Where to stay in route from Yellowstone to Glacier and Glacier to SLC
Mar 27th, 2014, 08:02 AM
#1
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Where to stay in route from Yellowstone to Glacier and Glacier to SLC
Hello!
My husband and I are taking a trip in June for 2 weeks to visit Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier NP. I am looking for recommendations on where to stay when we are in route from Yellowstone to Glacier for one night and from Glacier to SLC, one night also. I don't know the exact route we are taking and am open for suggestions. Thanks!
My husband and I are taking a trip in June for 2 weeks to visit Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier NP. I am looking for recommendations on where to stay when we are in route from Yellowstone to Glacier for one night and from Glacier to SLC, one night also. I don't know the exact route we are taking and am open for suggestions. Thanks!
Mar 27th, 2014, 08:35 AM
#3
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I'd look at Helena, Missoula, and Great Falls.
On the way, you could check out Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (in between Bozeman and Butte), the Mining Museum in Butte, Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman (incredible dinosaur exhibits), Capitol and Last Chance Gulch in Helena, Ulm Pishkin State Park near Great Falls, Russell Museum in Great Falls, etc.
I'm partial to Missoula because I like the food and walking around downtown and watching the kayakers play in the wave downtown.
On the way, you could check out Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (in between Bozeman and Butte), the Mining Museum in Butte, Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman (incredible dinosaur exhibits), Capitol and Last Chance Gulch in Helena, Ulm Pishkin State Park near Great Falls, Russell Museum in Great Falls, etc.
I'm partial to Missoula because I like the food and walking around downtown and watching the kayakers play in the wave downtown.
Mar 27th, 2014, 09:45 AM
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Between Yellowstone and Glacier, I'd suggest Great Falls nice state park nearby and the Charles Russell Museum as mentioned above.
Between Glacier ad SLC, suggest either Butte or Idaho Falls depending on how you want to split the driving time.
Between Glacier ad SLC, suggest either Butte or Idaho Falls depending on how you want to split the driving time.
Mar 27th, 2014, 11:54 AM
#5
It's about an 8 hour drive from Mammoth (Yellowstone) to Columbia Falls MT. The drive is up the east side of Flathead Lake. I really like the choices of lodging at the Meadow Lake Resort.
On the way back I agree staying in Idaho Falls makes the most sense. I-15 is just east of the SLC airport.
I hope you can make it all the way over the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier.
On the way back I agree staying in Idaho Falls makes the most sense. I-15 is just east of the SLC airport.
I hope you can make it all the way over the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier.
Mar 27th, 2014, 12:02 PM
#6
"Ulm Pishkin State Park near Great Falls, Russell Museum in Great Falls, etc."
I loved those plus the Lewis & Clark Interpretative Center in Great Falls. We did not allow enough time in Great Falls and I want to go back. REALLY enjoyed Ulm Pishkin.
Having said that, if kureiff recommends Missoula, I'd take her advice.
We hung out for a few days in the Big Timber/ Livingston area and loved the driving past the windmills in Judith Gap. Are you taking time to see things along the way, or just want a driving route?
I loved those plus the Lewis & Clark Interpretative Center in Great Falls. We did not allow enough time in Great Falls and I want to go back. REALLY enjoyed Ulm Pishkin.
Having said that, if kureiff recommends Missoula, I'd take her advice.
We hung out for a few days in the Big Timber/ Livingston area and loved the driving past the windmills in Judith Gap. Are you taking time to see things along the way, or just want a driving route?
Mar 27th, 2014, 12:36 PM
#7
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Be aware that although GNP is open 24/7, 365, the GTTS Road will not open all the way this year at the earliest until June 20 due to ongoing construction and that is weather permitting. The road is open about 10 miles in on the west side year round.
Check the park web site as occasionally in late spring early summer it will open to the Big Bend area depending on how snow removal goes.
nps.gov/glacier
Check the park web site as occasionally in late spring early summer it will open to the Big Bend area depending on how snow removal goes.
nps.gov/glacier
Mar 27th, 2014, 04:38 PM
#8
I assume you have reservations for Glacier. Where? Many Glacier, St Mary, Rising Sun, etc?
Depending how much time you've budgeted for Glacier and what your interest are you may want to drive directly from Mammoth to Glacier. Or not.
Depending how much time you've budgeted for Glacier and what your interest are you may want to drive directly from Mammoth to Glacier. Or not.
Mar 27th, 2014, 11:04 PM
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Depend in which part of Glacier you begin...
If in the East part, effectively Great Falls is a good idea(Russel museum, Lewis and Clark center).
The best way is to drive the 89 highway.
If your destination is the West part, I think Missoula is a good idea(Firefighter museum, historic museum at Fort Missoula) and then drive to Glacier with 3 possible roads(west shore of Flatehead Lk, east shore of Flatehead Lk or Seeley Lk valley).
Erik
If in the East part, effectively Great Falls is a good idea(Russel museum, Lewis and Clark center).
The best way is to drive the 89 highway.
If your destination is the West part, I think Missoula is a good idea(Firefighter museum, historic museum at Fort Missoula) and then drive to Glacier with 3 possible roads(west shore of Flatehead Lk, east shore of Flatehead Lk or Seeley Lk valley).
