swdke

I do need help with itinerary suggestions and recommendations, but sometimes it's good to have something on paper to get started. Below is a itinerary I came up with. Would this work? What should I change? What are problems with this itinerary that I've not realized? What would be a better suggestion? Should I do in reverse order? Thanks!

Wednesday:
Arrive late and overnight in Kalispell

Thursday:
Take Rt. 2 to East Glacier
Visit Two Medicine
Drive to Many Lodge,overnight there.

Friday:
Expore area around Many Lodge
Overnight Many Lodge

Saturday:
Drive to Waterton Canada
Explore area
Return drive to Many Lodge and overnight there

Sunday:
Drive to West side via GTTS Road
Overnight at either Lake McDonald Lodge
or in Apgar?

Monday:
Drive to Kalispell, 2 pm flight home

What needs adjusted on this itinerary? Thanks!

swdke

I think I forgot to add, for us, this is mosly a road trip, sighsee by car. Some scenic walks are fine, but no long hikes. Thanks.

starrs

I think it's a good schedule.

tomfuller

Don't try this before May or you will find the GTTS road closed by snow. Do you have passports to come back from Canada?
The gate where they block off the west end of GTTS Road is near the parking lot for Lake McDonald Lodge.

spirobulldog

The GTTS road didn't open until nearly mid-July this year(I think thats about right anyway). I think even June 1 would be very iffy.

starrs

It opened June 24th last year - several days after the estimated opening.

Michael

When on the east side you might want to visit the museum of the Plain Indian in Browning.

http://www.blackfeetcountry.com/museum.html

spirobulldog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going-to-the-Sun_Road

Nope, THE GTTS road had it's latest opening ever this year(except during the war). July 13, 2011. Google it and you will get many sights that tell you this. I was supposed to have been there, but due to flights not being able to get to the airport I canceled(partly in due to part that I knew the road was closed, so I wouldn't even be able to get to Logan Pass).

http://www.nps.gov/glac/parknews/news11-45.htm
Here is a link to the Parks Website announcing the opening day for July 13, 2011.

spirobulldog

Starrs,
I looked back and yes in 2010(last year) it did open on June 24.

starrs

spiro, I didn't know if the "nope" was for me or not.

I was there. I happened to be in one of the first vehicles to get to Logan Pass. The bathrooms were open but they were still unpacking for the gift shop. It was exciting to be one of the first - certainly nothing we expected when we set out from Lake McDonald in a jammer tour at 10:30 am. Nice, unexpected surprise. I looked back at my pics to confirm the date. I think the predicted/estimated date on the park website had been 6/20. I do know they opened the road later than the posted estimated date.

starrs

Here are some pictures from opening day 2010. I'll leave this open to the public for a while -
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...0339709&type=3

swdke

I plan to visit late July, or maybe August, or even early September. Any recommendations on when to visit? Also, for the itinerary I outlined, should it be rearranged? Can anyone suggest a "what to do" each day schedule or itinerary? Thanks!

starrs

I suggest you read some of the trip reports. GREAT ideas!

spirobulldog

Thurs
Have Breakfast at Izaak Walton Inn
See Goat Lick Area
Maybe stop and see Glacier Park Lodge
At Two Medicine do the Boat Tour
See Trick Falls aka Running Eagle Falls
Dinner @ St. Mary's
There is "Scope it Out" most nights with a ranger at Many Glacier--which is bear viewing thru a spotting scope

Fri
You could hike to Iceberg Lake or Ptarmigan Tunnel
(sometimes you can hike on a ranger-led tour)
Both of these are longer hikes 5-8 hrs depending on your pace
or a boat tour of St. Mary Lake or Swift Current Lake

Sat
perhaps another boat tour this morning
do the early morning bird hike with a ranger (1 hr)
Take a Historic Red Bus Tour to Waterton
Have Afternoon Tea while there at Prince of Wales Hotel

Sun
Stop at Logan Pass and do a hike their
The Premier hike is The Highline Trail, but it is long
You could hike The Hidden Lake Trail at Logan Pass
and then hike the Trail of the Cedars also
Maybe have a picnic lunch along the side of the road
I would probably opt for Lake McDonald
It can be hard to get a parking spot at Logan Pass sometimes,
so you may need to take a shuttle there from Lake McDonald

Mon
Zipline at Whitefish
or do a Helicopter Tour of Glacier before your flight out



There are also horse rides at a couple of spots

If you like adventure and hiking. I have always wanted to stay at Granite Park Chalet. This is a back country hiking Lodge spot on the Highline Trail.

Get your reservations ASAP

spirobulldog

I should say that I have never been to Glacier, btw.

I had a cabin booked just 1/2 mile out of Apgar through VRBO. 49 airplanes were damaged in Denver during a hailstorm. Anyway, there were no flights to be found for 4 days, so we got our money back on the airfare, but lost about $2000 on the cabin. But, we had a very similar iten as to yours. We don't have plans to go this summer, but most likely will go the next. Have a great trip!!