Logan Pass Visitors Center on Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park is a very popular place in August. The Visitors center is open mid June through September and since it’s such a beautiful place everyone that visits the park wants to go there. There is very limited parking and I recommend you visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon to claim a parking space. Many trails originate here and cars are left in the lot for hours at a time.
The Visitor’s Center has a lot of information on trails, wildlife, history and geology of the area. They have displays of some of the wildlife. There are Park Rangers available to answer any questions you may have. Restrooms and a gift shop are available but there is no food service.
We talked to the Park Ranger and decided to take the trail to Hidden Lake, which is 3 miles roundtrip. There’s about a 500-foot increase in elevation and you’re hiking at 6,646 feet above sea level. The trail is uphill one way and downhill coming back. The trail starts at the visitors' center on a wooden boardwalk and eventually turns into a dirt trail. There are a few benches along the way to rest. The day we visited, there was slush on the ground and the Ranger told us there had been a hailstorm the previous night! The weather is very unpredictable so be sure to dress in layers. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
The scenery on the trail was breathtaking! I told my husband I felt like I was Julie Andrews in the movie "The Sound of Music" standing in the field in the mountains. The wildflowers were in bloom in the meadows, with the jagged peaks in the background. We did see mountain goats, big horn sheep, a golden eagle and a marmot. My son was thrilled to discover the marmot next to the boardwalk. The marmot was very cooperative and posed for a photo. We also saw a small waterfall on the way.
There are platforms when you reach Hidden Lake, and again, the view is fantastic! You can continue the trail to actually go to Hidden Lake but we decided not to. This trail was one of the highlights of our trip. It’s one of those times when you say, "Life doesn’t get any better than this."
From journal Week in Montana