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Sami Michie | Travel + Outdoor Adventures |📍Glacier NP

@samiwanderswild

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🏔Adventure travel bucketlist trips near and far✨
📍Your Glacier NP + Montana Guide👋
🌲Hikes • Hidden💎s •Roadtrips•Outdoors
📧SamiWandersWild@gmail

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If you're new here welcome! And if you've been following along for awhile, welcome back and thanks for coming along on this wild ride journey of life with me! 🥰

I think I talked enough about where this page is going in the slides but want some more random facts about me:

I taught AP European History for 3 years but just went to Europe for the first time at 43 yrs old in 2025!

I only got into hiking about 10 yrs ago in my early 30s.

I was born with no wisdom teeth and have "elf" ears, no detached ear lobes.

I love dogs and have 2 mini aussies right now even though im pretty allergic to animal dander. My German Shepherd Wolf mix Sansa crossed the rainbow bridge in 2024.

I'm a total foodie! I love sharing my fave cheap eats and hidden gems in Montana and from my travels!

My Papa (grandpa) on my mom's side did sound for Warner Bros and was nominated for 12 Oscars winning twice. He did the OG Star Wars and Ghostbusters movies.

I'm 60% Celtic/English, 20% German, 12% Swedish and 8% Croatian. I can't tan to save my life and burn very quickly 😅

Growing up I was a little punk emo ska nerd 😆i spent my weekends at concerts and summer at Warped Tour. I met my first boyfriend at a Blink 182 concert when I was 16 🤘

I met my husband Dave on a dating website called Geek to Geek 🤓 😄

Do we have anything in common? What content are you most excited for here?

➡️Share with someone you think would get something out of this page or a fellow Montanan or someone with a bad case of the travel bug 🐛

#montanagirl #outdoorsygirl #montanacans
#wanderwoman #womenwhoexplore taken in Montana, USA by @samiwanderswild

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9 months ago

Can you believe these views are less than ½ mile into this golden larch hike?! 🤯🍂🏔️

If you're looking for one of the most epic places to experience golden larches in Montana, put the Demers Ridge Trail on your fall hiking list.

And here's something I didn't realize until I looked into it more: this trail is technically in Flathead National Forest, just outside Glacier National Park—not inside the park itself. But the views? You can see the North Fork Valley and straight toward Glacier's mountains. 🏔️

📍Demers Ridge Trail, Montana

The trail is definitely not an easy stroll and gets challenging as you continue climbing, but one of my favorite things about it is that you don't have to hike miles and miles before the views start getting good. We were less than half a mile in and already stopping every few minutes to take it all in. So just do however much you can per your capabilities or desire!

Golden larches + mountain views + fall colors + fewer crowds than some of Glacier's more famous hikes?

Yes please. 🍂 These larches usually peak anytime first 1 to 3 weeks of October so perfect timing!

Save this for next fall and send it to your favorite hiking buddy who would immediately say YES to chasing golden larches in Montana. 👇

Follow @samiwanderswild for more Montana + beyond, from Glacier's famous views to the places just outside the park that are absolutely worth exploring.

#montana
#hikemontana
#montanaadventures
#406
#glaciernationalpark taken in Montana, Usa by @samiwanderswild

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3 hours ago

Golden larch season has officially taken over my personality 😂💛🌲

And apparently my bestie’s too.

There’s just something about wandering through a grove of glowing golden larches that makes fall in Montana feel completely unreal.

If you’re just as obsessed with fall foliage as I am, send this to your larch-loving bestie 🍂💛

Alpine larch season is most likely close to done BUT western larch in parts of Montana, Idaho, and Canada should be getting close to peak! Usually 2nd through 3rd weeks of October so let's goooooo!

Follow along for more Montana + beyond adventures.

#montana #larchmadness #goldenlarches #montanagram #406 taken in Montana, USA by @samiwanderswild

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2 days ago

If you’re hiking in bear country this fall, consider this your reminder to start the bear concert. 🐻🎤😂

Fall is hyperphagia season, which means bears are spending a LOT of time focused on finding food before winter. And while you may hear that bears are most active around dawn and dusk, there’s no magic “bear-safe” time of day — I’ve personally almost walked into a grizzly in the middle of the afternoon.

A few bear-aware habits I try to stick to:

🐻 Make plenty of noise, especially around blind corners, dense vegetation and noisy water where a bear may not hear you coming.

