Glacier National Park

[jeff14]

We are planning a trip to Glacier National Park in late June. We are interested in knowing how many days people have spent visiting the park. We are going to be camping on the east side of the park near St. Mary's.

[pulsar]

Even if we weren't hikers, I couldn't imagine spending only one day in Glacier National Park. We have been to the park in 8 different years - the first, 1992; the last, 2013. We spend a total of 17 days at the park in 2012 and 2013. 1992 was the last year one could drive an RV from one end of Going-to-the-Sun road. A very scary drive. We drove back around on Hwy 2 instead of traversing the park road twice!

The bus tours may be worth the money; certainly if you don't have a toad. But there is much you want see, even if you take the most elaborate of the tours. For example, you wouldn't get this vista



(You would get a stop at Wild Goose Island overlook. But to get this view, you would have to go to Sun Point.)

Some of the tours go to Two Medicine, but not all. Some of the tours start at Many Glacier, but if you are not staying there, the tours don't take you there.

There are many non-strenuous hikes, for example:



Running Eagle Falls - 0.6 miles, elevation gain of 15 feet.

My advice, spend as much time there as you can afford. Oh, don't forget the ranger lectures in the evenings. You will learn fascinating things. (Who knows why the road is on the southeast side of Lake McDonald instead of the Northwest side, where the views are much better?)

Tom

[oldcat1]

Another fun thing is the boat trips on the lakes. They tell you lots of interesting facts and stories. Gives you a different perspective with some amazing views. You can get off and hike, then catch a later boat for the trip back. They run every couple of hours. We have done them all (there are four) and think that Two Medicine and Many Glacier are the best. Lake McDonald is kinda boring.

X2 on doing Arches first. Prime time at Glacier is mid-July to end of Aug. Also X2 on Jhonson's RV park if you want hookups, really nice views We love Glacier! Have a great trip.

[newk]

jeff14 wrote:
...Would it be better if we went to Utah and then up to Glacier?

That would be a much better plan, all else equal. Yellowstone, Teton NP, etc. would also be prime in June, but Glacier needs some time to get itself ready for July.

For several years I made an annual fishing trip to Glacier -- always the third week in July. I was also a VP for a couple businesses in the Flathead Valley, so it's not like I wasn't there other times of the year. But late July just seems perfect -- streams are down enough for fishing, up enough for floating, and have that mystical, milky-green glacial look to them. Plus that's when the bull trout were running on the Middle Fork. 😉

[Islandman]

jeff14 - I think you will be better off to visit Utah parks first and then work your way up to Glacier NP; as several have pointed out the Going-to-the-Sun-Road isn't open many years until early July. By doing Utah first you also may avoid the hot weather down there which can get kinda warm (but you're from St Louis so maybe it doesn't matter, and Utah hot isn't near as humid as what you are used to) Have a good trip, include Many Glacier in your visit (have passports, and other stuff ready for the border crossing).

[jeff14]

loggenrock by late June I meant we will be arriving the 30th. From here we were going to Arches and Canyon Lands national park in Utah. Would it be better if we went to Utah and then up to Glacier?

[rexlion]

I apent 3 days, but only hit a small fraction of the trails. I'd like to spend a week sometime in the future.

[jeff14]

How was driving a motorhome on Us route 2 when you were at Glacier Meadow RV Park?

[sdianel_-acct_c]

So much to do in the area. At least a week. We stayed at Glacier Meadow RV Park in Essex MT, between the East Glacier and West Glacier entrances. The first day we took the narrated Native American van tour on the East Side. It was awesome. www.glaciersuntours.com
The second day we drove to the West Entrance and drove up the Going to the Sun Road to Logan Pass. If you don't want to drive you can take the Red Bus tour on the West Side. Glacier Meadow has long level pull thrus with water and electric and pumping service included in the nightly rate. I would highly recommend reservations. They were booked solid while we were there. I would take 2 days for the Going to the Sun Road because of the slow going and you will definitely want to stop and take lots of pictures! Don't plan on a picnic at Logan Pass. It's very crowded. Sometimes you can't even find a parking space. Don't miss the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex MT.

[magnusfide]

Dick_B wrote:
If you are not going to be hiking one day should do it. Take the bus tour. The native bus tour has enclosed buses; the Red buses are open.
If you want to hike take decent boots and hiking sticks are helpful.

Double ditto on the enclosed bus tour, especially if you are a senior not accustomed to strenuous hikes.

Here's a link to their road status at any given time:
http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm

[Dick_B]

If you are not going to be hiking one day should do it. Take the bus tour. The native bus tour has enclosed buses; the Red buses are open.
If you want to hike take decent boots and hiking sticks are helpful.

[tsetsaf]

Been there twice for 1 month each... we love glacier. You could spend a lifetime there depending on your habits. Realistically a week is about a minimum to see all areas.

[southernsky]

Went there last year in June for a week. Going to the sun road was not open because the snow hadn't been cleared, matter fact it snowed the day we left. We stayed in Hungry Horse at Mountain Meadow RV Park, real nice campground.. Good information is available at the St. Mary Visitor Center. Also visit: Many Glacier Lodge, the Lodge at East Glacier, good info.

[dahkota]

We spent three nights camped on the east side and three camped on the west side at the end of June a couple of years ago. Going to the Sun Road wasn't open until after we left. Had it been open, another three nights would have been good.

[loggenrock]

You said you were planning for a June visit? You do know that the Going-to-the-Sun road often isn't open (due to snow...) until early July, right? Hate to have you get there and get surprised! ST

[CloudDriver]

In addation to Johnson's, there is a KOA at St. Mary.