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Trip to Glacier National Park, then on to to Banff and Jasper?

Trip to Glacier National Park, then on to to Banff and Jasper?

Old Sep 18th, 2016, 06:40 AM
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Trip to Glacier National Park, then on to to Banff and Jasper?

I am just starting to plan a trip to Glacier NP, probably starting around August 5th or so of 2017. We would have around two weeks available. One possibility is to continue on to the Jasper/Banff area in Canada.

How much time do each of these areas really merit to see them reasonably thoroughly? (We're from the east coast of the US, so a return trip isn't that easy.)

We would like to have time to do some hiking (trail recommendations/books also appreciated). We prefer Park Service lodges, but would be willing to stay outside the Park if the drives into the park aren't too lengthy (anything beyond 30 minutes is probably too lengthy, in our book). We are two 60-year-old adults with 20 and 22 year old kids who still are willing to travel with us.
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Old Sep 18th, 2016, 08:22 AM
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Are you driving from the east coast or flying? If flying, you probably will need to do a round trip given the potential high cross-border drop-off fee. So look for the cheapest combination plane and rental cost. Calgary might be more logical than a location in Montana.

Two weeks is enough time for Glacier and the national parks in Canada. Don't miss Kootenay National Park. Near its southern entrance there is a public hot springs area with swimming pool.
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Old Sep 18th, 2016, 10:06 AM
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drop off fee on the car rental, of course.
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Old Sep 18th, 2016, 06:26 PM
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We just left Glacier today after 4 days and I would book your park lodges now. We stayed in East Glacier and it was 55 minutes to the St Mary entrance with no traffic. We added Glacier late to our trip so not able to book inside the park.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2016, 05:35 AM
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If you fly into Calgary, go south to Glacier and then north-west to Banff you won't have any drop-off fees. I've done that route a few times and it's excellent.

Canadian and US parks are very different.

There are no tourist towns in US parks so if you stay in the park you will have to stay at park-contracted lodging.

Canadian parks have tourist towns so you have a much larger selection of lodging and restaurants.

For Glacier, look at it as a fork with three prongs going toward the west. The top one in my opinion is wild life central. Many Glacier.

Many Glacier. Beautiful scenery on Iceberg Lake or Grinnell Glacier hikes. Fishercap lake always has moose and or deer. This is also bear country.

Going to the Sun Rd (GTTS Rd).

In my opinion of interest until about the main visitors center. Hike Hidden Lake Overlook, go to St Mary and Virginia Falls. GTTS Rd is not nearly as scenic as you'd expect. But the hikes really are.

Banff and Jasper to follow.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2016, 08:10 AM
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What do you consider the "main visitor's center"?
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