We try to stay for a rew days of hiking in Glacier National Park each year and we hike the Asulkan Trail almost every time.   The first half of the trail is an easy walk through a valley bottom and the second half is a steep hike up moraines to an elevation level with the tongue of the glaciers near Asulkan Pass.

From Illecillewaet Campground, follow the main trail to Glacier House and then continue south.   The trail climbs gently through cedar-hemlock forest past the Meeting of the Waters, then follows Asulkan Brook to its source.   As the trail goes back into the valley, the trail climbs the side slopes when an avalanche track comes down from Abbott Ridge and The Rampart.   When we ski this route in winter, we make sure we stay in the trees above the valley floor.   The trail climbs past cascades heading toward the treeline.

At the head of the valley, the route veers east to a side creek.    A steel portable bridge crosses the creek.   It is chained in place but is usually moved in the off-season to avoid the spring melt torrent.   Several bridges were washed downstream in past years.   Past the bridge, the fun starts.   The trail climbs steeply up the spine of a lateral moraine.   This is a calf-burner.   As the elevation increases, there are glaciers on 3 sides.    By this time of year, the Sapphire and Dome Glaciers lie like ice-shelves above the valley.

At the end of the trail, Askulkan Hut sits at the head of the valley at 2100 feet (at N 51 12.700W 117 27.800).   It sleeps 12 and is used mainly for skiing.    It can be booked for summer use and on this occasion, an extended family had booked in for 2 nights.  

Glaciers hang off the upper slopes all around and meltwaters rush down the slopes to combine into the Asulkan Brook which rushes down in cascades to the confluence with the Illecillewaet River.  

This is the upper extent of the treeline and a few wildflowers and alpine perennials take a last stand before the killing frosts.

There are lots of opportunities to explore the high shoulders above the hut, but we check the time and we regretfully return down the trail, following the brook into the green valley.

The return trip is 13 km with an elevation gain of 925m (3034 feet).    It starts in the old-growth fores and climbs through sub-alpine meadows to the barren alpine environment where the bare rock is newly oncovered from the retreating glaciers.    We return to this perfect hike every year and will continue to do so for as long as our legs will support us.  

Rogers Pass Memorabilia

Lori Rilkoff shared this postcard from the days of Glacier House: