Glacier National Park's Going to the Sun Road: Scenery, Wildlife and nearby Trails
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ธ.ค. 2020
- I went out there in October for peak fall color. In this episode, I start at the east side closure point (near Rising Sun) and Guide you through the scenery, viewpoints and trailheads along the road. We see bears, and a moose. We see how the park recovers from forest fire and we step out on a few trails as we drive west across the beautiful Going to the Sun Road. We see Rising Sun, Sun Point, bears, moose, new growth after a forest fire, Barring Falls, Sunrift Gorge, St. Mary; Lunch Creek, Logan Pass, Fall Color, The Loop Tunnels, McDonald Creek, Trail of the cedars, McDonald Creek and
I have produced many other videos on my favorite National Park- including "What to Know Before you Go" and "50 Best Trails in Glacier"
What an absolutely fantastic episode. I love these little videos, beautifully filmed, edited and narrated. I do wish the BBC still made quality programmes like this. ✌❤🇬🇧
Thanks! That might be the best complement I've received! It's nice to see the work is appreciated!
Most inspirational… thank you. 🇨🇦
you’re welcome
We are heading there tomorrow morning. Can’t wait.
A JOB WELL DONE... THANK-YOU SO SO SO MUCH!!
Amen
Mr & Mrs Bowen
Veteran
San Diego
Thanks.
Very, very inspiring! Thanks so much!
You’re welcome!! i hope you watch my 2hr video on the park. Its even more inspiring.
Wow. Jaw dropping.
it’s an amazing place. was there again 2 weeks ago editing footage now- please subscribe and come back
Nice video. Thanks for your good work
thanks
Excellent video.
Thanks for commenting! fyi- the GTTSR res tickets are only good for 3 days this year not 7.
I have done this route many times by motorcycle, but your additional comments about the many turnoffs have shown me that I missed a great deal even so. Thank you
you’re welcome
Great job on this video .
thanks
Thank you sir for the terrific video and for your calming voice while narrating. It's 100 hours well spent and worth every bit of it. Thank you!
Wow, thank you!
@@TheWestisBig - One question please, if I cannot get a reservation to go to the sun road, is it true that if I come to the park before 6AM, I won't need one? Thank you in advance.
Yes it's true but there may be a line of cars right at 6am- you can also go after 3pm. A few days ago I released a "What you need to know " for 2023 video that explains the rules for 2023
@@TheWestisBig Thank you sir, it's so frustrating because I've been trying to get a pass almost every day but I am not able to 😥. Ok, so there is hope if I can't get a pass, thank you again for your input. I am looking forward to this trip on June/July 2023!
Thanks for the video!
you’re welcome
Every time I see your videos, I am glad I was able to purchase 5 acres of land not far from there.
I wish i was able to do that!
@@TheWestisBig it took 7 years of searching countless hours after work, on weekends, on holidays, and into the wee hours of the morning, workdays included. I was about to close the PC down late one night when my thumb accidentally hit the mouse wheel. That brought up one more property on the screen, with everything I was looking for. Acreage, underground utilities, private road, 360-degree mountain views (rock mountains, not tree-covered), and only 6 neighbors. All for a price a thief would be happy with.
Sounds real nice! i hope i’m that lucky one day
I truly hope you are able to find just the right property you will be happy to call home.
Looks lovely. Very informative video.
Thank you!
Amazing images! I really enjoy it! Heloisa
Many thanks!
Most beautiful places I've ever seen! And I've been all over, the smokies, rocky mountain national park, the Grand canyon, chama canyon, Zion, Yosemite, Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, the Matterhorn, Italy's Dolemites, etc... Glacier is almost ungodly beautiful!
you’re better traveled, but couldn’t agree more!
Steve, your video and commentary of the Going to the Sun road are just as majestic and beautiful as the scenery they describe. Your work is clearly a labor of love to all of us. Many many thanks!!
Thanks. Fyi - i’m in the editing phase of updating my glacier vids with new footage shot in June.
