There's a Delta hotel right in the airport across the street from the terminal.

Arriving at 6PM isn't a bad time as in late June it won't get dark until very late (10-11PM).

The drive from the airport to Waterton in about 3.5 hours. The road down (Rt 2) is very good and smooth.

I think you'll be a bit iffy in Glacier. There's a good chance Going to the Sun Rd won't be open right thru.

You have two days in Glacier. What are your plans there?

The later in June the better, a couple of years ago I was supposed to go to Glacier(wound up not going). The GTSR didn't open til mid-July. It all depends on the snow/weather. You can get on the glacier nps website and it lists the past history of opening dates for several years in the past.

We will be arriving on June 22 in Calgary--have now made a reso at the Delta South hotel which was suggested as a quick departure point for next day--and will spend the first 3 days in Waterton National Park, the Canadian side of Glacier, so we are hoping to get quite a bit of the scenery there--plan to hike, take a boat ride and enjoy the park. For our time in Glacier (june 26-28), we plan to take the jammer to GTSR--and get a sense of the scenery and beauty there, hike in any remaining time on a shorter trail on the east side.

The red jammer buses operate a 1/2 day and full day--any suggestions--we would rather not drive--we both want to see everything without having to mind the road and traffic.

I appreciate your comments--thoughts are we will enjoy the parts of GTSR which are open--can't see everything. HOping late June chances are good.

I'm not totally sure, but I don't think it's been open that early the last 4 or 5 years. I think they got about 35 inches of snow the first couple of weeks in June Last year alone(last year).

I was in Glacier near the start of this past August. We drove on GTTS Rd and the only traffic issues were at road construction (only a few minutes) and parking at Logan Pass (if you can get there go early before the lot fills up).

In my opinion, the most spectacular scenery is in Many Glacier. Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake. Iceberg Lake is longer but easier as the only steep part is near the start. The rest is gradual. If you find Iceberg too long you can turn around at any time. You don't have to go all the way to the lake.

Also, we always saw wildlife at Fishercap Lake that's near the start of the Swiftcurrent Pass / Redrock Falls hike. The trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot at Swiftcurrent motor inn.

Typically, I don't do well on bus tours so I don't do them unless there's a very good reason.

To get an idea you can see my photos at:
www.travelwalks.com

The Delta hotel is very convenient. Don't get your car when you arrive. Pick it up in the morning. The car rental is right beside the hotel.

Waterton Lakes is small. If you have a lodging choice I might consider taking one day from Waterton Lakes and adding it to Glacier.

It's tough to guess what will be open. Very good change St Mary Falls and Virginia Falls will be clean of snow. Not too long and very nice waterfalls. The trailhead is east of Logan Pass so you might be ok.

Thank you so much, Myer. I have changed our resos so that we now have 2 days in Waterton and 3 in Glacier. Now we will have an extra full day for hiking and visiting. Your photos are absolutely stunning--are you a professional photographer? We are staying at Delta south as someone on tripadvisor had recommended it, so we will have to do the car rental to get there. I haven't looked at rentals yet, but hope to get a good rate--do u have any suggestions on that?

Many thanks for your help.

No, I'm not a professional. Just a hobby.

As you can see by the photos Many Glacier has spectacular scenery and wildlife galore.

Hotel. The Delta hotel in the airport is new, quiet and comfortable.

The advantage to Delta South might be that you are on the way the next morning. I don't know the difference in rates. You'd have to check that.

However, since you're arriving on a Saturday and want to leave on Sunday morning, traffic thru downtown won't be an issue.

Whichever hotel you stay at, there's a Walmart Supercenter right outside the airport just as you start driving down Rte 2. You get off Rte 2 at 64th Ave NE. Deerfoot Mall is at the Southeast corner. The Walmart can't be seen from the road as it's around the back of the mall on the left side.

You can bring just about anything across the border except citrus (apparently citrus is stuff with seeds or pits) and raw meat. We picked up breakfast and lunch snack stuff. We had a snack breakfast each morning before we left and of course a snack lunch wherever we happened to be.

We had dinner in the restaurants of Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Rising Sun.

