New Glacier Park book lists 'must-do' hikes

From majestic mountains to sweeping valleys, Glacier National Park offers a little bit of everything for every hiker.

An unforgettable day in the Park only takes a little planning and a little help, which is where former Whitefish resident Jean Arthur comes in.

Arthur recently published “Glacier National Park: Must-Do Hikes For Everyone,” which outlines a selection of the best hikes in the Park. The guide covers everything from trail length and difficulty, viewpoints, fishing and canoe access, to trail safety and etiquette.

“There are trails for everyone, and every fitness level,” Arthur said. “You just have to know where they are and which ones are right for you.”

Book publisher Wilderness Press contacted Arthur two and a half years ago with the idea for a Glacier Park hiking guide. Arthur said she was hooked immediately. She’s been hiking, paddling, biking and skiing her way through the Park since the 1970s.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on those trails,” Arthur said.

Her new book offers a variety of ways to view the Park, but she said her favorite trip is a combined canoe and backpack hike to Hole in the Wall.

“It was fantastically beautiful,” she said. “It’s one of the most beautiful spots in North America.”

Arthur used a GPS on each hike described in the book so she could mark specific spots where the trail produced viewpoints, fishing access or other notable landmarks. These points are transferred to maps in the book.

Since Glacier Park constantly changes, GPS points offer a stable way to signify important areas. Veteran hikers might not care for this new method, but it will greatly benefit those who are new to the trail or area, she said.

“The book I wrote today is completely different than what I would have written 20 years ago,” she said.

The hike to Logging Lake, for example, has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Hills surrounding the lake were once covered with thick undergrowth and tall trees, making views impossible.

“I wouldn’t have even included that hike,” Arthur said. “It wouldn’t have been worth anything.”

Wildfires in 1999, 2001 and 2003, however, changed the area, creating incredible views of the surrounding glaciers — something hard to see in most areas of the Park because of tree cover.

Arthur moved to Whitefish after receiving her undergraduate degree in journalism. She and her husband spent a dozen years in the Flathead. She taught at Flathead Valley Community College and worked at the Whitefish Pilot for a short time in 1985. She currently teaches writing at Montana State University in Bozeman.

“Glacier National Park: Must-Do Hikes For Everyone” is available at Bookworks in Whitefish or online at Amazon.