Just watching this video made me felt like I am in heaven. It profoundly wounds me that ı didn't born in USA but Turkey. Don't get me wrong Turkey has a series of gorgeous natural beauties, landmarks and forests especially in Mediterrenean parts with Muğla Bodrum, Marmaris, Milas but it cannot match with the national forests, parks of USA. I can't fathom why people in USA come to visit Istanbul it feels like a less developed, secure and cheaper version New York and most of the İstanbul is a concrete pile mess. I have been living there for 20 years and ı would say ı am sick of it along with every corner of it. Istanbul is a beautiful place to visit, if you stay there for more than a month all of its beauty will collapse around you, you can't even see the stars in the sky in that light polluted, congriously metal flexed city. Whereas, Montana is a majestic dream that ı wouldn't want to wake up. It never surpasses its glamourasness no matter how many times I look, god ı really wish to live in Montana. Well, lucky me that ı will be visiting it in the next year owing to my college in New York :D You Americans should really appreciate and know the abysmal value of your cities that are filled with natural wonders.
Thanks, you should subscribe to my channel and see much more of Montana. My Utah videos are pretty good too. Btw- when you get to New York you’ll find most New Yorkers prefer cities and would rather go to Istanbul than Montana.
We Americans are spoiled with the natural beauty of the national parks (though most of the best one are far from the population centers, so it is a big trip to visit them, something many people can do only a few times in their life). But what we don't have is history. Ancient cities where great world events happened, great art was made (and is still kept) - that is a big reason why Americans travel abroad, including to Istanbul. Also, many Americans, being descendants of immigrants, want to visit the homeland of their ancestors.
Thank you for making this amazing video.
You’re welcome.
Thank you so much for this wonderful and informative video.
I will use this for my next trip guide to Glacier National Park.
Glad it was helpful!
Beautiful!! Thank you for this video!!!
I visited here in the late nineties. It is still one of my favorite places that I have ever been.
Thank you for the excellent video and tell me and several others to see Glacier National Park also the many stopping points to stop and visit when Gas prices rezeed to normal.
Thanks for the kind comment
Thanks for the new updates. I’m coming back in August. Was there in2015 when the big fires closed the east side.
Thanks. If you have pics of the fire I’d like to see them and maybe include them in future videos.
Nice video. Bring back my wonderful memory almost 20 years ago. It was before all the fires and snow cap can still be seen. I told myself to come back again. Iceberg lake ( yes , we saw iceberg on the lake) Logan pass, Many glacier.. and so much more.
thanks. i was there last week still a great place. thanks for subscribing
This is the best video on GTTSR I've seen. Gorgeous photography and informative.
Thanks. It was a lot of work
I drove the free shuttle on the westside of Glacier during the season of 2010. I loved watching your video as it brought back so many great memories of that summer. Thank you.
your welcome
The park visiting center is so huge and unique, the entire video is more than just fantastic.. Wow !!
Thank you!
Please note the Sun road res tickets are only good for 3 days this year- fyi I’ll be there in 2 weeks to shoot the next update
Thank you for the time and effort you have put into this. You are like the Rick Steves for the western US.
Thank you very much! I wish I had his money and shooting budgets.
This is such a well put together video, thank you!!!
thanks for noticing.
I was there a few months ago. I spent some time solo camping and hiking in the park. Beautiful.
It is !
We took the same route you showed back in 2007 in a Red Jammer bus. This brings that ride back in my mind so clearly! Thanks for sharing!
Great job on the video! Wonderful visual and narration! Very informative! Thanks!
Thanks Pop Tart. It's a great place.
Great tour, so excited to see in person myself this summer. And that lady? What a hoot! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us... :)
its a great place
Best narrated video. Very interesting. I was here in 1992. I will never forget GNP.
My brother and I rode this road in the summer on our Harleys. The trip up was awesome! Wonderful views and the traffic was not bad. We hit a bad forest fire right before the Canadian border and had to turn around. Bumper to bumper on the way down. took the fun right out of it.
Crowds Are a problem
Excellent going to put Park on my bucket list
Thank you for this update, Awesome place! Wow
What a beautiful opening picture Steve . I had taken a number of pictures of the park , the last in 1971 I think when we were 24 . I had not dated or even annotated the photos thinking that "of course I will remember where they were and the year " Fifty years later and now living in Australia , I struggled to recall exactly which part of the Rockies it was until I watched some of your videos and instantly recognised the tunnel and "that" mountain. Had plans for including the park in one of our bi annual tours but will just have to enjoy your videos for a while .
