Favorite Montana photos by Tom Dempsey: Glacier National Park, rock patterns, animals, insects, hiking, panoramas, and historic frontier buildings at Nevada City and Elkhorn State Park.

Look down! At your feet in Montana's Glacier National Park, be amazed at the colorful billion-year-old rock patterns and fantastic natural abstracts. Over 1.6 billion to 800 million years ago, shallows seas deposited sediments into a myriad of layers. During the tectonic formation of the Rocky Mountains 170 million years ago, the Lewis Overthrust shoved the sedimentary rocks 50 miles horizontally and piled the Lewis and Livingston Ranges on top of newer Cretaceous age rocks. Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO honored as a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

In Montana's Glacier National Park, flower and plant photographs include: Gaillardia (or Blanket flower), bear grass, lupine, columbine, Gentian, Potentilla, Castilleja (Indian paintbrush), Mimulus (monkeyflower), Phacelia, Phlox, sticky purple geranium, mariposa lily, Monarda (bee balm), and burnt forest views. Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

Never surprise a bear! When hiking, speak loudly and keep your distance from large mammals in Montana's Glacier National Park, but also look closely for insects such as the Mormon cricket, butterflies, and caterpillars. Be ready to share the trail with grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis, a subspecies of brown bear), fearless mountain goats, cautious bighorn sheep, mule deer, hoary marmots, Columbian ground squirrels, and golden mantled ground squirrels. Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

Near the town of West Glacier, Montana, enter Glacier National Park and admire the Livingston Range reflecting in Lake McDonald. Hike 4 miles round trip (560 feet gain) via the red rocks of Avalanche Gorge to enjoy Avalanche Lake. Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

In Glacier National Park, Montana, drive the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road to the Saint Mary Lake area. Watch sunrise illuminate Little Chief Mountain in the Lewis Range above Saint Mary Lake punctuated with Wild Goose Island. From Sunrift Gorge, walk north or south on Baring Creek for pretty waterfalls tumbling over red rock. Using the park bus or a car shuttle, hike Siyeh Pass, a gorgeous traverse of 10.3 miles (2300 feet up, 3500 feet down) starting at Siyeh Bend, through Preston Park, and finishing down beautiful Baring Creek Valley. With a longer shuttle, hike a scenic traverse from Siyeh Bend over Piegan Pass to Many Glacier, visiting glorious mountains, valleys and lakes over 13 miles (2260 feet up, 3520 feet down). Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

Near the town of West Glacier, Montana, enter Glacier National Park, and drive the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass. Hike south 3 miles round trip to Hidden Lake Overlook, past some of the world's best natural rock patterns, broken from billion-year-old sedimentary cliffs. Optionally add 3 miles more round trip down to lake. Or north of Logan Pass, walk any distance along the flowery cliff of the Garden Wall Trail. Share trails with ever-present mountain goats, marmots, and Columbian ground squirrels. Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

Several classic hikes surround the Many Glacier Hotel and Campground in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. Hike to Grinnell Glacier and powder-blue Upper Grinnell Lake under the steep Lewis Range. The spectacular 11 mile round trip walk (with 1700 feet gain) is shortened to 7.6 miles if you take two boat rides. Traverse Grinnell Lake and Cataract Creek Valley via Piegan Pass. Hike Cracker Lake 11.2 miles round trip (1140 feet gain). Hike Ptarmigan Tunnel 11.2 miles round trip (2315 feet gain) to view Belly River Valley. Hike to Bullhead Lake and Swiftcurrent Lookout (15.6 miles round trip, 3556 feet gain). Or traverse the Northern Highline Trail from Logan Pass along the Garden Wall to Granite Park (overnight camping reservation required), then over Swiftcurrent Pass down to Many Glacier (with a car shuttle, 15.2 miles one way, in two days, 1400 feet gain, plus add 2 miles round trip and 1200 feet gain to spectacular Grinnell Lake Overlook). Hike to Apikuni Falls 1.6 miles round trip (880 feet gain).

Near the town of West Glacier, Montana, enter Glacier National Park, and drive Outside North Fork Road (along the North Fork of the Flathead River) to Bowman Lake Campground. Admire the Livingston Range reflecting in pristine Bowman Lake. Hike 11.4 miles round trip with 3000 feet gain to Numa Ridge Lookout. Since 1932, Canada and USA have shared Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site (1995) containing two Biosphere Reserves (1976).

Near the town of East Glacier Park, Montana, enter Glacier National Park to visit Two Medicine Campground, where morning sunrise reflects Rising Wolf Mountain and Sinopah Mountain in Pray Lake. Catch a boat on Two Medicine Lake and hike past No Name Lake to Dawson Pass.

Two original buildings, outstanding examples of American frontier architecture, are preserved and open to the public as Elkhorn State Park, Montana, USA. The silver, gold and lead mines at Elkhorn began booming in 1875, then declined in 1892 as silver prices dropped. A few miners still work the Elkhorn mines and live in private homes nearby within Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Directions: Take Interstate 15 to Boulder exit, go 7 miles south on Montana 69, then 11 miles north on county graveled road.

Step back through history in 1890s era frontier buildings and lifestyle restored at Nevada City, Montana, USA. Nevada City thrived as a placer gold mining camp from 1863-1876, but quickly declined into a virtual ghost town. Renovated Nevada City now evokes the bygone time of gold discovery and mining at Alder Gulch, with the support of Chinese laundry labor. More than 90 buildings from across Montana have been gathered for preservation at Nevada City, mostly publicly owned by the State of Montana and managed by the Montana Heritage Commission. In 2001, the excellent PBS television series "Frontier House" used one of the buildings and its furnishings to train families in re-creating pioneer life. A miner's court trial and hanging of George Ives in the main street of Nevada City was the catalyst for forming the Vigilantes, a group of citizens famous for taking justice into their own hands in 1863-1864. Directions: go 27 miles southeast of Twin Bridges, Montana on Highway 287.