Going to Glacier National Park end of August. Anybody been there? Suggestions?

[we can do it]

Flying into Kallispell, 8 days, have Village Inn Apgar and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn reserved. We are doing longer day hikes, hopefully Higgling, Grinell Glacier and Iceberg lake.

[SHRED]

1. Iceberg Lake

That is a fantastic hike.

East Glacier can't be beat.
It's all so beautiful.

[we can do it]

2. Thanks! I am so excited! We had planned to go in 2015, but changed plans do to wildfire.

This year should be even better, though because I had my hip replaced in September and am hiking pain free now.

[SHRED]

3. Good for you

We went in 2014.

[we can do it]

4. Did you do any of the Red Bus tours? I think we are going to take the boat for Grinell Glacier hike.

[SHRED]

5. Didn't take the bus

We had a car.
We did take a small tour bus over "going to the sun" road. That was exciting.

We didn't hike Grinell but heard it's beautiful.
Don't forget to carry your bear spray for instant access. Do not carry it in your backpack. Hip is best. Everyone who's ever had an encounter remarks how fast they are.

[we can do it]

14. Was it one of the convertible buses? That's what I have my eye on.

We will have rental car, so may just do all the driving. We do like to use the national parks shuttles when possible through.

[SHRED]

17. We drove over from the east

We drove to the top. The pass.
There is a bus station there.
Then we rode.
Fully enclosed small bus.

[elleng]

6. Yes but years ago, took Amtrak (which lost our bags,)

but enjoyed the scenery. With kids, and didn't do anything adventuresome; enjoyed the beautiful surroundings.

[we can do it]

9. One more reason we are always carryon only girls.

[elleng]

12. The best way to do it, of course!

We, a family of 4, including 10 - 13 year old girls, doing a 2 week western trip, could NOT do carry on only! (And then there was the wedding in Poland for which we traveled to Europe, airline lost 1/2 of our bags including clothing for wedding, OMG! Bags not found until we LEFT Frankfurt for home! We surely survived in Europe!)

[we can do it]

13. We used to over pack, until we started noticing people on our trips complain about lost baggage.

That plus carrying all that stuff that we "might" use, and the sheer weight of it plus time wasted waiting for baggage.

[elleng]

15. Oh carrying all that stuff, something else!

Recalling our month-long trip around France, kids were smaller (so more needy re: 'stuff' for survival!) My daughter did a sketch of line up of 'stuff' along our long chest of drawers, 'necessities' for little kids, SO sorry I've misplaced the sketch; it was a riot! THEN schlepped through Paris Metro before we reached the TGF toward Bordeaux! (where we rented a car.) Husband thought we should WALK!

[we can do it]

16. Hysterical also watching how much stuff some little people "need" at the beach for a couple hours.

Most homeless people have less things.

[elleng]

22. Right, and Right!

My daughters pack lots and lots of stuff for their/our little people!

[OregonBlue]

7. Spectacular hiking. If you hike remote trails remember BEARS. You are going late in the year but

ticks are always a problem. More so in the spring. Just check ever inch of you bodies at the end of the day. I am so jealous. Haven't been hiking there since the 70's but there were still lots of glaciers. Oh to get to be a mouse in your backpack.

[we can do it]

8. Great tips. Was just looking at info on tick spray or treated clothes.

[FarPoint]

10. I always stay at Lake McDonald.

Cabins there... right off the amazing Lake McDonald....I always go, when I go...in end of May into June...Road to the Sun.. magnificent...snow still there..sudden storms on the mountain.. frightening yet exciting...

Never been there in August.

[we can do it]

11. Sounds amazing. This will be our first trip. Planning is fun, too.

[FarPoint]

18. The Rangers are so accessible..

Also helpful...they are at Apgar Village.

[we can do it]

19. Good to know. They've always been helpful and nice when we've had questions.

[sinkingfeeling]

20. Long ago, I hiked to the Granite Park Chalet. Then it didn't have electricity, but

a lot of mountain goats. Viewed grizzly bears from a distance. It was wonderful.

[we can do it]

24. I want to do that, too.

Did you go over swiftcurrent pass?

[sinkingfeeling]

25. Don't remember. It was a pretty hike and there were bears.

[Staph]

21. My dad grew up in a small town in northern Montana.

Glacier Park was his local park, the place they went to on weekends for picnics and hikes and camping. Beyond the suggestions that you have already received, I would suggest that you wander around Apgar Village. There are interesting arts shops there, and an ice cream joint with wonderful flavor choices, including huckleberry!

And on US Route 2, along the southern border of the park, there's a pull off called Goat Lick. At dawn and dusk, Rocky Mountain goats come out onto the cliffs to lick the salts and other minerals off the sheer rock cliffs. They climb those vertical cliffs, bounding up and down, even the babies! I've also seen bears and other animals at the base of the cliffs.

And if you get tired of awesome natural beauty, check out the Amazing Maze, on Route 2 about seven miles west of West Glacier. The maze is great fun!

http://montanahouse.info/

http://www.eddiescafegifts.com/ice-cream-shoppe/

http://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/landmark/goat-lick-overlook.html

http://www.amazingfuncenter.com/


Enjoy your visit! Glacier Park and northern Montana are my second favorite place on earth (after my home state of West Virginia!).

[we can do it]

23. Wow, great suggestions. Can't thank you enough.

Love ice cream! Since we are staying at Village Inn a couple days, will check out the shops, too. Goat Lick is on the list!

