Shoutout to the ranger at Glacier who told me to skip the Grinnell sign
Tbh I almost ignored him and followed the GPS to the main lookout. He said if I wanted the real route, I should take the high spur trail about 2 miles past the lake. Three hours later I was staring at a view that had maybe 5 people on it, while the main sign had like 40 folks queued up. Has anyone else gotten a better spot by ditching the marked trail for a ranger's side tip?
Rangers give that tip to like 200 people a day, that spur is gonna be just as packed by next summer. And honestly if you get hurt 2 miles off the marked trail with no cell service, that "secret spot" becomes a rescue helicopter bill. The 40 people at the sign are there for a reason, safe trail, easy to find, and nobody's gonna need to come haul you out.