logobilly goat billy goatgoat with kid
Bear Aware 3RD Edition
by Bill Schneider
Powells.com


Sperry Chalet Trail is one of those trails that I hike and will continue to hike, but it is a grind. There are no views until just before you get to Sperry Chalet. One of the reasons that I will continue to hike this trail is that soon I hope to either camp at Sperry Chalet Campground or stay at the Chalet itself so that I can finally make it to Sperry Glacier before it melts.
Sperry Chalet Trail shares the first two miles of it's trail with Mount Brown Trail, Snyder Lake Trail and Fish Lake Trail. Sperry Chalet Trail is a heavily traveled trail with a steep ascent. Mount Brown Trail, which is the first trail that branches off the Sperry Chalet Trail is the steepest of the day hikes in Glacier National Park! After passing Mount Brown Trail you will come to the Snyder Lake Trail branch, again on your left. At this point the main trail goes down to Crystal Ford.
Lots of horse and mule traffic on this trail. Horses and mules have right away. Step off the trail to the DOWNHILL side and stop to let the horses pass you.
Important after crossing the bridge: take the left hand fork in the trail. Fish Lake Trail goes straight. If you hike Fish Lake Trail be aware that it is a secondary trail, there were several dead falls across the trail that had been there for a long time.

old bridge crystal ford


Mountain goat kids in the underbrush along the side of Sperry Chalet Trail.
iceberg on iceberg lake glacier national park

mountain goat kids

You cannot see Sperry Chalet until the end of the trail. Finally the trail opens up and Sperry Chalet is above you on the edge of a cliff. The building on the left is the dinning hall. There is a water faucet on this building. Sperry Chalet will be open July 5, 2008 through September 7, 2008. Not visible in this photo is the large toilet building. Sperry Chalet is the building on the far right.

Sperry Chalet, Glacier National Park © Shawn Coggins



The summer of 2010 got off to a very late start for this trail.
It snowed in Glacier Park on June 10 and 11 2008.
I hiked up to Crystal Ford on the Sperry Chalet Trail on June 12, 2008. Going to the Sun Road was closed at Lake McDonald Lodge. This photo was taken from the foot of Fish Lake Trail across Snyder Creek.



cyrstal ford bridge Glacier National Park © Shawn Coggins