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Glacier National Park’s scenery and wildlife always amaze young and old alike. A fun way to uncover the park’s deeper significance and meaning is to spend time on an interpretive tour.
Glacier National Park Road Trip
The famous Red Bus is an ideal way to see and explore Glacier National Park. Indeed, the 1930s vintage bus is part of human history and the park’s heritage. Many views of the park are vertical, so the rollback top is perfect for panoramic views of the spectacular mountains and the region’s signature Big Sky. Guides are seasoned veterans because they love the parks and enjoy sharing them with visitors.
Epic Road Trip From Glacier National Park To Yellowstone
Glacier’s 33 buses are widely considered to be the oldest touring vehicles in the world, so due to the historic nature of the red buses, the seats were not designed like today’s buses. The red bus has 17 seats, 4 on benches and 1 passenger. These are cozy rooms with limited space. Red Bus tours sell out every day, so don’t expect them to sell out.
Special Note: Each bus can accommodate a maximum of 17 passengers and 1 driver. We cannot guarantee that all guests in a large group will be on the same bus. Construction work may be delayed. The full tour is dependent on access to the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Tours operate rain or shine, with alternative routes provided if the full tour is not available due to Sun Road. Opening and closing dates may vary based on seasonal opening and closing of Going-to-the-Sun Road. We recommend visiting the National Park Service website for the latest information on current road conditions.
Glacier Park Red Bus tours depart from the east and west sides of the park. All tours are round-trip, departing and returning to the same location.
Eastern starting points include Swift Current Motor Inn, Many Glacier Hotel, Rising Sun Motor Inn (all in the park), various locations in the town of St. Marys, Johnson’s (hotel guests only) and Glacier Park Lodge. East Glacier (all outside the park).
Grand Teton, Yellowstone & Glacier National Park Road Trip
Western starting points include the Apgar Visitor Center, Village Inn at Apgar, Lake Macdonald Lodge (all within the park) and several locations near the west entrance of the park. Long distance trail riding… life just gets better?
But there’s so much to see, how do you plan a glacier trip?
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Glacier National Park and its rugged adventures, you’ve come to the right blog post.
In this post, we’ll share what to do in Glacier National Park, hiking tips, where to stay, and more for your next epic trip to Montana.
Glacier National Park’s ‘red Jammer’ Buses Are Getting A Major Makeover This Year
This post is based on a 7-day Glacier National Park itinerary. Don’t have 7 days? Scroll down to see an example glacier itinerary for your exact travel date.
But where exactly is Glacier National Park? It’s in the northwest corner of Montana, USA.
No discussion of glaciers is complete without mentioning Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park, so we decided to extend the circle outside the province to Canada.
These two parks create the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, which combines them into one park that shares a border. The collaboration aims to promote international goodwill and cooperation to protect the Earth.
The Best Us National Park Road Trip Itinerary
If you live in the Pacific Northwest like us (or actually, Wyoming or Utah!) the easiest way to get to Glacier National Park is a classic road trip. !
The most economical way to plan your Glacier National Park trip is to fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA, GPIA) or Missoula, Montana (MSO). From there, rent a car and drive a short distance to both entrances. The adventure is yours!
If you plan to camp throughout the park, rent a campervan to make the nomadic life easier. We highly recommend Outdoor. Similar to Airbnb, but for recreational vehicles and insured up to $1 million.
**Please note that the maximum length of the drive when going to Sun Road is 21 feet. Make sure you rent a car in that length so you can drive freely around the park.
Moon Yellowstone To Glacier National Park Road Trip Ebook By Carter G. Walker
> Check out our amazing camper vans around Glacier here. *New for 2021 and beyond* – Going to Sun Road Ticket Admission
From May 27 to September 11, going to Sun Road is ticketed entry only. If you don’t have a permit, you can still access the east side of the park via Highway 2.
It was established to control the heavy traffic on the highways. It is a dangerous road all year round and too many cars cause significant delays, accidents and congestion. Glacier National Park is looking to manage congestion by conducting a second pilot admission ticket in 2022.
To reserve your admission ticket, please visit this website to book your ticket. Tickets are available 60 days in advance and are valid for 3 consecutive days (against 7 last year).
Glacier National Park Road Trip (+ Amazing Things To Do Around Glacier National Park)
**Not a glacier** But think of all the awesome adventures you could have with a vintage rig like this? View the van here
Today is to explore the West Glacier area. The West Glacier and North Fork area (known as the area northwest of the park boundary) have long lakes, endless forest trails, and plenty of camping and fishing opportunities.
Explore Lake McDonald: Lake McDonald is the most popular lake in Glacier National Park. And for good reason.
From colorful rocks in shoes to endless opportunities for boating adventures, there is no shortage of things to do in Lake McDonald.
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Jumping into the Water at Bowman Lake: Bowman Lake is probably the farthest attraction on your Glacier National Park itinerary.
However, this does not mean that the lake should be excluded. This place is known for its spectacular lake views, some of the best campgrounds in Glacier National Park, and spectacular sunrises.
We’ve put together a complete guide on how to get to Lake Bowman and a list of what to bring for a summer morning dip. Check it out!
Hike to Avalanche Lake: Avalanche Lake is an easy 4.5-mile return trail that takes you to one of the most beautiful lakes in Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park
Early in the season (early to mid-June), the mountains in the background are covered in snow and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a snowfall (hence the name!).
If you are a novice hiker, this is the perfect route on Glacier. The elevation gain is only 730 feet, and there is a nice mix of uphill and downhill throughout the trail.
See Big Bend around sunset: The Big Bend sunset is probably the most photogenic spot in Glacier National Park.
From wildflower-covered meadows to towering peaks in the distance, there’s no more iconic view of a glacier than here.
Visiting Glacier National Park: Everything You Need To Know To Plan Your First Trip
We recommend bringing a wide-angle lens on your camera or using your smartphone’s panorama mode to capture the entire scene. Go back a little after sunset to catch the blue hour!
Take a trip to the Sun Road: The Sun Road in Glacier National Park is the main road through the center of the park.
This 50-mile road offers great viewpoints, trailheads and visitor centers to help you make the most of a great week in Glacier National Park.
Travel Tip: If you only have a day or two at Glacier, scroll down to the bottom of this post for an example itinerary. Driving this road is probably the best thing to do on a short trip!
Montana Road Trip: Day 3
Hike to Hidden Lake Overlook: The Hidden Lake Trail is one of the most popular trails in Glacier National Park.
The trailhead is conveniently located just steps from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, and this short trail has great rewards.
Follow the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail for about 3 miles back and forth, where you can see the awe-inspiring Hidden Lake at the base of Bear Hut Mountain.
The sunsets at this place are so spectacular that I recommend a short walk here before heading back to your glacier accommodation in the evening.
Road Trip From Minneapolis To Glacier National Park
Not ready to leave? Follow the Glaciers Highline Trail for spectacular views, glimpses of glaciers and R&R at Granite Peak Chalet.
Explore the Sun Point Nature Trail: The Sun Point Nature Trail is an easy glacier hike along the shores of Lake St. Mary to at least three waterfalls.
The trail goes in and out of areas affected by the 2015 wildfires, so is lined with tree bones.
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