Route Recommendations Western ND to Glacier NP

[wingnut]

Doris,
You must have visited GNP in 2010. Last year we had way above average snow and they didn't get the Going to the Sun Road open over Logan Pass until after the 4th of July.

Big Drift 12th of July 2011 GNP.

P1040711-1.jpg (56.34 KiB) Viewed 279 times

These are a couple of pictures I took along the Going to the Sun Road just after the road was finally opened for the season.
I agree with your daughter of all the National Parks I've been in Glacier is still my favorite.
I'm glad you and your kids had a wonderful and enjoyed the Park when you were here, June can be pretty rainy.

Jim

[doris s.]

Jim,
It was in 2010 when we went to Glacier. Last year we went to Michigan to the Henry Ford Museum and than up to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. That was a fab trip too, not as far as Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, lol.

Doris

[Bill and Elaine]

The road was still closed until after July 4th? Yikes! This will certainly be a break from the summer heat!

We've been to Yellowstone and the Tetons twice as tent campers, both times we were there in mid-July. The rangers told us that Yellowstone had two seasons...Winter and July. Maybe there is just one season in Glacier?

In Yellowstone I remember wearing a winter coat and hat at the campfire talks, but being quite comfortable in daytime wearing just a shirt and jeans. Nights in the tent were cold. One night it got down to 28 degrees.

Thanks for the very clear reminder that we need to bring winter clothing...at least for the nights.

Bill

[wingnut]

Bil & Elaine,
Yeah last year was a very unusal late opening for the Going to the Sun Road. The road is most often open by mid June. Even if you are going to be here in late July or into August bring a warm jacket and long pants for in the evenings, as it can get very cool a night in the mountains.
We have camped as early as April and as late as November in this area in our TD and have been comfortable. After a short while it gets warm enough that we usually open the hoof vent a bit to keep it from getting too warm, as our TD is very well insulated.

Jim

[tamnalan]

Hey Bill and Elaine - I'm also from Montana. I grew up in Lewistown, which is located on Highway 200 in the middle of the state. Instead of eating that crappy stuff in Great Falls, I recommend two places in Lewistown: if you have time only for fast food, then order a wagon wheel at the Dash Inn. It will be on the left side just after you enter town. If you have time to sit down, then eat at the Empire Cafe downtown near 5th and Main. It's a central Montana institution - very reasonable prices and great local food. Circle and Jordan have a few stores and restaurants, but Lewistown is the first town of any size after you depart Glendive.

I'll second Jim's general recommendations on Eastern Montana and highway 200, but with a few modifications. The stretch between Glendive and Lewistown isn't super fast road but it's very pretty, IMHO. This central-eastern part of Montana is the general setting for Jurassic Park's initial dinosaur-finding scenes. Charlie Russell worked on a ranch near Utica, not far from Lewistown - look to the south toward the Little Belt mountains and you can sense why he painted as he did. After you depart Great Falls, Highway 200 between Simms and Lincoln is simply stunning--a must-drive. The western views toward the Rocky Mountain front are likely unchanged from what Meriwether Lewis must have seen over two hundred years ago. It's one of America's greatest remaining unspoiled views. Roger's Pass was a shortcut for Lewis on his eastward return toward the Great Falls area--as you drive through there, try to imagine traveling and living as he did. Lincoln is a small logging/tourism town that was made (in)famous by Ted Kaczynski of unibomber fame - a quick look around town and the general area will show how he stayed out of public view for so long! Enjoy a hamburger and Huckleberry milk shake at the Pit Stop restaurant in Lincoln, and then head toward Clearwater Junction. From there, take highway 83 up the beautiful Seeley/Swan valley toward Kalispell and continue to West Glacier.

[tamnalan]

We spend a few weeks each summer at a family spot in Big Arm, Montana - we had to settle (?) for a hike to Avalanche Lake last summer because Logan Pass was still snowed in.

