Glacier National Park - 2022

[topgun2]

For anyone either thinking about or planning a trip to Glacier National Park in 2022, I'd recommend that they watch THIS YouTube video,  It was released by Long, Long Honeymoon (LOLOHO) just yesterday and has a good synopsis of the 2022 requirements for the park.

Bill 

[ScottyGS]

That was a great video.  Glacier is on our list.  Very informative.  Thanks. 

 

[DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI]

Very informative. Most campgrounds limit rigs 25 feet and less just within Oliver EII limits!

[John E Davies]

1 hour ago, DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI said:

Very informative. Most campgrounds limit rigs 25 feet and less just within Oliver EII limits!

FYI, most Glacier campsites are way too small for an LE2, or too difficult to get into due to trees or brush. This thread might be helpful.

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3627-glacier-national-park-post-season/#comment-35915

I didn’t watch that long video, do they discuss the parking problems at viewpoints and trailheads? That has been an enormous hassle, you get up into the mountains “early”, like 8:00 AM, and ALL the (very limited) parking everywhere is already jammed with hikers who got there several hours before you did. So you end up driving past all those glorious views, and you will swear a lot. Unless this has been fixed by the vehicle ticket system, I won’t ever be returning. An alternative is a bus tour, those things are amazing. I don’t see how the drivers get them past the rock cliff faces.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Boonter Jeff]

I would stay at a park outside Glacier, leave the trailer, and drive in.  We didn’t do that and parking was a nuisance and, of course, we couldn’t take the Sun road.  Alternatively if Canada is open, the north side of Glacier is Waterton.  Much more “user friendly” and spectacular too.  However we only stayed for a day on each side and this is all pre-pandemic sooo maybe one cent worth of info.  

[topgun2]

If you go to Glacier and then on up to Waterton be sure to investigate taking the boat across the lake to do a hike to Crypt Lake.  This hike is not too bad unless you are afraid of heights - the last section of the hike has a fairly short amount of trail that will catch your attention.  However, the lake is stunning.

If you go, be sure to keep an eye on your time.  If you miss the last boat back across the lake, you will be spending the night!

Bill

[mossemi]

 

20 hours ago, topgun2 said:

If you go to Glacier and then on up to Waterton be sure to investigate taking the boat across the lake to do a hike to Crypt Lake.

The Crypt Lake Trail is an excellent hike and don’t let Bill discourage you from trying it.  And an alternative hike that is a little less strenuous, but about 4 miles longer and much less crowded, involves taking the boat ride to Goat Haunt Ranger Station, which is actually back in the US and Glacier NP.  Disembark at the ranger station and hike back to Waterton Townsite following the west side of Waterton Lake.  If you are lucky enough to be camping in town, you’ll end up back at the campground.  And if hiking isn’t your thing, just take the boat ride, you won’t be disappointed.

Mossey

Edited February 18, 2022 by mossemi
typo

[Jim and Chris Neuman]

The Glacier shuttle bus system working the major campgrounds out of West Glacier is an excellent way to access trailheads and other POI's.   Great way to ease traffic on the "Going to the Sun" road and ease the stress of navigating an overcrowded road system at the same time.  You can drop at one of many trailheads, make your hike and pick up a return shuttle at the other end.  Great system. 

[topgun2]

12 hours ago, mossemi said:

don’t let Bill discourage you from trying it.

Wasn't trying to discourage - just wanted everyone to know that there is an "interesting" section near the end.

Speaking of which - there is/was a nice little picnic area just before the "interesting" area starts.  Anyone that choses to not finish the last part of the hike can simply wait there for the other hikers to return.

Bill

[LongStride]

Bring some warm clothes that you can layer so you can strip some off as the day warms up.  We hiked up to Grinnell glacier a few years ago in August.  It was 21 degrees when we started the hike early in the morning.

If you plan to hike trails, bring some bear spray and know how to use it.  No joke.  On two occasions we headed off on a trail early in the morning, and when we returned to the parking area late in the afternoon we found signs saying the trail we were on was closed due to dangerous bear activity.  The signs were put up while we were on the trail.  We did not encounter any bear trouble, but we had some thrilling moments when two bighorn sheep insisted on using the trail we were on to come down the mountain.  

