Light at lake is out, stars shine bright in Glacier Park

A light that was compromising the dark skies at the foot of Glacier National Park’s Lake McDonald has been removed. The bright LED light at the Glacier Park Boat Co. dock would cast a broad circle of light well out onto the lake as well as up into the sky as it reflected on the snow.

The Hungry Horse News brought problem of the light to the Park Service’s attention earlier this winter.

The light was taken down a few weeks ago.

The light may seem like a trivial matter to some, but Glacier and its sister park Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada were named the first International Dark Sky Park in 2017 by the International Dark-Sky Association.

As such, the Park Service looks to limit light pollution wherever possible and has retrofitted or replaced thousands of light fixtures over the years.

This particular light was not owned by the Boat Company or the Park Service. It was technically owned by Flathead Electric. The Co-op took the light down at the request of the boat company.

The area now provides an accessible place along Lake McDonald where folks can view the pristine night skies of Glacier without having to hike a long distance — it’s only about 20 to 30 feet from the parking area to the lake shore and views of Glacier’s high peaks over Lake McDonald.

In fact, the entire foot of the lake is now void of artificial light, save for whatever light wash might come off the snow from a few buildings in the interior of Apgar Village.

According to the Dark Sky Association, dark sky “basic” lights should only be on when needed, only light the area that needs it, be no brighter than necessary, minimize blue light emissions and eliminate upward-directed light.

Clear winter night skies in Glacier are particularly spectacular as there is little to no traffic on roads and the sky has no haze from wildfires or other pollutants.