I have visited several national parks but somehow Glacier isn't one I have been to. I am from MA and love to shoot landscapes and wildlife. I have been to Yellowstone and Grand Teton most recently. Also have been to Arches, Bryce, Kenai Peninsula and Monument Valley.
Can you give me an overview of where to stay? Also has anyone brought a dog to the park? Is it best to leave her home? How many days should we go for? What are the best/must see spots?
Lastly, we may be taking my daughters boyfriend along. So that would mean 4 adults and 3 beds. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Don Gorczynski
Posted by Paul Martin on January 10, 2008 at 7:54 PM
I have not been myself, but I am also planning on going this summer. The one piece of advise I can offer is to leave the dog at home. Dogs and National Parks usually don't go together -- especially since Glacier has some pretty large bears about.
Posted by Tom Magnuson on January 10, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Hi Don,
It depends on when you want to visit. Most of Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed during the winter as you will see by this Web page...
If you plan to go during the warm season, June through September, there is lots to see. Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Inn are on the northeast side of the park. This area is beautiful (my daughter had her wedding there), with Swiftcurrent Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and Iceberg Lake. Watch out for grizzlies. The lodging here will run you over $100 a night easily. Of course, Going-to-the Sun Road is a must, and could take you all day. Stop on Logan Pass for close encounters with Mountain Goats. More reasonable lodging is available in St. Mary, MT on the east side of the park, including a KOA Kampground.
I have never stayed on the west side of the park, but there are plenty of accomodations if you plan ahead. I'll leave more details for the locals to chime in, as I live in CO. IMHO Glacier is the most beautiful part of MT, and well worth the trip.
You may want to take a side trip north to Watertown, Canada, which is in a park. It's a charming community on the north end of Watertown Lake. You can take a boat ride as well.
Do not forget your passport.
Well getting rid of the boyfriend would be a good start But are you wanting hotel, or can you camp or have a camper? Most affordable is to camp but you need to go when GTTS Road is open and dog should stay home if possible. Just some suggestions but I agree with Tom take a trip to Canada but bring passport or Drivers Licenses and birth certificates for each person
Posted by Cynthia Spence on January 11, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Can't really tell you where to stay...there are more choices on the west side of the park than east. As you go out the east side you're heading toward the Blackfoot Indian Reservation and it's more remote than the Kalispell/Flathead side...besides it's worth seeing Flathead Lake. Probably the prettiest drive to get to the park is to fly into Missoula and head north, unless you fly into Kalispell or Spokane. But this way you can see Flathead Lake on your way. Also, the east side is more arid than the west...there's a noticeable change when heading over Logan Pass. Since you've been to Yellowstone I can tell you that Glacier is a big park but there aren't as many roads as Yellowstone...pretty much just the very narrow Going to the Sun and then the road on the west side going up toward Canada. I believe there may be a road heading north on the east side, but I think it leaves the park. It does take time as usual to drive but the choices are more limited than Yellowstone. If you're looking for the trophy photo then St. Mary's lake on the west side is the most popular view with the "little island" in the middle of the lake (can't remember the name). But one of my favorite views is from Apgar looking up Lake McDonald on the west side. There are lots of short hikes off the road that I worth doing and are safe from bears and in the summer lots of wildflowers with flowing water kind of shots...and though I haven't hiked it I hear the Hanging Gardens at Logan Pass are a great photo spot. Getting wander lust just thinking about it. Oh, and if you head toward the Waterton Glacier part there is a famous hotel up that way (Prince William Lodge or something like that, it may be over the border into Canada)...depending on how much you want to spend...could be a great experience.
Posted by Neil Corman on January 11, 2008 at 4:03 PM
I spent four months in Missoula over the summer and made it up to Glacier a few times, I will actually be heading back in Feb for a couple of days I think since I will be in the area. The only time I stayed at the park in lodging would be at Swiftcurrent Inn which was like $50/night for a cabin with shared facilities nearby. This was more so based on the people I was with at the time and we needed to be in Augusta, MT the next day in the afternoon.
