Glacier/Banff Itinerary 2012 - Help
May 27th, 2011, 06:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glacier/Banff Itinerary 2012 - Help
We are a family with two teenage boys planning a trip to Glacier and Banff national parks summer of 2012. I need to make reservations now, but had to put together a quick itineryary so I would know where we needed to be when. We are planning on leaving Bham, Al for a SWA airport (unknown at this time) on July 4 and will return in 9 days. We use SWA due to the lower fares and to avoid the luggage fees for all of us. So I am sacrificing a travel day for that. Here i what I have come up with so far. The actual itinerary can be determined later, but wanted to see if this was doable or what I needed to change or leave out in order to make reservations.
Day 1 - Flight from Bham to ??? possible overnite if a late flight.
Day 2 - Drive to west entrance of GNP..stay somewhere cheap outside park and stock up on supplies, snacks, picnic food, etc. Could possibly enter the park if enough time.
Day 3 - Enter West Glacier and hike to Trout Lake, Apgar Lookout or Rocky Point-take picnic lunch. Spend the night at McDonald Lake lodge or cabin.
Day 4 - Get up early and drive Going to the Sun Rd...Stop at Logan Pass (b4 9:30 or so to get parking spot)..hike Hidden Lake and Sunrift Gorge..Stay at Many Glacier Lodge or Swiftcurrent Inn
Day 5 - Hike to Grinnell Glacier (boat tour 8:30am), Iceberg Lake Glacier and Swiftcurrent Nature Trail...night 2 at Many Glacier Lodge or Swiftcurrent
Day 6 - Checkout and finish up any other hiking ..go on to Banff Natl Park.........have passports available..Lake Louise and Lake Moraine...Peyto Lake
Day 7 - Drive the Icefield Parkway...see the Columbine Icefield...Athabaska Falls and return to Lake Louise Inn...pack up for return drive to airport....??
Day 8 - Finish up sightseeing and begin journey back to departing airport.....
Day 9 - Flight home
I think there is a cushion of time depending on if we go through Spokane or Seattle. But leaving extra time there until we book the flight next year.
Do these time periods look doable?? We want it to be leisurely and enjoy it without rushing too much..but I dont know the distances. Also, what is the best/most scenice route to Banff from Many Glacier?? Thanks for your help with this.
Day 1 - Flight from Bham to ??? possible overnite if a late flight.
Day 2 - Drive to west entrance of GNP..stay somewhere cheap outside park and stock up on supplies, snacks, picnic food, etc. Could possibly enter the park if enough time.
Day 3 - Enter West Glacier and hike to Trout Lake, Apgar Lookout or Rocky Point-take picnic lunch. Spend the night at McDonald Lake lodge or cabin.
Day 4 - Get up early and drive Going to the Sun Rd...Stop at Logan Pass (b4 9:30 or so to get parking spot)..hike Hidden Lake and Sunrift Gorge..Stay at Many Glacier Lodge or Swiftcurrent Inn
Day 5 - Hike to Grinnell Glacier (boat tour 8:30am), Iceberg Lake Glacier and Swiftcurrent Nature Trail...night 2 at Many Glacier Lodge or Swiftcurrent
Day 6 - Checkout and finish up any other hiking ..go on to Banff Natl Park.........have passports available..Lake Louise and Lake Moraine...Peyto Lake
Day 7 - Drive the Icefield Parkway...see the Columbine Icefield...Athabaska Falls and return to Lake Louise Inn...pack up for return drive to airport....??
Day 8 - Finish up sightseeing and begin journey back to departing airport.....
Day 9 - Flight home
I think there is a cushion of time depending on if we go through Spokane or Seattle. But leaving extra time there until we book the flight next year.
Do these time periods look doable?? We want it to be leisurely and enjoy it without rushing too much..but I dont know the distances. Also, what is the best/most scenice route to Banff from Many Glacier?? Thanks for your help with this.
