One of the many stops we want to make on our trip to Alaska, is Glacier Nat'l Park. We plan on crossing into Canada at Sweat Grass, Mt after seeing the park. Looking for recommendations for campgrounds and things to see in that area. My original plan was to be there the first week or so of May. Is this to early?

Glacier is a bit out of the way from the Sweet Grass crossing. Maybe just cross at Carway instead. With the heavy snows they've already had this year, the first week of May will probably be a little early. Going to the Sun Road will definitely still be closed, but there's still things to see. St. Mary CG in the park is open but no water. Primitive camping at that point in time. If you're planning on continuing up through Banff and Jasper, you will similarly still find things pretty snowed in at that time.

That time of year, I would recommend crossing to the west side of the park on US 2, visiting Glacier, then heading into Canada on Hwy 93. You can cross the Rockies back into Banff at the junction with Canada 1. The route will take you through Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, then you get Banff and Jasper. As the Going to the Sun road will be closed, that's the best way to see the west side of Glacier (Lake McDonald area). In general, it's quite early season in that part of the world (both the US and Canada), and you'll find more facilities on the west side of the divide.There is no more spectacular trip in North America. I took this trip in late May last year. Heavy snow year and the rivers and waterfalls were roaring.Also, you will find many more campgrounds open on the west side of the Rockies on Hwy 93 than on the east side. Plenty of places to camp in West Glacier, and along 93 in Canada. Yoho and Kootenay will be virtually empty. Radium Hot Springs has lots of facilities.

May is too early for Glacier, visit it on your way back. Banff and Jasper will be open, they're not afraid of heavy equipment. At Lake Louise campground (my favorite in the park), the staff would fire up a digging machine and open campsites as the park filled up... That was mid May 2013.Lake Louise itself was frozen, the lodge was in full hot cocoa mode.Lake Moraine was also frozen, and the road going to it, bit of a bummer.After staying a Louise for a few nights I headed west on 1 to the 97. Largely winter disappeared. A few lakes on the 97 had thin layers of ice.I didn't get back to visit Jasper until later in June. It was all thawed and quite busy.

ohhell10339 wrote:That time of year, I would recommend crossing to the west side of the park on US 2, visiting Glacier, then heading into Canada on Hwy 93. You can cross the Rockies back into Banff at the junction with Canada 1. The route will take you through Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, then you get Banff and Jasper. As the Going to the Sun road will be closed, that's the best way to see the west side of Glacier (Lake McDonald area). In general, it's quite early season in that part of the world (both the US and Canada), and you'll find more facilities on the west side of the divide.There is no more spectacular trip in North America. I took this trip in late May last year. Heavy snow year and the rivers and waterfalls were roaring.Also, you will find many more campgrounds open on the west side of the Rockies on Hwy 93 than on the east side. Plenty of places to camp in West Glacier, and along 93 in Canada. Yoho and Kootenay will be virtually empty. Radium Hot Springs has lots of facilities.I'd recommend the above but in reverse. Make your return from Alaska the above route and enter Montana at the Roosville border crossing west of Glacier Nat'l Park at Hwy 93. By the time you return from Alaska the Going to the Sun Rd. in Glacier will be open and that's a highlight of this park. Stay on the west side of Glacier.Don't do a lot of siteseeing in the lower 48 on your way to Alaska - it's too early and you'll wear yourself out before you even cross into Canada. Do that touring on your return from Alaska.

Going to the Sun Road Opening dates Past yearsToo early in my opinion. I would head to Alaska and then stop there on the return trip.

Glacier Nat'l Park Campgrounds | Good Sam Community

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jan 10, 2018
ohhell10339 wrote:
Frankly, I wouldn't even drive the Alaska Highway at all. It's long, tedious, and expensive (goods, services, and gas are sky high; facilities are few and far between). Many people are surprised when I tell them this, but there isn't even all that much scenery. There are long stretches of rolling, forested hills, which get pretty monotonous after a while.

Another problem is mosquitoes. In that part of the world, they can pick up and carry away small children (I exaggerate only slightly). You will be traveling in prime skeeter season.

Especially given the time of year, I would explore the Canadian parks and Glacier instead. As you can crisscross the Rockies on a number of routes (US 2; Canada 3; Canada 1), you can let the weather conditions (which will still be pretty variable then) dictate where you go and when. (Edit: Waterton Lakes is absolutely gorgeous and worth a stop. Nice campground right in the townsite, too.)

The best way to visit Alaska is to hop on a plane. I've driven the length of the Alaska Highway (all the way to Fairbanks) twice. That was about five times too many.

Wow! You're possibly communicating this to thousands who have made the trip to Alaska and many do so over and over again. Did you ever consider what's boring for you could be exciting for others. Also, we had absolutely no mosquito issues when we spent the summer. Each year is different. Also, mosquitoes live in Canada and the Yukon, too.... along with Michigan, Florida, Texas, California.... and any state, actually, including Montana. :)
ohhell10339
Explorer
Jan 10, 2018
GordonThree wrote:
How does flying fit into RV travel? Cargo plane for the class a or fiver?

My point, as you seem to have missed it, is that driving to Alaska is a bad idea. It's a LONG haul from anywhere in the US, and as I said, the Alaska Highway is not all that scenic or interesting, with the exception of the stretch near Kluane National Park. The road was not built to be scenic.

For the time and trouble of dragging an RV all the way there (and back!). you could fly there, RENT an RV, tool around, and then fly back. That would give you two more weeks in Alaska given the same amount of time, and you wouldn't get beaten up by two grueling week-long drives. On the way there, you might not mind it, but on the way back--well, imagine you've been driving for three days and you check and see that you still have 1,350 miles to go. ALSO, the AlCan is very hard on vehicles (not as bad as it used to be, but still...).

I realize that for many people, driving the AlCan is the adventure of a lifetime, or at least they think it will be. For me, it was the snooze of a lifetime. Alaska was amazing when I got there, but the drive was just not worth it. It's one of those experiences that is much better in the imagination than in reality.

Oh and by the way, yes, other places have mosquitoes, but northern Canada and Alaska have MOSQUITOES. You're OK as long as you carry a baseball bat to fend off the smaller ones.
ohhell10339
Explorer
Jan 10, 2018
2gypsies wrote:

Wow! You're possibly communicating this to thousands who have made the trip to Alaska and many do so over and over again. Did you ever consider what's boring for you could be exciting for others. Also, we had absolutely no mosquito issues when we spent the summer. Each year is different. Also, mosquitoes live in Canada and the Yukon, too.... along with Michigan, Florida, Texas, California.... and any state, actually, including Montana. :)

Well, obviously I am only stating my own opinion. Though I do speak from multiple experiences, certainly, some people might find exciting things that I find boring. Baloney sandwiches on white bread. Funeral home commercials. Mister Rogers. The "A" rides at Disneyland. All have their fans :)

I heartily applaud you for your good fortune in encountering no mosquitoes when you were there. However, the OP is going to be traveling pretty much exactly when the trillions of larvae hatch. They want your blood, even more than the IRS.

My father may have been the first person to drive the entirety of the AlCan (as in, he snuck onto it before it was officially open). Even HE said it was boring.

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