Headed to Glacier for a couple days later this month with some friends and looking for recommendations on best places to hike or things to see since we only have a limited time.
OT: Glacier National Park
- Thread starter crackerjax
- Start date
Logan’s Pass / Hike to Hidden Lake...
ETA: you will want to take a coat, maybe wind pants. I went in mid-October and was fine with t shirt at some of the lower elevations. Up at Logan’s pass the wind gusts were 60 mph which made it much cooler. But, it’s August now so that may not affect you as much. Not sure.
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/hidden-lake.htm
.... the hike features mountains and some wide open fields that is hard to describe. It’s just such a huge, vast openness bordered by mountains. Hard to describe. Probably the prettiest place I’ve ever been. You will likely see mountain goats, etc during your hike.
ETA: you will want to take a coat, maybe wind pants. I went in mid-October and was fine with t shirt at some of the lower elevations. Up at Logan’s pass the wind gusts were 60 mph which made it much cooler. But, it’s August now so that may not affect you as much. Not sure.
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/hidden-lake.htm
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My favorite park, hands down. Your timeline is your enemy, unfortunately. Not enough time. The drive from the park entrance to Logan's Pass is ungodly beautiful and ungodly slow (this time of year). Very crowded. The hike to Hidden Lake is at 6,600 plus, so if you're a fatass, I would be careful. My favorite hike is to Avalanche Lake. Less crowded. Again, fatasses need not apply. Encircled by young mountains, totally glacier fed water. Crystal clear, cold as ****. When my *** retires, July and August will be spent in Whitefish, roaming Glacier.
If y'all intend to eat in Whitefish, Tupelo Grille. If pizza and craft beer is your thing, Jersey Boys Pizza.
If y'all intend to eat in Whitefish, Tupelo Grille. If pizza and craft beer is your thing, Jersey Boys Pizza.
I would like to see it one day. If one was to fly in and get a rental vehicle, what is the best airport to use?
Be sure to stop by the Montana Vortex. It’s a lot of fun and interesting especially if you have your kids. It’s a few miles south of Hungry Horse and just a few minutes from Glaciers main entrance. Also go to the ski slopes at Whitefish. During the summer you can ride the ski lifts up the mountain and ride sleds back down.
Many Glacier Valley is the best valley of them all, in my opinion. Iceburg Lake, Grinnel Glacier, Cracker lake, all fine hikes. Many glacier Lodge a great place for post hike food-drinks
Hiked there in 1980 with three friends. Crossed the continental divide on the hike. Saw some fresh dung on the trail and we all thought “I didn’t know they allowed horses on this trail”. Hour or so later a park ranger catches up to us and says there’s a rogue griz nearby. Mauled a couple of hikers earlier in the day. Who knew griz **** looks like horse ****? We rang cowbells and made noise the rest of the hike. If the griz know you’re there, they’ll probably avoid you. BUT, just make sure you can run faster than your fellow hikers.
Glacier & outside the Park
My wife is from Montana so we go back at least every other summer and stay in the Flathead Valley area (Whitfish, Kallispell, Big Fork). Went back in early July. I'll echo some of the other comments but Glacier Nat'l Park is about the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Take your time on the Going to the Sun Road. Stop at many of the pull outs, take a lot of pictures, enjoy.
If you want to get to Logan Pass at the top and get a parking spot, get to the West Glacier entrance EARLY. That is if you want to do the Hidden Lake hike that starts from Logan Pass. I've hiked quite a bit in Glacier (many off the trail) but one of the good "on the trail" hikes as someone mentioned is Iceberg Lake. It takes you into Many Glacier which is a cool hotel to visit.
Another cool one: Stop at Sun Point Nature Trail. It's a parking lot that has a trial head that's about 200 yards to the west end of St. Mary's Lake. Great picture opportunities.
I don't know where you're staying but if you want a great hike outside the park, go here: https://www.summitpost.org/mount-aeneas/408151 Mt. Aeneas is between the Glacier Nat'l park west entrance and Big Fork. I don't know if you have kids or not but either way, the trail accommodates novice hikers and above. From the base, it's about a 4 1/2 hour hike round trip and you get a TON of bang for your buck. You'll see goats and at the top, you get a spectacular of the Flathead Valley, Flathead Lake, Glacier, etc.. It's a really cool 360 degree view.
PM me if you want. Be happy to share other cool spots.
