oh man - what a trip! I don't have time now to pare this down, but here's my detailed itinerary where we stayed 4 days West side, 2 days East side and 2 days Waterton - happy to help you pare this down for your time - what a trip!! (Days 1-3 were in Banff, by the way)
Day 4 July 12 Wednesday North Fork / Polebridge area, Whitefish Lake / Mountain
Leave 8:00. Drive 90 minutes north on Hwy 486 and visit the town of Polebridge. Get directions to both
Kintla Lake and
Bowman Lake. There are 2 sets of dirt roads. We didn't make it to the lakes instead we threw rocks on the river on a pullout on the way back where people were white water rafting.
Drive 90 minutes to
Whitefish Mountain Resort 406-862-2900. Base Lodge Alpine Slide,
Aerial Adventure, Gondola. Enjoyed hiking at the top of the mountain and also the Information Ranger station at the top fun!
Eat Dinner reservations at 7pm Valet Park.
Whitefish Lake at
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake - great! 855-714-8516 x 0
Night 2 Drive 20 minutes back to Columbia Falls. Grocery store Super 1, Smith's, Town Pump are all close
Day 5 July 13 Thursday West Side of Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass Visitor Center
Drive 30 minutes to
Shuttle Bus at Apgar Arrive early (as early as 7 or 8 to avoid lines) or get advice and just drive.
Shuttle 30 minutes to
Logan Pass Visitor Center. Hike
Hidden Lake Overlook Trail 2.5 Mile rt hike to the lake (1 hr.)
Don't miss the
Highline Trial Hike!! Hike mile or so where you hike along a ridge and there is a cable to hold onto.
Then Shuttle 30 minutes back and get off at
Avalanche Trail 4 mi RT OR
Trail of the Cedars Hike (1/2 mile loop)
Shuttle back to Apgar and drive 20 minutes home.
Walk 5 minutes to Columbia Falls
Farmers Market at the Coop. Hwy 2 @ 1st Avenue. 5-7:30 pm. Food and live music.
Night 3 Columbia Falls
Day 6 July 14 Friday Flathead Lake, Apgar Village, Lake McDonald
Drive 40 minutes south to
Flathead Lake Bigfork - Wayfarers State Park check out the lake area we left at 11:30 because the water was too cold to swim in and there were no rocks to throw like in the rivers they like. Skip this.
Drove 45 minutes to
Apgar Village threw rocks at Fish Creek Village/Picnic Area then to Lake McDonald Best Pictures!! Ice Cream and hang out at the Village a bit.
Drive 20 minutes back to Columbia Falls. Dinner at
Blackslope Brewery 406-897-2850, but we grilled steaks at home.
Night 4 Columbia Falls
Day 7 July 15 Saturday Drive to East Glacier, Two Medicine area
Drive 35 minutes on Hwy 2 East towards
East Glacier. Stop at a few scenic pull-offs on the way including the town of
Essex and Scalplock Mountain (Didn't see this) then drive 5 minutes for a brief hike to
Goat Lick Overlook (no goats for us to see)
Went straight to
Two Medicine Lake. Paradise Point this was great! Stayed 2 hours while the kids dug in the sand/rocks.
Check out short hike
Running Eagle Falls - .6 miles very nice.
Drive 30 minutes to VRBO... Arrive by 4pm. 406 Lindhe Avenue, East Glacier Park, MT Jason Robertson - 406 890 8142
Dinner walk to
Serrano's 3 blocks away crowded so maybe find another spot as it was crowded and
hot. 406-226-9392
Night 1 East Glacier would not recommend this place due to dogs barking at night.
Day 8 July 16 Sunday Saint Mary's Lake area
Drive 1-hour to St Mary's Visitor Center and take the shuttle to St. Mary Falls. Get advice and skip shuttle? Long lines..
Hike to
Virginia Falls 3.6 miles round trip. Then Shuttle Back to the Visitor Center. Then drive your car back in.
Sun Point Nature Trail. Then
Sunrift Gorge area to get the Perfect St. Mary's Photo you will know it when you see it.
Drive 45 minutes to
Babb Bar Cattle Baron Supper Club. 406-732-4033. Res. at 6pm. 5-10 pm.
Park Caf is also good.
Then drive 50 minutes back home. Night 2 East Glacier
Day 9 July 17 Monday Many Glacier, then Waterton Lakes National Park
Drive 80 minutes to
Many Glacier Hotel. Call a day or two ahead and get tickets to cross Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine to save 5 miles on the
Grinnel Lake Hike and
Hidden Falls Hike Get the 11 am shuttle back by 2:30 or so.
Lunch at
Two Sisters Caf 11 am -10pm. Then drive 1 hour to
Chief Mountain Lodge 30 South Webster Ave. Mountain View, AB T0K 1N0 Call Josh Creason - 1 888 717 7770. House will be ready by 2pm. This place was the BEST place we stayed at so great! 10 minutes from Waterton NP, great views, great hospitality, great house/bed/sheets, etc.
Drive 25 minutes to the Town of Waterton. Hike
Bears Hump short hike but steep and strenuous, but we skipped.
Drive down the road and see
Cameron Falls then continue down past Cameron Falls until the road ends at the lake. Park and throw rocks in the side river near the bridge. Watch field of ground squirrels. Lake photos great view! Rest.
Check out
Prince of Wales Hotel Park at the hotel, walk through but mostly see their amazing views! Don't miss.
Bertha Lake Hike including
Lower Bertha Falls. No time for this but check out 10 Mile RT
Crypt Lake best in Waterton!
Dinner at
Bayshore Inn Lakeside Chophouse 403-859-2211 ext.305. Pricey but great outdoor seating.
Drive 20 minutes. Night 1 Waterton VRBO
Day 10 July 18 Tuesday
Waterton Lakes NP also
mywaterton.ca HIKING GUIDE HERE Drive 15 minutes Hwy 5 West to
Maskinonge Overlook for bird viewing. Drive 1 minute further
Bison Paddock Loop. Both of these drives are seconds from the turn into Waterton Park quick hits with really nice views.
Drive 20 minutes Hwy 5 West/South to Red Rock Parkway West (Range Road 300A) to
Red Rock Canyon Loop. Bring Swimsuit and sandals and hike up the river after you park. Lots of kids playing in the water at Red Rock Canyon.
Hike to
Blakiston Falls about a -mile hike. No time for this but wow
Tamarack Trail is 15 miles and looks amazing.
Drive 50 minutes to
Cameron Lake - We rented kayak/canoe/paddle boat for an hour great views/pictures. DO IT!!
Dinner at
Vimy's Lounge and Grill 1-888-985-6343 Reservation- 7 pm. Then drive back for Night 2 Waterton VRBO
