Tell me about Glacier National Park

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

The trip we were planning to Iceland is not going to happen this year, so we want to go to GNP instead at the end of June. I have never been there.. any tips/tricks/ must see/ sign up ahead of time things I need to know about? (Like hiking passes or such)

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Awesome place. Make sure the Going To The Sun Road is open (it opens late in the season and closes early). Consider popping into Canada and staying at Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Waterton has a hike that is one of the top 20 hikes in the world called Crypt Lake Trail. You take a boat to get to it.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/crypt-lake-trail-loop

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

it's melting

jhynesrockmtn · 05-12-2022, 06:19 AM

Such a beautiful area. The last motorcycle trip I took with my son before he graduated and was commissioned into the Army. We rode the going to the sun road and then camped at Flathead lake.

MBAtarga · 05-12-2022, 06:33 AM

It is cold.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Take a boat ride There is a smaller lake on the East side of the park, go take a short boat ride, then a short hike to a waterfall. Good friend from college drove that boat in the summer and lived in a little travel trailer behind the office. He got married on the Little Chief, beautiful old wooden boat, former rum runner that was shipped out from the East coast

They have open top cars, or did, that take you on a tour of the park. There is a lodge near the train station in East Glacier. If you do not stay there, at least go there and gawk at the awesome lobby of the place. There is or was, a little cafe in E Glacier that has excellent pie. Pretty sure you will not have huckleberry pie anywhere else than Montana, maybe Southern Alberta

https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/lodging/glacier-park-lodge/

If you are hiking take a whistle, blow it while you are walking along the trails, or put bells or your boots, something to make noise. If you see any small bears, go the other direction as fast as you can walk.

Take bicycles and ride up and down the Going to the Sun Road. There is a ranger station at the top that must be done by now

Seahawk · 05-12-2022, 06:48 AM

I worked with the Kootenai Tribe for a month one summer, over 10 years ago. Wow.

They really have a robust tech program and we did some UAS training for them - all commercial small stuff.

I spent a lot of time in Kalispel and Whitefish at the foot of Glacier and really enjoyed weekends hiking the trails. Nothing too serious, all day trips.

What I can recommend is the drive out of Great Falls to St. Mary's. on 89. Nothing really spectacular until you get on Glacier, I just really enjoyed the solitude of the road.

Superman · 05-12-2022, 07:50 AM

Glacier is really cool and so is Banff.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Taken on the Going To The Sun Road in August 2013... my first road trip with my son and that car.

rcooled · 05-12-2022, 02:28 PM

Once spent several months on the road traveling around the US & Canada. Glacier Park was the most beautiful place I'd seen on that entire trip.

Nordwest · 05-12-2022, 02:59 PM

Glacier is awesome and Banff and Jasper are more awesome. The drive between the two is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on. Enjoy!!!

red 928 · 05-12-2022, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme

it's melting

it completely melted about 5 years ago
miraculously it re-froze overnight

mjohnson · mjohnson's Garage

Nearby, and likely in your path to the place, is Great Falls.

I made more than a few visits to Malmstrom AFB and I completely regret never hitting the Sip and Dip Lounge.
https://ohairemotorinn.com/sip-n-dip/

tops911 · 05-13-2022, 05:29 AM

I have made several trips to Glacier when I lived in Kalispell. If you want to see animals the east side of the park is where you want to go. Less trees on the east side vs the west side. I would take friends and family to Many Glacier and that's where we would find the bears and moose. Going to the Sun Road is a must do but I think they charge to drive it now. Logan Pass can be cold, took a friend from Texas (112 degrees when they left Texas) up Logan Pass on 3 July, raging snow storm and 30degrees blew their minds. Logan Pass is where we see mountain goats and big horn sheep. Go to Polebridge, on the northwest side, for a huckleberry bear claw. worth the drive.