chgeeb

Hello!
I'm looking to plan a summer trip, maybe 2 weeks length....Should I attempt to see the Glacier Mountains or the Grand Tetons? I'm looking more for wildlife and hiking trails/mountain hiking. Would it be possible to do a week at both? If so - can anyone suggest best locations for the hiking? Thank you!

Rastaguytoday

I spent a summer in the Tetons, and had some great hiking experiences.

Here's the current government blurb on hiking.

http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/hike.htm

Note the links to other brochures.

boom_boom

For wildlife and hiking I'd take Glacier Park over the Tetons, but I think a week in both would be rewarding. You can drive between the 2 parks in 1 long day.
Hikes out of Logan Pass and Many Glacier areas in Glacier Park offer good chances of seeing lots of wildlife.

spirobulldog

When exactly do you have this planned? That would be the decision maker for me. I think you would highly enjoy either area though.

edjim

Glacier is spectacular. But I think I'd have trouble doing the Tetons without Yellowstone ... and if you want to do both, I'd say Yellowstone and the Tetons.

harleybabe2015

Been to both and the one I'd visit again is Glacier. The trails are varied and views are stunning. I have a photo of a big horn taken from the car approx. 8' away. We stayed just outside the park in East Glacier and the drive to the park was an adventure in itself, dodging the free range cattle. The Tetons are stunning but Glacier just has a special place in my heart.

starrs

With 2 weeks you have time for both...well actually all three.
A few days in Grand Teton, a few days in Yellowstone, a couple of days to drive up to Glacier and a few days in Glacier. We did it a couple of years ago.

Actually, we enjoyed the "in between" area a lot too. Be sure to spend the night in Great Falls on the way to Glacier. There are several things worth seeing there.

Fly into Jackson, WY and fly out of Kalispell, MT.

Myer

I went to Glacier with my daughter this past August and it wasn't long enough. Going back this summer.

Spectacular scenery and wildlife. It feels like you're a lot closer to the mountains than in the Tetons though the Tetons are spectacular scenery-wise as well.

I wouldn't go to the Tetons without going to Yellowstone unless you've already been.

In my opinion Yellowstone is more of an attraction park (geysers, waterfalls, some wildlife) while the Tetons are more a scenery park.

As some above have said, with two weeks do them both.

If you're pushed for time concentrate on Many Glacier, hikes from Logan Point and maybe St Mary and Virginia Falls. Then add as you have time.

chgeeb

Thanks so much! For each - Glacier and Tetons - could anyone suggest the airports or lodging options? Not looking to move from place to place, so a lodging that we could drive and do a couple different day hikes with views? Thanks so much!

Myer

For Glacier Rising Sun on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Rd and either Many Glacier Hotel of Swiftcurrent Motor Inn in Many Glacier also on the east side of the park.

Grand Tetons I stayed at Signal Mountain and it was nice. There are others.

Yellowstone. I stayed at Old Faithful Lodge cabins (not the Inn) and in the cabins in Canyon.

Yellowstone is a big park.

At this stage you're looking for cancellations.

boom_boom

In Grand Teton Have tried both Jackson Lake Lodge and Signal Mt. Lodge....give a slight edge to Jackson Lake Lodge.

wave725

Hopefully, you're planning your trip later in the summer so you'll have better options for hiking in Glacier. Plus, the Going to the Sun Road which connects the east and west side of Glacier doesn't usually open up until around the end of June - but can be later depending on weather. Frankly, I would spend all of my time in Glacier since it's a hiker's paradise and save the Tetons (and driving) for another trip. There's just so many hiking options in Glacier.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/

Your options for lodging will be limited since most places are already booked. You'll definitely want to stay on the east side, preferably the Many Glacier area. Although driving from St. Mary to Many Glacier isn't bad if you have to stay there. In fact, we've stayed in the Two Medicine area and driven to Many Glacier to hike, which is over an hour drive time one way.

chgeeb

This is all so helpful, thank you so much!! So I've decided on doing just Glacier Mountains: Can anyone help me with where to fly in/lodging options? I'd preferably like to stay in one central place where I can drive to other areas for day hikes. Thank you!

Myer

Your choices are Kalispell outside the west side, Great Falls south east of the east side, Calgary.

Best would depend where you're going.

To Many Glacier Calgary is less than an hour more than the other two.

I selected Calgary because it's a major airport with choices.
The ride to Many Glacier is very smooth. No mountains or bad roads. Excellent drive.

I'm going back this summer and doing the same.

Also, depending upon your return flight there's excellent lodging in the airport. There's a Delta hotel in the airport, next to the car rental return and across the street from the terminal.

I returned the car the nigh before, got up in the morning and walked across the street to the terminal.

Some will avoid Calgary because you're crossing a border. No problems.

There's a Walmart Supercenter just outside the airport on the way. You can pick up supplies there. The only thing you can't take across the border is citrus and fresh meat.

You're better staying in two places; Many Glacier and on GTTS Rd. It's an hour drive and there are time issues.

If you want to go on the ranger-led hike to Grinnell Glacier the boat leaves from the Hotel boat dock at 8:30. You don't want to be driving in these places at night.

Fishercap Lake is an excellent, close place for wildlife. Wildlife is about most early and late. So you'll end up having to drive in the dark if you stay on GTTS Rd.

Parking at Logan Pass fills up. You want to be there before 9:30AM. So it's an early drive from Many Glacier.

I stayed at Swiftcurrent Motor In in Many Glacier and Rising Sun on GTTS Rd east side. Both have restaurants.

I don't mind changing lodging but try for more than one night in a place. Last year we spent two nights each at Swiftcurrent and Rising Sun.

I took my daughter to Utah a few years ago and we spent four nights all at different locations. It was fine. Saw a lot.

Start calling every day for lodging if you can't see any online. People book way ahead before they know what they can do. Then they start to cancel to get there deposits back.

Myer

I just checked online and it appears there's limited lodging available and not all nights.

That's ok. Book what you know you need and keep calling for cancellations to fill in the holes.

chgeeb

Thanks so much!! This is so helpful! Yeah I'd like to stay at as few places as possible.

jlub

We think GNP is one of the most beautiful places in the world certainly that we have seen. But, no one here has mentioned, if you go to GNP even more so than Yellowstone, be aware of bears and be prepared with bear spray, and possibly bear bells. GNP is very beautiful and very, very wild.

Myer

jlub has a point about bears.

Many Glacier area is prime bear area. Few people use bells as they are referred to as dinner bells.

You can buy bear spray in Babb or in the general stores. A good idea. I once almost had mine pulled out.