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You are reading the Glacier National Park Frequently Asked Questions
Page. These are common questions people ask before visiting Glacier
National Park.
Do I need reservations to visit Glacier National Park? No. However,
be sure to make any necessary campground or lodging reservations
well in advance.
What airports can I fly into? See our "getting
there" page for that info.
Should I stay inside the park?
It depends on what you would like to see and do. Remember that the
park lodges are classified as "rustic". This means likely
no TV, Internet or radios in the rooms. Many were built long ago
which also adds to the rustic feeling. There are many lodging opportunities
just outside the park gates. You could still stay just outside the
park and really not drive all that much extra, unlike say Yellowstone
which does have that problem due to its size. As usual though, camping
options will always put you right on top of where you want to be
compared to other choices. The campgrounds at Bowman and Kintla
Lake are examples of this. They are long, bouncy drives.
When is the best time to go to Glacier? For weather, June,
July and August are the best. It can snow in Glacier at any time.
I've been hit by snowstorms in late August! September can bring
unpredictable weather. For wildlife viewing, many find the fall
and spring to be the best. The mothers are out with their young
animals in the spring, and in the fall "the rut" brings
out moose and elk. Bear are also feeding intensely during the months
of September and October, increasing your chances of spotting them.
If you want to spend some time swimming the lakes and splashing
around the water with your family, think July.
Can I take my dog into Glacier? Yes. However, dogs are
not allowed on park trails. They are allowed at drive-in campgrounds
and picnic areas.
What is the weather like in Glacier? See our
weather page for current and
historical weather patterns.
How long should I stay in the park? The minimum staying
time for seeing a good portion of Glacier is three days. That
said, any time you can spend in Glacier will be a great time.
It's a very special park.
What is the Flathead National Forest? People mention it when
talking about Glacier. See
our side trips page for information on the Flathead
National Forest. This spectacular forest borders the western half
of Glacier.
How long does the snow last in the remote portions of the park?
A long time. Trails can be blocked well into July. Expect snow
on the trails at any time.
What is the best entrance to Glacier? This is up to you.
Some like the dirt road entrance up at Polebridge in the NW corner.
Some prefer the Many Glacier entrance, the Two Medicine entrance,
the St. Mary entrance or the West Glacier entrance. They all have
their own charms, and all are spectacular. The Polebridge entrance
offers the mighty North Fork of the Flathead. The West Glacier
entrance offers thick, verdant pine forests, Lack McDonald and
the Flathead River. The St.Mary entrance offers a sweeping view
of the east side mountains and windy St. Mary Lake. The Two Medicine
entrance offers a tall forest with the backdrop of famous Mt.
Sinopah and Rising Wolf Mountain.
The Many Glacier entrance wraps around Lake Sherburne, which gives
way to stunning peaks..
What are the campgrounds like and can I make reservations?
You can see the campgrounds for yourself! Parkcamper.com
has an interactive Glacier
National Park campground map. There are numerous images
of the actual campgrounds and tons of info. You can also find
backcountry permit data on that page as well as campground reservation
information. Reservations can be made for Glacier National Park
campgrounds.
Is Glacier crowded? Not really. Compared to Yellowstone
and Grand Teton, Glacier doesn't seem really crowded at all unless
you visit during peak season which is July. You can expect bustling
campgrounds from June until Labor Day weekend. After that, it's
pretty darn quiet.
Can I visit Glacier in the winter? Yes, but many sections
of the park are closed off. The Apgar campground is open all year
for primitive camping. Glacier National Park has several cross
country ski and snowshoe trails available. They are in the Apgar,
Avalanche, North Fork, St. Mary, Two Medicine and Marias Pass
areas.
I only have one day in the park. What should I see? If
you only have one day, I would advise you to drive the Going to
the Sun Road from Apgar to St. Mary. While not everything the
park has to offer, it does give you a lot to see and do. You get
the western, moist side of the park and the windswept, dramatic
east side. You could start at Apgar Village, grabbing a bite to
eat while on the beach at Lake McDonald, then move on to the Avalanche
area. The short Trails of the Cedars is always worthwhile,. If
you are up for a bigger challenge, the two mile hike up to Avalanche
Lake from Avalanche campground is spectacular. From here you would
drive along McDonald Creek and its various waterfalls. The road
then begins to pass some outstanding avalanche chutes which you
can scan for wildlife. Following the road up to Logan Pass is
a blast. If you are not having a good time now, you may as well
turn around. It's very steep and narrow with outstanding views
all around. At the top you will find the visitor center and the
trail to Hidden Lake. This is well worth the walk. You should
see mountain goats and bighorns along the road and trail. From
here it's all downhill to St. Mary Lake, and the famous view of
Wild Goose Island. St, Mary Lake is huge and you will find the
road winding its shoreline down until you reach the park entrance.
What are the "must see" places in Glacier? Glacier
is perhaps the most scenic overall park in the system. Every turn
of the head reveals fine scenery. Glacier itself has around 600
lakes contained within 1 million acres. Compare that to Yellowstone's
100 or so lakes within 2.2 million acres. The "must see"
spots in Glacier would be the Many Glacier area, the Two Medicine
Area, the Avalanche area, Logan Pass, Going to the Sun Road, the
North Fork of the Flathead, Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, St. Mary
Lake, the Middle Fork along U.S. 2, Iceberg Lake, Avalanche Lake,
Hidden Lake and many other backcountry places too numerous to
mention. If you haven't gotten the idea, the entire park is "must
see". You can't go wrong with any portion of it. The east
side offers different things than the west side. Make your decision
based on what specific activities you prefer, and the scenery
will follow. Trust me.