May 27th, 2011, 07:05 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't answer your questions about hiking, we drive and walk around not hike. I strongly suggest the Spokane air port, we also fly SW whenever possible. It is easy to get in and out of the Spokane airport. We flew in there for a similar trip and had no problems. Seattle is a much larger city and its airport is not easy to negotiate. Not sure which is the best way to go but think it is at least a 6 hour drive. It is going to be hard to do everything you want in the time allowed, Banff and Jasper National Parks are beautiful and it is easy to spend days just exploring them. Hope you have a fantastic time.
May 27th, 2011, 09:24 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks...the only reason we would go Seattle is right now, there is only one flight per day into Spokane and not even every day from Bham...but it is much closer to Glacier, for sure. Would free up one more day to spread the hikes out too!
May 28th, 2011, 04:16 AM
#4
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It looks to me as though you have time alloted for Glacier but have seriously underestimated driving times and stops in the Banff area. Day 6 in particular worries me; I think you will have a very long day driving and no time for anything else. Keep in mind that driving speeds will be low and that you shouldn't expect U.S. style freeways.
We fly SWA as well, and last year chose Spokane (twice). It's a great airport, easy to get in and out. Allow a full day to drive to or from Lake Louise from there. Seattle takes some time to get out of - not only luggage delay and picking up the rental car, but mostly you will run into quite a bit of traffic congestion right out of the airport. Add at least 2 hours to your drive time to allow for that.
We fly SWA as well, and last year chose Spokane (twice). It's a great airport, easy to get in and out. Allow a full day to drive to or from Lake Louise from there. Seattle takes some time to get out of - not only luggage delay and picking up the rental car, but mostly you will run into quite a bit of traffic congestion right out of the airport. Add at least 2 hours to your drive time to allow for that.
May 28th, 2011, 04:21 AM
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would also mention that you need to allow for summer traffic on the Banff/Lake Louise part in particular. You'll be traveling on a road with large trucks and traffic, winding around, no passing lane for the most part, and about 45 mph. If you go in/out of Seattle, you might need to allow 2 travel days to go from Lake Louise to Seattle. We normally take 2 days from Banff to Vancouver when we do that trip. I just mapped it, and from Lake Louise to SEATAC is 642 miles with an estimated best time of 12 hours. I am skeptical of just 12 hours though, and that's without stopping.
May 28th, 2011, 05:07 AM
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With only 9 days you don't have time to both of these parks and really need to decide if you want to visit Glacier or Banff. We also had to make this decision.
We have missed Glacier (plan to get there--hopefully before the glaciers all melt) but actually have visited the Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper area 3 times--and we are travellers who always try to choose new locations to visit each trip. The Canadian Rockies are beautiful.
Southwest does not fly into Calgary but if you get a Continental Mastercard, the first bag for each traveller is free. You have time to get the credit card.
We have missed Glacier (plan to get there--hopefully before the glaciers all melt) but actually have visited the Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper area 3 times--and we are travellers who always try to choose new locations to visit each trip. The Canadian Rockies are beautiful.
Southwest does not fly into Calgary but if you get a Continental Mastercard, the first bag for each traveller is free. You have time to get the credit card.
May 28th, 2011, 06:34 AM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see what you mean about 1 flight a day from Birmingham to Spokane. Here's one way that you could do Banff/Lake Louise, using SWA and their current schedule for July:
- Take the flight out on Friday if you can. Stay that night in the Ramada at the airport (you can win it on Priceline by bidding 3*, or book directly). It's literally right at the airport, don't pick up your car until the morning (just walk over to the car rental place 1/2 block away).
- As you go toward Lake Louise, you might turn right at Radium Hot Springs and drive through Kootenay National Park into the Banff park. At any rate, plan on 8-9 hours drive plus stops for some short hikes and gorgeous vistas.
- On your way back from vacation, split the drive into 2 days. Spend the night in Kimbeley, BC (a really cute Bavarian-style town), it's about halfway (4.5-5 hours). That way you can do some morning sightseeing and get into Kimberley for dinner. In the morning, complete the drive into Spokane so you can pick up that 1:30pm flight home.
Of course this does not include Glacier (U.S., not the Canadian one). On this, I have to agree with LindainOhio - there's not enough time. BTW - there is also a Glacier National Park in British Columbia, and you would be close enough for a visit to that. But I think you would find too much to see and do as it is without needing to fit that in.
