Seeking any advice from anyone who has been to Glacier. Staying in Kalispell for a week in July. Particularly interested in hiking tips but any places to eat, things to do/avoid is great. Thanks in advance, CF.
What are you to do if you see a bear out there on a trail other than show them a picture of Adam Woodbury?I was there a couple years ago but only for 2 nights. BIG mistake. Should have stayed 2 weeks or even months.
Only special thing I can think of is do the hike to Avalanche lake. Remote. Beautiful.
Watch out for bears, they are serious about that.
Kalispell is GORGEOUS but only drove thru it.
When I've been hiking in bear country they have said to make sure you are noisy enough that you never see the bear. Some even wear bells so they make plenty of noise while they hike. They will generally leave you alone if they hear you and they move on. When you are in the most trouble is when you startle them - so leave the Woodbury pic at home.What are you to do if you see a bear out there on a trail other than show them a picture of Adam Woodbury?
But seriously, what do they tell you to do?
Haven't been to Glacier, but one of my coworkers said the following about NPs and such
1) Get going early. I did this when visiting Arches and the difference between 7 am and 10 am crowds was readily apprent (and this was in offseason)
2) Try and find the non paved road trailheads. Those trails will probably be less busy.
3) Be self sufficient (don't assume the visitor center or lodge will have something).
4) Leave No Trace
5) If the Park is slammed, see if there is a national forest nearby. They often have the same general scenery (if not better), with fewer people. The national forests do tend to operate on 'Big Boy' rules (i.e., you're pretty much on your own, don't expect much in the way of luxuries).
There are National Forest all around the park, great hiking along the southern edge of the park in the Flathead National Forest, also along the North Fork Road. Jewel Basin (in National Forest) is great place to go down by Bigfork, get breakfast at Echo Lake Cafe then head up the mountain to Jewel Basin.
Also saw somebody mentioned Hungry Horse Dam, there are some good hikes if you continue across the dam, in the Flathead National Forest.
There is also some good rafting on the Middle Fork, raft companies can be found around the West Glacier area.
Yes, there is tons of good hiking in the area outside of Glacier Park if you don't want to fight the crowd or drive up to Logan's pass every day.There are National Forest all around the park, great hiking along the southern edge of the park in the Flathead National Forest, also along the North Fork Road. Jewel Basin (in National Forest) is great place to go down by Bigfork, get breakfast at Echo Lake Cafe then head up the mountain to Jewel Basin.
Also saw somebody mentioned Hungry Horse Dam, there are some good hikes if you continue across the dam, in the Flathead National Forest.
There is also some good rafting on the Middle Fork, raft companies can be found around the West Glacier area.
We do glacier annually - one of our favorite parks.
Many Glacier has great hikes, great scenery and we've never NOT seen grizzlies. IT does take longer to drive there.
From Logan Pass there are lots of GREAT hikes. The iconic is the garden wall hike that can take you to a back-country chalet that burned down a few years ago. Gunsight Pass and Piegan Pass are 2 great hikes from that area.
Never hiked with bells or spray. Will NEVER hike with bells ("experts" say they don't make enough noise) but will likely start with the bear spray just because I'm no longer the fastest one in the group. I had a friend mauled by a grizzly 20-ish years ago. Scary story and he only received 20 stitches!