illini1022

Greetings - I've heard many great things about Glacier Park so I just booked my air travel to spend 4 nights in early July (that's as long as we can get away at the moment).

I know I'm a bit late in booking things this season but I did check and there is still sporadic lodging capacity. Worst case scenario we could easily stay in Kalispell the whole time and drive to/from. A bonus with this idea is that I have tons of points stored away with the popular hotel chains so I can take advantage of those to keep this trip under budget. (Kalispell has Hiltons, Holiday Inns, etc)

My wife and I are active, in our mid twenties, and looking forward to some scenic drives, hikes, maybe some rafting if it's available?

I primarily need help booking our lodging, although advice on activities would also be MUCH appreciated. The popular places like Many Glaciers seem to be 100% full at this time. Does it make sense to spend the first night in Kalispell, and the last night in Kalispell? Our departing flight leaves first thing in the morning so I think that definitely might make sense.

Should we try and find somewhere more interested to stay in the middle to minimize time wasted driving and see some different things? Any suggestions on places that may still have availability for us?

Is it a bad idea to stay in Kalispell the entire time?

Thanks!

panecott

Have you tried Apgar Village? When I was there, there were only two motels and a campground, but one of the motels faced the lake and had lovely views.

It's a cute little village and close enough to the Lake Mcdonald Lodge area that you can do exploring and hiking.

If you can find lodging in the park I think it would be preferable to staying in Kallispell -- except for your last night if you have an early flight out.

Keep calling to check on availability, b/c they do get cancellations.

boom_boom

You'll have a lot of driving each day if you base in Kalispell, but it can be done. If can can't get into a hotel in the park, which won't be easy given the time you want to be there, you could consider non-chain places in Columbia Falls or Hungry Horse. I can recommend the Bad Rock B&B near Columbia Falls.
In particular if you want to explore the Many Glacier area or anything on the East side the park, you're in for long days.
I'd book something that you could cancel a month or so out as a fallback and then keep checking for cancellations for in-the-park lodging.

illini1022

What if I did something like

1st two nights - Bad Rock B&B
3rd night - St. Mary's or Glacier Park Lodge?
4th night - Kalispell

Or maybe two nights on the East side instead? Any other choices we could pick besides those two? (ones outside the park, but on the east side)

It's tough to break things up too much since most places have a minimum night stay.

Thanks! Greatly appreciated.

illini1022

Quick update.

I booked nights 2 and 3 at the Rising Sun cabin. While this doesn't appear to be as great of a location as Many Glaciers or Swiftcurrent (both full) it certainly seems like a better jumping off point for everything on the East compared to Kalispell.

I booked the 4th night at a Hilton in Kalispell since my flight leaves bright and early on the 5th day.

Now I just need to decide what to do about the first night. Apgar Village is full unfortunately. Would it be a reasonable idea to stay in Whitefish?

spirobulldog

Well, it's pretty much smack dab in the middle of things. So, I think you did good.

Myer

Good catch. That's about 50 minutes from Rising Sun to Many Glacier. Very good but you can do better for a night.

Call a couple of times a day and eventually you'll get a cancellation.

I have reservation for Swiftcurrent and Rising Sun for early August. These reservations were made a long time ago. Now that we're getting closer and our plans are firming up I'll be releasing a night or two.

Just keep calling.

Many Glacier is spectacular. Grinnel Glacier and Iseberg Lake hikes and the very short Fishercap Lake for wildlife.

Off GTTS Road you have St Mary and Virginia Falls as well as Hidden Lake and Highline trails from Logan Pass.

tomfuller

The Meadow Lake Resort near Columbia Falls is a better idea than anything in Kalispell. DW and I spent our 30th anniversary there. We had a condo with a hot tub in the room.

John

Kalispell has all the hotels, restaurants, shopping etc. It is 32 miles to the west entrance of GP and will take you 35 to 40 minutes to drive each way.

illini1022

Ended up booking the first night at the Hidden Moose Lodge in Whitefish. After that the next two nights are at the Rising Sun Inn and then on to Kalispell for the last night before departing.

Next is to start planning some activities. I think we'll want to do a half-day rafting trip whenever it makes most sense to do so. I can probably figure that out with some maps at this point.

spirobulldog

Most people consider The Highline Trail as probably the best hikes. Iceberg Lake is another really popular one. Hidden Lake is probably the most popular short hike.

