Glacier National Park

[caysea7254]

Ok my DH and I are always changing our minds where we want to vacation. We have 17 days and now are planning a late july vacation. Had planned on Colorado Springs and RMNP. Dh is now looking at possible Glacier National Park. It looks to be about a 27 hour drive for us but I'm sure that is based on 70mph and pulling our 36ft 5th wheel we drive around 62mph. Would love suggestions on the routes and stop overs from people driving from Indiana to Glacier or anywhere in Midwest. Last year we were out in Teton National park and Yellowstone and seemed to have plenty of time. Thanks Tara

[floridacamper]

cindik wrote:
My Son lives and works at Glacier. It is a beautiful place. If you have any specific questions, I am sure he could answer them. We plan on going there in September, cannot wait!

Hey Cindy, how have you and the family been? Long time no connection...:)

[cindik]

My Son lives and works at Glacier. It is a beautiful place. If you have any specific questions, I am sure he could answer them. We plan on going there in September, cannot wait!

[2gypsies1]

Apgar campground in Glacier has about 200 sites and no reservations accepted. If you get there in the morning you have a very good chance of getting a site. We've always gotten one with our 40' motorhome.

[Uncle_Rj]

time2roll wrote:
Do we need reservations for the campgrounds in and around Glacier?
Yellowstone seemed to fill up fast.

Your setup is pretty long. You might have a tough time in the park without reservations. The GNP website is pretty good as far as camping information goes - and it does show the times that the campgrounds typically fill up.

There are lots of private campgrounds around the park that you can usually get in to though.

[ppine]

Glacier is a great place but actually has few roads. It is very crowded in summer.

[time2roll]

Do we need reservations for the campgrounds in and around Glacier?
Yellowstone seemed to fill up fast.

[Uncle_Rj]

Glacier is fantastic. We spend quite a bit of our summers down there and camp just outside of West Glacier at Lake Five Resort. We love that campground, but it is more of a family place because it is right on a warm lake with a beach.

There is a lot to do down there. And there are many good hikes in the Park. Always take bear spray.

I wouldn't hesitate to drive the Going-to-the-Sun road. I don't like riding in vehicles though, and we prefer to go at our own pace. I drive the Sun road 6-10 times each summer as I need to come back to work. Watch for animals and take your time. If you do camp on the east side and drive the road, make sure you keep going past the summit as the most scenic part of the road is on the west side.

[padredw]

I surely would not want to talk someone into making this drive, but the fact is that after avoiding it for so many years it was a surprise to find it such a pleasant experience.

And the final proof of that is how confident my wife felt about the drive with our 34' fifth-wheel. She had told me in the past, "You can go that way if you want, but you'll have to leave me behind."

This time she trusted me, and it turned out to be a really good experience. If two old folks in their 80s can make it for the first time, at least that's a good sign! :C

My only regret is that we didn't stop for pictures, but I thought that might be pushing things a bit for my wife. She didn't really want me to pull out--though there were several places we could have done so. The display of the golden Aspen leaves was the finest we have ever seen. I only got a couple of photos after we arrived at Silverton.

[RPreeb]

caysea7254 wrote:
padredw, You are much braver than us. We went the long way around to avoid pulling our 5th over million Dollar Highway! Lol But I'm afraid of heights! Not sure I would go over with just the truck!!! lol Tara

I would love to get into that area, but it's unlikely to happen if my wife is along. Despite being born and raised in Colorado, she is a prairie girl and hates mountainous mountain roads. Maybe if I blindfold her for the drive... she'll be fine once we get to a campground. :W

[caysea7254]

padredw, You are much braver than us. We went the long way around to avoid pulling our 5th over million Dollar Highway! Lol But I'm afraid of heights! Not sure I would go over with just the truck!!! lol Tara

[chompchomp]

I second the hiking on the east side. Hidden Lake and Iceberg Lake are not strenuous and absolutely breathtaking. On the west side, the Avalanche Lake trail is also an easy trip. We'll be out this summer to try the Grinnel Glacier trail I chickened out on last trip-- don't like heights when it involves open exposure.

We're also doing RMNP this summer only because we haven't been there yet, but we're saving the best til last--Glacier (Christmas in July for us Floridians).

[vermilye]

As to driving or taking the bus or shuttles, it all depends on your comfort level. I've driven the road many times over the years, and love it. I can't stand riding rather than driving, so I prefer taking my own vehicle. I like to be able to stop & take photographs when I choose, rather than when the driver does. For those that don't like tight, curving roads, the bus or shuttle might be a better idea. You have to pay for the red "Jammers", but with the right driver, are a great trip.

I have some photos from a 2011 trip, some taken on the latest day the Going to the Sun Road has ever opened - July 13th, and a few more on a couple of pages taken at our National & State Parks.

[padredw]

Thank you, Tara. You should see that scene on my large desktop PC monitor! (my present wallpaper)

Last September, for the first time we towed our fifth wheel over the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray to Silverton. We had previously avoided it. Not a scary moment.

We are now planning a trip to Banff, Alberta in July of this year. Hope to get some good photos from that trip.

[caysea7254]

padredw beautiful pic!!! Thank you for sharing! Tara:)