Any tips on what to see & do from Glacier Nat Pk & then to the Wyomimg border. We will be staying 1 night at Hampton Inn, Whitefish, 1 night at Izaak Walton, 1 night at Glacier Park, Columbia falls, & 1 night at Best Western, Yellowstone Crossing. Then we head to Yellowstone 3 nights. We pick up the California Zephur in Grand Junction, CO. back to Chicago and then to Boston.
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It sounds like you intend to stay in Laurel MT then go to Yellowstone via US 212 (Beartooth Highway) to the NE entrance. When are you doing this? If the highway is open and weather is good, you will have traversed the most scenic road in America! If the weather is not good it can be a very stressful drive... Once inside YNP the drive from the NE entrance along the Lamar River to Tower Junction is extremely scenic and rich with wildlife - watch out for buffalo on the road! This part of the park is off of the main circle route, but definitely worth seeing. Have a good trip!
Thanks GN Man. We are staying at Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone, & we plan to do the Beartooth Hwy to NE entrance . I can't wait to see Buffalo.
Is the road open on Bear Tooth yet? We've had tons of snow this year. At any rate, I would bring clothes that will keep you warm down to 30 degrees. Especially bring wind proof pants & jacket.
Kent in SD
Eddie,
If you have not seen Glacier NP before, then I highly recommend taking the Red Bus tour, actually 1920’s vintage open top cars, up through the park on the Going to the sun road. We did this last summer, it was well worth the time and cost.
There is a great pie place in East Glacier too, just a few miles up from the Inn, and while in East Glacier check out the train station and the Glacier Park Lodge — both offer some excellent historic displays of Great Northern RR history and the connection between the GN and the park.
We in fact loved Glacier so much during our short stay last summer, only three days of our two week 6,000 mile by rail trip, that we’re going back June 28 to July 9 this summer. It is a spectacular place!
+1 on Bear Tooth and the northeast corner of Yellowstone. It's one of my favorite parts of Yellowstone It possesses none of the big ticket attractions like Old Faithful or the waterfalls, but it has an understated beauty that really struck me. I also appreciate that it is often less populated than the western half of the park because of that. Logically visitors with limited time often focus on the famous sights.
I think in your older post about this trip, I suggested making your way from Glacier to Laurel via Bozeman, Bozeman Pass, and Livingston. I'd still suggest that. There's a decent chance that you will catch Montana Rail Link action over Bozeman Pass, and Livingston is full of remnants of the old Northern Pacific.
Enjoy your trip!
Jim
Just checked--Beartooth Highway is projected to be opened on Memorial Day.
Kent in SD
Make the effort to stop at the midway geyser basin, go inside the old faithful lodge, take the Jenny lake boat tour, ride up the Snowking chairlift on the south side of town in Jackson.
Too much to see, too little time, and too many miles, but the scenery viewed from the car as you travel will range from fascinating to spectacular.
On your travel from Jackson to Grand Junction via Vernal, I prefer to go down the west side of the Green River (via Manila) to see the heart of the Flaming Gorge. Check out the Dino. Nat. Monument near Vernal.
I am more worried that the Sun rd won't be open on June 19th then I am about the Beartooth hwy. I believe the Beartooth hwy will be open on the 23rd.when we arrive there. Thanks for all your help. I will bring all these suggestions with me.
Lot's of things to see in YNP--I could easily spend a year there. Wife & I go about every three years since it's relatively close. My favorites are the geysors and big waterfalls. Have at least lunch if not dinner at Old Faithful Lodge--best hotel in the park by far! Speaking of Yellowstone, the most famous photographer there was Frank J. Haynes. He was the official photographer for the Northern Pacific starting in 1876, and photo'd the building of the railroad. The NP paid him to take photos of YNP starting about 1882, as the railroad had a spur that went to Gardiner, MT. This was very lucrative for NP. Haynes ended up living in YNP until about 1903. He had several shops that sold his prints and stereoviews in the park, and had a heavy influence on the park's formation. It's worth researching before you go. My favorite spot in Glacier NP is the little rain forest--"Trail of the Cedars." Easy walking and very pretty.
Kent in SD
Enjoy your trip. May be a bit early for the "Going to the Sun Road". Heavy snow this winter. I was there 2010 a heavy snow winter, late July. There was still a lot of trails closed/or subject to snow/ice. 2015 access was much better.
Sign posted on Highline trail, late July 2010, to Granite Park Chalet. 2015 I was able to do this hike, no problem.
Again best wishes with Glacier National Park. Always my favorite adventure. Hope to return soon.
Granite Park Chalet hike 2015 Click on the link.
Mike CT. 
TWO23, Via Vernal. I can't find Vernal on the map. OK found it. We go right thru there on 191. We will stop and see Flaming Gorge.
eddie g posted:TWO23, Via Vernal. I can't find Vernal on the map.
Tracker John was talking about Vernal, not me.
Kent in SD
Vernal, UT. On Rt. 191 south from Jackson. Shortest drive from Jackson to Grand Junction CO.
FWIW, if you're taking the Builder all the way from Chicago, the best place to be between Chicago and St.Paul is on the right side of the train. Keeps you out of the sun, and best views are to the right - especially along the Mississippi River.
It might be too early for these Glacier N.P. stops, but you can ask at the Visitors Center. My wife and I were there in September, 2014 and it was beautiful. Here are two spots we enjoyed.
On the east side, the Many Glacier area was an enjoyable outing. The Many Glacier Hotel sits on Swiftcurrent Lake. You can take a boat ride the length of Swiftcurrent Lake, then make short hike over a hill (easy walk) to Lake Josephine to board a second boat and continue the boat ride the length of that lake. Very nice views of Mt. Grinnell from there and wildlife sightings. It's a pretty level hike back to the hotel from there if you choose to do it. Again, I don't know if this is open in June, but worth asking about.
The second spot I would mention is on the west side, Polebridge Mercantile and Bowman Lake. The Polebridge Bakery has some pretty good baked goods. I really liked the beer batter huckleberry cinnamon bread. Take a slice of that toasted and a little butter and it melts in the mouth. If you haven't already discovered this, huckleberries in Montana are like blueberries in Maine. They put them in everything :'). After you satisfy your sweet tooth, keep driving in and see Lake Bowman, another large lake with high mountains all around it. The roads up this way are not paved, so hopefully you will be in an appropriate vehicle. The road in to Bowman Lake is rougher and may not be open, so you should ask first. I would guess you could get to the Mercantile/bakery though. It's a nice drive along the North Fork of the Flathead River to get up there if you are coming up from say Apgar Visitors Center.
Enjoy your trip! It's all beautiful country out there and pretty much a "can't miss" for whatever you do.
CincinnatiWestern posted:
We in fact loved Glacier so much during our short stay last summer, only three days of our two week 6,000 mile by rail trip, that we’re going back June 28 to July 9 this summer. It is a spectacular place!
It's a good idea to see Glacier National Park sooner rather than later, given that the glaciers there are melting at an alarming rate.
Top of Signal Mountain in the Tetons. Lunch or dinner at the Jackson Lake Lodge. Go to the show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse in downtown Jackson Hole.
Regret that you did not allow more time in Glacier, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole.
Enjoy what will be a special trip.
Jackson WY, Teton Village, there is a cable lift, aerial tramway, that will get you to the top. A beautiful view. Late July pictures, still requires a coat at the top.
Tramway is south of the Grand Teton, (tallest mountain), right center of picture.
Jackson Airport, Snake River, distant in this photo, Gros Ventre, ( pronounced Gravant), Wilderness area.
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