So far the best video I have seen about glacier!! Very informative, best photography and well narrated 👍
thanks!! I’m a professional video producer and Instructional Designer with large corporate clients. I do travel videos with the same level of care- (but no budget) Its nice to read the work is appreciated. Please subscribe - you may find you like the 74 and 93 min comprehensive glacier travel guides even better. The 94 min one is the most watched glacier np video on youtube.
thanks again for the compliment
excellent! loved learning the geology while I rode my stationary bike!! thanks for the hours of research!
you’re welcome
So many beautiful places to see. Makes me want to figure out how to travel full time.
thanks! based on your name you may want to check out my Utah Parks Tour and Road Less Traveled video series. thanks for subscribing
I love the beautiful scenery
Of the nature .
I appreciate you .and I enjoy watching .
thanks
Thank you for this update, Steve. My family and I cancelled our trip to the park this year because of the pandemic and this was just nice to see.
You’re welcome.
I keep watching all of your Glacier park videos trying to remember everything. Thank you for all you've put into these videos. Traveling from Pittsburgh to Weat Glacier to camp at the West Glacier KOA this is definitely our bucketlist trip. Making lists from your guidelines to fit it all into our itinerary.
Glad my work is helping. Btw- make sure you check the park website often for any rule or entry changes.
@@TheWestisBig Yes. I have a reminder set in my phone to get our reservations for the 3 day entry tickets. And I can't wait to go to the Polebridge bakery to escape the crowds and have a treat on our easy day. Would not have known about these places without your hard work.
happy to help
Glaciers have been growing
I enjoyed this very much. Very well done. I wish I had this back in 2014 when I was there.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great video! I commented on your overview video a while ago and I am returning to the park in early September for my 14th time. I will be there with three first time visitors honing my tour guide skills. We are staying in Fish Creek campground and will be only my second stay on the west side since my first trip in 1997: I, like you, really love the east side.
Very well done and informative!! This has to be the best documentary on Glacier National Park. I've seen more about this park here than any from any other channel. I think I'll subscribe
Thanks for the words and for subscribing! I have other vids on the park that have much more info too- on the channel.
It's worth going once in lifetime. It wasn't all I was expecting
fabulous video.. brings it all back.. id love to go again....
You should!
That was great! A bucket list item for this photographer; I'm from the east, so I'll take your advice. Thanks for this great gift.
It's a great place! BTW- My longer videos have more info about photo ops in the park
Thanks! I’m taking a cycling tour there in August. Can’t wait! Hope to take a few side trips/hikes you recommended after the cycling is over.
Have fun!
First one HERE!!! LOVE your video’s!
Yay! Thank you!
Nice job as always!
Thanks again!
I've hiked in Glacier, lots of bears! A little spooky hiking in this park because of the animals that can eat you.
I drove this road from the west side to the park lodge when there was no guard rail. The speed limit was about 5 mph and when the tour buses came it was really spooky. It was a super great trip that I have never forgotten and someday would like to repeat.
fantastic
Very well narrated... kudos 👏
thanks
great job!
thanks goer the kind comment
It's apparent your first time autumn visit did not disappoint!
it did not
Very interesting 👍🏼
thanks for writing
You must have been there the week after me as I was driving out of the park was the first Smokey day. It was my first visit and your previous videos were an excellent guide. I hope to visit the Many Glacier area in 2021. Thanks again for a great video.
Very cool! Were there when the Northern Lights were visible over McDonald Lake?
@@TheWestisBig I am not sure as I hiked all day for 3 days I was there then crashed early. I hiked Logan pass to lake lookout, Highline to glacier lookout and to Chalet, Siyeh & Piegan Pass and Avalanche lake Then drove back to Tulsa. Super long 3 days in the park but worth every second.
You're not with 319 Photography are you? BTW- you might like this video-I'm updating with the footage I shot in October but its still worth seeing especially the Highline to Many Glacier Hike segment
th-cam.com/video/OVg_cYB2hSk/w-d-xo.html
@@TheWestisBig No, just an early retiree who likes to hike. Loved glacier, looking forward to the pandemic winding down and some better hiking in 2021. Let me know if your down for some hiking.
