Glacier National Park Hiking Engagement Adventure • Xsperience Photography

The coolest things a girl could experience in a lifetime is:

Get Engaged to the man of her dreams
Visit Glacier National Park
Witness a sunrise over Bowman Lake
Hike to Avalanche Lake with your man and two best friends…oh and your wedding photographer;)

Cassandra must be one lucky girl, because she experienced all four of these things in one day!! We woke up before the sun graced us with its presence. Drove to Bowman Lake. And literally paused for a moment upon arrival. It was so quiet and serene. Everyone was just standing in silence taking in the beauty of the fog rolling over the lake, anticipating the mountain views about to happen as the sun rose and the fog lifted.

Even though we wanted to beat the hiking crowds, we didn’t rush it because we all knew without a doubt, these are the kind of moments one must live for. Then back to the Going To The Sun Road we went to find parking for our couple mile hike to Avalanche Lake. Parking is NOT an easy task in Glacier National Park so keep that in mind when planning your adventures there.

Our hike was amazing. Again, we took our time to make sure we truly enjoyed the scene we were blessed with. We watched the water flowing down the mountain side, saw a bear off in a safe distance, and had a little snack and a beer after the photoshoot at Avalanche Lake. In the midst of one of my busiest photography seasons, it was truly a reminder of how much I love my job…and this life I was blessed with!!

Why did you choose Glacier National Park for your Engagement Sesssion

Since the day we got engaged, I dreamed of taking engagement photos at Glacier National Park. Chad & I decided to plan an end of summer trip with our two good friends, & were lucky enough to have Trisha come along too! We started our trip in West Glacier. Chad & I had lunch at Backslope Brewing. The food was phenomenal & the beer was pretty good too!

Where did you stay in Glacier National Park

We stayed at the West Glacier KOA in a one bedroom cabin that held a queen size bed & twin size bunk beds (and dog friendly). This resort was so nice! There was a cafe that served breakfast & dinner (you must try the Huckleberry Mule), an adult only pool area, a nice dog park, and the nicest campground shower facilities. The next two nights we stayed at St.Mary’s/East Glacier KOA in the same type of cabin. This KOA had beautiful views of the mountains, a nice pool/hot tub, and a little ice cream/coffee shop. We spent another full day in the park exploring Many Glaciers & hiking to Grinnell Lake. This area wasn’t as busy because it was end of season. On our way back from the hike we spotted a Moose! A Park Ranger had been stopped on the side of the trail and pointed it out. If you ever get a chance, take the time to visit with a Ranger, the are full of knowledge about the parks! We ended the hike getting caught in the rain!

What did you do while visiting Glacier National Park

We spent our first day in the park with our friends, driving the famous, Going-To-The-Sun road (a must do) and hiking St. Mary’s Falls. We came back to the campground and grilled dinner & Trisha joined us! The next morning Chad & I got up early, along with Trisha to take a few photos at Lake McDonald. It was breathtaking. Although we didn’t see a bright beautiful sunrise, the fog lifting from the lake was a dream. It was such a peaceful, quiet morning. We then headed to meet our friends at the Avalanche Lake trailhead. It was around 8:30am and parking was already very full. My one recommendation for any National Park hiking—always go early! We had such a fun hike! We even spotted a bear and a few mountain goats on the side of a mountain. Now, if you don’t want to worry about crowds, this isn’t the hike for you. Avalanche Lake is one of the more popular hikes in Glacier because it’s so accessible. The best part was capturing the memories of doing something we love & sharing it with our friends.

Being Travel Enthusiasts, What is your favorite National Park

Chad & I have been to 13 National Parks together, and Glacier is our favorite. We are so thankful we got to spend time here with our friends & capture these memories. Thank you Trisha!

To book your Adventure Engagement Session or an elopement in Glacier National Park with Xsperience Photographer visit us HERE.

For all-inclusive adventures and elopements visit our sister company ELOPE WEST.