Two Medicine Area
Includes Trick Falls, Two Medicine Lake, Upper Two Medicine Lake, Two Medicine Pass, South Shore Trail, North Shore Trail, Scenic Point, Dawson Pass, Dawson-Pitamakan Loop, Old Man Lake.
Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park.
Two Medicine Area
Two Medicine Lake is the "hub" of the Two Medicine Area in Glacier National Park. Sinopah Mountain dominates the skyline to the west.
The Two Medicine Area is another vast mountainous world within Glacier National Park. The scenery is remarkably beautiful, and the hiking opportunities seem endless. Many of the peaks in this area are a brilliant red color, which adds to the magic that surrounds this area.
Two Medicine is located just north of the town of East Glacier, Montana, which is home to the Glacier Park Lodge. The main "hub" at Two Medicine is Two Medicine Lake, where there is a wonderful historic general store, boat ramp, wooden boat tours, and a fantastic campground. This is also where most of the trailheads are located for the major hikes in this special area of Glacier National Park.
THINGS TO DO AT TWO MEDICINE:
VISIT "TRICK FALLS" (RUNNING EAGLE FALLS)
You will see the turnout for "Trick Falls", or also known as Running Eagle Falls, on the main road about three miles prior to reaching the main parking lot at Two Medicine Lake. From this turnout, it's a very short, easy hike to the falls (0.3 miles). What's so unique about them is there are two-waterfalls-in-one!
Usually up through late July, there is so much water coming down that some of it flows down a cave and then spills over into the stream below, and some of the water flows over the top of the opening and creates a completely different waterfall directly above it. It's really worth taking a few minutes and witnessing this extremely unique and beautiful waterfall.
TAKE THE TWO MEDICINE BOAT TOUR
The historic boat "Sinopah" will take you on the popular Two Medicine Boat Tour, and will also take you to the best places to hike in the Two Medicine Area, Glacier National Park.
The Two Medicine Boat Tour on the historic wooden boat "Sinopah" is always a special treat! The morning lighting is fantastic as the sun hits the mountains from the east, and Two Medicine Lake is usually calmest in the morning. Your photos will turn out great. Also, if you take the first boat of the morning, you will have time to leave the boat on the far side of the lake and go for a wonderful hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake, Dawson Pass, or other exciting places. Be sure to time your hike so you can catch the last boat of the evening back to the Two Medicine parking lot.
HIKE TO UPPER TWO MEDICINE LAKE
If you want to leave the boat on the west shore of Two Medicine Lake a nice, easy hike is the trail to Upper Two Medicine Lake. From the west boat dock, it's 2.2 miles (one way) and the trail only climbs 350 vertical feet. The scenery is incredible, and you can stop at Twin Falls along the way. This lake is surrounded by mountains such as Lone Walker, Mount Helen, Mount Rockwell, and Sinopah. What a great place for a lunch, and you will have plenty of time to get back to the dock to catch the last boat of the day back to the parking lot. (It's an additional 3 miles if you miss the boat).
Click Here for further details on the hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake.
HIKE ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE TRAIL
Morning alpenglow on Sinopah Mtn as viewed from the South Shore Trail.
If you are just wanting to take a nice hike along Two Medicine Lake then take either the South Shore Trail (trailhead is located right at the Two Medicine parking lot by the boat ramp). The South Shore Trail has moose ponds, as well as some waterfalls to enjoy such as Astor Falls and Rockwell Falls. There are two very short spur trails off the South Shore Trail that will take you to Paradise Point (total distance from parking lot 0.6 miles one way, and is fairly level) and Astor Park View Point (1.9 miles total distance from parking lot one way, with an elevation gain of 670 vertical feet). There are well placed signs along the South Shore Trail showing you where to turn for these short spur trails. The South Shore Trail in Glacier National Park is also where you go to reach Two Medicine Pass. The beauty of the South Shore Trail is you can hike as far as you want, whether it's only a mile or two, or many miles.
HIKE TO ROCKWELL FALLS
Rockwell Falls along the South Shore Trail in Glacier National Park.
The hike to Rockwell Falls is a pleasant 3.4 mile hike along the South Shore Trail in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park, and has an elevation gain of only 375 vertical feet. Rockwell Falls rests directly under Sinopah Mountain, and is a popular destination for Glacier Park hikers looking for an easy day hike along Two Medicine Lake.
HIKE ALONG THE NORTH SHORE TRAIL
The North Shore Trail gives you some great views of Two Medicine Lake and the surrounding mountains. Walk as far as you want, whether it be only a mile or so, or walk to the end of the lake, which is about 3 miles one way. This is also how you get to Dawson Pass or the Pitamakan Dawson Loop if you don't take the boat.
HIKE TO DAWSON PASS
Dawson Pass in the Two Medicine Area is astonishingly beautiful!
Dawson Pass is a 6.7 mile hike, and during the last three miles you climb about 2,450 vertical feet up to the Continental Divide. That's what really tires out a lot of hikers, so use your judgment. If you decide to tackle this adventure, take the morning boat! It will save you three miles up and three miles back!
Not only will you see incredible mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes and green valleys far, far below, you will probably also see bighorn sheep. The above photo of a bighorn ewe and lamb was taken on Dawson Pass.
Click Here for detailed information on the hike to Dawson Pass in the Two Medicine Area.
