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Glacier National Park: Pitamakan Pass to Dawson Pass
Hike over three mountain passes into glacier-carved basins with crystalline lakes and bird's-eye views on this 17.6-mile loop. Don't forget your camera.
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| Author: | Backpacker Magazine |
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | Montana (MT) |
| Distance: | 17.59 mi |
| Difficulty: | 7 / 10 |
| Rating: |
 8 rating(s)
|
Before the Going-to-the-Sun Road opened in the '30s, Two Medicine was one of the park's most crowded areas. Explore this beautiful and now-peaceful area on a 17.6-mile loop that visits sparkling lakes and makes a timberline traverse of the Continental Divide. Begin at the Two Medicine Campground trailhead along the shore of Two Medicine Lake, which sits beneath Rising Wolf Mountain.
After a level stretch, the trail starts climbing at the head of the lake, passing No Name Lake on its way to Dawson Pass on the Divide. The hike along this spine yields stunning vistas. Duck through Pitamakan Pass (meeting up with the CDT) and descend to Oldman Lake, where you can camp and fish for cutthroat. A gentle stroll down the Dry Fork Valley leads back to the trailhead. Get the required permit at Two Medicine Ranger Station.
PERMIT: Overnight camping in Glacier National Park requires a backcountry permit. Check out the latest fees and more details at nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm.
MORE PARK INFO: Glacier National Park, (406) 888-7800; nps.gov/glac/.
-Text provided by Erik Molvar, author of Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks (FalconGuide).-Mapped by Trung Q. Le
TO TRAILHEAD: From East Glacier Park, take MT 49 N (not plowed in winter). In 4 mi., turn L onto Two Medicine Rd. Drive 8 mi., then turn R and park @ Two Medicine Campground.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Pitamakan Pass Trail
| Distance: 17.59 mi | Points: 1734 |
Points of Interest
PTM001
Location: 48.488610, -113.367244Cross bridge between Two Medicine Lake and Pray Lake; bear R onto Pitamakan Pass Trail, curving around Rising Wolf Mtn.
PTM002
Location: 48.511828, -113.377447Cross Dry Fork Creek on small bridge; parallel creek then climb to Pitamakan Pass. In .3 mi., turn L @ T; leave dense forest for sparsely-covered Dry Fork Valley
PTM003
Location: 48.516192, -113.398497Cross footbridge
PTM004
Location: 48.511570, -113.445000Veer R @ Y; huckleberry bushes flourish. In .5 mi., catch first glimpse of Oldman Lake, then climb switchbacks to Pitamakan Pass
PTM005
Location: 48.517658, -113.458298Head W along ridgeline; Pitamakan Lake to the N. In .2 mi., stay L @ Y. (To make this a 54-mi. loop, check out Five Pass-Red Eagle Loop @ www.backpacker.com/hikes)
PTM006
Location: 48.516732, -113.465477Bear L @ Y
PTM007
Location: 48.518421, -113.472504Go SW around Mt. Morgan; see Mt. Stimson over Nyack Creek Valley to the W
PTM008
Location: 48.507052, -113.473792Flat saddle offers intimate views of Flinsch Peak's pointed summit to the S
PTM009
Location: 48.491570, -113.469704Last chance to savor endless views of sky-high peaks to Dawson Pass
PTM010
Location: 48.487202, -113.471904Turn L onto Dawson Pass Trail for moderate descent into Bighorn Basin
PTM011
Location: 48.481108, -113.445961Swing L. Optional campsite: Turn R for .2 mi. side trip to No Name Lake
PTM012
Location: 48.477644, -113.420148Stay straight with Upper Two Medicine Trail
PTM013
Location: 48.478113, -113.406844Trail skirts N shore of Two Medicine Lake; head NE to complete loop
Oldman Lake
Location: 48.511658, -113.444352A large headwall frames the indigo waters of Oldman Lake. ©Trung Q. Le
View from Pitamakan Pass
Location: 48.517704, -113.457718A lake sits perched above another. ©Trung Q. Le
Flinsch Peak
Location: 48.516739, -113.465327Flinsch Peak with a furry local resident in the foreground. ©Trung Q. Le
View from Dawson Pass
Location: 48.487316, -113.471260Lakes and green-covered hills stretch into the distance. ©Trung Q. Le
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