Siyeh Pass - Glacier National Park August 2023

Siyeh Pass trail offers a diverse mix of landscapes and is often listed as one of the favorite trails inside Glacier National Park. Accessed from the very busy Going-to-the-Sun road, there are several ways to tackle this trail.
The easiest and most popular route starts at Siyeh Bend, on the Piegan Pass trail, and ends at Sunrift Gorge several miles up the GTTSR, requiring a shuttle trip back to the starting point. It can be done in the opposite direction, requiring an extra 1,200 feet of ascent, or as an out-and-back going only to the pass and back, but missing some of the best vistas the trail offers. Another lesser-known and used option starts the trail across the road from the Jackson Glacier Overlook on the GTTSR, not really adding any mileage or elevation, but if parking at the Bend is full it's another way to access the trail.
The trail from the Bend begins in the trees in what is known as Preston Park, a beautifully shaded pine-tree forest. Once the junction for the Siyeh Pass trail begins, the shade ends, and the trail can be very hot. Water is scarce once headed up the pass, so be prepared. The wind can howl at the pass and weather can change very quickly, having warm layers and rain gear is always a good idea, even if the weatherman says zero chance of anything.
The shuttles inside Glacier are currently free and run steadily throughout the day, but check with the official NPS website before deciding how to attempt this trail. Bears love this area, so make sure to have bear spray and loud conversation is a good idea, especially through the trees. Traffic on this trail is generally lighter than most, so to avoid some of the heavy trail traffic or parking issues at Logan Pass, Siyeh and Piegan Pass are both great alternates that never ever disappoint.
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