Dawson Pass
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The upper headwall below the pass is fully exposed with no shelter. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast over the Divide — if you see clouds building by early afternoon, turn around. Lightning on that ridge has nowhere to go but through you.
This is prime grizzly country and the Two Medicine valley sees regular bear activity. Carry bear spray accessible on your hip, not buried in your pack, and make noise on blind corners through the forested lower section.
Snow lingers on the north-facing switchbacks below the pass well into July. Early-season hikers should carry microspikes — a slip on the steep traverse above Bighorn Basin has serious consequences.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start by 7 AM to claim parking at the Two Medicine trailhead, which fills early in July and August. The lot is smaller than most Glacier trailheads and there's no overflow option nearby.
If you're doing the full Dawson-Pitamakan loop (roughly 18 miles), go counterclockwise — you'll hit Dawson Pass first while your legs are fresh for the steeper headwall, and the Pitamakan descent is more gradual on tired knees.
The stretch just below Dawson Pass is one of Glacier's most reliable spots for mountain goats in midsummer. Pause on the switchbacks and scan the rocky outcrops to the west — they're often grazing within a hundred yards of the trail.