Glacier lodging. Where are you staying in Glacier. We stayed at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (Many Glacier) and Rising Sun (GTTS Road east). Both excellent locations.

About car rental. I'm a member of AARP so Alamo car rentals include a second driver for free. If you do that make sure the reservation prints that way and when you get the car they'll try to charge you for it without looking at your copy of the reservation. So make sure they give that.

I learned a lesson with car rentals. If you make a reservation and you decode to make a slight change, they recalculate the whole thing. I have found that the best prices are usually the ones you get the farthest in advance. So when I'm pretty sure I'm going on a trip but don't have my exact days, I'll make a dozen resrvations for all of the possible dates.

As we get closer I check several times for prices and rebook if they're lower. Of course, as it gets closer I'm more certain of my dates.

Hikes. The most spectacular scenery is on Grinnel Glacier and Iceberg Lake. Also, Highline at Logan Pass is no slouch.

St Mary and Virginia Falls are nowhere near as big as Yellowstone Lower Falls or the large falls at Yosemite. However, I liked them better than Yosemite as you could get close without getting drenched and at good distances they had great shape.

Wildlife. The most bang for the effort was at Fishercap Lake. It's very close to the trailhead of Swiftcurrent Pass / Redrock Falls hike. About 15 minutes and then veer left at the small sign.

In or around the lake we saw male and female moose and deer. On the trail we saw a deer and a grizzly (too close, dim light and we were alone).

On Many Glacier road up the hill near the junction to the Many Glacier Lodge we saw a grizzly several time. There always seemed to be a bunch of cars stopped there.

We took the shuttle boat to the start of Grinnell Glacier hike. On the way back we saw a grizzly on the shore.

On the way back from Iceberg Lake we suddenly saw a grizzly walking parallel to us about 10-15 yards above our trail. We too a few pictures and stopped to let him move on. However, instead he walk onto our trail right in front of us, turned around to pose for us and sat down in a little stream crossing our trail to take a bath. He was there about 20-30 minutes before moving on.

I sure hope the GTTS road is open. IMO, that is the reason for going to the area. The areas on the edges of Glacier are just so-so.

If it's not open, spend some time driving NW out of Calgary, from Banff to Jasper. That highway should be open and the scenery is beautiful, especially the further north you go.

Connie, I think you are very much mistaken.

Many peope spend all of their time on GTTS Rd because they don't know better or have no intention of going off road.

You can drive along the road and stop at viewpoints which the other areas don't have. Also St Mary & Virginia Falls are a relatively short and mostly level hike away.

I agree, if you want to see Glacier from viewpoints or the car then GTTS road is important.

It would be a disappointment if you couldn't get to Logan Pass and Hidden Lake & Highline.

However, Many Glacier & Two Medicine (I haven't been there yet) are spectacular. Many Glacier has amazing scenery and wildlife.

Banff is beautiful and I hope to get to Jasper next year. Again, most people got to Banff, walk around the town and some go to Lake Louise. Few go to the most spectacular of all; Moraine Lake. I went several times and just sat there looking. And even fewer got to Peyto Lake.

So, just like Glacier, the closer you stay to your car the less you'll see.

I have been on and off road in Glacier, several times. I've camped in three different campgrounds, including all the way up at Bowman Lake. I have hiked all the way to Virginia Falls (something you mentioned), which most people don't get to because off no signs. I've hiked several trails from Logan Pass and Many Glacier. The possibility is great that if the road is closed, the trails out of Many Glacier (some of the best trail scenery) are closed as well.

Most people go to Glacier for the incredible scenery you can only get to at the top of GTTS road. I was just giving them an alternative. Friends who live in Montana and have done Glacier many, many times (all over) say that from Banff to Jasper--the further you go the better--is like "Glacier on steroids" as they put it.

I think the scenery in Many Glacier is more spectacular than at any point on GTTS road.

I agree that late June is far from ideal for such a trip. I wouldn't plan it then.

I was in Glacier in early August this year and planning to go back for early Agust next year.

However, for some reason that's not when this trip is planned to take place.

I was in Banff last year in mid-July I thought it was still a couple of weeks too early.

