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Glacier Guides and Montana Raft

A Week in the Belly River Valley With Glacier Guides

If meandering trails through flower-laden meadows, dramatic climbs over mountain passes, and pristine lakes that simply beg you to jump in for a swim are your cup of tea, then backpacking in the Belly River area of Glacier National Park is for you! “The Belly,” as locals affectionately call the area, is actually made up of a few different valleys, each with their own unique and stunning scenery.

backpacking in the Belly River area of Glacier National Park

You won’t have to go very far on the Belly River Valley trail to know why so many folks call “the Belly” their favorite place in Glacier National Park.

Recently I lead a week-long trip backpacking in the Belly River, with some incredibly wonderful people, and I’m still smiling about it. By the way, if you spend much time in the backcountry, you learn quickly that “wonderful people” is an accurate way to describe most of the people you’ll encounter when you venture into the mountains. I could go on and on telling you why I love this remote corner of Glacier Park, but it’ll be a whole lot more fun for everyone if I show you instead:

glacier national park hiking - packing

The trip started just like every other backpacking trip we take out — packing our backpacks at headquarters. 

backpacking in the Belly River, Glacier National Park - snack break

It’s amazing how fresh and clean everyone looked when we stopped for our first snack break.

glacier national park hiking - bear mountain overlook

Don’t worry though, by day two we definitely started to look like seasoned hikers. Also, check out the awesome bear grass bunny ears on Colleen (the lovely gal in the middle)!  

backpacking glacier national park - cosley lake

Our second night we stayed at Cosley Lake. Places like this have a way of sticking with you.

backpacking in glacier national park - river crossing

Sometimes you have to cross bridges…

backpacking in glacier national park - river ford

…and sometimes there are no bridges!

backpacking in glacier national park - backpacking food

The BEST thing about backpacking is how hungry you get and how much you can eat, completely guilt free. Shrimp stir-fry with ginger garlic coconut curry sauce, anyone? Photo by Colleen Warren.

backpacking in glacier national park - elizabeth lake

Backcountry life is pretty rough some days….

backpacking in glacier national park - red gap pass

Apparently whatever I had at Elizabeth Lake was contagious and everyone seemed to have caught it by the time we got to the top of Red Gap Pass. Photo by Lydia Wilkinson.

backpacking in glacier national park - stargazing

Naps make late night star-gazing a little easier. Have you ever seen the Milky Way so bright it had a reflection?! Photo by Matt Villicana.

backpacking in glacier national park - fish for dinner

A kind soul who was staying at the same campsite as us caught rainbow trout for everyone for dinner the last night! Photo by Matt Villicana 

backpacking in glacier national park - we did it!

Dirty, smelly, exhilarated, and proud — how everyone should feel after six days in the mountains.

So, who’s ready for a backpacking trip backpacking in the Belly River?

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