Good to include what WAS stated: (Due to Global Warming)”all glaciers will be gone by 2020”. Obviously not true. Your videos are super.
Did this trip in 76, got to the part to see the glaciers, but there was a storm coming in that blocked the view! Maybe next time.
Great video Steve! Really like the details of the different areas of the park I haven't seen previously! At 6:57 there was a black crop, not sure if you were going to add titles there. Also really liked the geological history which adds perspective of how the park looks today. Impressive!
Thanks for watching. Yea I didn't see that mistake until the premiere. It's a an Adobe bug in their stabilizer feature when its used on 4k video on a 1080 timelime. I clicked it on my final review pass but didn't check it after it completed. I noticed a couple of shots that need to be replaced and a couple of VO issues-- If you did let me know as I plan to fix them for the 4K youTube version. Thanks again
@@TheWestisBig Your welcome. And thank you, again, appreciate the fine work you do with these videos! I plan to go out there this year for sure!
I was there on motorcycle in Summer 2019, unfortunately it was foggy and rained the entire day and it was very crowded so we basically drove thru with just on stop the next time I hope to drive it from the East as you have recommended.
Glad to hear your going to get there. I fear most who have bad weather on their visit don't.
We must have been across the GTSR 6 ot 8 times and I haven't seen what you reveal. Too much concentration on the roadway. But we will be coming back and spend more time on the road and the trails. Hopefully the road will be open when we get there the last couple of times it wasn't.
I'd driven it 100 times before I saw Lost Lake. I'm sure i'll see something else I've never seen next time too. Great Place-- as you know!
Thanks heading that way from Mi on the 17 th of June 2021
I wish I was! Hopefully the road will be open before you leave. Check the Road Status page on the park's web site for more info.
@@TheWestisBig we are taking are time no hurry so it should be 🇺🇸
😍😍😍
What a great video. Thank You for sharing your amazing trip. We will be up there with our horses artie 7th of July. What are your thoughts of driving a dully pickup over the Going To The Sun Highway?
Thanks. You might want to skim through the update to this video which includes info on The need for a reservation to drive the road. The dully is under 22 ft long so no problem. parking at some pullouts will be interesting or not possible. subscribe to see the updated video.
@@TheWestisBig Thank You for your reply. I’ve definitely subscribed to your page. We spend our summers hauling our horses around Montana, Wyoming & South Dakota, but have never been to Glacier. Every time we talk about it, friends that travel in cars get very concerned about taking our truck over this road. We haul a 38 foot living quarter horse trailer into the mountains on one lane roads all over these states. Once again, Thank You
the hardest part will likely be getting a reservation to drive on it. or get on lt before 6am or after 3pm
Great job. You're a very professional narrator. I have a request if you please, no one has ever done a documentary about Sequoia national Park. I hope you're interested.
Thanks. If you know someone who would like to fund Sequoia doc, I’d love to make one. It’s been almost 20 years since i’ve been there.
👍
I have been to the Sun Road several times on the way to Glacier National Park. The Sun Road is always under construction with repairs. The drive is a wonderful drive.
Absolutely amazing video. I hope to get there in September. Unfortunately I will only have one day. Which hike(s) would you recommend for a one day trip?
Hard to say. Watch my Glacier: The hikers np, 50 hikes in glacier, “three favorite trails in glacier, or what you need to know before you go videos. then you can decide which is best for you.
@@TheWestisBig Thank you 😊
Two Medicine lake and Many Glacier area is the most underrated part of the Glacier National Park. Imo both these places have better views than gttsr.
Love all the info you provided in this video! If I was to stop and walk the short hikes along the road, how many days should I plan to do so? 3?
Hard to say. you might find scanning thru my 50hikes in glacier video and my glacier: the hikers national park videos on my channel. lots of hiking info- scan to avoid seeing some things again
@@TheWestisBig thank you for your quick reply! i will check it out :) i appreciate your channel so much!
