Glacier and Waterton National Parks 🐐⛰️🥾🐻

gentz1005

Aug 3, 20233 min read

Updated: Jul 5, 2024

Now I understand why they call Glacier National Park "the Swiss Alps" of the US. Beautiful Park, with views every way you turn.

I would suggest doing this park in July or August, although sometimes you can get lucky in June if everything is open. Also the weather is perfect in summer and the wildflowers are blooming, waterfalls flowing ! We saw Lots of wildlife and always felt safe with our bear spray on trails. Trail conditions and weather was perfect. The weeks before it apparently had been real hot, but we got lucky and it cooled down. We hiked a total of 43 miles within 6 days, which is definitely a record. Also my knee held up just fine, 8 months post op acl surgery now. We hiked the longest trail we ever have, and gained the most elevation. Try everything huckleberry- beer, dessert, etc. Yummy!

Suggestions : After a long hike, give yourself a rest the next day with easier hikes. Make sure you have all your passes ahead of time (National Park pass, vehicle reservations, area reservations). Going to the sun road is a 3 day reservation. You need separate reservations for visiting Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and North fork. We did not visit the latter due to length of our trip. We also heard the road was rough that way! Be prepared for construction and dusty conditions. Boat rides are relaxing and great! Be patient with parking and restaurants. Do not feed the wildlife, especially the chipmunks, they will attack you lol. Stay on the trails and leave no trace. Don't be a touron and chase the animals like we saw at Hidden Lake with the mountain goats. There are multiple visitor centers and park signs for picture taking.

Look out for the thimbleberries along the trails, they're delicious.

We saw this cute black bear in Canada.

Itinerary:

July 26 Wednesday

7 am , get to airport 5 am

Layover in Chicago

Arrive around 1240 pm kalispell

get vehicle enterprise

About 1 hr 20 minute drive to lake mcdonald lodge

Stop at sharing shack for bear spray. Or glacier outfitters in apgar

Get groceries - super 1

West glacier entrance

Drive to Trail of the cedars 12 min away, .9 mi easy

Check in lake mcdonald

Hidden lake at Logan pass to overlook 730 pm

Back to hotel

July 27 Thursday

Breakfast, Check out

Highline trail:

some of Highline trail from Logan pass to haystack butte

Head to many glacier , 1 hr 45 min. Drive going to the sun road hit up the stops.

Hike evening: Redrock falls via swiftcurrent , fishercap lake for moose.

Check in, Dinner at many glacier lodge, Swiss lounge

July 28 Friday -

Breakfast 630 am lodge

Bring lunch for trail

Grinnell boat ride 830 am

Grinnell glacier trail - epic and awesome!

Dinner at swiftcurrent motor inn

Return back to hotel

July 29 Saturday

Check out, travel to Waterton Lakes National Park. Canada

Red rock parkway :

Red rock canyon-

Blakison falls

Drive the Akakima parkway to

Cameron lake

Check in Prince of Wales hotel

Dinner in canada at lakeside chophouse 630 pm

Sunday July 30

Breakfast 7 am Prince of Wales hotel

830 boat ride to crypt lake trail

This hike required holding onto chains, a ladder, and tunnel crawl.

330 or 530 boat back

Dinner : Thirsty bear 730 pm, my pasta meal was delicious. Expensive!

Back to hotel

Monday July 31

Check out Prince of Wales hotel, leave Canada

Chief mountain border crossing

Head to st mary in glacier

St mary boat ride 11 am to Baring falls (1 hr 30 minutes). Educational ride and probably the best one to do.

Lunch

St Mary's falls and Virginia falls, pretty area!

Check in hotel - Rising sun

Eat dinner: two dog flats

Siyeh pass/Pigean pass quick hike. Dinner took a little longer than expected so we had to cut this hike short. We did just over 5 miles in 2 hours. Saw Lots of deer here.