It’s August and the trails of Glacier National Park seem packed with hikers and tourists around every corner. But there is one corner of Glacier where you can find some great views and a little peace and quiet. The Scalplock Mountain Trail is a lightly used path near Essex that offers visitors a nice 8-mile roundtrip trek with some great views of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.
The trail starts at the Walton Ranger Station and follows the Boundary Trail for about a mile. At one point you’ll cross the Ole Creek on a wooden footbridge. After awhile, the lookout trail will split and begin climbing a long series of switchbacks. Near the top you cross through a field of wildflowers before the final climb to the lookout.
How to get there: Travel east from West Glacier on U.S. Highway 2 for 27 miles. Just east of Essex, take a left into the Walton Ranger Station parking lot. Park there and the trailhead is at the end of the lot.