Our Trip to Glacier National Park
August 2022
Our Travel Arrangements
During the booking process of our trip to Glacier we discovered that it was much cheaper for us to fly into Spokane, Washington than it would have been to fly into Kalispell or Missoula, Montana. Spokane's airport is bigger compared to the two, and has more flights which helps with the price of flights. This is where Andrew and I decided to fly into. Doing this of course meant that we had to get a rental car, but rental cars in Spokane were also much more available, less expensive, and we needed a rental car anyways. We didn't mind having to pay for a rental car, because we knew we would see some amazing sights on the drive from Washington to Montana.
The first day of our trip we spent the night at a hotel in Spokane, and then got up early the next morning to make the drive to Glacier. On our drive we stopped at Ross Creek Cedars and did a mile hike there. This was a great opportunity to stretch our legs on the drive, and see some massive, 1000 year old cedar trees. The hike was so peaceful and worth the detour.
Once we got to Glacier we met up with family that had gotten in a few nights before, and prepped for a float trip down McDonald Creek. We floated about 2 miles down the creek to Quarter Circle Bridge. The water was crystal clear, and the views of the mountains as we floated down were incredible. After that we had a nice dinner as a family at the picnic tables outside our cabins.
On our second day in Glacier we woke up bright and early at 4am (lol it was actually very dark) to make the drive to the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead. Currently the most traveled road in Glacier, Going To The Sun Road, is closed for construction from 10pm-6am. Because of this we had to take an alternate route and drive a slightly longer distance to get to the trailhead. This is one reason why we opted for getting up so early. The main reason was because the Grinnell Glacier Trail is one of the most popular trails in Glacier, and we wanted to make sure we got a parking spot at the trailhead parking lot.
Grinnell Glacier Trail | HARD
This was the most strenuous hike we did on our trip, but the most rewarding. The Grinnell Glacier Trail is an 11.2 mile out-and-back trail with 2,181 ft in elevation gain. On average it takes 5 1/2 hours to complete. Getting to the trail early resulted in cooler temperatures, and a less crowded trail, so I recommend getting to the trailhead as early as possible when hiking this one. On our final stretch of the hike back we ran into so many people just then starting the trail. Some said to us, "Wow you're already done?!" "You must have gotten here at the crack of dawn." Andrew and I were very grateful we had!
On our hike we saw beautiful lake views, got to walk through a waterfall, saw some beautiful wildflowers, and at the peak of the trail, one of the most amazing sights: the Grinnell Glacier. Grinnell Glacier was awe inspiring. We sat down, had some snacks, and soaked it all in when we made it to the glacier. Andrew even stuck his feet in and drank from the glacier water. He said the water was so cold, that if someone were to fall in he felt that their body would probably go into shock. On our hike up to the peak we saw ground squirrels, some grouse, and around 9 big horn sheep. On our way back, during the last mile of the trail, we saw a grizzly bear and not far from that a black bear. The grizzly was cooling off in the lake, while the black bear was curiously following some people near the water. In Glacier it is always smart to carry bear spray for these reasons, but luckily the odds of you having to use it are slim as long as you keep your distance. I could rant on and on about how beautiful this hike was. Pictures hardly do this trail justice; you have to see it with your own eyes!
Hidden Lake Trail | MODERATE
The next hike that we chose for the next day was another popular one in Glacier. We had some family tag along with us on this one. Hidden Lake Trail is a 5.3 mile out-and-back trail with 1,374 ft in elevation gain. On average it takes close to 3 hours to complete. We also got up early for this one, leaving around 5am that morning. A good majority of this trail is a boardwalk, and when you are about 3/4 of the way to the lake it becomes a graveled trail. This trail had amazing views, and an outlook point for picture taking. During this hike we ran into more big horn sheep, a marmot, and a baby mountain goat. Seeing the mountain goat was a highlight for me. I had hoped to see one on this trail, and was told this was a trail I would be more likely to see one.