My wife is from Montana so we go back at least every other summer and stay in the Flathead Valley area (Whitfish, Kallispell, Big Fork). Went back in early July. I'll echo some of the other comments but Glacier Nat'l Park is about the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Take your time on the Going to the Sun Road. Stop at many of the pull outs, take a lot of pictures, enjoy.
If you want to get to Logan Pass at the top and get a parking spot, get to the West Glacier entrance EARLY. That is if you want to do the Hidden Lake hike that starts from Logan Pass. I've hiked quite a bit in Glacier (many off the trail) but one of the good "on the trail" hikes as someone mentioned is Iceberg Lake. It takes you into Many Glacier which is a cool hotel to visit.
Another cool one: Stop at Sun Point Nature Trail. It's a parking lot that has a trial head that's about 200 yards to the west end of St. Mary's Lake. Great picture opportunities.
I don't know where you're staying but if you want a great hike outside the park, go here: https://www.summitpost.org/mount-aeneas/408151 Mt. Aeneas is between the Glacier Nat'l park west entrance and Big Fork. I don't know if you have kids or not but either way, the trail accommodates novice hikers and above. From the base, it's about a 4 1/2 hour hike round trip and you get a TON of bang for your buck. You'll see goats and at the top, you get a spectacular of the Flathead Valley, Flathead Lake, Glacier, etc.. It's a really cool 360 degree view.
PM me if you want. Be happy to share other cool spots.
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If you don't already have travel plans to get there. Amtrak's Empire Builder is a great way to go with four stops in and around the park. The Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, MT is an impressive place to see and/or stay.
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We’re roughly the same age. I’m a bit overweight but used to like hiking. I went up Skellig Michael three years ago— no problems at all. Ever since then, I’ve had really minor knee and foot issues. The knee is okay but I don’t really like to go up and down stairs too often. My foot issues are much better since I’ve begun wearing footwear that gives me better support.
All this is to say, what would you recommend to nature loving, craft beer drinking fatasses like myself?
Where to Stay?
Many Glacier is the best but you have to book early. Lake McDonald Lodge is another but all the places inside the park book well in advance. Plenty of VRBOs outside the park and lends you the opportunity to see the rest of the valley. Can’t go wrong really. Whitefish Mountain is a good simmer spot as well.
Many Glacier is the best but you have to book early. Lake McDonald Lodge is another but all the places inside the park book well in advance. Plenty of VRBOs outside the park and lends you the opportunity to see the rest of the valley. Can’t go wrong really. Whitefish Mountain is a good simmer spot as well.
Iceberg lake and Ptarmigan tunnel are both incredible.
Best thing to do is backpack, but not sure if that's in your plans.
Also Syeh pass was really cool as well for a day hike.
All these are 10 miles
If you can figure out how to do Swiftcurrent pass in a day, or can get an overnight at the Granite park chalet or campsite, that's next on my list.
I love this park!
Best thing to do is backpack, but not sure if that's in your plans.
Also Syeh pass was really cool as well for a day hike.
All these are 10 miles
If you can figure out how to do Swiftcurrent pass in a day, or can get an overnight at the Granite park chalet or campsite, that's next on my list.
I love this park!
Virtually everything is opinion and specific to the person. Not sure how helpful I can be. Having said that, the majority of identified trails in Glacier are available to the reasonably conditioned tourist. It's all about timing, pace, hydration and footwear/clothing. The elevations are not killer. Just be sensible. Even for foot/knee challenged fatasses, Hidden Lake and Avalanche are doable and spectacular.
The time window is what makes Glacier so special. We're talking a slice of May, pretty much all of June, July and August, and then a slice of September. Plans to close Going to the Sun begin in early September. This is a special place. Like "this is where my ashes will be spread" special.
Picture of Logan's Pass Visitor Center. Note the snow poles in the foreground. They start putting them in place in early September. Yes, MFers, those are snow poles. They mark the boundary of the parking lot for the snow plow operators. Let that sink in, MFers. The visitor center is partially under snow pack from about October to April.
[URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg#/media/File:Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg"][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg/1200px-Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg[/URL]
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The time window is what makes Glacier so special. We're talking a slice of May, pretty much all of June, July and August, and then a slice of September. Plans to close Going to the Sun begin in early September. This is a special place. Like "this is where my ashes will be spread" special.
