Glacier’s quietest valley still runs a wooden boat from 1926, and almost no one knows it

Two Medicine’s wild corner of Glacier

Most people in Glacier National Park spend their time on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Two Medicine Valley is just fine with that.

Tucked into the southeast corner of the park, this valley pulls in a fraction of the crowds, so the trails stay open and the shorelines stay calm. Sharp peaks drop straight to the water.

The mix of forest, open prairie edges and cold mountain lakes packs a lot into a small area.

The valley has been sacred ground and a presidential stop and home to a boat that has been running since Calvin Coolidge was in office.

Sacred ground with a presidential broadcast

The Blackfeet Nation has held this valley as sacred for generations, and the park still uses the original Blackfeet name. It points to two medicine-lodge ceremonies once held here.

The Great Northern Railway put chalets by the lake in the early 1910s to pull in train travelers, and Two Medicine became one of the park’s busiest corners until the Going-to-the-Sun Road opened in 1932 and shifted the crowds west.

The old chalet dining hall still stands as the Two Medicine Store, now a National Historic Landmark. On Aug. 5, 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt gave a national radio address from that site.

Cold clear water ringed by tall peaks

Two Medicine Lake sits at the center of the valley, and the mountains around it don’t ease in gradually. Sinopah Mountain rises sharply at the far end.

Rising Wolf Mountain pushes up to the north. Painted Tepee Peak and Flinsch Peak fill in the ring.

The water is clear and cold, fed by mountain snow and streams, and on calm mornings the peaks reflect across the surface with enough detail to stop you in your tracks.

Most activities in the valley start here, so give yourself time just to stand at the shore before you head anywhere.

Step aboard the 1926 Sinopah tour boat

The tour boat Sinopah has been on this lake since 1926, making it the oldest wooden boat in Glacier’s fleet. It earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

The ride runs about 45 minutes, and captains talk through the geology and history of the valley as you cross the water.

Beyond the tour itself, the boat doubles as a trail shortcut, dropping hikers at the far shore and cutting miles off several routes. Summer tours sell out, so plan ahead and book early.

Walk to a waterfall that changes with the season

Running Eagle Falls sits at the end of a 0.3-mile trail with a hard-packed, stabilized-soil surface that is fully wheelchair accessible. The falls run in two levels, and what you see depends on when you come.

High water sends the flow over the top lip. Lower water pushes it out through an opening in the rock face.

That second version is why people also call it Trick Falls.

The falls are named for Pitamakan, a celebrated Blackfeet warrior woman whose English name was Running Eagle.

Rent a kayak and paddle close to the mountains

The lake stretches about two miles, and you can rent a kayak, canoe, rowboat or motorboat right at the water. Paddling puts you close to the peaks in a way the shoreline trails don’t.

Go in the morning when the water tends to lie flat. By afternoon, winds on the east side can pick up and make the crossing a workout.

Keep your eyes on the shoreline as you go.

Bears, moose and other wildlife move through the edges of the lake, and from the water you get angles on the valley most visitors never see.

Hike through forest to reach Twin Falls

Twin Falls is a short, mostly flat walk from the far shore of the lake, and the best way to get there is to ride the Sinopah across first.

From the boat drop-off, the trail moves through spruce and fir forest before the falls come into view. It’s a popular choice for families and for anyone who wants a real destination without a punishing climb.

When you’re done, you can ride the boat back or keep going on to other trails deeper in the valley.

Climb to Scenic Point for open sky and bighorn sheep

Scenic Point is a different kind of day. The trail runs about 3.9 miles one way and climbs roughly 2,350 feet, pushing up above the trees into wide open terrain.

You don’t have to reach the top to get something out of it.

The views open up well before the ridge, and the valley spreads out below you as you gain elevation. Bighorn sheep sometimes appear on the higher rocky slopes.

The ridge is exposed, and wind comes fast, so bring an extra layer even on a warm morning.

Find the quieter lake sitting deeper in the valley

Upper Two Medicine Lake stays calmer than the main lake, and the trail to reach it passes through green valley terrain that fills with wildflowers in summer.

Taking the Sinopah across first shortens the trip and leaves you more time at the lake itself. Snow can linger near the water into early summer, so the exact character of the place shifts with the season.

The high peaks surround the far end of the valley here, and a flat rock near the shore makes a good spot to sit with lunch and let the place settle around you.

Follow short trails to four more waterfalls

Aster Falls is an easy climb from the South Shore Trailhead, and continuing past it brings you up to Aster Park, where the view opens over the whole valley.

Rockwell Falls is a longer walk, but the wide cascade at the end makes the extra miles worth it. Appistoki Falls runs a short trail near the Scenic Point parking area, so you can knock it out on the same trip.

Four falls, spread across trails that range from easy to moderate, give you options no matter how much your legs have left.

Watch for grizzlies, moose and mountain goats

Two Medicine carries genuine wildlife density. Grizzly and black bears move through the valley, and rangers take that seriously.

Carry bear spray, make noise on the trail, and hike in groups. Moose turn up near the lakeshore and in marshy spots.

Mountain goats and bighorn sheep work the higher rocky slopes, often visible from below if you spend enough time scanning the ridgelines.

The park’s bear-safety guidance covers the specifics, and following it isn’t optional here. This valley earns its reputation for feeling wild, and the animals are part of that.

Take on the 17-mile Dawson-Pitamakan loop

If you have strong legs and a full day, the Dawson-Pitamakan loop is the biggest hike the valley has. It runs roughly 17 to 18 miles, crosses high passes and follows stretches of the Continental Divide.

Bighorn sheep show up along the way, and the route passes hidden lakes and long views in every direction.

Many people who have hiked throughout Glacier rate this among the best big-day or overnight hikes in the entire park. It’s a serious undertaking, but nothing else in Two Medicine covers the same ground.

Visit Two Medicine Valley in Glacier National Park, Montana

To get there, head east of the Going-to-the-Sun Road toward the town of East Glacier, Montana. For 2026, Glacier has dropped vehicle reservations park-wide, but you still need a valid park entrance pass.

The Two Medicine Campground is closed all season for a water-system project, though the day-use area and road generally run from about May 29 to Sept. 7.

The North Shore Trailhead is inaccessible this year, but a signed reroute exists.

If you’re heading to Twin Falls, Upper Two Medicine Lake or Dawson Pass, the South Shore Trail works without a water crossing. The parking area is small and fills early, so arrive before 9 a.m.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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