This past fall they closed the Going to the Sun Road a month early to work on road repairs. Most of these were needed, and towards the end of the season in places it was down to a one lane road. I enjoyed the hike to Hidden Lake, as well as watching the animals and humans act on the top of Logan Pass. Avalanche Lake is not a bad hike as well, and there is a good campground near the trailhead as well. There are some spots in the area which are quite isolated from the rest of the campground. When I was around Many Glacier a lot of the trails south of there were closed due to high grizzly activity, or remains of animals on the path. If you are looking for some nice hiking away from the masses then Cut Bank and Two Medicine will be nice. Lastly keep in mind the snow melt on Logan Pass and you could be walking in some snow at the end of June.
Posted by Laurie Wendt on January 11, 2008 at 10:05 PM
First of all, if you haven't done a search for "Glacier National Park" on this forum, you should. There are some good suggestions already posted. It would help if you would say when you wanted to go. Nice wildflowers in the alpine area of Logan Pass at the end of July.
I stayed a week and it wasn't long enough, but I did a lot of hiking. I stayed at lodging inside the park. McDonald Lodge Cabins on the west side, Rising Sun Motel and Swiftcurrent Cabins on the east side. On the west side The Apgar Village Lodge has cabins with multiple bedrooms that would work for you. http://www.westglacier.com/apgar_village_lodge.php
Do not miss Hidden Lake Trail from Logan Pass, Sun Point and the Many Glacier area and all of the Going To The Sun Road.
Discussion
6 repliesCan you give me an overview of where to stay? Also has anyone brought a dog to the park? Is it best to leave her home? How many days should we go for? What are the best/must see spots?
Lastly, we may be taking my daughters boyfriend along. So that would mean 4 adults and 3 beds. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Don Gorczynski
It depends on when you want to visit. Most of Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed during the winter as you will see by this Web page...
http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm
If you plan to go during the warm season, June through September, there is lots to see. Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Inn are on the northeast side of the park. This area is beautiful (my daughter had her wedding there), with Swiftcurrent Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and Iceberg Lake. Watch out for grizzlies. The lodging here will run you over $100 a night easily. Of course, Going-to-the Sun Road is a must, and could take you all day. Stop on Logan Pass for close encounters with Mountain Goats. More reasonable lodging is available in St. Mary, MT on the east side of the park, including a KOA Kampground.
I have never stayed on the west side of the park, but there are plenty of accomodations if you plan ahead. I'll leave more details for the locals to chime in, as I live in CO. IMHO Glacier is the most beautiful part of MT, and well worth the trip.
You may want to take a side trip north to Watertown, Canada, which is in a park. It's a charming community on the north end of Watertown Lake. You can take a boat ride as well.
Do not forget your passport.
Have fun,
Tom Magnuson
This past fall they closed the Going to the Sun Road a month early to work on road repairs. Most of these were needed, and towards the end of the season in places it was down to a one lane road. I enjoyed the hike to Hidden Lake, as well as watching the animals and humans act on the top of Logan Pass. Avalanche Lake is not a bad hike as well, and there is a good campground near the trailhead as well. There are some spots in the area which are quite isolated from the rest of the campground. When I was around Many Glacier a lot of the trails south of there were closed due to high grizzly activity, or remains of animals on the path. If you are looking for some nice hiking away from the masses then Cut Bank and Two Medicine will be nice. Lastly keep in mind the snow melt on Logan Pass and you could be walking in some snow at the end of June.
I stayed a week and it wasn't long enough, but I did a lot of hiking. I stayed at lodging inside the park. McDonald Lodge Cabins on the west side, Rising Sun Motel and Swiftcurrent Cabins on the east side. On the west side The Apgar Village Lodge has cabins with multiple bedrooms that would work for you. http://www.westglacier.com/apgar_village_lodge.php
Do not miss Hidden Lake Trail from Logan Pass, Sun Point and the Many Glacier area and all of the Going To The Sun Road.