Garry Lookout a quick winter excursion
The view of Mount St. Nicholas from the old Garry Lookout site. (JP Edge photo)
JP EDGE
Hungry Horse News
Garry Lookout is an old fire lookout just off Highway 2 about 15 miles east of West Glacier and just after Rescue Creek along the border of the Great Bear Wilderness. The parking area is not very large off the side of the road. The lookout was built in 1934 but was destroyed in 1974.
The trail is not very long, or very steep. The elevation gain is about 830 feet and the round trip about 3.3 miles.
The trail itself begins as an old Forest Service road, but quickly narrows about a half-mile in or so. From here, wearing skis or snowshoes becomes important, but not totally necessary. When I did this hike in early February, there was a lot of hardpack snow, but that could quickly change as the season progresses.
At the top of the hill is the site of the former lookout. In the summer months, you can see the old foundation pilings. Once gaining this location, the trees open up to an amazing view into the park, revealing a direct line of sight to Wolftail Mountain, the Cloudcroft Peaks and Mount Saint Nicholas to the east as well as Nyack, Great Northern Mountain and Mount Grant to the south-southeast in the Great Bear Wilderness.
The hike is a pleasant excursion and a nice winter workout for those interested in a trail that is a straight up and straight down affair.