I like to fish. What are some good places? Glacier is
a great place to go fishing. Check out our Glacier
Fishing page for more specific information.
What are the best campgrounds? To answer that question,
you need to answer this question first: "what are your trip
priorities"? Most of Glaciers campgrounds border jaw dropping
lakes. Kintla, Bowman, Apgar, Two Medicine, Many Glacier, Avalanche,
Sprague Creek, St. Mary and Fish Creek are all either right on
huge lakes or within a very short walk. The west side lakes are
better for swimming and at a lower altitude than the east side
lakes.
If your goal is to fish, perhaps staying at Bowman is a nice bet
because you can fish the lake, then take the rough road right
to the North Fork and fish that fine river, giving you multiple
options during the day. Apgar and Fish Creek are both close to
Lake McDonald and the Flathead River system, making them prime
locations.
If you want the campground with the best scenery, well, every
campground will classify as that. However, many people rate Many
Glacier and Two Medicine as dramatic. Some people rate Avalanche
higher because of the old growth cedar forest. Every spot has
something different to offer. That said, we prefer Apgar, Fish
Creek, Avalanche, Two Medicine, Many Glacier, Kintla and Bowman
Lake campgrounds to the rest.
What is the best lodging in Glacier? You can't go wrong
with the park lodges like Glacier Park Lodge(East Glacier), Many
Glacier Lodge(Many Glacier)and Lake McDonald Lodge(east end of
Lake McDonald). Remember that these are rustic experiences, designed
a long time ago.
Are there dangerous animals in Glacier National Park? Yes.
Glacier is home to grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lion.
All can be dangerous but attacks are rare. By practicing grizzly
bear country precautions, risk is limited. Carry bear spray when
hiking, do not hike alone, and especially do not hike alone in
the dark. Keep all foods and odors out of tents and sleep clothing.
Give wild animals a wide berth and a healthy dose of respect.
One of the things that makes Glacier unique is the fact that grizzly
bears still call it home. This is a very rare thing in the lower
48, and it provides a certain electricity to the woods and mountains,
a sort of vitality. Part of the charm of Glacier is this wildness
you can feel. This tells you that you are in a place that is still
wild and pristine enough to support a creature like the grizzly
bear.
Where can I see the wildlife, and what equipment do I need to
observe them? Check out our wildlife
page for more information.
Should I move around in the park for overnights, or stay in
one place? If you have two days, stay in one place. If you
have three days, move once. If you have five days, move twice.
The more days you have, the more time you will have to see different
campgrounds or resorts. Spending too much time packing and unpacking
camp or entering your cabin or lodging can chew up valuable trip
time. This is generally a good rule to follow. The exception is
if you absolutely dislike your sleeping location(campground or
lodge) and your trip enjoyment is in jeopardy due to the location.
What gear will I need to go camping with my family or friends?
The basics are tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cook stove, utensils,
warm clothing, sunscreen, hats (cold and warm weather), gloves,
layers and fuel. If you plan on getting into camping more, spending
a few extra dollars on quality gear is a good idea. Places like
Altrec
camping
offer excellent deals on quality camping gear. Propane stove fuel
is the easiest to find in and around Glacier. When shopping for
a tent, when they say "two man" consider it a one and
a half man. A three person is usually a two person and so forth.
Keeping warm and dry is the most important aspect of a comfortable
Glacier camping trip. A poor quality tent can leak and be swept
away by winds(Glacier is known for being incredibly windy). Picking
the right sleeping bag and using a warm sleeping pad is essential.
Closed cell foam pads are cheap at around $10. An inexpensive
sleeping bag should work fine in Yellowstone for late June, July
and early August. For the other months, you will want a bag that
is true to its rating and warm. A true +15 down bag should work
for fall and spring camping just fine. A bag rated at 0 and below
is required for winter camping. If you don't want to cook, you
can still camp. Simply visit some of the food services at St.
Mary, East Glacier, Apgar Village and West Glacier.
How is Glacier for young children and teens? Great. You
might not want to hike with a baby in the backcountry, but staying
at one of the lodges or cabins should be fine. Just remember that
emergency services will take longer to get to you. Glacier may
be popular, but it is still "off the grid" compared
to most other places. For teens, focus on the lakes, waterfalls,
Going to the Sun Road and wildlife of the park. That should win
them over fairly easily.
Yellowstone is only five hours away. Why should I visit Glacier?
Glacier offers many different things compared to Yellowstone.
Much of Yellowstone is relatively flat compared to Glacier. Glacier
is ecologically a more diverse park with a wider range of plants
and animals, receiving influence from the Pacific NW, the Canadian
Rockies, the plains, and the southern Rockies. Glacier is very
much a water park, with countless high falls, creeks and mountain
lakes. Glacier offers different types of forests and a very different
overall ambiance. Glacier offers remote drive-in campgrounds.
Both parks are amazing, but they both have very unique experiences.
The best thing is to see both!
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