Length: 26.4 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

National Park: Glacier National Park

Journal: "Heather & John's Big Adventure: The Honeymoon"

From Glacier National Park, drive north on Montana State Highway 17 to the Chief Mountain Customs Trailhead, on the left, within sight of the Border Patrol buildings at the Canadian border. Permits are required for all backpacks in the Glacier backcountry. Please check with the Glacier National Park Backcountry Desk for trip planning. Advanced reservations are $20.00, and permits are $4.00 / person per night.

Trail Description:

The trail begins at the Chief Mountain Customs Trailhead. Follow the Belly River Trail for the first 6.0 miles, to the junction with the Stoney Indian Pass Trail. Turn right. Here, the trail crosses the Belly River by way of a suspension bridge then ascends a finger ridge westward towards Gros Ventre Falls, at 7.9 miles.

At 8.7 miles, you will come to the foot of Cosley Lake, where you will find the Cosley Lake Campground. I highly recommend camping there, as all of the campsites are right next to the lake! The head of Cosley Lake was closed when we were there in July 1999 because it is a nesting area for bald eagles.

At 10.2 miles, you will come to Glenns Lake, which is 2.5 miles long. Just past Glenns Lake, there is a spur trail that goes to Mokowanis Lake. This is a nice 1.3 mile long trail that is worth the side trip. Mokowanis Lake is a pretty little lake where campers have often seen moose and deer.

The trail eventually goes on to Stoney Indian Pass, but we never made it that far as there were still snow hazards due to the late thaw that year.

Return the way you came, or end at the Goat Haunt Ranger Station, at 26.4 miles.