Bears of the Northwest

Photo by Deby Dixon

I grew up in the shadow of Glacier National Park. Every year my family would make their annual pilgrimage on Going to the Sun highway and every year I never fully appreciated the beauty and majesty of the park until I moved out of the northwest. Many states have their own unique beauty, but the mountains were a part of my soul and I missed them. I missed the winter days when the air was crisp and biting; the sky was a robin egg blue and snow on the mountains sparkled like a Tiffany diamond. During the summer, you always knew you could escape to the cool of the forest or dip your toes in a glacier fed lake. Autumn was my favorite season as the air took on a softness and the ghosts of tribes past would dance in the warm fall breeze and their colorful beading would rub off and turn the leaves’ shades of crimson, gold, and pumpkin. This was my Montana, and it would always call me home.

Glacier National Park

“Crown of the Continent”, “Backbone of the World” and “Shining Mountains” are some names used to describe this national park that encompasses more than a million acres. For hundreds of years, tribes crossed though Glacier Park to reach the bison on the east side and the Kootenai tribe called Lake McDonald “The Place Where They Dance”. This park has held a cultural, spiritual significance for many Native Americans and is a place of unimaginable beauty and ruggedness. The terrain was carved from mother nature’s hand during the force of the Ice Age and today over 25 active glaciers remain in the park, as well as breath-taking 400 foot waterfalls, stunning rock cliffs and sweeping vistas that are every photographer's dream. Black bears as well as brown bears (called grizzlies) call this place home and they while they do not congregate in one particular area, they can still be found on hikes and trails, much to the consternation of the park service. Grizzlies are of a special concern and I would call them grumpy. Never did a summer go by that someone didn’t have a run in with one of them. The end result was almost always tragic for the tourist. Unlike the coast of Alaska where the food source for bears is abundant with salmon, berries and grasses, the grizzlies of Montana have it rougher and a hungry bear is a stressed bear. Go to Glacier Park for the beauty of seeing mountains and glaciers in all their ordained glory and if you happen to see a bear in the wild, then that would be the icing on a memorable vacation.

Photo by Deby Dixon

Yellowstone National Park

It is appropriate that Yellowstone was the world’s first national park, as she has held a special place in the hearts of people. There aren’t too many places where you can view a volcano’s hidden power rising in awe-inspiring geysers, psychedelic hot springs or geologic wonders. Watch the drama as mother nature puts on a show and the supporting actors are the wildlife of bears, wolves, elk, bison and bighorn sheep. There are countless trails to explore in the 34,375 square miles of one of the largest, nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on earth. Visit Yellowstone National Park and be safe by adhering to the park service’s signs that say stay on the trail. They are there for your safety as this is an active thermal site and what looks like a solid crust you can walk on actually disguises a dangerous hot spring that will kill you if you fall in. Also beware of baby animals such as bison or bears. Often the mother is nearby foraging for food and you do the animal a great dis-service by thinking it is abandoned and carrying it to a ranger station. Appreciate the animals from a distance, look with your eyes, not with your hands, and keep Yellowstone pristine for many generations.

Washington

Photo by Deby Dixon

North Cascade National Park

“The North Cascades are Calling!” says the National Park Service website. Two hours from Seattle beckons an alpine landscaped forest carpeted with over 300 lakes and ponds and thousands of miles of rivers and streams contributes to the biodiversity of this area. There are eight distinctive life zones from the lowland forests and wetlands to the alpine peaks and glaciers that are calling you to come and visit.

Olympic National Park

At over a million acres, this park has several ecosystems, including old-growth temperate rainforests and over 70 miles of untamed coastline. Between the extreme of the ecosystems lies cougars, black bears and grizzlies, mountain beavers and snowshoe hares. The summer months of June through September are the busiest times of the year, and wilderness campgrounds fill up fast.

Oregon

There are no brown bears in Oregon, so if you see a bear it is a black bear no matter the color. The black bear species is quite healthy and numbers between 25,000-30,000 in the state. They mainly make their home in forested areas and wetlands, and open forest areas provide the bears with their main food source.

Valley of the Rogue River State Park

Oregon’s Rogue River in the south-west corner of the state is famous for its raging rapids and the stunning scenery. One can fish for chinook and coho salmon as well as steelhead and rainbow trout.

Idaho

Boise National Forest

The vast landscape of Boise National Forest spans over 2.5 million acres of forests and grasslands. Located northeast of Idaho’s capitol of Boise, outdoor enthusiasts can explore everything from canyon floors to the 10,000 foot peak of Trinity Mountain. There are over 500 trails and 250 lakes to cool yourself in after a long summer hike. Deer, elk, mountain goats, mountain lions and black bears can be found in this national park.