I went of several hikes in Banff and felt that Grinnel Glacier and Iceberg Lake were far more scenic. Yes, I agree that these will probably not be open all the way but even half way the scenery is worth it.

Also, while I haven't been to Two Medicine, many people prefer it to other parts of the park. I'm not sure why yet.

It might be an idea to make reservation with 24 or 48 hours canellation policy and decide a week before the trip. That means planning two trips and then using one of them.

I think two days in Waterton is fine. Three days in Glacier is the minumum and two in Banff alone is ok but not with Jasper.

There's something about Waterton Lakes and Banff that bothers me. Probably having a tourist town in the middle of the park.

I was just thinking about the differences between Banff and Glacier. I felt that we were closer the the verticals in Glacier. In Banff they seemed to be at a distance and not as dramatic.

Like I wrote, I haven't been to some parts of Glacier yer nor to Jasper. I expect to take care of that next August.

Thanks again to both of you. We took the late June dates due to reasonable air which was not available later in the summer--and we are hopeful that will work for us--we have never had a disappointing national parks vacation. If we can't get all the way on certain roads, we will enjoy the time we have--regrettably, we can't change our air without significant charges and increased fares. We will look forward to the trails and sites u have suggested. Hope u all have a great time wehn you return to Glacier as well.

RobynFrance,

Where do you have reservations in Glacier?

Glacier Park Lodge on the East Side.

Good and bad location-wise.

Good. Very close to Two Medicine
Close if part of west side is open but not GTTS road. You can go around the bottom.

Bad. A longer ride to/from Calgary/Banff than say Swiftcurrent.
Farther drive to Many Glacier.

It will be interesting to see how this works out. I think you should make a list of things and places and depending upon what you can or can't do go down the list.

In Many Glacier I think there's a good chance you'll be able to do Apikuni Falls, Redrock Falls / Fishercap Lake and it's wildlife and part of Grinnell Glacier and a good part of Iceberg Lake. Most of the last two have amazing scenery most of the way.

On GTTS road hopefully St Mary and Virginia falls. Probably not Logan Pass so that means Hidden Lake and Highline go as well.

Two Medicine. I think there's a good chance that will be ok.

On the west side maybe MacDonald Lake and Avalanche Lake could be ok.

In Banff, if it's open go to Moraine Lake in Lake Louise. In my opinion it's much more scenic then Lake Louis.

If Johnston Falls are open go.

If Lake Miniwanka is open take the scenic road. I saw bighown there both times we drove it.

Peyto Lake may not be open but if it is go there. It's a short hike.

I haven't been to Jasper yet so can't give any ideas.

Please report back.

Thank you for all those suggestions--we won't be going to Jasper on this trip as we don't have much time beyond Banff-Lake Louise. I appreciate all the thought u have put into the recommendations--we will definitely report back.

As Myer said, Glacier Park Lodge is ideal for Two Medecine, but not for the others parts...
In Two Medecine, there are some nice hikes to do, but you will have to look on the website before departing to organise(trail status)(Cobalt lake, Twin falls, the different shores, Aster park,...).
While arriving from Waterton to GPL and also on the way back, you should organise trip to Many Glacier and Logan Pass.
For me, the best should be :
- Logan pass, when you are arriving from Waterton and you can choose the hikes to do(Hidden lake overlook, some Falls, beginning of Garden wall, Piegan or Syeh pass) : all those options are subjects to weather conditions...
- Many Glacier, when you are driving back to Banff and the hikes to choose are Iceberg lake or Cracker lake or Apikunni falls and also the Swiftcurrent valley(Redrock falls and event to Bullhead lake), also to decide with weather conditions and trail status.
GPL is nice but not my favorite in the park.
Rising sun motel and Swiftcurrent motel are for me the best options and if you preferr lodge, Many Glacier could be fine...
2 nights in GPL and one night in Many Glacier could be a good option...
Don't hesitate to argue in GPL to get a nice room : some of their DeLuxe are not so well located with view on parking...
Restaurant in GPL is nice, Ptarmigan room in Many Glacier is excellent, Two Dog Flats restaurant at Rising Sun is simple but one of our favorite because the view is terrific...
Erik

Erik,
Maybe you can help with the main problem as you have experience in Glacier.

