Angel Wing (Glacier National Park)
# Angel Wing (Glacier National Park)

Angel Wing is a 7,430-foot (2,260-meter) elevation mountain summit located in the Lewis Range, of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It is situated one mile east of the Continental Divide, in Glacier County. It can be seen from the Many Glacier area, and up close from the Grinnell Glacier Trail. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises nearly 2,500 feet (760 meters) above Grinnell Lake in one-half mile.

## Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Angel Wing is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. Temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Grinnell and Cataract Creeks, which are part of the St. Mary River drainage basin.

## Geology

Like other mountains in Glacier National Park, Angel Wing is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was initially uplifted beginning 170 million years ago when the Lewis Overthrust fault pushed an enormous slab of precambrian rocks 3 mi (4.8 km) thick, 50 miles (80 km) wide and 160 miles (260 km) long over younger rock of the cretaceous period. The summit is composed of Empire Formation of the Neogene period, and it overlays the Grinnell Formation which is a layer of sandstone and argillite.

## Gallery

* Angel Wing (centered) reflected in Lake Josephine with Mt. Gould (behind, left)
* Angel Wing (centered) with Allen Mountain beyond
* West aspect
* Angel Wing centered, with Upper Grinnell Lake
* North aspect, with Grinnell Lake
* North aspect with Mt. Gould behind
* Angel Wing from Grinnell Lake
* Grinnell Lake and Angel Wing
* Angel Wing (centered), Grinnell Falls, Mt. Gould
* Mt. Gould, Angel Wing, Mt. Grinnell
* Aerial view, circa 1925
