Glacier National Park had not been on my radar until I decided to visit a friend who had moved to Montana. Perfect excuse for a road trip! My plan is to drive from Colorado up through Wyoming to Livingston, Montana to visit my friend, continue up to GNP and then drive back down hitting Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. This would be an amazing road trip meandering through isolated western towns and stunning natural landscapes from deserts to forests and glaciers.
I was not prepared for the spectacular natural beauty of Glacier NP! The best way to explore this park is to drive the Going to the Sun Road (GSR) which is a 50 mile road that cuts through the entire park and can take 2 hours with no stops. It is a 32 mile climb to the highest point of the GSR, Logan Pass at 6,646 feet from the West entrance. Logan Pass is a visiter center with a large parking lot that gets crowded, plan accordingly. I chose to bypass this stop until later in the day. Believe me there is more than enough to keep you busy. Give your self an entire day to explore by pulling off the road at the modestly marked turnouts, doing a couple of easy hikes and watching the sun setting over the valley and surrounding mountains. Then pick your favorite areas for a longer hike the next day or explore areas you missed. I discovered Bowman Lake and Polebridge on my second day exploring.
Top 10 Glacier
- Going to the Sun Road is the main artery in this park. Options to drive, take the shuttle, bike ride or take a tour from a local Native American Guide
- First stop – McDonald Lake. Bring along a fresh brew and pastry from the nearby coffee shop and walk over to the to catch the sunrise.
- As you begin the drive around the park, McDonald Falls is an easy pull off to park and walk
- Keep your eyes peeled for the sign markers along the GSR when you see “Redrock” pull over. I was not prepared for the beauty of this stop!
