Lake Ellen Wilson

Figure 1. Lake Ellen Wilson, Glacier National Park.

To visitors in Glacier National Park, Lake Ellen Wilson is not a familiar name. It is located at the west side of Gunsight Pass. To see it, a strenuous 16 mile round-trip hike is required.

In 2014, I tried to hike Gunsight Pass Trail from the St. Mary Lake Side to Lake McDonald Side. The total distance is 20 miles,but I only need to hike 14 miles on the first day because I got a reservation in Sperry Chalet, a hike-in backcountry hotel on Gunsight Pass Trail. The trail leads to remoteness and it is one of my most memorial hikes in this park. Lake Ellen Wilson is one of the gems on this trail.

While Lake Ellen Wilson doesn't have the turquoise color due to the lack of active glacial activities, it is still very attractive. The clouds give the contrast and provide rich background in the midday. It is not far from Sperry Chalet and I felt more relaxed to enjoy it than Gunsight lake.

Famous landscape often benefits from easy access. The downside is the crowd. If you don't mind a work-out, you may find something even better in the remote backcountry. Lake Ellen Wilson is just one of them.