Erik
Mar 28th, 2014, 01:48 PM
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We always drive all the way. If you could go the latest in June as possible because of the road I would do it. IMO, I would never go to Glacier if the GTS road wasn't open. It pretty much is how you see the majority of the park.
Their website is great at updating road conditions--they even post pictures of the snowplows working--makes me cringe!
http://home.nps.gov/applications/gla...roadstatus.cfm
Their website is great at updating road conditions--they even post pictures of the snowplows working--makes me cringe!
http://home.nps.gov/applications/gla...roadstatus.cfm
Mar 28th, 2014, 05:35 PM
#11
I disagree that GTTS Rd is the way to see the majority of the park.
If it's wildlife and spectacular scenery you want to see then the Many Glacier area is the place to visit.
Fishercap Lake the last couple of hours before sunset will have deer and moose.
The hike to Iceberg Lake is truly spectacular.
I don't know if Grinnell Glacier hike will be open.
If it's wildlife and spectacular scenery you want to see then the Many Glacier area is the place to visit.
Fishercap Lake the last couple of hours before sunset will have deer and moose.
The hike to Iceberg Lake is truly spectacular.
I don't know if Grinnell Glacier hike will be open.
Mar 29th, 2014, 11:22 AM
#12
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Thanks, everyone. We are staying in Grand Tetons 2 nights Coulter Village. 4 nights Yellowstone, 2 in Old Faithful, 1 West Yellowstone, Alpine Motel and 1 Roosevelt Lodge, 4 nights Glacier, 2 in Swift Current and 2 Rising Sun. We are arriving in SLC June 21 and leaving out on July 5, so hopefully GTTS will be open when we get to Glacier. Still haven't booked our nights on either end in SLC or the night in between Yellowstone and Glacier and on the way back to SLC.
Mar 29th, 2014, 05:00 PM
#13
In SLC I would recommend Little America. It's very nice, they have a motel-style part so you can drive your car up against the building. The rooms in the motel-style part are really nice hotel rooms.
The airport is only 10-15 minutes from downtown so this is in an excellent location.
You have excellent location in Swiftcurrent and Rising Sun.
Take a look at my photos at:
www.travelwalks.com for ideas.
Also, look up my name for the end of last summer and the year before for trip reports to these areas.
The airport is only 10-15 minutes from downtown so this is in an excellent location.
You have excellent location in Swiftcurrent and Rising Sun.
Take a look at my photos at:
www.travelwalks.com for ideas.
Also, look up my name for the end of last summer and the year before for trip reports to these areas.
Apr 2nd, 2014, 02:09 PM
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Although a lot of higher elevation hikes will not be accessible in Glacier that early in the season, you'll have plenty to see and do. You can hike to Redrock Falls right from the parking lot at Swiftcurrent.
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/redrock-falls.htm
Along the Going to the Sun Road, stop at St. Mary Falls, it's a short hike. If you go beyond St. Mary Falls is my favorite waterfall in the park, Virginia Falls:
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/virginia-falls.htm
Also, The Park Café is a great place to eat in St. Mary's. They are famous for their homemade pies!
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/redrock-falls.htm
Along the Going to the Sun Road, stop at St. Mary Falls, it's a short hike. If you go beyond St. Mary Falls is my favorite waterfall in the park, Virginia Falls:
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/virginia-falls.htm
Also, The Park Café is a great place to eat in St. Mary's. They are famous for their homemade pies!
Apr 3rd, 2014, 04:58 AM
#16
wave725 mentioned Redrock Falls. Above I also wrote about Fishercap Lake for moose and deer late in the afternoon.
The short walk along the Swiftcurrent Pass (much longer) hike to Fishecap Lake (10 minutes) is the same trail as that to Redrock Falls (maybe 20 minutes longer).
So you could go to Redrock Falls and on the way back stop at Fishercap Lake and spend some time with those who have come for the scene of moose and deer.
Redrock Falls is very nice and the hike is level. The only problem is that there's no sign (or wasn't the past couple of years) indicating the left turn off the main trail to the falls. A bit of a guessing game. I think I'll write to them suggesting a sign there.
The short walk along the Swiftcurrent Pass (much longer) hike to Fishecap Lake (10 minutes) is the same trail as that to Redrock Falls (maybe 20 minutes longer).
So you could go to Redrock Falls and on the way back stop at Fishercap Lake and spend some time with those who have come for the scene of moose and deer.
Redrock Falls is very nice and the hike is level. The only problem is that there's no sign (or wasn't the past couple of years) indicating the left turn off the main trail to the falls. A bit of a guessing game. I think I'll write to them suggesting a sign there.
Apr 6th, 2014, 03:28 PM
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Meyer, I agree. Redrock Falls is one of the most popular hikes and so many people miss the lower falls because there is no sign there. We've done it so many times, we're pretty much know when to look for it, but newbies are in the dark.
Apr 7th, 2014, 06:09 AM
#20
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Thanks again for your enthusiasm and recommendations. Little America looks good for either end, now just need accommodations for in between. I have a friend that I haven't seen since Jr. High that lives in Missoula, so I may stop there and see her for dinner. I hope I love this part of the country as much as I did our southwest adventure 2 years ago visiting Grand Canyon Antelope Canyon, Sedona, Bluff, Moab, Bryce Canyon and Zion.
