Marmot Mania
Marmots kept showing up like old friends. Usually on a rock or stretched out in the sun, just watching us pass. They are the largest members of the squirrel family and spend most of the year in hibernation, so summer is when they’re finally out and easy to spot.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
- Beaver Meadows - our first marmot of the trip, spotted during the guided birding hike.
- Beaver Meadows and Cub Lake - a marmot watched from the rocks near the end of the Cub Lake hike.
- Lake Haiyaha - after the snow slog and sketchy sections, we spotted a marmot on the return near Nymph Lake.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Mount Washburn Trail - one of the best marmot hikes of the trip, with multiple marmots out along the trail and right near the hikers.
Glacier National Park, Montana
- Avalanche Lake and Hidden Lake - the Hidden Lake Overlook portion came with snow, sleet, and a marmot sighting high above the valley.
- St. Mary and Virginia Falls - a friendly marmot hung around after Virginia Falls while everyone stopped to admire it.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
- Jenny Lake and Schwabacher's Landing - the quieter return around Jenny Lake came with three hoary marmots.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- Burroughs Mountain Loop - huge alpine scenery and a marmot sighting out on the Burroughs.
- Skyline Trail - the undisputed marmot bonanza, with marmots posing on rocks and even blocking the trail.
Best Marmot Bets
- Most marmots: Skyline Trail
- Best high alpine marmot atmosphere: Burroughs Mountain Loop
- Best waterfall plus marmot combo: St. Mary and Virginia Falls
- Best marmot mid-snack: Mount Washburn Trail
- Best snow hike marmot: Lake Haiyaha