- Take the flight out on Friday if you can. Stay that night in the Ramada at the airport (you can win it on Priceline by bidding 3*, or book directly). It's literally right at the airport, don't pick up your car until the morning (just walk over to the car rental place 1/2 block away).
- As you go toward Lake Louise, you might turn right at Radium Hot Springs and drive through Kootenay National Park into the Banff park. At any rate, plan on 8-9 hours drive plus stops for some short hikes and gorgeous vistas.
- On your way back from vacation, split the drive into 2 days. Spend the night in Kimbeley, BC (a really cute Bavarian-style town), it's about halfway (4.5-5 hours). That way you can do some morning sightseeing and get into Kimberley for dinner. In the morning, complete the drive into Spokane so you can pick up that 1:30pm flight home.
Of course this does not include Glacier (U.S., not the Canadian one). On this, I have to agree with LindainOhio - there's not enough time. BTW - there is also a Glacier National Park in British Columbia, and you would be close enough for a visit to that. But I think you would find too much to see and do as it is without needing to fit that in.
May 28th, 2011, 08:38 AM
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We did a week-long hiking trip to Glacier with our older teens (high school/college) a couple years ago and found that staying in a vacation home rather than the park lodges was a great choice for us. (We did spend one night at Many Glacier but I didn't really like it because we had to get 2 rooms, making it an expensive option. Also, the rooms were really basic and we heard everything through the thin walls!)
We found good 3-BR vacations home on the east and west sides of GNP. We all enjoyed having our own bedrooms and the kitchens were great for making breakfast and picnic lunches each day. Also, the homes had satellite TV which was nice in the evenings after a long day of hiking.
We found our vacations homes through VRBO and they cost much less than 2 rooms in the lodges.
We found good 3-BR vacations home on the east and west sides of GNP. We all enjoyed having our own bedrooms and the kitchens were great for making breakfast and picnic lunches each day. Also, the homes had satellite TV which was nice in the evenings after a long day of hiking.
We found our vacations homes through VRBO and they cost much less than 2 rooms in the lodges.
May 28th, 2011, 09:02 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have learned a lot about planning this trip from your replies...thanks for the thoughtful information. I really, really want to touch on both parks...so here is what I am thinking now with my hubby's input:
Leave a day earlier, July 3 and DRIVE from Bham..and arrive in Glacier about the same time (Day 3) ...entering the park on Fri morning July 6..spend the entire day there exploring/hiking and night and then continue on as stated above...at the end of the trip, we would have another day or so to complete the things listed before driving home...Son 1 has to be home by Sat July 7 for a mission tip, so we would put him on a plane in Calgary on that Friday and we would begin our long drive home...what an adventure...but it is the trip Son 1 wants for his HS graduation and we dint want to do it in June before the weather and roads were cleared...What are your thoughts with these revisions??
Leave a day earlier, July 3 and DRIVE from Bham..and arrive in Glacier about the same time (Day 3) ...entering the park on Fri morning July 6..spend the entire day there exploring/hiking and night and then continue on as stated above...at the end of the trip, we would have another day or so to complete the things listed before driving home...Son 1 has to be home by Sat July 7 for a mission tip, so we would put him on a plane in Calgary on that Friday and we would begin our long drive home...what an adventure...but it is the trip Son 1 wants for his HS graduation and we dint want to do it in June before the weather and roads were cleared...What are your thoughts with these revisions??
May 28th, 2011, 01:07 PM
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Make sure to arrange your rental car so tht you can take it into Canada.
I think the idea of driving from Birmingham is not a good one. You will arrive exhausted and it will spoil the trip. It is also an insanely boring trip unless you like looking at fields from the interstate.
If you scale back your hiking plans, there is no reason you could not have a good overview of Glacier, oreven both of them. If you do go to Banff/Lake Louise, Check out stopping for an hour at a place called "Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump" on the way.
