Staying at Glacier NP?

[Finally_Time]

Some friends and I have 7 nights to spend in Glacier National Park in July. We would like to stay both on the west and the east sides. Should we spend 4 nights on the west and 3 on the east or the other way around? Is there more to do or see one one or the other side? We are not planning on driving the Going to the Sun road ourselves but will take the red bus tours.

[Lauren]

Where are you staying? You might consider staying closer to the Park on the west side.

[Finally_Time]

Thanks for all the information about things to do. We decided to stay 3 nights at Columbia Falls RV Park and 4 nights in St Mary and make a day trip to Waterton. really looking forward to our first time in Glacier.

[Barbielab]

If you have passports then I would do 2 west, 3 east and 2 Waterton NP in Canada.

[revump]

Can the park handle big rigs

[coolmom42]

sdianel wrote:
We stayed half way between east and west and drove to each entrance. We stayed at Glacier Meadow RV Park in Essex MT. Located 16 miles west of East Glacier. Red Bus stops at campground. Weak cell service is only negative about the park. They do have a cell booster in an outdoor pavillion you can use to make and receive calls. I now have my own Wilson Sleek booster which is what they had.
We opted to take the Native American tour from East Glacier. Really enjoyed it.

I agree. The east side of Glacier is much nicer & less commercial.

[southernsky]

following post

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We stayed half way between east and west and drove to each entrance. We stayed at Glacier Meadow RV Park in Essex MT. Located 16 miles west of East Glacier. Red Bus stops at campground. Weak cell service is only negative about the park. They do have a cell booster in an outdoor pavillion you can use to make and receive calls. I now have my own Wilson Sleek booster which is what they had.
We opted to take the Native American tour from East Glacier. Really enjoyed it.

[Lauren]

Yup, 5 on the east and 2 on the west. Much prettier with wonderful walks and hikes - we have hiked many, many miles hiking and Grinnell Glacier is in our top three. You can do it as an about 6 mile taking the boat or as about an 10-11 mile hiking the full distance. We have done both. Personally, I would do the boat and do it as a 6. West is much more commercial. Do the full length of Going To The Sun Road.

[katleman]

southtexas wrote:
Much more on the east side, you should consider the sun road either going to the west side or to the east, since you want to be on both sides.

If you decide just two days on the east side, visit the scenic Many Glacier area and spend it hiking either the Iceberg Lake or Grinnell Glacier trails, or the valley portion of the Swiftcurrent Pass trail . Or enjoy the boat rides on Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes and join the short ranger-led hike to Grinnell Lake. Also spend some time exploring the rustic but magnificent Many Glacier Hotel, known as the “Showplace of the Rockies.”

If you have a third day, hop down to Two Medicine and explore this beautiful area in the southeast region of the park, including several great hiking trails,taking a boat ride or canoeing on Two Medicine Lake, and other activities. Or, as an alternative, take in the sights along Lake McDonald on the park’s western side.

+1, spot on what I would do.

Day trip or spend a night up to Waterton in Canada as well.

[southtexas]

Much more on the east side, you should consider the sun road either going to the west side or to the east, since you want to be on both sides.

If you decide just two days on the east side, visit the scenic Many Glacier area and spend it hiking either the Iceberg Lake or Grinnell Glacier trails, or the valley portion of the Swiftcurrent Pass trail . Or enjoy the boat rides on Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes and join the short ranger-led hike to Grinnell Lake. Also spend some time exploring the rustic but magnificent Many Glacier Hotel, known as the “Showplace of the Rockies.”

If you have a third day, hop down to Two Medicine and explore this beautiful area in the southeast region of the park, including several great hiking trails,taking a boat ride or canoeing on Two Medicine Lake, and other activities. Or, as an alternative, take in the sights along Lake McDonald on the park’s western side.

[Dick_B]

That's a lot of time unless you plan to do some hiking!

[agesilaus]

More to see and do on the east, I'd split it 5 east 2 west.

BK