Going there soon. Looking for recommendations. Open to just about anything
Glacier national park
- Thread starter Cygar
- Start date
I've been to 34 US National Parks and Glacier is the best I've been too. Absolutely hike the Highline Trail and enjoy the scenery of the Going to the Sun road.
Glacier is such a special place and makes you really appreciate the variety of scenery in this country. Soak it up and enjoy the wildlife!
Places/trails I've been that I'd recommend:
-Highline Trail
-Iceberg Lake trail
-Avalanche Lake
-Hidden Lake trail.
Those are all really popular for a reason.
-Reynold's Peak
-Oberlin Peak
-East Glacier Park Lodge
Places nearby that are worth checking out:
-Hungry Horse Dam. There are trails/hiking all around the reservoir too.
-Flathead Lake
-Downtown Bigfork
-White water rafting on the West Fork of the Flathead River (borders the south side of Glacier)
-Jewel Basin has some really cool hikes (just south of Glacier)
-Highline Trail
-Iceberg Lake trail
-Avalanche Lake
-Hidden Lake trail.
Those are all really popular for a reason.
-Reynold's Peak
-Oberlin Peak
-East Glacier Park Lodge
Places nearby that are worth checking out:
-Hungry Horse Dam. There are trails/hiking all around the reservoir too.
-Flathead Lake
-Downtown Bigfork
-White water rafting on the West Fork of the Flathead River (borders the south side of Glacier)
-Jewel Basin has some really cool hikes (just south of Glacier)
I spent 2 days there and wish it was 2 weeks. Avalanche lake hike was not difficult but well worth it.
Hope to go again!
Hope to go again!
You’ll hear about and think you know how awesome it looks but until you see it, you will actually grasp it.
Plan for crazier traffic than you think. Research what Construction looks like in and around there and what the park entry pass situation is thoroughly.
Stay in the park if that’s an option for you, it’s so big it’s impossible to see it all.
Highline trail is a must. If not able to to do it all, start at top and go out atleast a couple miles and come back. Start super early. You will never see anything more beautiful in your life.
There’s a great pizza place in Kalispell but I can’t remember the name. Someone will know it and fill you in.
Plan for crazier traffic than you think. Research what Construction looks like in and around there and what the park entry pass situation is thoroughly.
Stay in the park if that’s an option for you, it’s so big it’s impossible to see it all.
Highline trail is a must. If not able to to do it all, start at top and go out atleast a couple miles and come back. Start super early. You will never see anything more beautiful in your life.
There’s a great pizza place in Kalispell but I can’t remember the name. Someone will know it and fill you in.
Overnighted at Lincoln Lake a zillion years ago. Blisters will be healed up any day now.
Do take all the bear precautions. Cache your food, don't leave yummy (or any) trash around.
Enjoy. You'll never forget it.
Do take all the bear precautions. Cache your food, don't leave yummy (or any) trash around.
Enjoy. You'll never forget it.
We did the st marys boat tour which includes hikes to three waterfalls, Virginia, St Marys and Baring. (pretty easy hike, children could do it)
Avalanche lake hike is easy enough for children but it's 2 miles each way. Great spot for family pictures, have one on my office wall.
Another fairly easy hike is the Redrock lake/falls trail.
Also FYI, if by soon you mean in the next month some parts of the park will still be closed due to snow
Avalanche lake hike is easy enough for children but it's 2 miles each way. Great spot for family pictures, have one on my office wall.
Another fairly easy hike is the Redrock lake/falls trail.
Also FYI, if by soon you mean in the next month some parts of the park will still be closed due to snow
My wife and I literally came within 10 feet of a bear. Yelled hey bear at it and it ran away (thanks Ron Magill)
Red Bus was a great headache-free way to see a lot, including Going to the Sun road. We had a excellent driver/guide. As Clark said, the St. Mary's boat trip, with easy hike, was also really good. We visited each of the park lodges, which are beautiful, but we stayed at an VRBO in West Glacier with 2 other couples (6 adults, no kids), which was a pretty cheap lodging alternative. (Too old to camp! Lol)
Glacier is spectacular! I've heard crossing into the Canadian side is just as awesome and less crowded. I hope to do that.
Glacier is spectacular! I've heard crossing into the Canadian side is just as awesome and less crowded. I hope to do that.