How many hour/miles/elevation gain do you want to do?

Myer

We only did a short part of the Highline trail due to lack of time and desire to get to St Mary & Virginia Falls. We only did a mile or so and then turned back. I was really most interested in the part with the cable.

In Many Glacier both Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier are possibly the most spectacular in the park scenery-wise.

Iceberg is a bit longer but aside from a bit of a hill near the start is less strenuous than Grinnell Glacier. Grinnell Glacier is steaper.

Hidden Lake is relatively short but I found it more difficult than the others due to the many boardwalk stairs. My most difficult hike was Bears Hump in Waterton Lakes. Short and quite steep with high railroad-tie stairs.

Your legs are a lot younger than mine.

illini1022

Thanks for the tips. We're extremely novice hikers so I honestly don't have a good feel for how many hours/miles/elevations. I'm hoping this is a good trip to wet my appetite. I guess I would want to make sure we don't get in over our heads but the athletic conditioning in general is pretty good. I just did a competitive 100 floor stair climb last month so I'm not afraid of some stairs.

monpetit

After your first night in Whitefish, the best to do is wake up early and drive GTTS road.
There are some nice short hikes here :
- Avalanche and trail of the Cedars, some falls, Hidden lake(even if it's not my cup of tea : many people and not really a hike more a walk on boardwalk stairs,...).You can stop at many overlook.
- From Rising Sun, you can have a nice day by hiking Syeh and then Piegan pass, not difficult and scenery not to miss.
Another option is to do the Highline trail from Logan Pass to Grantite chalet, few denivellation, and young as you are you can hike the Grinnel glacier overlook. Then back on your steps or down by the loop and you take the bus to Logan pass.

- The second day, drive to Many Glacier and choice of Grinnel Glacier or Iceberg lake, well described by Myer.
One more time young as you are a nice combo is Ptarmigan Lake/Tunnel-Iceberg lake, or Grinnel Glacier/Grinnel lake.
A last option could be Cracker Lake/Apikuni falls.

The last day, I will drive from Rising sun to Two medecine and 2 options : Cobalt lake and Two Medecine pass or Dawson pass and on the way back Twin falls.
I will drive back to Kalispell by the road 2 and so other sceneries...
In Rising sun the Two Dog Flats cafetaria is more than correct for breakfast and diner and with view...
WHile the day in Many Glacier a diner at MG hotel is an option but you have the road back to drive(it's not long...).
At St Mary, the pies of the Park cafe are exceptionnal but also in East Glacier at Luna's.
Finally at Apgar, Eddie's has very good trout and salmon homesmoked...
Don't forgot bearspray and snack/drink.
On GNP site (NPS) the hike are described with mileage, denivelation and options.The Falcon guides are usefull.
Erik

illini1022

Awesome detailed tips, thanks!

Does anyone have a recommendation on if hiking boots are necessary for Glacier? It's a big investment for a quality pair and there seem to be plenty of opinions that they aren't necessary if you aren't carrying around huge packs for multi-day hikes.

I'm used to running with "barefoot" footwear and also have a pair of these trail runners - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can I avoid having to splurge on hiking boots at this time?

kureiff

I prefer trail runners.

I hiked the Swiftcurrent Trail in and out of Granite Park Chalet last year in GNP, and I wished I had trail runners instead of boots.

I live in MT and hike quite a bit, and I prefer trail runners or my regular running shoes for almost all kinds of day hikes.

There are some great restaurants in Whitefish. My favorite is the Tupelo Grille.

spirobulldog

You will get a thousand different ideas on what to hike in. For me, I don't really like the higher cut boots, I like hiking boots that are cut like a regular tennis shoe. Now, you can get waterproof(goretex), or not. The waterproof is hotter and heavier. I really like OBOZ brand-I have a pair of sure enough Boots(high cut)-I use these for hikes that might need a lot of stability. I have a pair of Northface Hedge Hog III GTX shoes that I like. I have a pair of Patagonia AC drifters that I like too. If you turn your ankles, then go ahead and get the high cut boots not the low tops. Trail Runners are light and work great. There are actually trail runner shoes built more for hiking than running shoes(there is a difference). I dislike Vasque and Keen, but many many people love them.