[iamthebandfanman]

26. glaciers in 2017

lul

[Stuart G]

27. Late August???....well.......are you ready?

I was there in late August in the 1990s. The ranger gave a talk about the change in temperature there.. He said that once there was a cold front that came through the park and the temp went from the 70s to minus 10 in about 18 hours...now I may have got those numbers wrong by a few..but I do remember him saying that on that day Glacier Park experienced the greatest temp change in the entire U.S. for a number of years....

Glacier National Park is absolutely incredible..on hikes, be sure to check out the weather before ..that is very important, cause the weather does change dramatically...(not as bad as above, but..it does change dramatically). also. It does snow up there in late August....but don't believe me, write or call the National Park service in Glacier Park, ask them.. Have a great time...........

[we can do it]

29. I do believe you about the snow, Stuart.

I just bought us to super packable primaloft jackets we can layer with or rain shells. We're packing for layering and possible poor weather.

[Stuart G]

28. Another story about Glacier Park..and a conversation I had there with another traveler..

Are you ready...I went there a few times. My first visit was in 1973. I stayed one day..(totally not enough)..and I was stopped somewhere talking to someone, and I remember the conversation..about traveling on...I was so impressed by the incredible beauty of Glacier Park and was talking to this person, (can't remember where)..and told him that after that day, I was planning to go north to Calgery then to Banf and Jasper National Parks in Canada...

.I had never been to either of those ..(the two are located about 220 miles North and a little East of Glacier National Park..same mountain range, just north and a little east............So...........that person told me this...That Banf and Jasper are just as incredible as Glacier......In fact, that person said that Banff and Jasper are even more beautiful and incredible than Glacier National Park..................
.....Deep inside, I thought that person was nuts..nothing could be as beautiful as Glacier National Park...nothing I thought that day 44 years ago.......................
........................................................................................................................................................
.........................Well............I was wrong......Banff and Jasper are as incredible as Glacier, but there is more of the mountains...more of the lakes, more of the rivers, more of the hikes...a 140 mile road goes through the middle of Banff and Jasper and it is incredible..It will be worth a separate trip up there to the Canadian Rockies. some day.........so I went there a two days later, and spent only one day in Banf and Jasper... (I returned to Banff and Jasper twice after that for longer stays)..
.Now..you might not believe me. that is ok, but with the computer that you are reading this on, you can google, ( or whatever search engine you like)...Banff and Jasper National Parks..request pictures of the parks..and you will see some of the most incredible mountain pictures in North America..look for "The road to 10 peaks". Maligne Lake..Lake Louise.,Payto Lake...and there will be more..(my spelling sucks, sorry)...but google the Canadian National Parks, Banff and Jasper... and you will see pictures that are breath taking...So................after one day in Glacier National Park, I spent one day driving through Banff and Jasper National Parks..I went back in 90 and maybe again in 93 or 4. not sure...but I urge you to look at those pictures..and some day go there......and yes, those are real pictures, and Banff and Jasper are that beautiful..and incredible..and if you go some year in late August..those two national parks will be empty because by then, almost all Canada and the U.S. will be back in school...Best wishes always...and enjoy Glacier Park ...it is truly incredible...and don't worry if you never get to Banff or Jasper....Glacier Park is truly enough...it is a great place to visit..and wonderful to see...Please enjoy your trip...oh...avoid the bears..yes there are bears up there and other large animals.. enjoy...

[we can do it]

30. Loved both of your posts. Want to try to get to the Canadian parks too.

[Stuart G]

31. Good Luck, thank you for your kind words..and yes, there are bears up there at all 3 parks..

Please enjoy your trip with your family....take care..

[we can do it]

32. Will do. Please share more if anything comes to mind.

[BluesRunTheGame]

33. Wildlife spotting in Glacier.

Hidden Lake overlook: It's a short hike from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. The parking lot fills up so get there early or take the bus. You're almost certain to see mountain goats. They aren't bothered by human visitors and it's not unusual for a family of goats to saunter through the middle of a bunch of hikers. I've met them on the trail and had them pass me an arms length away! I wouldn't try to approach them or try to take a selfie with them but don't be suprised if they get real close on their own. There's a fair chance you'll see bighorn sheep up here but probably not closer than 100 yards.

The Highline Trail: Also accessible from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Beautiful wildflower carpets! You might see goats, bighorn sheep, maybe a bear, and there's a place hikers rest with a view of Haystack Butte where hoary marmots will try to steal trail mix from un-attended backpacks. Don't feed 'em!

The best place in the park to view grizzly bears is the parking lot at Many Glacier on the east side of the park. In the evening the bears will forage on the hillside north of the lot and the rangers will often set up spotting scopes so you can get a good look.

Look for bald eagles in the treetops around any of the lakes or streams.

[we can do it]

35. Honestly can't wait! Hoping to catch Northern lights, too.

[BluesRunTheGame]

36. Maybe!

I've seen them several times in the middle of winter but sometimes people see them in the summer. Good luck!

[we can do it]

39. We'll be there Monday, any idea whet will be blooming?

[BluesRunTheGame]

40. All of that varies by the year and by the week.

It was a pretty wet winter so I'd guess it'll be pretty good when you get there. I'm sure you'll have a great time. For several years I lived right next to the park and visited many times. I NEVER had a bad visit to the park. Always saw amazing stuff. Quiz the rangers whenever you get a chance and keep your eyes open!

[BluesRunTheGame]

34. And if you've never seen a marmot up close...

[BluesRunTheGame]

37. Here's a clip of the true sound of a marmot whistling.

[we can do it]

38. Wow!