🐻 Hike with other people when you can.

🐻 Carry bear spray and keep it accessible — not buried in your backpack.

🐻 Stay alert for signs of bear activity like tracks, scat or digging.

🐻 If you see a bear, give it plenty of space and never approach it for a photo.

Basically: be loud enough that a bear knows you’re coming, and give both of you a chance to avoid an unexpected encounter.

Because looking ridiculous on the trail is a whole lot better than surprising a grizzly. 😂🐻🎶

Share this with someone heading into bear country this fall — especially your hiking or hunting buddy. Consider this your official invitation to the bear concert.

#montana #406life #grizzlybears #fallinthemountains #montanalife taken in Montana, Usa by @samiwanderswild

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5 days ago

One of my favorite EASY Goldilocks fall foliage hikes… 🍂
…and one that almost nobody ever talks about.

❗️❗️Just about 2 hours from the Flathead Valley, this beautiful hike in British Columbia has everything I want in a fall day trip: golden larches, bright yellow aspens, mountain views, and turquoise lakes. 🤯🍂

And you don't have to hike all 3 lakes to enjoy it. The first lake is only about a 15–20 minute hike from the trailhead, or you can continue on if you want more. The full route to the third lake is about 3.7 km / 2.3 miles one way.

I went in mid-October, and the fall foliage was looking pretty close to peak — both the golden larches AND the yellow aspens were putting on a show. 🍂✨

Just remember your passport — you're crossing into Canada! 🇨🇦

📍 Silver Spring Lakes, British Columbia

Golden larches + yellow aspens + THREE turquoise lakes… what more could you ask for? 🤎

Save this for your next fall foliage road trip and send it to someone who needs an easy golden larch hike.

#flathead
#fallhike
#fallfoliage
#goldenlarches
#bcadventures taken in Elko, British Columbia by @samiwanderswild

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6 days ago

Waterfalls, lush forests, and turquoise lakes? Absolutely magical. 🌿💙

But there's also something about those big, spiky mountains and endless fields of rocks that makes you feel like you've stepped into another world. 🏔️✨

That is… until you're halfway up the Boulder Field, questioning your life choices and wondering if you're actually more orc than hobbit. 😂

Because apparently, Mordor is looking mighty fine this time of year. 💀

So tell me… are you team Shire 🌿 or team Mordor 🪨? 😂

Send this to your hiking partner who would absolutely drag you into Mordor with them.

📍 Lake O’Hara, Yoho National Park, Canadian Rockies 🇨🇦

#lordoftherings
#shire
#mountainlovers🌄🌲
#lakeohara
#hikingfun taken in Lake O'Hara by @samiwanderswild

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7 days ago

Tell me I’m not the only one who starts planning the summit snack when the elevation gain starts getting disrespectful 😂

Because sometimes the views aren’t enough motivation… but knowing there’s a cookie waiting for me at the top? Suddenly I can keep going. 🍪🥾

Send this to your hiking partner who needs a little extra motivation on the uphill.

Follow @samiwanderswild for more Montana hikes, mountain adventures & places worth the climb.

#glaciernationalpark
#montanagirl
#hikinglife
#summits
#hikerlife taken in Glacier National Park, Montana by @samiwanderswild

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9 days ago

Maybe this is why I keep going.

Because I know there will eventually be a day when my body can't take me to places like this anymore.

So for now, I'm saying yes to the steep climbs, the sore legs, the loose rocks, the early mornings and the views that make every hard step worth it.

This one was Hidden Lake from an unofficial route toward Dragon's Tail in Glacier National Park. 🐉

And I'm incredibly grateful I got to see it this way.

Share this with someone who needs the reminder to go while they can❤️

#eldermillenial
#glaciernationalpark
#hikerlife #likeamountaingirl #wanderful_places taken in Glacier National Park, Montana by @samiwanderswild

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11 days ago

If golden larches + mountain lakes are your idea of fall perfection, put Bluebird Lake on your list. 💛🏔️

I hiked this one Sunday in the Ten Lakes Wilderness of Northwest Montana, and the alpine larches were at PEAK.

The trail takes you through gorgeous golden larch country to a series of mountain-lake views, and Bluebird Lake is the kind of payoff that makes the climb worth it.