Picture of Logan's Pass Visitor Center. Note the snow poles in the foreground. They start putting them in place in early September. Yes, MFers, those are snow poles. They mark the boundary of the parking lot for the snow plow operators. Let that sink in, MFers. The visitor center is partially under snow pack from about October to April.
[URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg#/media/File:Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg"][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg/1200px-Logan_Pass_Visitor_Center.jpg[/URL]
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Also, we camped at this place a few years ago because the park was full. It's reasonably close to Many Glacier and they have a restaurant that's as close to home-cooking as you can find. The breakfast was fantastic. It's sort of a dive, but in a very very good way. And also a great place to camp if/when the park is full.
http://johnsonsofstmary.squarespace.com/
http://johnsonsofstmary.squarespace.com/
You can't. A college ex-friend of mine had the same idea on a trip we took in 1999. We didn't talk after that trip.
But if you're okay doing the going-to-the-sun road and doing a quick view at the top (clark griswold style), then you're in the majority and it will be better than most stuff you could see otherwise.
Gorgeous photo. Glacier has been on my list for a while.
Heck, any place cooler than Mississippi is on my places to go in the summer list.
Thanks for the advice.
Heck, any place cooler than Mississippi is on my places to go in the summer list.
Thanks for the advice.
Ptarmigan Tunnel and Iceburg Lake. After finally making it up the switchbacks and into the tunnel, I found that a bear had beat me there. He was rolling around inside the tunnel, looked at me for a few seconds, and then ran out the other side of the tunnel. Scared the **** out of me. Glacier National Park is the most beautiful and breathtaking place I've ever been.
^^^^ This ^^^^
Also, if you have time drive the Going to the Sun road. Its only open a very short time during the year, but do yourself a favor and try to fit it in. Can't say enough about Whitefish....great little town. Also, hike to Avalanche Lake....what an awesome view.
I went to Yellowstone a few weeks back. It's nice but, GNP is by far my favorite park so far.
Enjoy.
BB
Also, if you have time drive the Going to the Sun road. Its only open a very short time during the year, but do yourself a favor and try to fit it in. Can't say enough about Whitefish....great little town. Also, hike to Avalanche Lake....what an awesome view.
I went to Yellowstone a few weeks back. It's nice but, GNP is by far my favorite park so far.
Enjoy.
BB
if you cant get in a park lodge then kalispell has plenty of hotels marriotts etc. if you dont have a lot of time make sure you drive the GTTS road completely. i’m not a hiker so you can plenty from the road.
I just did a hiking tour through Arches, canyon lands & Zion over the summer. I can’t imagine anything comparable. You find this better than that?
As one having done all 3, I can testify that they are all beautiful in their own right. Arches and Canyonlands are other-worldly strange and stunning. I was struck by the perspective of vastness and distance. And by the sheer magnitude of the landscape. But, Glacier is palatial and majestic in a way that is unmatched in my humble opinion. Having said that, I have another favorite that I won’t tell you about because I don’t want any of you MFers going and 17ing it up.
ETA: I'm sitting at my desk looking at a photo of Dead Horse Point. The perspective of distance still gets me every time I look at it. But, I have to go into my conference room to see my Glacier photos. They get top billing.
ETA: I'm sitting at my desk looking at a photo of Dead Horse Point. The perspective of distance still gets me every time I look at it. But, I have to go into my conference room to see my Glacier photos. They get top billing.
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Without reservations, my son & I flew to Denver and rented a car for 10 days. Drove to Zion and back on our own timetable. Went through 5 national parks-the scenery is a different postcard every day. I prefer day hiking, but the view from the car and trams would be worth it even for those less inclined to hike. The only change I’d make is that we skipped on Bryce Canyon and i’d Fly back from Vegas.
It was inexpensive and definitely a bro binding trip of a lifetime. He’s off to college now, but I am so glad we had that experience.
It was inexpensive and definitely a bro binding trip of a lifetime. He’s off to college now, but I am so glad we had that experience.
Was literally talking about this today....it’s a 69hr trip from here. Hah
OP: take the bear warnings seriously.
https://time.com/4550059/bear-attack-montana-todd-orr/
Be careful...... i can't wait to go, found the timing of the article to be appropriate.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/teen-killed-by-falling-rocks-during-family-vacation-at-national-park/ar-AAFLICA?li=BBnbfcL
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/teen-killed-by-falling-rocks-during-family-vacation-at-national-park/ar-AAFLICA?li=BBnbfcL
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