This trail is very close to the continental divide. The continental divide is an imaginary line along the ridges of the rocky mountains that separates water to either the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. The side the water falls on determines which ocean it is dispensed to. A lot of people come here to take a picture at the Logan's Pass Continental Divide sign.
After our Hidden Lake Trail hike, Andrew and I went to Kalispell and Bigfork, Montana. We did a little exploring in both of these cities. We checked out the downtown areas for both. (I found the cutest used bookstore in Kalispell called The Bookshelf). We had lunch at an amazing cafe in Bigfork, called the Echo Lake Cafe. Andrew and I both strongly recommend their Chicken Fried Steak. Then we set out to one of the most unique, serene, one-of-a-kind Airbnbs we have ever had the opportunity to stay at. I won't go into too much detail on it because I feel it deserves its own post, but for a little preview, it was a pontoon boat with a top deck that provided some insane views. It was on Flathead River and came with two kayaks that we got to use (1.25 miles x3) on the river. It was also incredibly peaceful here.
When we woke up the next morning at the Airbnb, it was a cool 55 degrees a little after 6am. We climbed up to the top of the deck, started up the propane firepit and sat there and watched the sunrise. It was a moment that will be engraved into my mind forever. We took in the views for as long as we could, then packed up and made the kayak back to the dock/our launch point. We had family leaving Glacier that morning and we wanted to see them off. We drove back to Glacier, spent some of the morning with family, then went to check out some shops in Apgar Village and West Glacier.
On the final day of our trip we got souvenir t-shirts, postcards, stickers, and all sorts of goodies from multiple gift shops. We stopped and got the last stamp needed for my National Park passport, and visited the Apgar Visitor's Center. Our trip was fantastic and one I will never forget. There were so many more hikes we wanted to do, and we would have stayed much longer if we had the opportunity. With that being said we are already talking about another trip back to Glacier hopefully in the near future. Glacier National Park is one I think should be on everyone's must see list.
Where We Stayed in Glacier
Where we stayed within Glacier was breathtaking. Us and our family stayed in the cabins in Apgar Village. Our cabin was super cute, and we were very close to our families cabins. We were within walking distance to cafes and shops in Apgar. Andrew and I really lucked out with our cabin, because we scored a cabin right alongside Lake McDonald. Lake McDonald was so beautiful! It is the lake famously known for its colored rocks. I definitely recommend staying in Apgar Village if you are ever in Glacier. Location is a 10/10 for views and activities.
Tips & General Info To Know If You Plan A Trip To Glacier National Park
Peak season is May through September, so the park can become crowded in these months.
Reservations to stay at the cabins will need to be made in advance.
To get into Glacier you must have a vehicle pass. This can be your National Park pass or a 7 day vehicle pass you purchase upon entry.
To access Going to the Sun Road you must have a reservation. These are automatically granted to those who have cabin/campground reservations. If you aren't staying in these sites the reservations can be purchased at Recreation.gov. This site has all the details needed to reserve them online.
As far as food goes, West Glacier had great spots to grab a bite to eat.
For ice-cream, I recommend Eddie's Cafe in Apgar Village. If you are adventurous, you should try their huckleberry ice-cream. If not, the sea salted caramel is amazing.
When hiking, it is always a good idea to get to your trail as early as possible to avoid crowds.
For the types of trails Glacier has I recommend a good pair of hiking boots. Most of the trails are steep, and at some points can be slick. Closed toed shoes are best to protect your feet, however you may also want to pack water shoes like Chacos for playing in the water. (Here is a link to my hiking boots. I think they are super comfortable and well suited for hiking).
There are so many amazing trails to hike in Glacier. We are already thinking about which ones we will do on our next trip back. Trails we did not get to do this time but would love to for our next visit:
- Avalanche Lake Trail
- Iceberg Lake Trail
- Highline Trail
- Apikuni Mountain Trail
- and so many more on AllTrails.com
Commentaires