Apgar Lookout is located right by the West Glacier entrance before you get to Apgar. If you come early season, the road is often closed by the horse corrals as McDonald Creek and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River are too high and over the road and the bridge (but usually safe to cross on foot). This will add 1.9 miles to your walk as it did to mine.
The trail used to be a walk amongst trees until it was all burned out and is now a walk through a burn area with lots of light and new growth. In the summer, it makes for a hot walk on this south facing slope. As far as lookouts in Glacier National Park, its grade is about a medium grade which means you’ll get a sweat on, but it won’t kill you. Snow lingers late into the spring at the saddle between the mountain and the knob where the lookout is located, but you’ll usually find tracks through it from others that have gone before you.
The lookout itself offers a nice view of Lake McDonald and Howe Ridge which you can preview by heading on over to the Park’s webcams by Clicking Here. The walk up gives you a sweet look into the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead river confluence and surrounding communities.
We had to walk along the road an extra 1.9 miles to get to the trailhead as the road was closed due to water being on it, but we made it to the Apgar Lookout Trailhead and hiked up to the lookout. While on the road, we saw a black bear (both going up and coming down) as well as some elk, so the extra walking was worth it as far as I was concerned!
In addition to the elk and bear, we saw some some squirrels, birds and flowers and a friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend. All in all, a pretty special day!
Had my mom snap a picture of Billy and I standing in front of the webcam. The Glacier National Park Conservancy is responsible for many of the webcams that give you views into the park from the comfort of your computer.
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