A stroll to Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park
Jackson Slabaugh, from Akron, Ohio, checks out the view north along the Continental Divide, with Mount Wilbur, right, and Iceberg Peak, center, from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Two hikers ascend to Swiftcurrent Lookout with Swiftcurrent Glacier, the Garden Wall and Mount Gould in the background in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Swiftcurrent Lookout atop Swiftcurrent Mountain with Heavens Peak in the background in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A view across the Swiftcurrent Valley and lakes Windmaker, Bullhead, Redrock, Fishercap, Swiftcurrent and Sherburne in Many Glacier in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Ben Voeten, from Belgium, switchbacks up the Swiftcurrent Lookout Trail in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Paintbrush along the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Hikers descend the Granite Park Trail towards The Loop in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The view north along the Continental Divide with Mount Wilbur, right, and Iceberg Peak, center, from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Swiftcurrent Glacier, the Garden Wall and Mount Gould seen from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Stoney Indian Peaks seen from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Perched high atop Swiftcurrent Mountain at an elevation of 8,436 feet, Swiftcurrent Lookout is the highest point accessed via trail in Glacier National Park.
Constructed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps for around $7,500 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, the lookout can be visited via The Loop, the Highline Trail or the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail beginning in Many Glacier.
I chose The Loop as my starting point for a round trip of about 12.3 miles and elevation gain around 4,300 feet. I got an entry permit the night before for the 9-11 a.m. window and at 9:30 I was waiting in a line of traffic that stretched out onto U.S. 2 in West Glacier.
Halfway up to Granite Park Chalet, the sky turned white, and I thought it might rain. My objectives of taking some nice photos and kicking my own butt suddenly came into conflict. I debated turning around and packing it in for another more blue-sky day. I trudged up to the chalet and had a snack and watched the sky. The butt-kicking took priority.
By the time I got to the lookout, the skies were thankfully clearing up. Incredible views stretch out in all directions. To the north along the Continental Divide, Mount Wilbur and Iceberg Peak seem at arm’s reach, jutting out above the massive cirque that holds Iceberg Lake. Views to the east extend down over the chain of lakes in Many Glacier's Swiftcurrent Valley. To the southeast, a unique perspective of the Garden Wall with Swiftcurrent Glacier shimmering below it and Mount Gould towering behind.
I made conversation with another solo hiker from Belgium who was touring National Parks in the West and four backpackers from Ohio who were on the first night of their trip that would take them up the Ptarmigan Trail to Cosley Lake, then along the Stoney Indian Pass Trail to the Northern Highline and back.
I took a few photos and tried to soak it all in. Then it was time to start the knee-buckling descent.
Not much wildlife to note. A few deer below the chalet. A couple marmots below the lookout, one scampered away just as I was framing it up for a portrait with Heavens Peak in the background. And what I assume was a snowshoe hare a quarter mile from the Loop.
I arrived back at my vehicle at 7 p.m., both objectives fully completed. Another beautiful day in the park.
Two hikers ascend to Swiftcurrent Lookout with Swiftcurrent Glacier, the Garden Wall and Mount Gould in the background in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Swiftcurrent Lookout atop Swiftcurrent Mountain with Heavens Peak in the background in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A view across the Swiftcurrent Valley and lakes Windmaker, Bullhead, Redrock, Fishercap, Swiftcurrent and Sherburne in Many Glacier in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Ben Voeten, from Belgium, switchbacks up the Swiftcurrent Lookout Trail in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Paintbrush along the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Hikers descend the Granite Park Trail towards The Loop in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
The view north along the Continental Divide with Mount Wilbur, right, and Iceberg Peak, center, from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Swiftcurrent Glacier, the Garden Wall and Mount Gould seen from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Stoney Indian Peaks seen from Swiftcurrent Lookout in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park on Monday, July 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider