We're finally getting to take our first vacation in 3 years (since the kiddo was born.) Any advice on activities and must-see's in Glacier National Park and the surrounding area? We've already got plane tickets and have 2 nights at a lodge on the east side of the park and 4 nights in Kalispell, MT for early August. How is the trip back and forth each day to the park from Kalispell? Any helpful information would be appreciated!

I love that park. You will see grizzlies and black bears both. Be sure to wear a bell and carry pepper spray. Learn to tell the difference between black bear droppings and grizzly droppings. Black bear droppings have squirrel fur and blackberries in it.

Grizzly droppings have bells in it and smell like pepper.

The rest of my family is heading there (at least I am pretty sure that is where they are going) at the end of this week. I know my dad and brother and uncle are going on a backpacking trip for a few days while the rest will stay at the hotel and stick to shorter day hikes. I went there when I was little and I remember we did a fishing trip one morning that was fun, a lot of hiking, and saw a lot of animals...it's been years ago and we did other national parks too at other points so it all kind of runs together for me.

If I hear any good tidbits from the fam, I'll pass them along to you.

[This message has been edited by 2001%er (edited 7/11/2004 6:53p).]

Any information would appreciated 2001%er. As for Desert Fox that's why I'm taking the kiddo along. She's easy to toss at the grizzlies while we run like hell! :-)

be prepared to see nothing because of all the RV's going 6 miles an hour

I was on the main road through the park as a kid. I remember my Dad scaring the #@$% out of me passing rv's on that narrow road. I'm trying to find some easy day hikes that we can take the kid on (We'll probably be doing a lot of carrying.)

My fiance and I just came from there a week ago. It is one of the most spectacular parks in the country. Where to start. Well, first off, you must drive going to the sun road. It is a road that leads across the park and affords some spectacular scenery. Halfway at the pass there is a visitors center. From this visitors center a nice 2 mile hike up through some snow to hidden lake with some great scenery. It is a nice hike and doable with the kid. You will see plenty mountain goats. The drive from Kalispell Is prolly 30 miles, its not ideal but what are ya gonna do. I would encourage you to ask the hotels in the park if they have vacancies or cancellations when you get there for the hell of it. If you plan on doing longer day hikes through the brush I would get a can of bear mace. We didnt have any but wished we had. We also walked up on a bull moose and startled it. We almost messed our pants it scared us so much. It was a great experience. Once you get to the west side of the park. Head north about 8 miles to a town called BAbb. From here there is another road that leads into another section of the park called manyglacier. This is a very scenic area as well. There is a restaurant in Babb called Cattlemans supper club or something liek that. You cannot miss it because it is the only one in babb. I highly recomend this place. The steaks and supper here were some of the best I've ever had. The food was awesome. From the sunset motor lodge area in many glacier many good day hikes can be found. There is just so much hiking to do in this park its unreal. We also took a 2 hour horsedack ride that was nice as well. If you are in the Missoula area, I recommend seeing the smokejumpers training center and taking the free tour. Its pretty cool. Missoula is a very nice town. If you have any other questions, just ask!!!

I think you would be better off going to Waterton in Canada.

Less crowded and same mountains.

Early August is peak season...it will take a hour and a half to get to the western half of the park from Kalispell but gorgeous scenery. I will be there in mid sept. no crowds but gets damn cold..last sept we got snowed on all three nights in the backcountry...pros and cons

I think they get back on the 24th. The bar is 3 days later so if I can, I'll try to post some trip highlights for you from what I hear. If not, I'll post after the 29th.

two words: pepper spray

Good info bunnyaggie! I appreciate the advice and tips from everyone. Don't like to here 1.5 hours to get to the park from Kalispell. I'm still trying to find lodging in the park or near the West entrance.

We're leaving in about a week anyone got any good advice? We've been dealing with lodging headaches all week. Apparantly the lodges in the park are historic, but the rooms are bad. I found numerous complaints on the lodges, so we've canceled one of the lodges we were planning to stay at the first few days. We're going to stay on the East side of the park near St. Mary for the first half of the our stay and at the West entrance for the second half of the stay. Still trolling Texags for any must-see/must-do activities in and around Glacier National Park (keeping in mind I have a 2.5 year old tagging along.) Thanks in advance!!

The folks are still gone, but looking at their schedule they sent me before it looks like they stayed at the Glacier Park Lodge, Many Glacier, and then my mom and aunt went to Waterton and the Prince of Wales hotel while my brother, dad, and uncle went backpacking for a few days. Between me being in full-on study mode and their cell phones not getting good reception up there in the mountains I haven't really talked to them much during the week so I don't know what they've done and seen. But I'll try to give you some info once they get back to Texas and I hear about it, time permitting.

I appreciate it!

T-Minus 36 hours and counting! Anyone else got any good info on the Glacier National Park area?

**2001%er: Hopefully you kicked some butt on the Bar and your family made it back safely.