Ousel Peak Trail is a 6.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near West Glacier, Montana that features a river and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
January 31, 2021
September 29, 2020Going down can be rough on the knees but I didn’t think going up was quite as strenuous as some previous reviews. It’s a workout for sure but really not that bad. It’s not just straight up the mountain which is nice.. there are switchbacks and any steep inclines only go for 30-50 feet before leveling off a bit so the trail has some flatter spots to help catch your breath. It took me 2.5 hrs to get to the top and almost an hour and 15 minutes to get down. There was snow at the top (at some places a few inches deep but not for very long on the path - just be prepared to have wet feet for the trek down!). For reference on trail difficulty, I’m 30 and in good shape and find most trails listed as moderate to be fairly easy and ones rated as hard to be tough but not always super difficult. Also didn’t find the trail to be buggy when I hiked yesterday.
September 17, 2020I've done several difficult hikes and this is the most strenuous hike I've ever done. 3.8 miles up and a steep incline the entire way. Almost the entire hike is in the woods without views, but there are 360° views at the top. I'm 30 and in fairly good shape but it took me just over 3 hours to get to the top due to having to stop frequently. It's also not a part of glacier national park so it's not very well maintained. Definitely wear pants as there is brush throughout the entire trail. Would also recommend bug spray. We only saw 2 other hikers. Didn't see any wildlife but one hiker said he saw a bear. I personally prefer Huckleberry trail. It's longer but much easier with amazing views.
September 8, 2020
September 8, 2020September 1, 2020HARD. Bring trekking poles. Beautiful views of Glacier National Park once you are at the top. Cold and windy and the top. Bring a windbreaker jacket. My watches clocked it at 8.2 miles round trip.
August 28, 2020You'll earn it. Its really not that bad, just chug along and you'll be fine. More than one false summit, so expect your mental fortitude to get tested a little. I wouldn't be looking uphill or letting that "How much further???" thought creep into your head at all until the forest starts to break up. I swore it was more than the listed distance on the way up but sure enough the way down felt about right on with the 6.6 figure. If you're used to just crushing hikes like Apgar, Huckleberry etc. you may find that Ousel knocks you off your pace a bit. Going down is way worse than going up, but mercifully its a pretty quick descent. You have to cross US2 to get to it, making this a little hazardous to the dog crowd. There are two fell trees right next to each other near the end, that's a good landmark to re-leash the pups before crossing the highway on your return journey.
August 27, 2020bring lots of water
August 26, 2020The Punisher. Laced with streams and berries this trail is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I wanted to go as high as I could on foot and only had a half day to do it in. The vista is stunning. On the way up, mile 2 is covered in thimble and huckel berries. Eat up, you are going to need the fuel. After ambling through the spicy earthy pines for another couple of miles the mountain will open up to a bald with unmatched views. Rest up, the trek down is just as hard as the way up, This is the first trail in a long time that I was happy I went on and just as happy it was over.
August 25, 2020August 22, 2020It was a butt kicker getting to the top, but the view was worth every bit of it. Spectacular hike!
August 20, 2020Trail was beautiful. Lots and lots of berries. Didn’t see much wild life. Trail was well kept, had to hurdle a few trees. It’s rated hard for a reason, def booty buster. I stopped maybe twice, not for super long, 2hours up, about 1 hour 20min down. Saw two groups of people. I personally think the views are well worth it.
August 16, 2020Good workout. Lots of huckleberry. Saw bear scat. Be careful on the way down. Great views!!!
August 12, 2020Aside from a few fallen trees the trail is in great shape. Great views, but not until the very end however.
August 8, 2020It’s a real leg burner! I clocked it at about 4 miles up which took me about 3 hours! I was slow and also eating huckleberries along the trail for survival. The views from the peak were gorgeous. I was alone the entire time and saw no one. I had my bear spray ready and made lots of noise. I ran back down most of the way and it only took me 1.5 hours to get to the car. There was a small area that was muddy, but I easily avoided getting my shoes too dirty. There were around 7 trees that fell on the path, but were easy to get over. The hike is shaded in trees for 3.5 miles, and then it clears up and you start seeing great views for the rest of the way which is about another mile! I also had some trouble finding parking and the start of the trail itself. It’s literally where the sign points to!! There’s a turn out towards the river side where you can park your car and there’s a short trail that leads to the road- you cross the road and you’re right on the trail to Ousel! It’s good to park your car there out of sight from traffic.
July 27, 2020Hard trail, decent sights at very end, very steep and slick. NOT WORTH IT.
July 25, 2020July 25, 2020Amazing views from the Peak. Did the hike with my teenage kids today. Great time, straight up for nearly the entire hike. Bring bug spray and plenty of water.
July 24, 2020The elevation gain is REAL. Be prepared for a leg burner, but the views at the top are really unique and stunning. The only water source is a small stream about half a mile from the trail head, so be sure to pack in a lot of water! Bug spray is also a good idea.
July 22, 2020Challenging hike but worth the views at the end.
July 20, 2020Overall, we really enjoyed this one. Great view looking back at the park once you reach the summit. Trail is clear and distinct, blowdown wasn’t unmanageable, and plenty of shade for about 80% of the hike. We didn’t run into many people on our trek and overall I’d consider this an easier “hard” hike. It’s short, sweet, and well worth it. I’ll likely return down the road for a revisit.
July 16, 2020My 15 lb dog smoked me on this trail. We had the peak to ourselves. The photos will never do justice to what you see at the top. It’s mostly covered and you don’t see much til you near the top. Trail is as rated and is brutal it’s a steady climb. Not sure why there are complaints about it being overgrown, the path was clear and easy to follow. There are some trees knocked down but nothing you can’t climb over or a 15 lb dog can’t hop over.