[Bill and Elaine]

Dear "tamnalan" (not sure of your name)

Thanks for the additional great suggestions. I am keeping a folder and I will need to build in an extra week to do all of the wonderful things you, Jim and Doris have suggested (ha ha). I will certainly stop at one of the restaurants you mentioned. We have never been to North Dakota or eastern Montana so looking at the vistas, as you suggest will be a great bonus. Thanks for all of your help. Elaine

[Bill and Elaine]

By the way guys,
The pictures are spectacular!!!!! Elaine and Bill

[tamnalan]

Dear "tamnalan" (not sure of your name)

Thanks for the additional great suggestions. I am keeping a folder and I will need to build in an extra week to do all of the wonderful things you, Jim and Doris have suggested (ha ha). I will certainly stop at one of the restaurants you mentioned. We have never been to North Dakota or eastern Montana so looking at the vistas, as you suggest will be a great bonus. Thanks for all of your help. Elaine

My name is Alan Johnson - my wife is Tammy - hence our email name!

The Avalanche Lake hike is a very easy one by the way, at least as far as hikes in Glacier Park go. Not very much elevation gain. It's quite popular.

[wingnut]

Actualy, the elevation gain from the trail head up to Avalanche Lake is 505 feet over a distance of 2.9 miles. My wife and I have made this hike many times. It is one of our favorites. The picture was taken April 22, the Going to the Sun Road was only open as far as McDonald Lodge on the west side. The 3 main montana seen at the head of the lake are Mt Stanton on the left and Mt Canon and Brown to the right. In the far background part of the Garden wall can be seen. All the dead trees on the ridge in the left forgrouund are fire kill from the Roberts Fire of summer 2003.

[Bill and Elaine]

Dear Alan, Tammy and Jim,

These pictures are beyond belief!! They don't even look real. I am so anxious to get out there and see the area. Since Bill and I love to hike, we will go on that hike for sure. Are there any others that you would suggest? Hiking in the east has its own beauty, but nothing like the majestic mountains of the west. In addition, we are overrun with deer ticks (Lyme disease carriers) in the east and so hiking in the summer is out of the question. Thanks for the wonderful pics. Elaine

[tamnalan]

There are some gorgeous hikes in Glacier Park, but they are pretty strenuous! Here's a map of some of the ones I've been on. The Many Glacier Hotel area and Logan Pass are two spots where you can find great hikes without very much elevation gain. I highly recommend spending a night at the Many Glacier Hotel. Lake Louise in Canada is one of the few places I've seen that can match or beat the views from Many Glacier.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/hiking_logan.swf

The pictures below were taken about 5 years ago on the Highline trail along the Garden Wall. It's pretty flat, you might see some mountain goats, and the views of the West side of the Going-to-the-Sun road are spectactular. To go all the way to the Granite Park Chalet is a significant hike. The hike from Logan Pass to the Hidden Lake overlook is very do-able and popular.

[Bill and Elaine]

Another question for all of you from Montana,

We will be there in late July, early August so......

Should we expect very cool nights and warm days? Jeans and sweatshirts at night and shorts during the day? I want to pack lightly but don't want to be uncomfortable. I wonder if winter coats are in order also. Thanks for any input you might have. Elaine

[wingnut]

Elaine,
Always have a jacket along when in the mountains. A frontal system can come through quickly and temps can droup quickly as well. Nights in the mountains can often be 25 to 40 degrees cooler than day time temps. The time of the summer you plan on being here is usally the warmest time of our summers. Day time temps of mid seventies to high eighties is not unusal for late July and August.

[wingnut]

The Going to the Sun Road was finally opened as far as Avalanche Creek, so we went to check it out. The snow pack at the lower evelvation was down this year, so the trail into Avalanche Lake was only somewhat muddy in a couple of spots. That is very unusal this early. The day we were there it was coudly and blustery with a few snow showers in the higher elevations. The east side, south of St. Mary had a pretty good squal moving through later in the day.