Glacier NP trip: I'll be roadtripping to Glacier NP in June with another retired friend. There will be no hiking involved due to his health condition. We will take the "Red Bus" tour...

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

I'll be roadtripping to Glacier NP in June with another retired friend. There will be no hiking involved due to his health condition. We will take the "Red Bus" tour on our first whole day. The tour will take all day on the Road to the Sun highway. The next day we will drive the same route and take our time. Any suggestions for our trip?

rattlesnakeron

Go Slow. Both are on the east side of the mountains. There is a pullout where three waterfalls can be seen. Another pullout Mt. Clements and a waterfall can be seen. There are usually Mt. goats at Logan Pass. Be sure to go north on the east side of the mountains to the border. The scenery is great. The two Medicine lakes are nice but require walking to get the best views of the lakes.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Spectre wrote:

I'll be roadtripping to Glacier NP in June with another retired friend. There will be no hiking involved due to his health condition. We will take the "Red Bus" tour on our first whole day. The tour will take all day on the Road to the Sun highway. The next day we will drive the same route and take our time. Any suggestions for our trip?

My wife and I will be in Glacier mid June; 3 days by Manny, and 4 days by Apcar.
Hoping the Sun Road will be open. Then on to Idaho, and back to Yellowstone for a couple days, before heading home.

Duane

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

Bear2 wrote:

My wife and I will be in Glacier mid June; 3 days by Manny, and 4 days by Apcar.
Hoping the Sun Road will be open. Then on to Idaho, and back to Yellowstone for a couple days, before heading home.

Duane

Looking forward to your shots!

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

rattlesnakeron wrote:

Go Slow. Both are on the east side of the mountains. There is a pullout where three waterfalls can be seen. Another pullout Mt. Clements and a waterfall can be seen. There are usually Mt. goats at Logan Pass. Be sure to go north on the east side of the mountains to the border. The scenery is great. The two Medicine lakes are nice but require walking to get the best views of the lakes.

Thanks!

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

If you have the time I would suggest a detour to the Icefields Parkway in the Alberta Rockies, from north of Banff to south of Jasper. This is the most beautiful mountain scenery I've ever seen, even more beautiful than Glacier NP. Many places to shoot high alpine peaks, glaciers, and beautiful emerald colored glacier fed lakes from the roadside.

Medic24

Btw. It is my opinion, that the red bus tours are well worth the money.
I was lucky enough to ride shotgun while on our tour and kindly asked the driver discrete questions about the best locations for photography and I was not disappointed.

The sun road does get busy beginning about mid morning however, which means that many of the rather small pull offs get full, forcing you to move on lest you hold up traffic.
Might I suggest you research road opening times and chose either the earliest or later times of the day to travel (I can't remember if it's open 24 hours or not). The major benefit, besides lighter traffic is catching sun rises, sunsets and beautiful shadows as well as great chances of wildlife sightings. On a side note....while driving, watch for potential wildlife and livestock in the roadway both in and outside the park. We had to dodge herds of horses in the roadway several times.

Radioactive Loc: Bellingham

The park rangers are armed and can give speeding tickets. It is very easy to go fast when there is not too much traffic. And it seems like they set up speed traps. Don't get a speeding ticket.
Bill

jcwood

Helicopter tours are wonderful and well worth the $. I think the Glacier Heli tours are better than Banff's and I've done both. Enjoy.

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

Teton Viewer wrote:

If you have the time I would suggest a detour to the Icefields Parkway in the Alberta Rockies, from north of Banff to south of Jasper. This is the most beautiful mountain scenery I've ever seen, even more beautiful than Glacier NP. Many places to shoot high alpine peaks, glaciers, and beautiful emerald colored glacier fed lakes from the roadside.

Thanks for your input!

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

Thanks everyone for your most helpful information. I'm looking forward to more of my NP retirement trips.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Be sure and check for the "Going to the Sun" road being open. That early in the season, it may (or more probably) not be open all the way across. Google "Going to the Sun road opening dates". If it is not open all the way across, you can drive around the south end of the park to access the east side. There are lots of interesting places on the east side! Like 'Swift Current', Lake St. Mary, and 'Sunrift Gorge'. Check out the following:
http://enjoyyourparks.com/GoingToTheSunRoadPullouts.html
If nothing else, you can go up the WEST side of the park, to a very interesting store at Polebridge, and then there is the lakes beyond Polebridge, which are up a rough, dirt road(s), quite scenic!
Enjoy Glacier, it is one of the top 6 or so U.S. NP's.

JohnKlingel

It may not be open in June. Check out the National Bison Range for great wildlife and all photography is from the car or standing by it. Great photography at Virginia City and Nevada City, two Montana ghost towns.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

I 2nd the suggestion to visit the National Bison Range. GREAT wildlife photo ops. Been there a few times and it hasn't disappointed us yet. Would never miss it if anywhere in the area. There's lots more there than Bison.

ValliPride Loc: Lost in Florida

I agree this can be an Amazing trip, I got Engaged at Lake McDonald, My Bride never expected it. Such a Beautiful part of our Country. If Time Drive up to Baniff