CDT: Many Glacier to Goat Haunt (MT Sec. 30)

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

• Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT)

This stretch of the CDT passes through some of Glacier's most incredible areas starting with Many Glacier. The trail begins near the Many Glacier Hotel and works past Swiftcurrent Lake, then passes along the road, through the developed section of Many Glacier. From here, it hops on the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail passing many lakes known for harboring moose. Bear sightings are frequent as are bighorn sheep and mountain goats in the surrounding cliffs and hillsides.

At the head of the drainage, after passing Bullhead Lake, you begin to climb up to Swiftcurrent Pass first through foothills, then near waterfalls as you traverse through cliff bands. The trail rounds off through Swiftcurrent Pass as you get a whole new vista as you drop down near Granite Park Chalet.

From here the trail follows along the Highline Trail as it traverses at the foot of epic mountains through alpine meadows. Views across massive drainages to the incredible peaks of the Livingston Range. Keep your eyes out for alpine birds as well as the small, alpine mammals such as pika, marmots, and weasels. Grizzlies are frequently seen rooting around in these meadows and the bighorn sheep and mountain goats are common as well.

After the Fifty Mountain Campground, the trail traverses an incredible meadow before dropping into the Waterton Valley through forest and avalanche chutes to the valley floor. Here the trail travels level through a wet forest along the Waterton River, eventually reaching Goat Haunt at the foot of the beautiful Waterton Lake.

This content was created by Jake Bramante of Hike 734. Visit hike734.com for more expert Glacier content and maps that help you decide which trail to hike.

Just about everything glacier has to offer from valley flowers to small alpine flowering shrubs. Mammals range from chipmunks and squirrels to grizzlies and mountain goats.