Great Falls - Ducks, Geese and Squirrels

Great Falls - Montana, USA

As we hadn't been across the border we thought we would drive down to Great Falls, Montana. As you can see the roads are pretty similar. I liked the mile markers on the side telling you how far you had come (from where we weren't sure).

We stopped in town for lunch and some shopping, there is an excellent toy shop called Amazing Toys - Where Sophisticates Shop for Fun! and a shop for tea lovers, there were tea pots, tea sets, fine china and every type of tea you could imagine.

Below are photos of the Museum of Art and some of the sculptures outside .

In the afternoon we checked out the local areas of interest. Rainbow Falls, the Missouri River, Giant Springs and Fish Hatchery.

Herbert Lake

We passed this lake on the way in to Lake Louise village. I had taken a photo of it above, but it was through the windscreen so we went back to hike part way around it and take a few more photos before driving back to Lethbridge. It was a very nice spot with picnic tables and areas to launch small boats and canoes.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is 14kms from the Lake Louise village. It is situated in the valley of the ten peaks (the series of ten mountain peaks that runs from the edge of the lake along the left side of the entire valley) The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its full height until mid to late June. When we visited the water wasn't even up to the canoe pontoon. This lake was featured twice on the Canadian $20 bill. We hiked the trail that goes half way around the lake.

The large rock pile (originally thought to be a moraine) that blocks the waters was deposited by major rockfalls from the Tower of Babel '(smaller mountain) to the south. There are trees growing on the older landslide where the rocks are covered with lichens.
The lake often remains frozen until June, and the access road is closed all winter.

It was 25 degrees and yet there was still snow on parts of the trail.

Bow Lake and Black Bears

The next morning we left Num-Ti-Jah and Bow Lake (you can just make out Num-Ti-Jah to the right of the photo below). We made our way back to Lake Louise and then on to Lake Moraine.

On the way we spotted these black bears. There were three cubs, they were so busy it was hard to get a photo of them. Their Mum was keeping a watchful eye as you can see.

Driving to Lake Louise village.

Mistaya Lake

Mistaya Canyon

We turned back towards Bow Lake, stopping off to hike down to the footbridge that overlooks a narrow pot-holed gorge and the Mistaya River below.
Mistaya Canyon is 55kms south of the Columbia Icefield and 74kms north of Lake Louise. Mistaya means grizzly bear in Cree Indian.