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I discovered this gem while doing some research on Yellowstone and I seem to the scenery is much better a GNP. Thinking about grabbing a few days from Yellowstone and throwing them into GNP.
I was wondering if Going to the Sun Road in mid July will be a problem? I am going to have a Toyota Corolla Rental
How does camping here in mid =July feel like? Hard to get campsites like North Rim Grand Canyon and Yosemite?
I've been to Pakistan so I am sure Glacier National Park will not blow my mind but I want to have a similar experience again. Nothing makes you feel smaller than travelling 21 days in Pakistan's mountains.
Summer of '12, we could not get more than a few miles in on the GTTSR, from either side, as the snowpack was 20+ feet. They were chewing through it a mile or so a day. This was in very late June...this past summer, the Road opened late June.
One could only guess when it will open in '14.
We were in a VetteVert; the Toy rental may not be as much fun, but will get you up/down the road if it's open.
It is scenic/good/beautiful, (did it a few times on one of my m'cycles), but it isn't necessarily the 'best mountain stretch' in the western states, imo, or dependent on whom you ask. Been all over the western states, inc. AK and the mtns of BC, but I suspect none are like Pakistan...
As far as National Parks, Glacier has been on the top of my list for over 20 years now and I still haven't made it, although I have to almost all the others somehow, even the ones I had little interest in. Glacier is not exactly HARD to get to, because there are state highways going to it. But it is sort of 'out of the way' and not that easy to just piggyback with other trips to places like Yellowstone and the Tetons, for reasons that Stealth pretty much hit on. And I know it's not going to happen in 2014 again because I already have the summer planned out. Quite likely in 2015, but we'll have to wait and see.
My understanding is that you want to try to hit it between mid-July and late-August. Any earlier or later and you could be thwarted by winter conditions. That would no doubt be extremely more beautiful in its own right, but it would limit your driving options. So that's what I'm aiming for and would suggest the same even though it is probably when 90% of the rest of the people go too. I'll welcome any more info from local 'experts' and/or park regulars.
I also went in June and was disappointed to find the Going to the Sun Highway closed through the Park. We were able to go in part way and hike around, which was nice, but still a let down. I did Glacier Park (US) and Banff Park (Canada) in the same trip. Both are outstanding!!! The Banff Spring Hotel, which I could not afford to stay in, was nonetheless a fantastic tourist attraction with a guided tour.
Camping, no problem, stay at Apgar, you can make reservations. And also at Rising Sun, on the other side of the park.
Agree about Waterton, Prince of Wales Hotel is great, fantastic view of the lake, recommend going on the tour boat. Really nice trail at Cameron Lake up to Summit Lake on US-Canada border.
Going to the Sun hwy is a must, jaw dropping scenery.
I did both Yellowstone and Glacier on same trip once, I stopped at Butte (half way) and headed up via Missoula, beautiful Flathead Lake and stayed at West Glacier.
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