spirobulldog

Considering where I might want to go next summer. I have an extra day on July 4 thru July 9. I could go later in the summer and have 4 days instead of 5. Weather is my main concern.

I know that last year the road would not have been open, but that seems to be a rare occurence.

I wonder how crowded it might be then too?

Considering a hike to Granite Chalet and spending the night.

tomfuller

It depends entirely in how much snow falls next winter. http://www.graniteparkchalet.com/location.html
If you can handle the 4 mile 2300' rise Loop trail would be more likely to have melted off by July 1.
DW and I are going to go as far up GTTS road from St. Mary on June 1 as is legal or prudent.
The rotary plows are clearing the road now.

spirobulldog

This is 2013 (next year) not this year. Just trying to get some plans in advance of where I might want to make reservations at some of the lodges.

I don't think "The Loop" is a section that I want to hike. I think it goes thru some fairly boring and burned out areas

I want to hike Highline Trail,spend the night at Granite, and then over Swift Current Pass over to Many Glacier.

I will probably just go with fewer days and towards the end of July to be safe. It's just the one extra day would be really nice.

Cpelk

Glacier National Park has a great facebook page. There are photos of them clearing the GTTS road this spring. Just amazing. Well worth checking out. The photos might be on their website if you aren't on facebook.
We are going July 16th this year....can't wait. I think I read your plans for a trip you weren't able to take last year? Glad to see you are going to make it. This will be our first trip to Glacier, live in Pa. so it's a distance for us.

tomfuller

I will report here what I find sometime the first week of June.
DW and I are getting off the westbound Empire Builder 5/31 in Cut Bank MT. We will come in GTTS road from St. Mary and if we can't make it to Logan Pass, we'll turn around and drive all the way around to see Lake McDonald coming in from West Glacier.
Back on the train at 6PM on June 1.
To my PA friends: Think about Amtrak to Whitefish and renting a car rather than driving all the way.

Cpelk

Tom, I wish we had the time to either drive or take the train. We are flying. We decided to spring for the airfare and have more time on the ground in Glacier. I'd love to take the train someday.

wave725

Not knowing what next winter's going to bring to Glacier, I would have to say the later the better, especially if you want to hike to Granite Park Chalet: http://www.hikinginglacier.com/granite-park-chalet.htm. We hiked it in mid-August last year and had to hike over several snow fields, so early July could be a problem. I have to agree about the section between Granite and The Loop is not very scenic. If you decide to go early July, then hike up to Sperry Chalet instead: http://www.hikinginglacier.com/sperry-chalet.htm. It starts from Lake McDonald Lodge so you wouldn't have to worry about the GTTS road being open.

kureiff

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We're doing this on July 21 of this year. I'm very excited!

I think I'd hedge my bets, and just go later in July, Spiro. It's so hard to predict how much snow we'll have next year. Last year was definitely a record year for snow.

wave725

Not knowing what next winter's going to bring to Glacier, I would have to say the later the better, especially if you want to hike to Granite Park Chalet: http://www.hikinginglacier.com/granite-park-chalet.htm. We hiked it in mid-August last year and had to hike over several snow fields, so early July could be a problem. I have to agree about the section between Granite and The Loop is not very scenic. If you decide to go early July, then hike up to Sperry Chalet instead: http://www.hikinginglacier.com/sperry-chalet.htm. It starts from Lake McDonald Lodge so you wouldn't have to worry about the GTTS road being open.

spirobulldog

Let me throw one more date out there. I wonder what labor day weekend would be like? I could do an extra day then as well.

StantonHyde

We went over the 4th of July in 2002 and they had just opened Going to the Sun road. There were so few trails open that the grizzlies were using them, so our chances of bear encounters were REALLY high. We hiked one trail and stayed one night in a lodge and then we just bailed and went up to Waterton, which for some reason, was having much better weather.

ladybug33

I think July 1 should be just fine, just watch the weather forecast. We camped at St. Mary's campground last summer (July 9 - 11, 2012)and it was HOT!!!! Hot meaning high 90s!!! Despite that, ironically, many trails were closed due to snow. We wanted to hike the Flower Wall and go to Grinnell Glacier but no luck. Both were closed so we had to improvise. We did Iceberg Lake instead (awesome hike!) and the two Medicine Lakes.

spirobulldog

Thanks ladybug, Just so you know this post is old. I have reservations for the last week of July.