Thanks. please hit the Like button and subscribe
Love your video (and narration!). Heading to Glacier Aug '21! Hope to hike Grinnell Glacier. Is it my understanding that the Swiftcurrent/Many Glacier was not accessible in 2020 due to covid? Thanks
Thanks. it sounds like you should watch my “What to knowBefore You Go” video and my “Glacier:The Hikers National Park” video both are on my TheWestIsBig travel guid channel
@@TheWestisBig will do! Thanks !
how to start from East side to drive the sun road? I enjoyed all your videos!
thanks for your question. If staying on west side drive hwy2 around s end of park to st mary. I did this 2 weeks ago because you don’t need a res ticket to enter the park on the east side. or simply drive across the sun road. note- the rules change and you must check the park website for latest info. also note the Sun road is still not fully open. again check park website for opening info.
Thr took the signs down lol
We had a problem with the G to S road because there were no parking spaces left at the overlooks. Most of the parking was taken up by hikers that got up at dawn and filled the spaces. That prevented limited mobility people like us from enjoying the place. In addition the park hotels were astonishingly expensive. In one place the cabins had been split into two and were very disappointing.
We had planned to spend a week but wound up leaving after 2 nights. Glacier Park is a hikers park that does not serve older people with limited mobility. Driving the G to S highway was interesting but definitely over crowded.
I guesss you didn't watch my "Glacier: The Hiker's National Park" video before you went.
I added going to the sun road to my bucket list an hour ago after discovering it. I watched your video and already removed it from the list. Beautiful of course, but ain’t no way I’m dealing with all that nonsense and ticket uncertainty, especially coming from 2000 miles away. Way too many people too. An hour wait for a bus, no thanks. Great video though
Sadly, I understand your decision and that's one reason I made the updated video. Crowds really do negatively impact the experience.
What kind of camera and lenses did you use to capture the stunning footage in this video? I'm always looking to improve my own equipment and techniques. 📷📸
I had 7 cameras with me on that shoot. My job is making video for Fortune 500 companies. I used everything from a gopro , iphone, sony a7siii, Lumix and Dvx200
@@TheWestisBig thanks for sharing it with us! Appreciate your effort and love the results!
thanks. Im releasing a 14 min highline trail to Many Glacier hike video tomorrow. has some 3d animation too. hope you check it out. Wed a4 min highline to the loop will be out.
I really like your videos. They're almost like professional videos. I was hoping you did a Sequoia national Park video. But you didn't. Any plans to go to Sequoia? Hahaha
Hmmm. I’ve been producing video professionally for over 20 years! The diff is these were produced without a crew and with no budget. I’ve been to Sequoia NP but can’t spare the 200 man hours it takes to make a video of this quality.
@@TheWestisBig That's what I mean. Just you, no crew. There are no videos about Sequoia worth watching.
thanks
Man I was planning a road trip to the south west but now my plans may change
Glacier is a beautiful place!! it might be too late to plan a 2021 trip- but you might enjoy my Utah Grand Tour Utah National Parks: The Mighty 5 & beyond Travel Guide
Or based on your name my just released Carlsbad Caverns Carlsbad Cavers National Park's Big Room walking tour (shot on Sony a7s3 low light camera). both are available my channel.
We have a picture by the weeping wall in 1992.
I am going to visit this year june 21 through 25. Typically, is Going To The Sun Road drivable from the west entrance up to Trail of the Cedars by June 22? I know it's different each year, but what about on average?
You should be able to go that far. but please note- the had implemented a ticket/pass system this week for those who want to drive on the sun road. if not staying on the park you need to get the pass online- as of an hour ago the site wasn’t working yet. but you NEED to check on this!! fyi just wrote script explaining will be bid editing tomorrow
@@TheWestisBig thank you. It looks like the day passes wont be able to be purchased until april 29th
What is required to purchase beforehand in order to go through Glacier National park's Going To The Sun Road? I would imagine a Daily Glacier Park Pass of some sort is required? Anything else?
I believe you can purchase a National Park annual pass on-line. I think it’s $80. Not sure there’s any advantage to pre-purchase.
Would you say it’s safe to go sept 16tg-23?
Don’t know what safe means, but I went in Oct of 2020 and had a great trip. Check the website though for planned road closures.
@@TheWestisBig as safe I meant no snow lol
Who is Al Gore?
LOL
So much for global warming!!!
Thank you for all your hard work!
you’re welcome. thanks for the comment