolled down from one side of the trail; sheer drops faced us on the other. It was casual and relaxing, and the views were unbelievable. Thankfully, you've got options! Plus, it will help keep your butt warm when making that morning cup of joe. BUT WE BELIEVE THE BOULDER PASS TRAIL IN THE RUGGED NORTH IS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST BACKPACKING ADVENTURES IN THE PARK. To start, drive out on Road 486/North Fork Road until you reach the intersection of Camas Road (turning right here will take you to West Glacier).
It is truly a special place, and one that needs to be seen to completely understand its power and majesty. Our party of six would be spending the next 5 days in this magical place, taking in the scenery and solitude of a backcountry backpacking trail. Right now, we're planning on hitchhiking, which just adds to the adventure. We'll explore some of our favorite trails in more depth below, but for now, just know that Boulder Pass and Brown Pass offer excellent scenery and a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. Elevation Change: 4500 feet. One of the biggest rewards of making it to Hole-in-the-Wall is its idyllic nearby campground, which – of course – the waterfall runs right through. Another helpful (and completely necessary) item you will need with you when backpacking in bear country (like Boulder Pass) is a durable stuff sack that can easily hold all of your food and smelly stuff. Right after the trailhead is the Kintla Lake Campground, which is open until October 31st (though services, like water, close on September 12th). We would be hiking almost 14 miles, trekking through the famed Boulder Pass and down through Brown Pass, all the way to the Hawksbill campsite lower in the valley. 1 | From the trailhead, the singletrack trail starts out quite flat and wooded. Once the Boulder Pass Trail reaches the west end of Mount Chapman, the trail begins to head northward (see photo above).
TRAIL CONDITIONS: easy to follow singletrack trail, is mostly flat from Kintla Lake to the end of Upper Kintla Lake (distance: ~11 miles), then starts to gain elevation up to the pass; lots of larch trees and huckleberry bushes, bit overgrown in places, stunning views of the Agassiz Glacier, water is easily available. Length of Trip: 2 days. Soon enough, you will see a clear flat ridge right above the trail. In what seemed like the blink of an eye we reached the head of Bowman Lake, and it was time to head off to grab our cars. Elevation2, 482 metres (8, 143 feet). While there really aren't too many parts of the trail that are super steep - only a couple of sections near the top - it is a steady climb for over 6 miles. We saw glaciers, gorgeous rays of light, a lake filled only with bull trout (an endangered native species in Montana), and so many fall colors. There is a $7 /night camping fee (per person) that will need need to be paid upon receiving your permit. I did it about 10 years ago. This would be our longest day of the trip. Amazing and beautiful adventure, and great with hammocks. FOLDABLE SLEEPING PAD (FOR COOKING). About half a mile in you will get to a T in the trail. It felt so amazing to know that you have to work so hard to be able to enjoy a hidden gem like this one.
Most backpackers will stay their first night at this campground to rest up for the "steep stuff" that awaits them on the following day. ➳ Learn more about reserving your backcountry permit here. One side effect of all the rain was the gorgeous waterfalls the next morning. Good bye, Bowman Lake. The water was so cold that it took our breath away, but after a minute the coolness eased our sore knees, growing blisters, and other ailments. This 32-foot long one by MSR will easily be long and strong enough to use when hanging up all of your food at camp.
Frequently shouting "Hey Bear! A View From Boulder Peak. But the best part about Glacier National Park is that you're continuously surrounded by stunning views, waterfalls, snow-capped mountain ridges, trails for hiking, lakes for swimming or kayaking, and even a cabin rental or hotel. Down along the stream that provided us with water access we had spotted a fresh bear print. Thus began a 3rd day's hike another 1000ft up to Boulder Pass, and then 3000ft down to Upper Kintla Lake. And hoped for the best. Your hike to Brown Pass provides amazing views all the way to the pass. SDIM6681 view from Rowe-Tamarack trailhead.
The hike to Brown Pass is without question one of the top hikes in Glacier National Park. Some parts of the hike are overgrown (so watch out for bears! ➳ Learn more about hiking and backpacking in bear country in our handy safety guide! PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. While this shouldn't be a cause for concern - and definitely not something to deter you from heading out onto the trails - we do recommend being prepared just in case you do run into a larger carnivore. PARACORD FOR HANGING FOOD. Along the way, you will cross over a very cool glacier field (where there are two mesmerizing alpine lakes) before you see a sizeable round valley down below. Part of the issue was that we were hanging a little flatter than desireable given the distance between the trees, but that spot just worked best with a ground dweller with us too. If you're willing to withstand the cooler temps, we suggest the nearby Lake Nooney or Lake Wurdeman. If we had gone straight onto Brown Pass, we would not have been lucky enough to see it. You are looking east.
We were truly in heaven on earth - focused on nothing but the environment around us and the people that were there with us. Moving on, we do recommend the Boulder Pass Campground just a bit west of the falls, especially if you're coming from that direction. You will take the Bowman Lake Trail along the entire north shore of Bowman Lake, where in 7. Storing ALL smelly stuff is key to deterring bears from entering your camp (it also helps keep little rodents out of your stuff as well). The wet plants were covered in dew, and they left their marks on us as we made our way up the switchbacks. Share Alamy images with your team and customers. Right before you leave the large Kintla Lake behind you will see a wooden cabin and a small hitching post. Catch it at the right time and you'll want to take frequent breaks. Total Distance // Time | 43 miles // 1 hour and 26 minutes.