Pinnacle / Essex Montana MT

A tiny community near the southwest corner of Glacier National Park, Essex is situated between West Glacier and East Glacier Park on US Highway 2 (the only highway that leads to this town). Although Essex is small, it has some very big attractions.

What can you do in Essex? A few miles away is located the Walton Goat Lick Overlook. Follow the sign that leads to a large parking lot - here a paved, short trail will lead you to a spot that overlooks the deep canyon of Sheep Creek. Along the creek the exposed rocks leach salts and minerals that draw groups of mountain goats. June and July are the best months to look for mountain goats - you can catch up to 75 goats appearing at one time.

The Izaak Walton Inn is another destination you should visit. Named after Sir Izaak Walton, who wrote the book called "The Compleat Angler," the hotel was probably given this name by James Willard Schultz. Schultz lived here in the early 1900s.

The hotel was constructed in 1939 for the Great Northern Railroad. Basically, the hotel's first purpose was to provide lodgings for the railroad workers, and to serve visitors coming to Glacier National Park.