NPS Trail Report 7-20-11Many Glacier Road to Apikuni Falls ~ 1.0 mi. TRAIL REOPEND 7/19/2011 Trail free of snow and trees, 7/17/11 TRAIL CLOSURE: 7/17/2011 entire trail closed due to carcass Trail free of snow and trees, 7/7/11 Initial clearing scheduled for: 6/24/11 Last 1/4 mile 20% snow covered: 6/25/11 First quarter of trail mostly snow free, last three quarters mostly snow covered. 6/15/2011
Apikuni Falls June 2010 There are two trails that start from this trailhead so be sure you are on the correct trail, as the other one is 20 miles long! Altough Apikuni Falls Trail is shared with horses, in early summer of 2010 there weren't any major signs of horse use on this trail. Unlike many of the heavily forested trails in Glacier National Park, Apikuni Falls Trail has frequent, spectacular, glimpses of the surrounding mountains, these views are more evident on the return trip down the trail. Snow clears from the Apikuni Falls Trail early in the season. On a warm, sunny day this trail can get hot. Apikuni Falls Trail is a short, steep trail so degree of difficulty is largely dependent on how much problems you have on relatively steep hiking trail. Since it is such a short trail, the best method to make it easier is to take your time, there are frequent view point stub trails off the left side of the trail as you are going up towards the falls that provide great view points across Lake Sherborne, which is at full pool in early July of 2010. This is a nice, not great wildflower trail with a wide diversity of blooms. Apikuni Falls is not visible until you are at the end of the trail. |
Mount Gould, 9,553 feet, about half way up Apikuni Falls Trail from side trail viewpoint. Gem Glacier, and parts of Salamander and Grinnell Glaciers are visible from view points along the Apikuni Falls Trail.
Apikuni Falls Trail dries out early and has a diverse collection of wildflowers. The Apikuni Falls Trail could serve as a good conditioning trail for Mount Brown Lookout Trail, with 3,600 feet less elevation gain and the steep part of the trail almost two miles closer to the trailhead.
The abundance, or conversely the absence of wildflowers on the Apikuni Falls Trail is subject to the whims of rain, snow and drought. 2010 with it's very wet spring is a great wildflower year. As this is trail clears of snow early then the higher altitude trails you can combine conditioning, with wildflowers on the wet years. In addition to the waterfall at the end of the trail, the views across the valley towards The glaciers, Gem Glacier is visible along with the leading edge of Slamander and Grinnell Glaciers.
Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. ~ Soren Kierkegaard