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NPS Press Release
Date: June 29, 2011
Contact: Ellen Blickhan, 406-888-5838
WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Aggressive behavior has been displayed by a mountain lion in the Upper McDonald Creek Valley near areas highly frequented by visitors. Rangers are requesting visitors to be on alert for mountain lions and report all sightings to the closest National Park Service (NPS) facility.
On Tuesday June 23, a woman and her niece were confronted by an adult mountain lion, dark in color on the Sperry Trail near the Lake McDonald Lodge. The lion was crouched adjacent to the trail with its ears back when the visitors saw the lion. The visitors spoke firmly to the lion and eventually the lion left the area. On Sunday June 26, rangers received another report of a very large hiking group that encountered a mountain lion with a similar description on the Upper McDonald Creek Trail, between the North McDonald Road and the horse bridge across Upper McDonald Creek. The lion was spotted less than five feet off the trail and did not show any signs of being frightened by people.
Rangers are actively patrolling these trails and are requesting visitors to report all sightings immediately to the closest NPS facility or Park Ranger. Visitors are also reminded that unlike bears, if an attack seems imminent, act aggressively, do not crouch or run away. Park Officials advise hiking in groups and do not recommend solo travel on trails.
The Inner North Fork Road opened June 19, 2009 from Fish Creek to Polebridge. Then the Inner North Road partially closed in June 2010, and reopened again in early July, 2010. Over the last few years this stretch of the Inner North Fork Road has been closed more often then it is open. In 2010 the Inner North Road opened the earliest it had in a decade, then closed again due to flooding. The Inner North Fork Road is currently closed at the Rocky Point Trailhead as of June 27, 2011.
Rocky Point Trail is a easy hike with nice views at Rocky Point of Mount Brown and Edwards Mountain across Lake McDonald. Getting to the Trailhead for Rocky Point is a little tricky. At the 'T' intersection north of the west entrance to Glacier Park take a left on Camus Road. Cross the outflow from Lake McDonald onto Camus Road. As you go up the hill look for signs on the right for Fish Creek Campground, turn right onto Fish Creek Campground Road and stay to the left. You will come to a divided section of the road, there is a small building on your right and in front of you is the entrance to Fish Creek Campground. Circle back towards were you were coming from and immediately turn right onto the dirt road known as the (Inner) North Fork Road. From this point it is one half mile to the trailhead parking area. You will come to a gravel pit on your left, pull into the parking area in front of the gravel piles and park. The trailhead is in the right hand side of the road just before you entered the opening for the gravel pit.
Rocky Point Trail meanders through the woods and descends to Fish Creek then after crossing Fish Creek ascends up the hill towards the shore of Lake McDonald. As of 6/20/11 bear grass was starting to bloom along the trail. As of 6/27/11 Maripos ~ calochortus apricultus is blooming. The Rocky Point Trail then intersects the Lake McDonald Trail coming from Fish Creek Campground the two trails travel together for awhile. After leaving Rocky Point the combined trails go uphill for a short ways. The Lake McDonald Trail goes downhill along the shore of Lake McDonald, while the Rocky Point Trail loops back to were you first met up with the Lake McDonald Trail. After looping back take the trail to the right back towards the Inner North Fork Road. The Rocky Point Trail forks to the right JUST AFTER the two photo displays about the Roberts Fire. The major trail sign at the point is yellow flagged! If you continue straight you will end up in the Fish Creek Campground! I will add some more trail sign pics a a small map as this trail can be a bit confusing. On the way in the trail signs call the trail the Rocky Point Nature Trail when you are returning follow the signs to the Inner North Fork Road. |
