Glacier National Park

Breaking in the new (to me) roof top tent set up. I bring lots of bourbon fresh from KY

I want Type-A personalities up front with me, the driver/ guide.

I want Type-B personalities in the back, all by themselves.

However, if my first hotel pick-up has the Type-B personalities, and they tend to sit up front...

How do I shake it up, and eloquently get the quiet ones in back, and the personable ones up front?

All suggestions are very welcome!

What time should I arrive to get parking? I understand the eailer the better. 5:00, 5:45, 6:30?

Hi, I’m currently right outside of west glacier entrance doing seasonal work. What are some good hikes, 4-10 miles round trip in the area that are open and good to do this time of year? Please help, nps trail closures won’t load with my terrible reception.

Hi, in early August, my family and I are going to GNP. We are trying to figure out what hikes we want to do but were really indecisive. We are staying 3 days in West Glacier and 2 days in Many Glacier. We don't know if the amount of hikes were doing is a lot or too much mileage but we are a very active and fit family. We have a decent amount of experience as we have done hikes in Yosemite, Zion, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, and more.

Currently, we have chosen these trails.

Day 1: Avalanche Lake trail + Trail of the cedars, ~7m, https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/montana/avalanche-lake--6 https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/trail-of-the-cedars--2

Day 2: The loop and Garden Wall Trail, 13.2m, (essentially Highline trail with a few add-ons)

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/montana/the-loop-and-garden-wall

Day 3: Hidden Lake Trail and/or Mount Oberlin Trail, 8.8m,

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/montana/hidden-lake-trail

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/montana/mount-oberlin-trail

Day 4: Swiftcurrent Mountian via Swiftcurrent Pass Trail, 16.6m,

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/montana/swiftcurrent-pass-trail

Day 5: Grinell Glacier and Wing Lookout via Grinell Glacier Trail, 13.3m,

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/montana/grinell-glacier-and-wing-lookout

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We feel that this would cover a lot of GNP and give us a good experience there, but there are other trails like Staton Mountain, Mount Siyeh Climbing Route, and Apikuni Mountain we thought looked fun and challenging. Do all of you that have been to GNP think this will give us a good experience, or would you change something?

Trying to set up a trip for 17-19 of this month. I will have a partial day Friday. Was planning on trying to be first in line for a wilderness pass. Anyone have any advice on permits or where I should go for a moderated weekend backpacking trip?

Anyone hike Two Med, St. Mary, or Many Glacier recently (May 2023)? Rangers told us today that trails were open on the east side but we're looking at road closures of HY49 by Two Med and another one up on Lower Saint Mary Lake online. Looking for actual human reports! Thanks! ❤️

Greetings!

Wife and I will be taking a trip to Glacier during the kids fall break. They will be staying with my parents so it's just the two of us. Since we will be in the area for several days would it be better to stay half on the west side of the park and half on the east side of the park? We will be flying into/out of Kalispell.

Also, any lodging recommendations would be greatly appreciated. It seems most of the in park lodges are closed that late in the year.

Thank you greatly!

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Going to the Sun - Glacier National Park

Hi All,

I'm planning a dayhiking/backpacking trip this September and was hoping for some feedback on my itinerary. Our group of 3-4 will have a campervan available when we're dayhiking. We will be entering the park from Kalispell area.

Any and all suggestions or tips are greatly appreciated! This is our first trip to Glacier NP.

​ **Itinerary**

Hello! I will be visiting for the first time this summer and can't wait!

We are taking the train from Chicago to East Glacier and staying at the Glacier Park Lodge. I had planned to rent a car from the Dollar Car Rental there, but I have confirmed from multiple sources that it is no longer operational. What should I do to get around the park? How is the best way for me to get a rental car? Or can I rely on shuttle busses?

Here are the options I'm considering:

1) Using the Shuttle system

Unfortunately, the park shuttles don't go as far as the lodge, but I could use the east side shuttle to get to Two Medicine and St. Mary. From St Mary, I can take the hiker shuttles on the GTTSR, or the Many Glacier Shuttle for when I go to Many Glacier.

An advantage of this is I don't have to worry about parking (I heard it's very difficult to find parking at most trailheads) and don't have to worry about the ticketing system (I think that's true, anyway) for the GTTSR, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier.

Huge disadvantage, though, is that I'm sure it will take ages to get to where we want to go, and plus I am reliant on the schedule. Another disadvantage is that not all the hikes will be near when the shuttles go. For instance, does the East Side Shuttle drop off at the Running Eagle Falls Trailhead upon request, or do we have to walk over a mile on the road from the Two Medicine drop off to get there? (I mean we are going to be hiking many miles, so I don't know why I think this is an issue, but any inefficiencies we can cut out and necessary distance we can shorten leave us time and stamina to do the more incredible hikes).

The next bunch of the options involve getting a rental car west of the park - super far away from where we will be staying but I think that's the only option.

2a. Stay on the train (or get it the next day) another 3-ish hours to Whitefish

This is convenient, but the train runs once a day and will get to Whitefish around 10pm (and that's in the unlikely event that it's on time). None of us are comfortable driving the 1 hr 30 minutes east to our hotel in the Montana wilderness on Route 2 at night (for fear of moose, etc.). We could stay overnight in Whitefish, but that's a waste of our hotel lodge reservation we fought so hard to get.

2b. Take a taxi or rideshare from the Lodge to Whitefish.

Is this even feasible? The lodge mentioned "Mountain Chief Cab Company." Maybe they could take us there?

2c. Use the Red Bus tour to cut our distance.

The first day, we planned on taking the 8-hr Red Bus tour "Big Sky Circle Tour." Maybe they could drop us off when we get to the West Entrance and we could get a rideshare or Taxi From there? (From the west side, Whitefish looks to only be 30 minutes- much more sane to do in a Taxi or Uber/Lyft)

3. Make friends with strangers and have them drive us. ;)

4. See if the rental car company or hotel could assist in getting me to the rental car or the rental car to me.

I confirmed with the hotel that they wouldn't do that. Enterprise's slogan used to me "We'll pick you up." Did they ever actually pick you up?!

5. Zipcar.

Not available anywhere in Montana - I checked. Are there any other 3rd party car rental places that have something in the area? I doubt it, but it's worth asking.

I booked this trip last year in hopes of a scenic relaxing train ride, stunning lodge, and easy access to the park from the train, but I put my eggs in the basket of a defunct car rental location :(

I'm lost on what to do, can anyone offer some advice? Thanks so much in advance!

I am so excited to visit Glacier for the first time in late August but naturally, my biggest concern is finding out after the trip all the experiences that I could have done that were right by me that I didn't.

It could also be town related, some bars or restaurants that are historical, a local signature dish you can't miss, a unique crowd. Or special experiences like horseback riding, etc. Open to hearing all.

But of course, also the views and trails of a lifetime that are a must!

Lastly, afterwards I will be driving down to Yellowstone - if you have a best route, or places to check out on the way down, that is definitely also useful! I will be staying for 5 days.

Thank you in advance all!