Balu Pass
There are so many good hiking trails in Glacier National Park that it is hard to choose which ones to do for each trip. The very “best trails list”, though includes Abbott Ridge, Asulkan, Hermit, and Balu Pass.
Balu Pass is sometimes closed due to grizzly activity so check at the Ranger Station before heading out. The trail starts at the northern side of the Rogers Pass Center. It climbs through mountain hemlock (with an occasional englemann spruce), then traverses over to Connaught Creek and emerges into an avalanche zone which affords open views all the way to the pass. The word “Balu” is a version of “baloo”, meaning bear and the trail is flanked by Grizzly Peak, Ursus Major and Ursus Minor. This is indeed bear country so travel in groups and stay alert. Close to the top of the route, the trail switches back and forth to climb a steeper section, then arrives in an alpine meadow. The end of the trail is up a short route to the top of the pass between Connaught Creek Valley and Cougar Creek Valley. This is the place to have lunch. We sometimes hike up the broad shoulder of Cheops Mountain for the view. The peak is quite baggable with some scrambling up the rocky summit ridge. Cheops is infamous for an event in 1910, when an avalanche fell off the southern slopes of Cheops Mountain, and, as a crew was clearing the snow, another avalanche fell and killed 57 of 58 men.
The Balu Trail also goes down into Cougar Creek to the Nakimu Caves and then down to the highway (4km), so a loop route is possible. Cougar Creek is not hiked very often so hikers should take a cautious approach. Views from the pass extend up to the peaks surrounding Cougar Creek and across to the Bonney Range. Wildflowers are abundant in the meadows and we encountered ptarmigans in the pass twice.
This pleasant hike is about 10km return with 780m (2600 feet) elevation gain to the Pass. This is a rewarding hike that gets to a high viewpoint with a reasonable grade. We have also skied this in winter. We now try to hike this trail from mid-July to September on a sunny day. It is on our list for a future hike.