I wouldn't think you would need to splurge on serious hiking boots. By the way, I get a lot of my stuff at www.geartrade.com. usually about half the price


Running on a treadmill or going up and down stairs if a lot different than hiking. Certainly, good way to build up strength/conditioning, but not really the same.

I would for sure invest in Bear Spray. You might also like to do a Ranger-Led hike. Have water and perhaps a snack on your hike too. If you do a longer hike, you will want to have a jacket and possibly rain gear--weather changes rapidly in this national park. It can snow any month. This isn't that critical on short 2 mile hikes, but if you do something like Highline Trail(this is an all day hike) you want to make sure you have everything you need. If you are in decent shape I would suggest a longer hike like Highline, Iceberg, Ptarmagin,or others.

monpetit

If you hike only day hikes, Boots are not necessary.
There could be some snow patch, even in end July/early August but nothing large.
I have Northface hiking shoes, hagoc, with vibram sole.
My wife have Merrel, same types.
We find well in them and keep each this mark and modell because no pain, no hurt...
Important is to have a good shoe, not heavy, "waterproof" and with vibram or equivalent sole.
Have also a rainjacket and in the backpack some change/socks or T shirt and a sweet shirt even if sky is blue no cloud at 8 am it can snow at 2pm...
ERik

wave725

I would strongly recommend the ranger led hikes if you have any concerns about hiking in bear country. Regardless if you hike alone or with a group, always carry bear spray. You can purchase it in Kalispell or Columbia Falls. I know there's a large grocery chain in Columbia Falls on the main road that sells it.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glaci...park-bears.htm

The NPS has not published their ranger led schedule for this summer yet, but you can still see last year's hikes to give you an idea of what's available. Just go to brochures and publications. The Iceberg Lake hike is titled Heart of Glacier Hike on the schedule - which confuses a lot of people.

http://home.nps.gov/glac/planyourvis...activities.htm

Sounds like you are in pretty good physical shape, so I would definitely hike Iceberg and Grinnell Glacier. The ranger led hike to Grinnell Glacier begins with a boat ride across Swiftcurrent Lake and Josephine Lakes. You'll have to purchase your tickets for the boat ride a day or two in advance as the boat is always full for that hike. You can purchase tickets at the boat dock behind Many Glacier hotel.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/grinnell-glacier.htm

The Highline Trail is fairly level until you get to Haystack Pass, but that shouldn't be a problem for you. It's one of my favorite hikes in the park. There is a section at the very beginning with a narrow trail and ledge, but there is a cable handhold. I have serious problems with heights and I'm still able to do it.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/haystack-pass.htm

Unless you have some serious ankle problems, I don't think you need high-top boots. I usually wear low-cut boots - but I do like waterproof boots.

You will love Glacier!

Myer

You can also buy bear spray in the general store in Babb just outside the entrance to Many Glacier.

The ranger-led hike to Grinnell Glacier starts with the boat ride (as explained by wave725) that leaves from the dock behind the Many Glacier Hotel. It leaves at 8:30AM. It is strongly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance.

The Iceberg Lake ranger-led hike leaves from the upper parking lot at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn at 8:30. We did not take the ranger-led hike to Iceberg Lake. We left at 9:30 and eventually caught up to them. They go at a leisurely pace and make stops for the ranger to explain various features.

On the way back from the lake we suddenly noticed a grizzly walking parallel to us about 10 yards above our trail. We took some photos and stopped to let him go. However, he walked down onto our trail, walked another few yards, turned towards us (to pose) and sat down in a small stream crossing the trail. He spent about 20 minutes cooling off by splashing water. Eventually he got up, contiued to walked and jogged up the hill from the trail. Amazing!!!

For almost certain wildlife viewings go early or late afternoon to Fishercap Lake. This very short hike starts at the trailhead for the Swiftcurrent Pass hike located at the far end of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn lower parking lot. You can continue on to Redrock Falls (poor signage) or further. On the way back from the Falls we saw a grizzly thru the trees. This one concerned me and I started to pull out the bear spray as we slithered away.

Saw several other grizzlies. One on the shore on the return boat ride from Grinnell Glacier and several (or the same one several times) up the hill at the Many Glacier Hotel junction.