🍂 Best time to go: late September–early October for alpine larch color, depending on conditions
📍 Bluebird Lake | Ten Lakes Wilderness | Northwest Montana

If you're chasing Montana's golden larches this fall, save this one and share with your fall obsessed hiking friend!

Follow along for more Montana hikes, fall color and outdoor adventures. 💛

#montana #larchmadness #fallinthemountains #exploremontana #fallhike taken in Montana, Usa by @samiwanderswild

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10 days ago

Four waterfalls. One incredible hike in Yoho National Park. 💦

The Laughing Falls Trail takes you through the Yoho Valley with side trips to Point Lace Falls and the Angel’s Staircase Falls viewpoint, before reaching Laughing Falls itself.

And Takakkaw Falls? It’s right at the trailhead, making this an easy way to turn your hike into a full-on waterfall day.

📍 Yoho National Park, British Columbia
🥾 ~6–6.5 miles / ~10 km round trip with the waterfall side trips
💦 Takakkaw Falls • Point Lace Falls • Angel’s Staircase • Laughing Falls

Even better for my Northwest Montana friends: the Canadian Rockies are an easy road-trip destination from the Flathead Valley.

⚠️ Yoho Valley Road to Takakkaw Falls is seasonal and is open roughly mid-June through mid-October, so check Parks Canada conditions before planning a fall visit.

Save this for your next Canadian Rockies road trip, and send it to your waterfall-loving hiking buddy.

Follow @samiwanderswild for more Montana + Canadian Rockies adventures.

#yohonationalpark
#Banff
#CanadianRockies
#waterfallhike
#parkscanada taken in Yoho National Park, British Columbia by @samiwanderswild

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13 days ago

Most people hike to Hidden Lake Overlook.

But there’s an unofficial route that takes you ABOVE the lake… and into the Dragon’s Tail. 🐉

This was one of those Glacier experiences where the views just kept getting more ridiculous the higher we climbed.

📍 Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
🥾 ~5½–6 miles round trip
⬆️ ~1,200–1,300 ft elevation gain
🏔️ Steep alpine terrain + loose scree

A few VERY important things before you go:

This is not a maintained park trail. The route is unmarked and isn’t shown on the official park map, so I highly recommend researching the route description for “Dragon’s Tail Glacier National Park” before attempting it.

Bring hiking poles, navigation, layers and bear spray. Be prepared for rapidly changing alpine weather, and I would not recommend this route for young kids or hiking alone.

And please leave this place wild. Stay on established tread, don’t create shortcuts or cairns, and pack out everything you bring in.

Going-to-the-Sun Road typically stays open over Logan Pass until around the third Monday of October, but weather can close it earlier—so if this one is on your 2026 Glacier list, the window is getting short.

Would you dare to tame the Dragon’s Tail? 🐉

Save this for your Glacier trip and follow @samiwanderswild for more Montana adventures, hidden views and places worth exploring.

#glaciernationalpark #loganpass #goingtothesunroad
#findyourpark #exploremontana taken in Glacier National Park, Montana by @samiwanderswild

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12 days ago

Fall in Northwest Montana is made for road trips. 🍂🚙

If you want to see the mountains covered in fall color, golden larches, winding mountain roads, and maybe even a little snow at higher elevations, these are 7 scenic drives to put on your list:

🍁 Highway 93 — Kalispell → Canadian border
🍁 Going-to-the-Sun Road — Glacier National Park
🍁 Highway 2 — West Glacier → East Glacier
🍁 Highway 83 — through the Swan Valley
🍁 Highway 2 — Kalispell → Troy
🍁 Highway 90 — Lookout Pass / Montana–Idaho border
🍁 North Fork Road — toward Polebridge & Bowman Lake
🍁Hwy 12 to Lolo Pass
🍁Hwy 37 Libby to Eureka

Some are great for a quick afternoon drive, while others are worth making an entire day of. And the timing can vary quite a bit depending on elevation, so don't wait for every tree in the valley to turn before heading out.

Most of these are western larch drives and will peak 2nd or 3rd week of October but Going to the Sun Road will probably be peaking closer to now through Oct 8 to 10th approximately.

Save this for your next Montana fall road trip 🍂 and send it to someone you'd happily get lost in the mountains with.

#glaciernationalpark
#montana
#fallinthemountains
#goldenlarches
#scenicdrive taken in Montana, Usa by @samiwanderswild

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