Gunsight Pass, Part One: Snyder Lake, Glacier National Park

Two Medicine

This last summer, Nic and I headed out to Montana on a road trip. This trip to Snyder Lake, Sperry Glacier and over Lincoln and Gunsight Passes was the longer of our two backpacks in Glacier National Park. We covered 32 miles and over 8,000 feet of elevation gain in three days. The second week of August is incredibly busy so it was very lucky to get walk-in permits. This modified version of the typical Gunsight Pass itinerary was due to Snyder CG being available, which was a lucky surprise, and our curiosity at Sperry Chalet, which led us to add a hike within a hike on day two. Here are the picture from the first day.
 

 

 

Mt Brown

Hydration

 

We day hiked from our camp at Snyder Lake to Upper Snyder Basin through the pine studded gorge in this cliff. This is mandatory if you camp here. The "trail" is on creek right (that's facing downstream) so cross just downstream of the big waterfall shown below and watch out for cobwebs.

Also, keep in mind that Snyder is known for bears and they don't expect to run into people in the upper basin which isn't visited nearly as much.

 

 

Hiking up the gorge

 

 The largest falls

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upper Snyder is swampy around the creek and very overgrown everywhere else.

Edwards Mtn

 

Mt Brown from the creek in Upper Snyder

 

Our strategy of following the creek to Upper Snyder Lake failed because it became a swamp. After returning to camp, I studied the map and once you get up out of the gorge, leave the creek and go up over the hill in front and to the left. That's the most direct route.

 

Back at our camp

 

 

 MSR Hubba

The beginning of our intense second day

Looking North of Snyder Lake to Mt Brown