Hiking the last weekend before the new car reservation system at Sunrise Corridor was delightful today starting at the White River Campground.
CAR RESERVATION: First, reserve a car reservation at recreation.gov you need to have this before showing up at the gate. July 4-Sept.
ENTRY FEE: Second, along with the car reservation use your National Park entrance pass either America the Beautiful or Interagency Pass, Military or pay for a day pass at the gate.
PARKING: Fast entry, clean restroom at White River CG, parking overall wonderful prior to 8:30 am. Parking was cramped and completely full at returning to trailhead in the afternoon.
TRIP: After parking continue to the back of the campground where it opens to the Glacier Basin trail. The trail is a well-maintained, slow warm-up, that gradually becomes steeper through the forest.
We took the Morraine Trail first to view the Emmons Glacier viewpoint. There is no need to continue past the un-maintained trail sign here. This is small spur trail that leads across the Inter Glacier Creek and up to several viewpoints.
Continuing uphill towards Glacier Basin BC Camp at 3 miles the trail then opens to snow mounds that are not difficult to navigate at this time. Leave the micro spikes home but boots and trekking poles are still helpful.
Glacier Basin had 2-3 camps without snow, one the group camp. We had lunch and explored beyond camp to the right through the snow and towards a small pond.
HAZARDS: Snow piles had some significant melt outs underneath with post holes posing a hazard if you weren't paying attention. Two small sections of boot path through the snow led you in the wrong direction.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE: A beautiful hike. Next time, I'll add the smaller section beyond Glacier Basin CG, maybe bring some gear to get across Inter Glacier to get a closer look.
PHOTO SPOT: At Glacier Basin you can continue a short bit but the major photo spot is beyond the backcountry camp and the reflection at the pond. Quite amazing to take photos.
8.5 miles, 1800' elevation gain ending at 5900'.
Comments
Chasingsunsets on Glacier Basin
That first photo of the water reflection is gorgeous! I’ve mostly done this as a late summer/fall hike so I’ve never seen it with the snow melt like that before. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by:
Chasingsunsets on Jun 29, 2024 07:08 PM
Lisa Elliott on Glacier Basin
Yes, there are a lot of small intimidating snow mounds early season to get there. I agree it is quite beautiful this time of year. There are only 2 bc camps without snow.
Posted by:
Lisa Elliott on Jun 29, 2024 07:16 PM
DRDana on Glacier Basin
Thanks for the report, I've been wondering whether this area was hikeable yet. Looks great! But a correction: the site for reservations is recreation.gov
Posted by:
DRDana on Jun 29, 2024 11:17 PM
Lisa Elliott on Glacier Basin
THX
Posted by:
Lisa Elliott on Jun 30, 2024 12:45 AM
BlueGoat on Glacier Basin
Yes--I love that pond there by the campsites and the reflection of the mountainside. Have only done the Basin in summer so your snow-cover photos are very interesting.
Posted by:
BlueGoat on Jul 01, 2024 11:21 AM