HIKE THE DAWSON-PITAMAKAN LOOP
The Dawson Pitamakan Trail Loop is one of the premiere hikes in Glacier National Park and we highly recommend it if you're in good shape!
The Dawson Pitamakan Trail Loop is a 17 mile day hike that is unquestionably one of the most spectacular hikes in Glacier National Park. It begins at the Two Medicine Campground, and takes you over Dawson Pass, follows the Continental Divide to Cut Bank Pass, then takes you to Pitamakan Pass, and ends up back at the Two Medicine Campground. Old Man Lake is one of the stops of this wonderful hike, and has a backcountry campground near the lake. The scenery is breathtaking, and we highly recommend this hike if you're in good physical condition. The Dawson Pitamakan Trail Loop is one of our favorite hikes in Glacier National Park.
Click Here for all the details on the Pitamakan-Dawson Loop.
CAMP AT NO NAME LAKE
No Name Lake in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park.
No Name Lake is located on the trail to Dawson Pass. The hike to No Name Lake is a 5.0 mile hike that starts at the North Shore Trailhead, and there is an elevation gain of 800 vertical feet. There is a backcountry campground there, called the No Name Lake Campground, where you can camp here provided you get reservation in advance from the NPS.
HIKE TO SCENIC POINT
The hike to Scenic Point in the Two Medicine Area is steep and gorgeous.
The hike to Scenic Point in the Two Medicine Area is a strenuous hike where you climb 2,350 vertical feet in only 3.1 miles. HOWEVER, some of the best views of the hike are on the way up to Scenic Point, so if you get tired and don't feel you can reach the top, you will still enjoy amazing views of the Two Medicine Valley that are very much worth seeing.
Click Here for detailed information concerning the hike to Scenic Point in the Two Medicine Area.
HIKE TO TWO MEDICINE PASS
This is a view from Two Medicine Pass in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park. The sharp matterhorn in the distance is the legendary Vigil Peak.
Two Medicine Pass is 7.9 miles one way, and you climb 2,350 vertical feet. This is a marvelous hike but you really need to be in good physical condition to attempt it. To get there, you take the South Shore Trail (or the boat). Click Here for the details on the hike to Two Medicine Pass.
HIKE TO OLD MAN LAKE
Old Man Lake in Glacier National Park is surrounded by Flinsch Peak and Mount Morgan.
The hike to Old Man Lake is a gradual ascent of 1,500 vertical feet in 5.5 miles. The trailhead begins at the Two Medicine Campground and this hike is actually part of the Dawson Pitamakan Loop. The trail (Pitamakan Pass Trail) takes you around the east end of Rising Wolf Mountain and then heads west towards the lake. The Old Man Lake backcountry campground is located near the lake as well. Old Man Lake is surrounded by Flinsch Peak and Mount Morgan, which makes for a very scenic landscape.
RENT A CANOE OR BOAT
Two Medicine Lake in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park.
Rent a canoe or boat and explore Two Medicine Lake on your own. This is a big beautiful lake, and if you like canoeing or boating, this will really be an enjoyable experience.
And by the way...
THE TWO MEDICINE STORE HAS FOOD AND GIFTS!
Two Medicine General Store which originally was one of the first stops for visitors during the turn of the century. Franklin Roosevelt gave one of his Fireside Chat radio broadcasts next to the fireplace in the 1930's. The original structure still stands, which was originally used as the dining hall for park visitors.
There is a microwave and an assortment of microwavable food such as burritos, hamburgers and other "food for champions". There are even tables so you can sit down and enjoy your meal. This place has saved us more than once! There is also a fantastic gift store here as well.
TWO MEDICINE HAS AN EXCELLENT CAMPGROUND
The Two Medicine Campground is fantastic, so if you're camping, this is a great place to "pitch your tent" or trailer.
THE GLACIER PARK LODGE (EAST GLACIER) IS NEARBY.
So if you want to stay at the historic Glacier Park Lodge for the night, or if you'd just like to see this amazing lodge, you're very close to it. This lodge, known as "The Big Tree Lodge", is only about ten miles down the road.
HERE'S A GREAT BEAR STORY!
In the summer of 2008 we were climbing Rising Wolf Mountain via the west ridge. When we approached the summit, we found that we were not alone...
To our surprise, there was a Sow Grizzly and Her Cub sitting on the summit! We took things very slow and very carefully, and actually captured some great video footage of the cub playing with her mom. The above photo is of those grizzlies on the summit of Rising Wolf Mountain. We've climbed a ton of mountains in Glacier National Park, but we've never had two grizzlies on the summit with us. Well, that is until now!
This is a view from the summit of Rising Wolf Mountain. The sharp matterhorn in the foreground is Flinsch Peak, which is just off Dawson Pass. For more views from the summits, click Views from the Summits.
The morning sun really lights up the mountains above Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park.
This is a view from Mount Helen, which is just above Dawson Pass in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park.
These ptarmigans were on the summit of Sinopah Mountain with us in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park.
This is a view of Rising Wolf Mountain with Lower Two Medicine Lake below it. You'll see this view coming into Two Medicine from the main road.
This is a breathtaking view from Dawson Pass in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park.
Twin Falls is on your way to Upper Two Medicine Lake in the Two Medicine Area of Glacier National Park.