St. Mary Lake
The Going-to-the-Sun Road then reaches St. Mary lake. This
lake is 10 miles long but not as wide as McDonald lake. You'll want to
stop at the turnouts at the end of the lake for a view of 100-foot
Virginia Falls across the valley. From the Virginia Falls turnoff or Sun
Point you can take some short hikes. One is a fork that leads to Sunrift
Gorge where a steep, paved path leads to an overlook with windswept pines
and views of Baring Creek cascading over slickrock. Another trail
continues around to the end of St. Mary lake and leads to St. Mary and
Virginia Falls. There is an excellent view of St. Mary lake as the trail
rounds the lower end of the lake over a bluff. The trail continues to St,
Mary Falls and then over a bridge at the base of Virginia Falls.
For excellent photo views of the lake, take the short spur
road to Sun Point and the next turnout. Goose Island View (1.5 miles from
Sun Point) is a "must stop." This is one of the most
photographed views in the park. The Little Wild Goose island adds to
photographs of the lake. The next turnout, The Narrows, is where the width
of the lake is just a quarter mile across. Take the short path to the lake
for some outstanding views.
The area north of the lake along the road is rich in
wildlife. Here you may see mule deer, skunks, ground squirrels and
badgers. It is also an excellent place to find elk. In autumn near dusk,
you may find bull elk engaged in battles. This is an important winter
range for elk and you can easily cross country ski here in winter. In
spring, it is the calving area for the St. Mary elk herd. This is also a
good destination in spring and early summer for wildflowers including
Indian paintbrush, blanketflowers, and lupine.
Near the road to the St. Mary campground, you have a good
view looking southwest of the lake. Just before the town of St. Mary, a
road leads down the east of the lake a short distance to the Eagle Lake
Trailhead. This trail takes you through grasslands and aspens and
cottonwood groves, and is another good location to photograph St. Mary
lake. Mountain goats inhabit Red Eagle Mountain.
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