East Glacier National Park

 East Glacier National Park

Another day when we were in the Glacier National Park area, we decided to explore the east side of Going to the Sun Road.  In order to access it, we needed to drive around the southern portion of the Park.  We did see some interesting sights along this route….

For a time, our drive paralleled the route that the Amtrak Empire Builder was taking.  This train route begins in Chicago and travels west, ending in Seattle.  However, in this case, the train was heading in an easterly direction and was also skirting the southern boundary of the Park.

Along the way, we found (on the map) what appeared to be a bit of a shortcut to the East Entrance to the Park and took that.  Due to the very winding road along this “shortcut”, we felt we really didn’t save any time.  However, we sure got to see some lovely views of the outside of Glacier National Park East!

Just after entering the East Entrance, we got to see a peek at St. Mary Lake.  We also noticed some interesting rock formations.  Notice how the rock layers are somewhat curved.  Over millions of years, the curved formation would have been caused by shifting of the rock layers, which typically would have occurred due to continental drift.  The glaciers would then have carved into the rock layers, exposing what we see here. There were also some wildflowers blooming, adding a nice touch of color.

Off to the right of the road were the Baring Falls.  Here are a couple of views of the lower end of the falls.  You can see in the image on the lower left, how fast the water was flowing.  This is not some lazy river, meandering down the mountain!!

Here are a couple of views of the higher part of the Baring Falls, that we could reach by walking up some steps and a path leading to the top of the falls.  These views don’t represent the top, but are partway up.  Notice how fast the water is rushing.  The image in the lower right is of the water rushing over some rocks.  It’s very, very clear and rushing just as fast as it is clear.

This was as far up as we could see the Baring Falls, as it flows through the Sunrift Gorge.  The trail goes up the falls about ¾ mile.  We didn’t scramble up that last part, but this view was pretty without the scramble!  Again, notice how clear the water is!

Here’s a view of Virginia Falls from the road.  The hike out and back to the falls is about 2-3 miles and not one we chose to do.  Still, the falls is rather pretty, even from a distance.

Just across from Baring Falls and Sunrift Gorge is a view of Wild Goose Island in St. Mary Lake.  I purposefully took a wide view shot of the island, so you could see how small it truly is.  The sky looks very threatening in this image.  It was a rather overcast day but didn’t really seem as threatening as the image shows!!

Sometimes, along the creeks and streams, there are some small blossoms.  Seeing such tiny pieces of nature’s perfection amid such grandeur, I just must pause and relish these tiny bits of inspiration.

We did see two more creeks along the road, across the way from St. Mary Lake – the Creek at Rising Sun (on the upper left) and Rose Creek (lower right).

A peek at Jackson Glacier was as far as we could travel on the east side of Glacier National Park.  There is a platform where I suppose one gets a clearer view of the glacier – however, I prefer this sort of peek at it through the trees.  It just feels truer to the feel of the Park.

I thought I’d end this recap of Glacier National Park on a bit of a lighter note, with a couple of images of some mountain goats we saw on our drive back to the campground.  If you look closely at the image on the right, you’ll see what I think is Mama Mountain Goat relaxing on the side of a mountain that was perhaps a bit steeper than a 45-degree angle.  And, to her right, almost hidden by the trees, is her little baby.  The image on the left reflects, I believe Papa Mountain Goat.  There is a stream at the base of this mountain that they had been drinking from, and then they climbed up here to relax for the afternoon!

Enjoy!

 

Hana Road Waterfalls

One of the things that the Road to Hana is known for are the waterfalls – some easily visible, some a bit of a trek into the woods, and others totally hidden, and unavailable to me!  As you’ll see from this long post, altho some may be hidden, there are plenty   that are easily visible!

The first waterfall we saw required a bit of a trek into the woods.  If it hadn’t been described in the travel book I had, I would have totally missed this one.  It wasn’t very large, but it was a very sweet start to the waterfall show.

Peeking at Haipua’ena Falls

The next set of falls was along the road, but easy to miss because the falls face parallel to the road, and not toward the road.  The Hawaiian name of the falls is Waikani, but the other name is 3 Bears Falls.  I’ve seen this waterfall when the water is flowing heavily, and the 3 bears become one very large bear!  I think that in this case, less is most definitely more – the 3 delicate falls are just so lovely.  Also, if you look toward the ride side of the image, you’ll see a splash.  It almost looks like the start of a 4^th bear!

Waikani – 3 Bears & a Splash

The next waterfall is the Hanawi Falls.  The interesting thing about this waterfall is that you can stand on the bridge, and look directly down on the falls as they crash over the edge into a small pool below.   The sunlight plays so pretty over the water in that pool, too.  Such pretty blue green color, and the water is incredibly clear.

Hanawi Falls on Hana Highway

I don’t know the name of this waterfall, but it was almost hidden and easy to miss as you drive along the road.  Jeff paid attention to the curves in the road, and I was responsible for spotting the waterfalls!  I had to walk back along the road across the bridge, and really sort of seek out the waterfall as it was sort of around an edge of the woods.  In this image, I slowed down the shutter speed so you can get an idea of how smoothly the water flowed over the various rocks along the way down.

Almost Hidden Waterfall on Hana Highway

Here’s another slow-motion waterfall shot.  I especially love the way the water flows on the bottom of the falls – just cascading gently over all the layers of rocks.

Grace on the Hana Highway

Here’s another waterfall that was hidden away – no, I didn’t have to walk thru the woods to get to it, but I did have to look closely into the woods, because it was hidden away in the darkness of the woods.  I love the slow gentle cascade flow of this very small, and very elegant waterfall.

Hidden Waterfall

This waterfall is the same one that I shared on my Facebook tease.  I love the way the waterfall is so gentle that it seems to almost disappear as it flows over the rocks.  From the tease, when you can see people at the base, this is a very tall waterfall. 

Waimoku Falls

Enjoy!