A Young Granite Park Chalet

The two photos below of the Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park were taken by T. J. Hileman in 1925, just ten years after it was constructed by the Great Northern Railway. The rustic lodge was the last of the nine backcountry chalets built by the railroad, all of which were part of an interconnected system of trails, tent camps, backcountry chalets and frontcountry lodges [more details on this system here]. All were constructed to provide comfortable accommodations within Glacier during the era before automobile travel become an important mode of transportation. Both Sperry and Granite Park, the only chalets that survive to this day, still offer overnight accommodations for hikers. Both are National Historic Landmarks.

Compared to Sperry Chalet, the Granite Park Chalet is much more basic, and is essentially a simple hiker's hostel, with virtually no amenities. It has 12 guest rooms, each with 2 to 6 bunks. Although there's no electricity, the common-area kitchen does have a propane stove that you can use to cook a warm lunch or dinner. The chalet also sells packaged foods, beverages, snacks, and bottled water to day hikers.

Although accommodations are limited, the chalet is still a popular destination for hikers on the Highline Trail, as the upfront views of Heavens Peak are second to none:

Here's another photo of a "man playing with bear at Granite Chalet" in 1924. This photo was taken by John Morten:

                *******************************************************************************

Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Gran Teton posts construction updates

Gran Teton National Park posted this blurb on their social media yesterday:

Planning a trip to Grand Teton National Park this spring? Most of the park is OPEN and ready to explore 🏔️

Scenic drives, hiking trails, visitor centers, and campgrounds are available across much of the park.

🚧 A few construction areas to plan around:

• Death Canyon Road/Trailhead: closed

• Moose-Wilson Road: open between Granite Entrance and Rockefeller Preserve

• Moose/Teton Park Road area: occasional short delays possible

• Taggart Lake Trail: hiking detour in place

✨ Bottom line: classic Grand Teton experiences, like Colter Bay and driving the Teton Park Road are here—just allow extra travel time and check conditions before you go. 🔗 nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/road-construction.htm

              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon