Two Medicine

Two Medicine Lake with Sinopah Mountain

Two Medicine is the collective name of a region located in the southeastern section of Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana. It has a campground alongside Two Medicine Lake. From the period starting in the late 1890s until the completion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in 1932, Two Medicine was one of the most visited sections of the park. Once part of a larger chalet complex, the Two Medicine Store is located along the shores of Two Medicine Lake and the building is a National Historic Landmark. The region is a starting point for many trails and tourboats take visitors out on Two Medicine Lake, where the steep south face of Rising Wolf Mountain towers above the lake. The region was considered sacred ground by several Native American tribes including the Blackfeet and they performed Vision quests here. Aside from Chief Mountain, the Two Medicine area is the most sacred section of the park to the Blackfeet.

From the Two Medicine Store, several hiking trails lead west and north from the area. Three lakes dominate the area, including Lower Two Medicine Lake, which is also on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Two Medicine Lake, which is the location of the campstore and the scenic boat rides, and Upper Two Medicine Lake which is a 4 miles (6.4 km) hike from the trailhead. Here are some of the best hikes. 1. Hike around Two Medicine Lake about 7 miles. Along the way add a side trip to Twin Falls, a beautiful split waterfall. This will add two miles. Then take another side trip to Rockwell Falls, another three miles to a cascading falls over many rock ledges. Then don't forget to take in Aster Falls on the South Shore, a mere .2 miles off the trail. Hitting all of the falls will give you a nice 11.5 mile trip around the lake. Other features are a meadow, beaver pond that often has moose in it as well as a hanging bridge. 2. Scenic Point, located on the left hand side of the road before you reach the lake. A nice 6.2 round trip up a mountain with just over 2,000 feet of elevation gain.[1] 3. Hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake, around 12 miles round trip taking the South Shore or 6 miles if you take the boat across the lake and back.[2] 4. The most popular: take the boat across and take a ranger-led hike to Twin Falls, two miles round trip if you return on the boat. Or walk the South Shore and take in Rockwell and Aster Falls on the way back.[3] 5. Cobalt Lake--awesome views and a chance to go all the way up Two Medicine Pass. Cobalt Lake is 13 miles round trip on the South Shore and goes past Rockwell Falls.[4] 6. Dawson-Pitamakan, 20 miles or 17 if you take the boat. This is the big daddy hike with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain, but the views can't be beat. One of the premier hikes in the park.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/scenic-point.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/upper-two-medicine-lake.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/twin-falls.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/cobalt-lake.htm
  5. ↑ http://enjoyyourparks.com/DawsonPitamakanLoopGlacier.html
  6. ↑ http://www.hikinginglacier.com/pitamakan-pass.htm

Coordinates: 48°29′11″N 113°21′57″W / 48.4864°N 113.3659°W / 48.4864; -113.3659

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