Glacier is well worth your effort to visit.  It is spectacular.  If you are healthy enough I definitely recommend that you do some hiking.  There is so much more to the park than what you can see from the viewing areas along Going To The Sun road.

[Mike and Carol]

All the restrictions in the LOLOHO video are a bit overwhelming!  We were there in mid to late September a couple of years ago and it was wide open, although Road to the Sun was closed about halfway due to snow.  We stayed at Two Medicine campground, it has its own entrance and road on the south east side of the park with some spectacular views.  We had to drive around the south side of the park to get in to the western entrance.  It’s on our list to return to, there’s a lot to see and do.  Mike 

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, LongStride said:

If you plan to hike trails, bring some bear spray and know how to use it.  No joke.

Absolutely!

A neighbor of mine was hiking that same trail a number of years ago when they came upon a man and his daughter that had been attacked by a Grizz.  As it happens, a friend of my neighbor who is a physician assisted as did the Park Rangers and both survived.  When this physician got home, he and another individual developed a bear spray (Udap I think - like THIS) which is still in use today. 

Bill

[Boonter Jeff]

We stayed on the south side at a Forest Service campground.  The talk was of the ranger who had been responsible for the camp.  He had been mountain biking in Glacier and come around a corner to encounter a Grizzly.  He didn’t survive the encounter.  A knowledgeable person in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I’m sure many thousands don’t have problems but…. strong bear spray at least.

[John E Davies]

It is legal to carry a handgun in the Park, as long as YOU are legal to do so in the state of Montana, but if you have to fire it, you will be prosecuted. It is illegal to kill a grizzly. Spray first, if that doesn't work, then consider the weapon. And it had better be a big one. As an example of the trouble you get into, watch the episode of Yellowstone where one of the hands has to shoot one.

https://outsider.com/news/yellowstone-tv/yellowstone-tv-unforgettable-rip-wheeler-scene-based-several-real-accounts/

John Davies

Spokane WA

[mossemi]

6 hours ago, LongStride said:

Bring some warm clothes that you can layer so you can strip some off as the day warms up.  We hiked up to Grinnell glacier a few years ago in August.  It was 21 degrees when we started the hike early in the morning.

The Many Glacier area of the park is our favorite and it is close to Waterton Townsite.  It has excellent hiking like the Ptarmigan Trail/Ptarmigan Tunnel trail which we picked up behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge.  If you make it to the tunnel, the view on the other side is pretty special.

The Red Buses are a great way to see the park if you are a designated driver, you can actual see what everyone else in your vehicle gets to see. 
And don’t miss the pie’s at the Park Cafe in St. Mary’s.

Mossey

[topgun2]

3 hours ago, mossemi said:

It has excellent hiking like the Ptarmigan Trail/Ptarmigan Tunnel trail

Another don't miss it hike.

Keep an eye out for mountain goats resting on the hill to the left as you make your way up to the tunnel.

Bill

[ScottyGS]

7 hours ago, John E Davies said:

It is legal to carry a handgun in the Park, as long as YOU are legal to do so in the state of Montana, but if you have to fire it, you will be prosecuted. It is illegal to kill a grizzly. Spray first, if that doesn't work, then consider the weapon. And it had better be a big one. As an example of the trouble you get into, watch the episode of Yellowstone where one of the hands has to shoot one.

https://outsider.com/news/yellowstone-tv/yellowstone-tv-unforgettable-rip-wheeler-scene-based-several-real-accounts/

John Davies

Spokane WA

Apparently it is ok to kill a grizzly... If you work for the forest service and the bear has already killed someone else.   https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/400-pound-grizzly-that-killed-camper-in-montana-shot-dead/

Montana has constitutional carry (open and concealed) as long as you can legally posses.  Some restrictions on where you can carry concealed.  Know the law... and in the case of bears...  Carry a caliber that begins with a FOUR.   .44 and .45 come to mind.  1911's are great pistols but in this case I would go with a Springfield Armory .45 with a 13 round magazine and one in the pipe.   And, a holster you can draw it from fairly quickly.  It's no good sitting in the bottom of your day pack.    Bears are serious animals. 

Happy camping and Say Hi to Yogi for me.