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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 23, 2015 - 09:51am PT
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Anyone here been there?
Any recommendations for camping or visiting particular places along the road?
Is it better to enter from St. Mary's or the Southern route or does it matter?
Thank you in advance!
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Mark Force
Trad climber
Ashland, Oregon
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May 23, 2015 - 10:10am PT
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Go, it's beautiful! Did the hut hiking there with my wife a couple of years ago and it's amazing. Check out Granite Park Chalet and Sperry Chalet. The day hikes and backpacks are really good. Drive the Going to the Sun Road either way and it will be a great experience. You can day hike up to Sperry Glacier, Grinnell Glacier, Logan Pass to Garden Wall to Many Glaciers Lodge. It's all good.
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Steve's sister
Social climber
Las Vegas, NV
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May 23, 2015 - 10:22am PT
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We were fortunate enough to hit it on a sunny day about 5 years ago.
I would post a few pictures but the damn dog chewed the memory card.
We camped at Hungry Horse reservoir. Free, very close, fished the tail water, dogs allowed.
Have an awesome time!!!!!
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the museum
climber
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May 23, 2015 - 10:22am PT
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Camping on the east side - outside the park is dismal. There is a KOA at St Marys and at West Glacier. Better camping opps probably on the west side. There is probably car camping on the southern route, although the back country opps are harder to access from there, I think.
If I had to go there and do something quick, I'd go to Logan Pass and climb Reynolds via the normal route, or the diagonal. Fun outings. Also, Reynolds is a good indicator of what the place is like.
Website says 13 campgrounds in the park with 1009 camp sites. Get a reservation if you can..
those are my thoughts..
the museum
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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May 23, 2015 - 10:32am PT
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We camped at Hungry Horse reservoir. Free, very close, fished the tail water, dogs allowed.
That's what the wife and the dogs and I did. I didn't get to do the fishing part. How was it?
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crankster
Trad climber
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May 23, 2015 - 10:39am PT
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Bring bear spray.
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Steve's sister
Social climber
Las Vegas, NV
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May 23, 2015 - 11:21am PT
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Wayno, the fishing was awesome, just like the scenery. Access was a little tough, super steep banks. A place just below the dam is called the Devil's Elbow. Super great structure area for holding big pigs.
Bear spray is an essential!!
We were there in Aug. Huckleberry everything! They also grow wild around the reservoir area.
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johnboy
Trad climber
Can't get here from there
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May 23, 2015 - 12:02pm PT
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Be sure to go up to Many Glacier too, several miles north of the east entrance.
I believe there is camping up there outside of the park along the lake, and also inside the park.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2015 - 12:52pm PT
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Good beta folks
I'll be up there late July so it should be open.
I'll check out the Northern route. Sounds like fun!
I'll be camping in the cosmic pod (van) and will have bear spray.
Shoot me a pm sometime before July and I'll take you up on the offer eKat!
You're right about it being far enough from Cali to stay so beautiful and clean.
The Natl' Parks in this state are thrashed.
Can I see the Aurora Borialis in July in them parts?
We'll be gathering all the huckleberry we can , for sure.
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10b4me
Social climber
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May 23, 2015 - 03:32pm PT
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Going to the Sun Road is a great drive.
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telemon01
Trad climber
Montana
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May 23, 2015 - 07:13pm PT
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Come ride the Logan Pass Vapor Wave.
The key to Glacier in July, like all National Parks, is to get out early. Huge difference in your experience if you get out by 8am versus 10 am.
If you want to do a classic 11 mile stroll, start at Logan Pass (early) and hike the Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet (7 miles) and then continue down to the Loop (4 miles) where you can catch a free shuttle back to your car at Logan Pass. All downhill. If your knees are bad, do it in reverse. Great views.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2015 - 07:40pm PT
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If we see Delbert Grady hitch-hiking we probably won't stop
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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May 23, 2015 - 08:20pm PT
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My dad had a summer job working on building the road around 1930. He learned a hard lesson though: never be late. Apparently, he was about five minutes late from his lunch break once while he took a short hike near the construction site. FIRED
Hitchhiking back home to Seattle, he ended up working on a farm in central Washington for the rest of the summer.
Here's a photo of him and his buddy Winston Bruff before they left for the summer from Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Pretty classy ride, I say.
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Lanthade
climber
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May 23, 2015 - 09:04pm PT
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So much to see in glacier, best you plan a few trips. Many glacier is a fantastic not-to-miss part of the park. I biked going to the sun road east to west when I was in high school, GREAT experience. Had my car overheat driving going to the sun west to east, not so great. The Logan pass parking lot does full up, so go early in the day. The north canada loop is totally worth doing. I stayed at prince of Wales once and it was very cool.
