Aptly named: Scenic Point in Glacier National Park offers spectacular views
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 2 weeks AGO
The Scenic Point trail offers a great view of Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A pair of bighorn sheep and lambs make their way along the Scenic Point trail. (Photo courtesy of Owen Desch)
Hikers stop to take a look at Appistoki Peak along the Scenic Point trail. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A chipmunk peeks out from a twisted tree stump along the Scenic Point trail in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Trees make up the foreground of the view looking to Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Hikers make their way down the Scenic Point trail in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A marmot feasts along the Scenic Point trail. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Yellow shrubby cinquefoil create dots of color along the Scenic Point trail. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
The view at the summit of Scenic Point shows off the mountains and Two Medicine Lake. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Sweeping views at the summit of Scenic Point look to the plains in the east and provide a look at Lower Two Medicine Lake. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | July 26, 2026 12:00 AM
It’s a steady climb up to Scenic Point. But a climb that’s worth the effort for the 7.6-mile round-trip trek.
Taking off about a half mile before Glacier National Park’s Two Medicine Lake, the trail begins with an easy walk through the trees, eventually passing by Appistoki Falls. Before long, it moves beyond the shade and begins to climb into the open that defines the majority of the hike.
While marking the points between the switchbacks, the view only gets better with each step, showcasing the rising peaks and brilliant blue of Two Medicine Lake in the valley below.
Creating tiny spots of color in the spring — pinkish-purple shooting stars and yellow shrubby cinquefoil dot the edges of the hillside. The skeletons of dead whitebark pine trees are a marked feature of the landscape.
The hike offers the promise of spotting wildlife along the way. Keep an eye out for marmots and chipmunks moving through the brush. Bighorn sheep are known to wander down the trail, forcing hikers to wait as they pass.
Once at the saddle, the trail levels out and gradually makes its way to Scenic Point.
At the summit, looking to the east, the vastness of the plains is present, while the mountains to the west are highlighted by snow. An aerial view shows off Lower Two Medicine Lake.
The return hike offers the same views but moving down the trail while losing the roughly 2,200 feet of elevation gained. The mountain and lake views are just as spectacular as on the way up.
A pair of bighorn sheep and lambs make their way along the Scenic Point trail. (Photo courtesy of Owen Desch)
Hikers stop to take a look at Appistoki Peak along the Scenic Point trail. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A chipmunk peeks out from a twisted tree stump along the Scenic Point trail in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Trees make up the foreground of the view looking to Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Hikers make their way down the Scenic Point trail in Glacier National Park. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A marmot feasts along the Scenic Point trail. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Yellow shrubby cinquefoil create dots of color along the Scenic Point trail. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
The view at the summit of Scenic Point shows off the mountains and Two Medicine Lake. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Sweeping views at the summit of Scenic Point look to the plains in the east and provide a look at Lower Two Medicine Lake. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)ARTICLES BY HEIDI DESCH
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