If you are not staying in the park you will need to get a pass to get in. Check the website for when they are available. I believe it is two months before and a day or two before. (Not sure since live in Kalispell and generally only go in the afternoon when a pass is not needed.) Otherwise sign up for a tour like a boat tour on Lake Mcdonald or horseback riding to get in. Check out the lodge while you are there.
Traffic will likely be backed up on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. And if you wait til the afternoon you may have to wait out on the highway to get in.
If you are really ambitious you can get up really early to get in. The benefit of this is getting to the hiking trails early.
Apgar Village or West Glacier have shops for souvenirs and some restaurants. You can rent many things including bear spray or kayaks in Apgar Village.
Head up the North Fork to Polebridge to get a bearclaw from the Mercantile then go hiking at Bowman Lake while up there. The roads is gravel most of the way so be prepared for a bumpy ride.
Great suggestions with Jewel Basin hiking and downtown Bigfork. If you go to Jewel Basin stop at the Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast or brunch.
If you go to Flathead Lake check out Volunteer Park in Lakeside. You can rent kayaks nearby. And when you are there eat at the Tamarack Brewery.
Traffic will likely be backed up on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. And if you wait til the afternoon you may have to wait out on the highway to get in.
If you are really ambitious you can get up really early to get in. The benefit of this is getting to the hiking trails early.
Apgar Village or West Glacier have shops for souvenirs and some restaurants. You can rent many things including bear spray or kayaks in Apgar Village.
Head up the North Fork to Polebridge to get a bearclaw from the Mercantile then go hiking at Bowman Lake while up there. The roads is gravel most of the way so be prepared for a bumpy ride.
Great suggestions with Jewel Basin hiking and downtown Bigfork. If you go to Jewel Basin stop at the Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast or brunch.
If you go to Flathead Lake check out Volunteer Park in Lakeside. You can rent kayaks nearby. And when you are there eat at the Tamarack Brewery.
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Saw a grizzly while a couple miles into Highline trail. Walking right down the trail, on a morning stroll. Proceeded to soil myself.
I think so??? It’s been a few years. Was dive bar-esque kind of vibes. Was delicious. There was also a small place that I think had a couple locations that solid really good, greasy burgers. Like probably a top 10 burger I’ve ever had in my life. That might have been something like Frugals or something but don’t quote me on that.
You can see moose about 4-5pm daily at Fishercap Lake.
We used the free shuttle a lot to get around the GTSR. Then you didn't have to worry about finding a parking spot at Logan Pass or any of the popular hiking trailheads.
Polebridge has great pastries.
We used the free shuttle a lot to get around the GTSR. Then you didn't have to worry about finding a parking spot at Logan Pass or any of the popular hiking trailheads.
Polebridge has great pastries.
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park. By the way nice list. Red Meadow Lake (not pictured)- about 15 miles from the Canadian border.
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Yes, Frugals has two locations in Kalispell. Great burgers and really good milkshakes.
Glad Merx mentioned "North Fork to Polebridge to get a bearclaw from the Mercantile then go hiking at Bowman Lake." Rough road, but was well worth it!
I spent a week at Glacier in early August. Huckleberry everything. Pie, bread, pastries, tea, cookies, and, best of all, margaritas!
I spent a week at Glacier in early August. Huckleberry everything. Pie, bread, pastries, tea, cookies, and, best of all, margaritas!
Mooses is (maybe was?) awesome pizza. My brother lives in Kalispell. (73 ISU animal science grad) A good friend lives SW of Kila and owns the acreage my sister and brother in law once owned. It is right next to National forest service land on Haskill Mountain. The drive to the top of Haskill Mountain is a nice side trip. My brother guided us on a Flathead Lake kayak tour. Petroglyphs on a cliff overlooking the lake. There are also some petryphs just the other side of Kila along the hiway if you know where to look, I dont think there is any signage. Just a chainlink fence covering the drawings. If you like this kind of stuff don't forget to brush up on your history of trappers and Native Americans in this area. It ties the experience together nicely. James Willard Schultz, George Grinnell, The Salish peoples it goes on and on and on. We have driven it straight thru from Iowa to Kalispell 5 times. Flew the rest of our visits. Weird fact, when you get to the Montana border you are about halfway to Kalispell.
