When I visited in 2016, most of the trails near Two Medicine campground were nearly empty (had to myself or just about): Paradise Point, Scenic Point, and Aster park. Running Eagle had some people but not crowded. On my ranger lead trip to Dawson Pass there were a few outside my group. At Logan pass Highline Trail was closed, Hidden Lake was crowded (even though there was quite a bit of snow)
Brian
Doesn’t matter that you stole it, I’m re-stealing it.
I once got called out on the boards for using the term “waitron”, as it’s a rather demeaning way of referring to restaurant waitstaff. I responded to the person chiding me with “I’d never use that in general, but reread the anecdote. In this case, it was TOTALLY deserved”. Most tourists try to be courteous but can, naturally be clueless. Taking it a step further will get you the “touron” moniker.
I hate to tell you, but things have changed.
In the 90s I visited Yellowstone, Yosemite (DROVE to Glacier Point!), Bryce, Arches, Zion multiple times (hiked to Angel’s Landing) and Glacier with no reservations, just showed up. Man I miss that.
Now it is so crowded, you have to schedule a time to get attacked by a bison, there are just so many tourons and so little daylight hours.
The last shuttle for Zion leaves Springdale at 6:00 PM, so if you are expecting to get back to the trailhead late you can easily miss the final one and have to walk. A park employee or guest at the Lodge (they can bring cars into the park) might take pity on you can give you a lift. That’s why a lot of folks rent e-bikes for getting around the park - you can control your own schedule. We stayed at the Zion Lodge, started out by headlamp before dawn and made to the top of Angel’s Landing and back across the chains before the first shuttle people even arrived. (This was before you needed reservations for Angel’s Landing.)
In summer there’s often a 2 hour wait for a shuttle, that’s if you can find parking at the visitor center. If not, you park in Springdale and take a shuttle to the VS before you can get in line for the second shuttle. It can be a real hassle, which is why we elected to stay at the Lodge.
Parks which will require reservations in 2025 include:
Yeah, I get it. In Alaska, which really depends on tourist dollars, it’s routinely used to describe all tourists. Now, there are a lot of idiots who think it’s a good idea to try to pet a moose or to approach other wildlife that can kill them, or who treat the state like an amusement park that is free of dangers, but by and large, most of them behave themselves and don’t deserve the “touron” moniker. That said, I’ve been to a lot of national parks, monuments, etc., and seen my share of people who deserve to die.
West end vs. east end:
Spend more time at west end?
More time at east end?
Divide time equally?
mmm
As mentioned, I picked the east end (Two Medicine to be specific) for various reasons (distance, crowds, and weather). I’ll let someone who has been to both sides weigh in if west is better
But travel between the sides is a non trivial matter – either beat the crowd on Going-to-the-Sun Road or go around on highway 2. Since you will be there a while, a day trip to the other side is feasible. If staying in the West I’m not sure you would want to hit Two Medicine AND Many Glacier (probably would be 2 different days)
Are privative locations (e.g. Kintla Lake) less crowded? Something to consider.
Brian
We arrived from the west (we flew into Seattle then drove partway one night), went across maybe 2/3 of Going To The Sun Road, and stayed closer to the east end. I think the place we stayed was the Rising Sun Motor Inn (though I don’t recall the name, that seems to be about where I remember).
We did most of our time at the eastern end, including popping outside the park to go to some kind of Native American museum, and to go in via another entrance to one of the major old-style lodges (probably Many Glacier).
We did make a long day of it when we returned, stopping along GTTS Road for several hikes (that was where we found the bear scat), then stayed just outside the park that night, before heading back to Seattle.
Amusingly, this trip was the one time I’ve ever rented a car that had manual transmission. That’s supposedly much more common in Europe, but in 40+ years of car rentals, I’ve never had one. Wasn’t a problem for us; I imagine we could have requested a different car if we couldn’t have managed manual transmission.
I am starting to wonder how popular American tourists will be in Canada, once the Fascist-in-Chief tries to annex us.
If/when anybody (not just the OP) goes, I would appreciate a report so I can visit vicariously.
Thanks,
Brian
I will certainly do that (in nine months or so).
mmm
I’m looking into reserving my Going to the Sun Road pass and it occurs to me - I have to select one day to reserve.
I assume there are plenty of other roads and areas to explore - that do not require reservations/passes - on my non GTTSR days?
mmm
There are several other places to visit in the park, but Going to the Sun Road will get you to a higher elevation with spectacular views quicker and easier than anywhere else in the park. The other areas involve longer drives and more remote terrain. But still quite impressive.
Yeah this is definitely true. My wife made the itinerary so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I was gobsmacked that less than an hour after we got off the plane in Kallispell, we were on top of a huge mountain looking down at other big mountains, with some bighorn sheep staring at us. Just straight off the airplane, that same afternoon.
In the future I’d like to go back to Many Glaciers and hike all of it, over and over. And somehow figure out how to fit in some of the other spots.