To many people Upper St. Mary Lake is the most sublime of all mountain
lakes of the world. From its foot roll the plains northeastward to
Hudson Bay and the Arctic. Its long and slender surface is deep emerald
green, nestled in a salient in the Front Range, with peaks rising
majestically a mile sheer over three of its sides. These for the most
part possess names of Indian origin: Going-to-the-Sun, Piegan, Little
Chief, Mahtotopa Red Eagle, and Curley Bear.
[Illustration: _Hileman photo._ GOING-TO-THE-SUN CHALETS]
St. Mary Chalet at the lower end of the lake, Going-to-the-Sun Chalets
(Sun Camp) near the upper end, Roes Creek Camp Grounds on the north
shore, and a hikers' camp at the outlet of Baring Creek furnish ample
accommodations for all classes of visitors.
The celebrated Going-to-the-Sun Highway from St. Mary Junction over
Logan Pass to Lake McDonald runs along the north shore of St. Mary Lake
past Roes Creek Camp. Spurs connect the chalets. Trails centering at
Sun Camp lead everywhere: Along the south shore (the Many Falls Trail)
to Red Eagle and St. Mary Chalets; up St. Mary Valley to Blackfeet
Glacier, Gunsight Lake, and over Gunsight Pass to Lake Ellen Wilson,
Sperry Chalets, and Lake McDonald; up Reynolds Creek over Logan Pass
and along the Garden Wall to Granite Park; a spur from the trail up
the same creek turns right and joins at Preston Meadows, high on
Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, with another trail from Sun Camp which leads
up Baring Creek past Sexton Glacier and over Siyeh Pass; from Preston
Meadows over Piegan Pass and down Cataract Canyon to Many Glacier; up
Roes Creek to Roes Basin; up Mount Reynolds to a fire look-out.
A ranger naturalist is stationed at Sun Camp who conducts field trips
daily, lectures each evening in the chalet lobby, and maintains a
cut-flower exhibit there. Small stores are maintained at both chalets;
gasoline is obtainable at each. Scenic twilight launch rides on the
lake are featured when the waters are calm. The ranger-naturalist
generally accompanies these trips to impart interesting information
about the lake and mountains.
Walks and hikes are popular at Sun Camp--to Baring, St. Mary, Florence,
and Virginia Falls; to Roes and Baring Basins; to Sexton and Blackfeet
Glaciers; to the summit of Goat Mountain. Sunrift Gorge, 100 feet north
of the highway at Baring Creek Bridge, should be seen by everyone. It
can be reached by trail from Sun Camp.