This trip is planned for late June and there's a very good chance (probability) GTTS Road won't be open to Logan Pass.

That would preclude Hidden Lake and Highline.

Is St Mary & Virginia Falls trail a good possibility?

Grinnell Glacier probably won't be open but do you think part way which is still spectacular scenery? Also, what about Iceberg Lake?

I think Apikuni Falls and the hike to Fishercap Lake and Redrock Falls will probably be ok.

Two Medecine area?

Any others that have a good chance of being available?

The hikes in the heights would be certainly closed...
For GTTR depend of the years, but if the winter is late and the temperatures not too high(like this year) it will open really not before late june.
It can be nice to see this part with snow but it doesn't allow all the hikes.
Highline would not be equiped , Hidden lake overlook certainly hike-able if GTTR open.
Syeh and/or Piegan pass, certainly hike-able to Preston park but snow after(this year there were 2 snowfields to Piegan pass even in late july...).
St Mary, Virginia falls no problem.
Swiftcurrent valley to Redrock falls and perhaps to Bullhead lake would be open(perhaps one of the bridge not installed but there is possibility to do a detour).
Apikuni falls i think no problems.
Iceberg and Cracker lake one year/2 are open very late june, beginning of July.
If they are, the best is to do them with a ranger guided hike...
Grinnel Glacier could be open but not entierely...But it is so scenic particulary the part which is over Grinel lake...
The way to Grinnel lake would be in condtions, but someteimes closed due to bears...
In Two Medecine, the North and South shores will be open, Aster park certainly, Twin falls also. Upper Two medecine lake is not so high...
For Cobalt lake and No name lake, it will be soon...(perhaps the Rockwell falls will be hike-able).
The trail status on the website give good information on what is open and in which conditions(sometimes trails are open but there are difficult conditions not for everyone...) and there is now a "closed and posted area" information...
On the west side, but this is a 1h45/2h drive from East Glacier to West Glacier by the highway 2, Avalanche lake would certainly be open and the hikes around lake Mc donald...
ERik
PS : at that period I think the ranger programm is certainly a must and I will have some trekking poles...

It has to be remembered that if GTTSR was open in 2012 the 19th of June,it is not the rule :
2011 .....13th of July,
2008 : 2nd of July...
It depend of amount of snow and temperature(if it's hot, avalanches are more common and didn't allow safe plowing..).
But there are so to do even if GTTS road is not enterely open...
Erik

In June or even late May, I would think you might be able to get an idea of when GTTS road should be open. If they have a lot of snowfall this winter, maybe you would just alter your reservations and skip Glacier. I haven't been to Glacier but I would hate to miss driving GTTS road and would think some of the trails would also be pretty snowy.

You could do Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper and still have a fabulous trip.

Eric, Great info!!

I was in Many Glacier this year Aug 5-6 and We couldn't go past the snack area on the Grinnell Glacier hike. Apparently they blasted a snow field just past the overhead waterfall a day or two later and that opened it.

LindainOhio,
I think it all depends on when if/when RobynFrance may get back there again. As you can see by the above posts some pretty spectacular scenery will still be available.

I found some of the scenery in Many Glacier to be more dramatic than Banff. Hard to explain. Maybe much closer to the verticals in Glacier while more distant in Banff.

It's also possible that some good sights in Banff won't be open or muddy as well.

As I went to Glacier this year I was checking the conditions almost daily and it was really difficult to guess for the iffy places. Highline opened late considering that GTTS road was open. I think that worker going thru the snow freaked them out.

I think some areas in Many Glacier really provide a treat. Erik mentions that he thinks Redrock Falls would be open. That means Fishercap Lake and its wildlife should be there as well.

St Mary & Virginia Falls, while not anywhere near as high as those in Yosemite were beautiful due to the shape, etc.

Just made yesterday a form reservation for Sperry Chalet...Despite my attentive watchfull survey I was the 376th...Hope there has not too Many before for our specific day...We had only one possibility in our programm to be there....

Hi all--this is so much good info--I am going to take a second look at lodging to see if the Many Glacier option would be better for us than the Glacier Park Lodge--thank u. I'll report back and get your feedback.

bookmarking, thanks