One last piece of advice, and that is you do seem to be a person who likes to schedule every minute. Sometimes things don't work out. On our Glacier trip, the plane broke down, a different plane was substituted, but it was smaller and we were bumped. We travel a LOT, and this kind of stuff happens a lot. Don't schedule yourselves that everything has to work perfectly to avoid disaster. It won't work perfectly.
I think the idea of driving from Birmingham is not a good one. You will arrive exhausted and it will spoil the trip. It is also an insanely boring trip unless you like looking at fields from the interstate.
If you scale back your hiking plans, there is no reason you could not have a good overview of Glacier, oreven both of them. If you do go to Banff/Lake Louise, Check out stopping for an hour at a place called "Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump" on the way.
One last piece of advice, and that is you do seem to be a person who likes to schedule every minute. Sometimes things don't work out. On our Glacier trip, the plane broke down, a different plane was substituted, but it was smaller and we were bumped. We travel a LOT, and this kind of stuff happens a lot. Don't schedule yourselves that everything has to work perfectly to avoid disaster. It won't work perfectly.
May 28th, 2011, 01:07 PM
#11
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Make sure to arrange your rental car so tht you can take it into Canada.
I think the idea of driving from Birmingham is not a good one. You will arrive exhausted and it will spoil the trip. It is also an insanely boring trip unless you like looking at fields from the interstate.
If you scale back your hiking plans, there is no reason you could not have a good overview of Glacier, oreven both of them. If you do go to Banff/Lake Louise, Check out stopping for an hour at a place called "Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump" on the way.
One last piece of advice, and that is you do seem to be a person who likes to schedule every minute. Sometimes things don't work out. On our Glacier trip, the plane broke down, a different plane was substituted, but it was smaller and we were bumped. We travel a LOT, and this kind of stuff happens a lot. Don't schedule yourselves that everything has to work perfectly to avoid disaster. It won't work perfectly.
I think the idea of driving from Birmingham is not a good one. You will arrive exhausted and it will spoil the trip. It is also an insanely boring trip unless you like looking at fields from the interstate.
If you scale back your hiking plans, there is no reason you could not have a good overview of Glacier, oreven both of them. If you do go to Banff/Lake Louise, Check out stopping for an hour at a place called "Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump" on the way.
One last piece of advice, and that is you do seem to be a person who likes to schedule every minute. Sometimes things don't work out. On our Glacier trip, the plane broke down, a different plane was substituted, but it was smaller and we were bumped. We travel a LOT, and this kind of stuff happens a lot. Don't schedule yourselves that everything has to work perfectly to avoid disaster. It won't work perfectly.
May 28th, 2011, 01:29 PM
#12
Allegiant Airlines flies from Las Vegas to Kalispell MT on Sundays and Thursdays (afternoon). If you manage to get to Spokane you could ride the Empire Builder overnight and be in Whitefish about 8AM. I have rented a car at the Kalispell airport and returned it at the Amtrak station in Whitefish.
Make sure all your passports have more than 6 months before they expire.
Make sure all your passports have more than 6 months before they expire.
May 28th, 2011, 04:13 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great ideas..thanks for your input! Will have to rethink the driving vs flying...Flying into Las Vegas and taking another airline is an interesting thought...Now I have another idea for you to help me with...If we drive, we would enter the East Glacier area...We could stay two night there and do the hikes planned...but on the 2nd day...drive the GTTS road to West Glacier and explore and drive back that evening before dark...then stay another night at Many Glacier..I like the idea of driving the road both directions...then we could leave the park to go to Canada via the East entrance...I am very open to changing plans as we go..But I do like to have a rough schedule so we dont just wander around..But I would love to alter it due to animals in the road or other unforeseen positive things we learn about when we get there. We did that while in Yellowstone last year (still need to get that trip report done!).
Also, is there a better or more scenic route to take to Banff? I have heard 1A and also 89??? Advice there would be appreciated..Again...this roadmap you are helping me with is mainly to get an idea of how we are going to travel and when so I can make park reservations. THanks you all very much!!
Also, is there a better or more scenic route to take to Banff? I have heard 1A and also 89??? Advice there would be appreciated..Again...this roadmap you are helping me with is mainly to get an idea of how we are going to travel and when so I can make park reservations. THanks you all very much!!
