Schlitz

That is a stunning photograph!

neillaubenthal

I kinda agree…overall the parks in UT are better and except for Arches far less crowded than either of those. Glacier is nice but only if you go there before you go to Jasper and Banff…you'll be disappointed if you visit Glacier after those. And also there's Mesa Verde which while not in UT is just across the border fro 4 Corners and Monument Valley. Zion has the same reservation/quota thing that Yosemite has as does Arches but Canyonlands is pretty unpopulated except for Mesa Arch at sunrise.

stangage

Some Considerations
1- Both sites will be overcrowded - more like Disneyland than any natural setting - during the travel season.Stay away unless you enjoy traffic jams and long lines for food, and zero access to parking at relatively rare parking spots. In Glacier you may see a spot you'd like to photograph but might drive 5 miles before you can snap up a parking spot being vacated by another lucky person. Going to the Sun Hwy is not walker friendly.
2- Photo opportunities in Yosemite are highly constrained because much of the parking that used to exist at good photo spots away from the highly popular areas, which are always over crowded, have been eliminated by new road "improvements" over the past few years. Unless you're willing to do lots of walking along roads you'll do better to get your photos from National Geographic. In the "Off" travel season consider getting into the park before 7:00 AM and go elsewhere after 10:00 when all the camper have finished breakfast.
3-Glacier has VERY limited hotel/motel opportunities in/near the park. Most close down after mjd September. Better luck to stay near the eastern entrance than the west. If you want west consider staying in Kalispell. Assume that the Going to the Sun Highway will be closed by snow after mid September.

In short, the experience in these parks is totally ruined by overcrowding. I know I'll be castigated by others for the following statement but "I feel our more popular national parks in our country should be limited to access by American citizens ONLY." Then they will be at least a bit more enjoyable.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

"In short, the experience in these parks is totally ruined by overcrowding. I know I'll be castigated by others for the following statement but "I feel our more popular national parks in our country should be limited to access by American citizens ONLY." Then they will be at least a bit more enjoyable."[/quote]


Better to require reservations from everyone and limit the amount of time they can visit during the most overcrowded times. Limit campers to one week per year to reduce the number of people from nearby areas from coming back every time they want a weekend camping trip. Then prohibit private vehicles in the most crowded areas like is done in Zion. Limit traffic to shuttle buses and bicycles. Someone could set up a franchise system to rent out electric bikes and make a fortune.

Photec

These are my first two choices; the order doesn't matter. You can't go wrong.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

It depends on what you want to do. I think most of Yosemite's beauty is available only to hikers, whereas much more of Glacier is available to vehicles. Glacier has hiking trails, too, but you can see Yosemite by vehicle in one day and it takes several to see all of Glacier.

If you decide to do Glacier NP, take your passports and see the part in Canada, too.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

I would sell a kidney for either one, but that's just me.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Judging by the scenery, might I suggest Keweenaw Historic National Park and Isle Royale National Park in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Keweenaw County. Isle Royale is accessible by boat or seaplane. Has a lodge. It’s a beautiful, under-visited park. Island travel is by foot or BYOB (bring your own boat).

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Have you been to Yellowstone? If not, Yellowstone in September is great. Not very crowded at that time. (Things start closing up, so reservations needed) It offers wildlife and unbelievable "thermal features" (geysers, bubbling mud pots, boiling springs, etc.). And the Grand Tetons next door offers spectacular mountain views - and in September the elk will be migrating down into Jackson Hole - I once watched as a herd of about 80 elk swam across the river right in front of us.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

The only Western major park I haven’t been to at least once is Glacier. My wife & I love being out West. We’re planning another trip out sometime this season.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I am signed up for a tour this September that visits 10 National Parks, 2 National Monuments, 2 National Forests, 1 Tribal Park, and 1 State Park, all in the West. It begins in Seattle, WA and ends in Phoenix, AZ--a 21-day tour in 6 states. I did a somewhat similar tour in 2009 that visited some of the same parks, but there is enough different about this one to make it exciting for me. Here's the map: https://www.kissalaska.com/95/9556513/3958/158E1132-2EC6-5511-7E23-DECC137FDE92.jpg. It doesn't go to either of the parks you are interested in, but I have been to both of them--Glacier in 2013 and Yosemite in 2018. Both are worth a visit, but I enjoyed the 4 days in Glacier more than the day in Yosemite, which was wrapped in smoke from wildfires that summer.

I assume you are traveling by automobile.

Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

You say no bear spray needed,but,you saw 3 bears the last time you were there? Far more people attacked by black bears every year than grizzlies. Your post is confusing. Both species of bear are aggressive if you get between a mother and her cubs.

Littledab Loc: Wyoming

I would go Glacier because due to the proximity and where you are traveling from , you can incorporate Yellowstone and Grand Teton which rival any park.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Both are overcrowded. Yosemite won't let you into the park unless you have a reservation after 20 May. Glacier is requiring reservations for the Going to the Sun Highway. So you will have problems with either.
Look at thr Photograph America news letter for a reasonable priced photography guid.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Here is a link to the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier NP: https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/plan-your-trip/going-to-the-sun/
I rode the Red Bus Tour while there, and it was fun. My tour was via AMTRAK and 4 days and nights. If you're interested, photos are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157709326963332/ (Logan Pass is on the Going to the Sun Road).

My Yosemite NP visit was via a coach tour of California parks and only most of one day. I don't hike, so not a lot of the best scenery, I'm afraid. The smoke from nearby woods fires didn't help. However, if you're interested, the pics are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/sets/72157700439244245/.

If it were I doing a driving tour, I'd probably plan for at least a week once in the general area--3 or 4 days in Glacier NP, 3 days in Yellowstone NP, and a day or 2 in Grand Teton NP (take the Snake River raft tour).

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you have a good time.