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axlgrease
Mountain climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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May 23, 2015 - 11:35pm PT
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Worked there for two seasons in college - my favorite National Park. My job was information desk clerk - basically to help people figure out what to do. Along the Sun road, definitely stop at Logan Pass and hike up to Hidden Lake Overlook. Get there early - parking fills up. It's a short walk on mostly a boardwalk. Most days there are Mountain Goats at the overlook right next to the trail, and the view can't be beat. If the hike is too short, walk down to Hidden Lake from there. Most people turn around at the overlook (if they get that far), and you'll be alone.
If you're looking for a day hike, go from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet along the highline trail (about 7 miles, mostly flat with a little up an down). Then down to the The Loop on the Sun Road (about 4 miles downhill). Hitch back to your car at the pass, catch the shuttle, or do a car shuttle. You can also go the other way from Granite Park (east) over Swiftcurrent Pass and wind up in Many Glacier. That's a longer hike, but with a car shuttle or red bus ride, it's a fantastic day.
Climbing? It's all choss, but from the pass, do Mt. Reynolds (the pic upthread). In that pic, you can see a goat trail across the face - that's the North Face and East Couloir route. 3rd-4th class, with some slippery/gravelly spots, but fantastic route. The 2nd mountaineering route I ever did. Check out the guide: Climbers Guide to Glacier National Park
If you do go off trail up there, be sensitive to the delicate environment at the pass, and check with the rangers for appropriate approach trails.
Definitely do NOT miss the Many Glacier area. 5 Glacial valleys converge there, with a ton of hiking. For dayhikes, try these: take the antique passenger ferry boats across Swiftcurrent and Josephine lakes, and hike to Grinnell Glacier. Or take the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail up to Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Tunnel. Or dayhike to Cracker lake at the base of Mt Siyeh. There's also climbing in that area - check the guidebook. Mt. Wilbur is a favorite. If you're want some high, cross-country travel, the Ptarmagin Tunnel - Ahern Pass goat trail has been called "The greatest twelve miles on the North American Continent."
Coming in from Canada is the way to do it if you can. The Waterton area is amazing. The Prince of Wales Hotel is a must - go in and wander around the lobby at least. You can also have afternoon tea... Like eKat says, it's worth taking the boat ride from the township south along Waterton Lake, across the international border, to Goat Haunt at the south end of the lake. The boat can drop you off and pick you up for the dayhike to Crypt Lake.
As far as car camping, I haven't done that as much up there. Many Glacier Campground can't be beat, but it's really popular. First come, first served, so you need to be there early. Avalanche Creek is a good spot, but also popular. If you want to get away from the crowds, go up the west side of the park - e.g. Bowman or Kintla campgrounds. It's a dirt road all the way up there, but keeps a lot of people away. If you go up that way, you have to check out Polebridge Mercantile in Polebridge. You can't miss it.
I did see the Aurora up there my first year. Middle of July - it gets dark late, so we watched from about 11PM to 3AM. Just lying in the grass drinking beers. I had to work at 6, but so worth it! If you get lucky (really lucky) you might see them.
If you have to choose, concentrate on the Northern and Eastern parts of the park. The southern and southwest areas aren't as dramatic. You'll have a blast - wish I were going!
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Steve's sister
Social climber
Las Vegas, NV
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May 24, 2015 - 06:55am PT
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Ok, now I'm jonesing for my Montana fix! Doesn't help that the Salmonflies are out on the Missouri either.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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May 24, 2015 - 11:02am PT
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Tips:
Allegent Airlines: LAX to Kalispell & Mizoo like $50 to $120
Moosdrool on tap in the Mizzoo airport.
http://www.tamarackbrewing.com/ in Lakeside south of Kalispell.
Forget bear spray those are Grizzlies. You get close enough to pepper spray one of those bad-boys, you're gone. Just mind your way and be alert. Carry a healthy respect if you want to stay safe.
Backpack if you want to actually see glaciers in Glacier.
Going to the Sun Road is nice and fun but just the tip of the iceberg. Not really a destination.
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Sula
Trad climber
Pennsylvania
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May 24, 2015 - 02:36pm PT
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I think it's smart to plan a drive across the park on GttS Highway one day and back the next - allows time to make a bunch of stops (which the route absolutely calls for).
I'd recommend Sunrift Gorge and Baring Falls, near Saint Mary lake: Not enough of a hike off the road to attenuate the crowds much, but certainly worthwhile. Near there, Going-to-the-Sun Point gives great views of this impressively beautiful lake.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2015 - 02:51pm PT
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This thread is getting printed and will be on the trip with us.
It may not be a destination but it's sure worth the drive from what I gather here.
Can't wait!
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