May 28th, 2011, 04:13 PM
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great ideas..thanks for your input! Will have to rethink the driving vs flying...Flying into Las Vegas and taking another airline is an interesting thought...Now I have another idea for you to help me with...If we drive, we would enter the East Glacier area...We could stay two night there and do the hikes planned...but on the 2nd day...drive the GTTS road to West Glacier and explore and drive back that evening before dark...then stay another night at Many Glacier..I like the idea of driving the road both directions...then we could leave the park to go to Canada via the East entrance...I am very open to changing plans as we go..But I do like to have a rough schedule so we dont just wander around..But I would love to alter it due to animals in the road or other unforeseen positive things we learn about when we get there. We did that while in Yellowstone last year (still need to get that trip report done!).
Also, is there a better or more scenic route to take to Banff? I have heard 1A and also 89??? Advice there would be appreciated..Again...this roadmap you are helping me with is mainly to get an idea of how we are going to travel and when so I can make park reservations. THanks you all very much!!
Also, is there a better or more scenic route to take to Banff? I have heard 1A and also 89??? Advice there would be appreciated..Again...this roadmap you are helping me with is mainly to get an idea of how we are going to travel and when so I can make park reservations. THanks you all very much!!
May 28th, 2011, 04:18 PM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One more thing...
My main goal is to expose my children to the beauty and geography of the area and leave them wanting to come back again and see more....not to do everything thoroughly in one trip. Since our Yosemite trip four years ago..my oldest is hoping to go back with a friend while in college and climb Half Dome...Goal accomplished!
My main goal is to expose my children to the beauty and geography of the area and leave them wanting to come back again and see more....not to do everything thoroughly in one trip. Since our Yosemite trip four years ago..my oldest is hoping to go back with a friend while in college and climb Half Dome...Goal accomplished!
May 31st, 2011, 11:23 AM
#17
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't help with Glacier, but your plans for Banff haven't seemed to change much since your first post. If you keep it as you listed, I really think you'll be spending your entire time in Banff in the car. Days 6 & 7 will take most of your day to drive - really not any time for hiking, which you appear to enjoy.
I posted a trip report after my trip to Banff last year - in case you find it helpful, here's the link. Basically, we spent one day hiking over Lake Louise (seeing Moraine on our way out); one day driving the Icefields Parkway as far as Columbia Icefields, then doing the glacier experience; one day driving up to Jasper (Athabasca Falls on the way) and then all the way back to Banff; one day at Johnston Canyon (I'd skip that one, if pressed for time); then one day around Banff itself and driving back to Calgary. We were still in the car a lot. It takes about 3 or 3.5 hours to get from Banff to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway - to do a return trip in one day is a lot of sitting, even without stopping for hikes.
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...-of-jasper.cfm
I posted a trip report after my trip to Banff last year - in case you find it helpful, here's the link. Basically, we spent one day hiking over Lake Louise (seeing Moraine on our way out); one day driving the Icefields Parkway as far as Columbia Icefields, then doing the glacier experience; one day driving up to Jasper (Athabasca Falls on the way) and then all the way back to Banff; one day at Johnston Canyon (I'd skip that one, if pressed for time); then one day around Banff itself and driving back to Calgary. We were still in the car a lot. It takes about 3 or 3.5 hours to get from Banff to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway - to do a return trip in one day is a lot of sitting, even without stopping for hikes.
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...-of-jasper.cfm
Jun 19th, 2011, 12:32 PM
#19
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think that you have a very ambitious schedule and you have probably planned well for a good overview of GNP. I think that you may be underestimating the time required for the Banff part of your trip. As long as you are flexible and understand that you won't be able to do as much as you are planning, and that it's a long drive from GNP to Banff, you'll have a wonderful trip. It's gorgeous there, so any trip will be wonderful.
Jun 21st, 2011, 12:03 PM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are going for 10 days in Sept. When I started researching a few months ago, we eliminated Bannf/Jasper simply for the amount of time it would take to get there. By looking at these posts, I think we made the right decision by sticking with Glacier/Waterton. Will save the other and fly into Calgary instead another time.
