Glacier National Park guide · 1 min read
Two Medicine: Off the Beaten Path
Two Medicine draws far fewer visitors than Going-to-the-Sun Road or Many Glacier, so its trails and shoreline tend to feel calm and remote.
The valley has its own entrance, just northwest of the town of East Glacier Park. Before Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in 1932, this was the first part of the park people came to see. Today it makes a good retreat when the busier corridors fill up in summer.
At the west end of the valley lies Two Medicine Lake, a large, high-elevation lake ringed by steep peaks. Rising Wolf Mountain stands right above it, and on still mornings the water mirrors the summits around it. Scenic boat cruises cross the lake, and boat rentals are available if you would rather explore on your own.
Short waterfall walks make an easy start. Appistoki Falls is 0.6 miles one way with about 260 feet of climbing, beginning at the Scenic Point parking area a quarter mile east of the Two Medicine Ranger Station. Aster Falls is 1.2 miles one way from the South Shore Trailhead and gains only about 100 feet. Paradise Point, a 0.7-mile walk from the same trailhead, is another gentle option.
Experienced hikers come for the longer climbs. From the North Shore Trailhead, Dawson Pass is 6.5 miles one way with 2,450 feet of gain, and Pitamakan Pass is 7.6 miles with 2,400 feet. The two trails connect into a popular all-day loop that counts among the finest hikes in Glacier. No Name Lake, Oldman Lake and Cobalt Lake offer more mid-length destinations.
Wildlife sightings are common along the lakeshore and the nearby trails. With fewer people around, you have more room to stop, wait quietly and watch.
