BEDH_GlacierWNP

Introduction

What’s a “Best Easy” Hike?

Our national parks and forests serve as windows to the natural world, reservoirs of natural beauty and grandeur, and wellsprings of inspiration. As such, they are magnets to people who seek to reestablish their ties with nature, learn more about the world in which we live, or simply find a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of modern society. Glacier National Park and its Canadian neighbor, Waterton Lakes National Park, feature mountain fastnesses clad in glaciers, azure lakes, and sparkling waterfalls, inviting the visitor to step into the natural world.

Anyone who travels widely in these areas will soon notice that park visitors fall into two distinct categories—those who want to immerse themselves in wilderness backcountry for several days at a time, and those who have only a day or two and would like a choice sampling of the area’s special features. This book is for the second group.

I gathered materials for this guide as I researched the much larger and more comprehensive Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks. That book covers every trail in both parks, including those that are neither best nor easy. Best Easy Day Hikes Glacier and Waterton Lakes includes only short, less strenuous hikes that showcase the best features of the region.

These hikes vary in length, but most are short. Most lack big hills, and the few long grades that appear in this book can be tackled in a leisurely fashion. All hikes are on easy-to-follow trails with no off-trail route-finding challenges. Trailhead access is easy for all hikes, and you can reach any of these trailheads with a low-clearance passenger car.

A few of the hikes in this book might not seem easy to some, but they will be easy for others. To help you decide what trails are right for you, I’ve ranked the hikes from easiest to more challenging on page 7. Please keep in mind that long does not always equal difficult. Other factors, such as elevation gain and trail conditions, have to be considered.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy your “best easy” hiking through the natural wonders of Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks.

Leave No Trace

Traveling in a national park such as Glacier is like visiting a famous museum. You obviously don’t want to leave your mark on an art treasure. If everybody who visited the museum left one tiny mark, the piece of art would be destroyed—and what would a big building full of trashed art be worth? The same goes for pristine wilderness such as that found in the Northern Rockies. If we all left just one little mark on the landscape, the wilderness would soon be despoiled.

A wilderness can accommodate plenty of human use as long as everybody treats it with respect. But a few thoughtless or uninformed visitors can ruin it for everyone who follows. And the need for good manners applies to all wilderness visitors, not just backpackers. Day hikers should also adhere strictly to “zero impact” principles. We all must pass through the landscape respectfully, leaving no clues that we have gone before.

Most of us know better than to litter, in or out of the wilderness. Even the tiniest scrap of paper left along the trail or at a campsite detracts from the landscape’s pristine character. This means that you should pack out everything, even biodegradable items such as orange peels, which can take years to decompose. It’s also a good idea to pick up any trash that less considerate hikers have left behind.

To avoid damaging the trailside soil and plants, stay on the main path. Avoid cutting switchbacks and venturing onto fragile vegetation. When taking a rest stop, select a durable surface like a bare log, rock, or sandy beach. Don’t pick up “souvenirs,” such as rocks, antlers, feathers, or wildflowers. The next person wants to discover them, too, and taking such souvenirs violates park regulations.

Avoid making loud noises that disturb the silence others may be enjoying. Remember, sound travels easily in the outdoors. Be courteous. When nature calls, use established outhouse facilities whenever possible. If these are unavailable, bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and pack out used toilet paper. This is a good reason to carry a lightweight trowel. Keep wastes at least 300 feet away from any surface water or boggy spots.

Finally, and perhaps most important, strictly follow the pack-it-in/pack-it-out rule. If you carry something into the wilderness, consume it completely or carry it out with you.

Leave no trace—put your ear to the ground in the wilderness and listen carefully. The thousands of people coming behind you are thanking you for your courtesy and good sense.

Hiking with Kids

Hiking with children can be one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences a family can undertake. Hiking offers a tremendous learning opportunity, giving children confidence and a growing awareness of the world around them. Kids can enrich the hiking experiences of their parents as well, since they often find beauty in small details that adults overlook.

Choose a destination that is accessible to your kids, and set your goals with your youngest child’s abilities in mind. If you are carrying a young child in a kid-carrier backpack, you may be able to travel farther than you could if that child were walking. Young children can surprise you with their ability to travel long distances, if parents are willing to shoulder some of the extra load.

As a general rule, children two to four years old can be expected to walk up to 2 miles per day, taking rest stops every ten to fifteen minutes. Children five to seven years of age can usually hike up to 4 miles per day, and should rest every thirty to forty-five minutes. Once children reach eight or nine years of age, they can be expected to cover up to 7 miles a day.

Start with short trips so the kids can get accustomed to hiking uneven trails. Children tire quickly and are easily distracted, so don’t be surprised if you don’t make it to your destination. Stay flexible and consider alternate turnaround points en route to your goal. Point out special sights, sounds, and smells along the way to help your children enjoy the trip and learn about what they see. If you make the hike fun, keeping the kids interested, they will keep going.

Careful planning with an emphasis on safety will help make your trip an enjoyable one. Allow older children to carry their own packs, and perhaps bring a favorite toy or book along. These things, along with some equipment kids can carry, help develop a sense of responsibility and teach young hikers the advantages of packing light. Children over age four can carry a day pack, but parents should be prepared to carry the pack for a tired child. Limit the weight of an older child’s pack to 20 percent of the child’s body weight. Parents may have to carry some of the child’s gear.

Young skin is very sensitive to the sun and to insect bites. Apply sunscreen to your kids before and during the trip. Carry a good insect repellant, preferably a natural product, and apply it as necessary. Also consider carrying a product that takes the itch out of insect bites. A hat helps keep bright sun out of sensitive young eyes. Rain gear is always an important consideration in the mountains, since storms and cold weather tend to move in unexpectedly. Kids seem to have less tolerance to cold than adults, so bring ample warm clothing. If your hike will take you to the edge of a river or lake, careful supervision of your kids is a must. Consider bringing a life vest for your child.

Parents should be aware that both grizzly bears and mountain lions range throughout the park. Make sure that your group stays together, and do not let children run ahead.

Among your important considerations when hiking with children should be the wilderness experience of other hikers. Kids are naturally inclined to run around, chase animals, collect flowers and rocks, and shatter the silence with their screams. These behaviors may be fine in town, but they are inappropriate in a wilderness setting. Always be aware that many visitors who seek out the wild country of Glacier do so to find tranquillity and solitude. Supervise your children so that their actions do not impose on others.

Finally, since children learn by example, day hiking offers an excellent opportunity to instruct children in the arts of treading lightly and reducing their impact on the landscape.