Glacier is another beautiful place, located less than 100 miles by road south of Waterton Lakes NP in Canada. It is adjacent to Waterton, and together they are designated as an International Peace Park. There was still a smoky haze from the British Columbia fires when we drove down and into Glacier.
The road down followed the edge between the plains and mountains.
Crossing the US/Canadian border.
The park gets its name not because of the views of glaciers that you see, but from the glacial forces that formed the landscape in the park. Around 1850 there were an estimated 80 glaciers in the park, now there are 26 that are shrinking.
You need a reservation to drive the famous “Going to the Sun” Road, but when I tried to make one the day reservations opened, they were already sold out. So I booked a trip on Lake McDonald, which came with a driving pass 🙂 The road is amazing, going high into the mountains to the peak elevation of 6,646 feet (2,026 m) at Logan Pass.
Building the road was an engineering feat. There was a great debate on the route the road should take, with the first national park engineer Goodwin proposing a route with 15 switchbacks, while Vint the park landscape architect proposed another route with only one switchback which would be more difficult and expensive to construct but with better vistas. Park Superintendent Mather ruled in favor of Vint after riding off from the argument on his horse. After close to 30 years and $2,000,000 later, the road was opened in 1932 to automobiles, with only one switchback.
Beau loved the scenery too and had a fan club every time we stopped!
There were some wonderful views from Lake McDonald.
The drive back to the east side of the park was equally beautiful.
Next, a hard turn to the east and Yellowstone, WY.
3 For the Road 
As always, beautiful pics
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