Day 7: July 3, 2025, Many Glacier, East Glacier National Park
Was today charming? Sort of. Was it a mess? Also yes. We nursed blisters, laughed too hard, hung out with a moose or two, and nearly had to hitchhike back to camp. But honestly? We wouldn’t change a thing (well, maybe one thing). This is the semi-charmed life we signed up for.
Many Glacier is the lusher, greener, more wildlife-rich side of Glacier National Park: think Jurassic Park. It’s also less commercial than the western side—and this season, significantly under construction. With no camping allowed in the Many Glacier Campground (thanks to water system and road upgrades), access is very limited.
Unless you’re staying at the lodge, hopping a Red Jammer tour, have boat tickets, or scored shuttle passes—you’re out of luck. Luckily, we landed shuttle tickets between 9–10 AM.
Running on blistered feet and determination (with a side of moleskin and Band-Aids), we dragged ourselves out of the camper after yesterday’s escapades, ready for what we hoped would be a low-key nature walk.
Spoiler: It wasn’t. (But,you probably already guessed that if you are not new to this blog.)
From the impressive, lederhosen-staffed Many Glacier Lodge (straight out of the Swiss Alps), we consulted a park ranger who suggested a trail labeled Green (easy)—a 2.3-mile hike to Redrock Falls with only 600 feet of elevation. Perfect!
Except… that distance was from the actual trailhead, which we were three miles away from. Whoops. By the time we realized this, we were too far in—and too charmed—to turn back. Our “easy” hike turned into a 10-mile trek. But what we got in return? Pure magic.
Down a spur trail to Fishercap Lake, Rob spotted a bull moose, standing shoulder-deep, dunking for lake greens like it was a salad buffet. Calm, regal, and wildly photogenic, he let us gawk and snap from a respectful distance. One moose. Four humans. At least 200 photos. Zero regrets.
Redrock Lake was a stunner—glacial blue and pristine. At the top of Redrock Falls, Rob waded in, Alyssa and Marlie discovered a snake (no thank you), and I soaked my sore feet in glacial runoff. Cold therapy meets mild screaming.
On our way back? Moose encore! This time, two bull moose snacking side by side. Another 150 photos later, we felt like we’d stumbled into a wildlife documentary. Quiet, peaceful, and nearly empty of people—Many Glacier had officially soared to the top of the vacation list.
Back at the Jeep and dreaming of s’mores and an easy evening… cue the chaos. Twenty minutes from camp, the Jeep erupted in a loud bang, smoke poured from the hood, and the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. Rob coasted us safely to a grassy patch outside the Kyiyo Mercantile in Browning, MT.
Cell service? Nonexistent.
Panic level? Medium-high.
Mercantile angels? 100% real.
They called Coleen and AJ from A & C Towing, who showed up within 30 minutes, loaded up our poor Toad, and offered to store it for the long weekend. Did I mention it’s the 4th of July weekend and no mechanics are open until Monday?
While Alyssa and Marlie snacked and made friends with the shop dog, Rob and I made the call: salvage what’s left of the evening and head back to Two Medicine in the back of Coleen’s Chevy Sliverado. No harsh words. No drama. Just quiet acceptance—and maybe a touch of shock-induced numbness.
We were doing fine until at the Two Medicine entrance, Rob realized we left the camper keys in the Jeep’s dashboard compartment. Thirty miles away. Back in Browning.
It’s not the good times that define a relationship. It’s how you act in moments like these when you are up against a wall, faced with adversity and filled with a blinding rage that really defines a couple’s fortitude.
Let’s just say… it was a good thing I was in the back seat.
End of Day Stats:
Mileage Hiked: 10ish miles
States Visited: Awe, joy, disbelief, shock
Rubber Ducks Deployed: 1 (Many Glacier Lodge lobby)
Wildlife Seen: deer, snake, and moose (not sure if I mentioned this)
Cue: “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind for a perfect blend of chaos and charm.
Wandering, But Not Lost 