Glacier National Park 2024 Everything you Need to Know - Including Itinerary
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- This is the 5th annual update by Glacier Expert Steve Salis. It has been updated for 2024. he of course shows us how beautiful the park is but also how to navigate the Vehicle Reservation System- which could keep you out of the park. He describes each of the Park's 5 activity areas as well as things to do in each. There's a section on the park's shuttle and Bus tours, horse trail rides, tour boats and bike rentals.
He list and describes his favorite hikes for all skill levels and provides an itinerary for a 1 week stay.
Because of the overcrowding issue, he tells you how and when to visit the park in the off-season and also where to stay inside and outside the park.
And, of course how to stay safe in Bear country.
00:00 start
1:00 Overview of Vehicle reservation ticket system
18:00 The Two Medicine area
18:41 Many Glacier
23:29 Best Trails
24:30 Trip Plan / Itinerary
28:00 Film Permit
32:00 Bear Safety
32:52 What to wear
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For those who want to visit Glacier, please use these videos to plan your trip. I am visually disabled and used these videos to plan a flawless trip. We have now visited 27 of the big National Parks. Glacier is our #1.
Thank you for making these videos. You are a treasure to those of us working to make a trip magical. Much love to you my friend
Thanks for the kind words, the comment for subscribing and especially for the endorsement!!! I'll pin it to the top.
@@TheWestisBig You deserve a lot of gratitude :) We are heading to Zion, the Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley in March and of course, using your videos to help guide us
Thank you! its nice to hear the work is appreciated
Excellent up to date presentation thank you I live about 30 minutes from the east side on the Canadian side
Glad you enjoyed it. How are things in Banff? I've been there a few times buts its been 15 years. Is it getting over crowded like US parks?
Excellent opinion on the government regulations for filming I agree 100 per cent
Thanks for the videos! These are great.
Glad you like them! I assume you've watched my 2 hr GNP video- if you''re going it will help a lot. If you're a hiker my 50 hikes in Glacier is a great resource
Your content is great! Love your GNP series 🙏🏻 legend!
Thanks so much! and thanks for commenting and subscribing- it really helps keep this thing going
Stumbled on your video while planning a trip to Glacier national Park. Your video is awesome. I haven’t seen one before but I like that you’re no nonsense right to the point not a lot of jibber jabber and hoopla, just the facts. I like the way you explain it very well but simple. kudos thank you for informative videos.
Thanks for the kind comment. I work hard on all the videos. FYI- if you're going to the park you should watch my Glacier: the hiker's national park video its the best guide to the park on youtube. Skip the parts in the What you need to know.
You're the man
Thanks!
I took your advice last summer, and my friends and I stopped on the Highline trail at the lunch spot. Great place for lunch, and then we turned back around to Logan Pass where we parked. We also did the hike to the Hidden Lake overlook. Great day of hiking! A few other hikes that week as well, including to Iceberg Lake. It’s my favorite park as well.
Thanks great! I secretly hope My "Lunch Spot" becomes the name of that spot. Its one of my favorite in the park. BTW- The Park is considering making the highline a one way trail- maybe they don't like people going to the Lunch Spot and turning around. Thanks for subscribing- it really helps to keep this thing going.
Your dedicstion and work does not go unnoticed. Thanks for your videos.
Am I correct in assuming that in the summer season, one can enter the westside of the park without a vehicle reservation pass and drive the going to the sun road as long as they come in the park before 6am?
Correct. be aware there will be a line of cars before 6am. be early
amazing content and practical recommendations!
Thank you for recognizing the hard work. I have a feeling you'll enjoy my longer guide to the park. skip past things you've already seen.
th-cam.com/video/h3tnwgh6fTk/w-d-xo.html
Great info and excellent videos! Thank you.
Thanks for the comment and subscribing. Its nice to hear the work is appreciated.
Great video. Thanks for all the info. ☺☺☺
thanks for commenting!
Great video, Steve! Awesome that you had footage over the years before the recent national park restrictions. Hopefully, that will change.
I still can't do the duck walk (stedi-cam walk) as well as you-
@@TheWestisBig Thanks! Your footage is excellent, especially like the time lapses, very cool!
Thanks! I try to shoot a TL every sunrise or sunset- often with multiple cameras because you never know what can happen. I had to use the panning TL of Many Glacier even though a bug decided to hang out on the lens during the shot. The other cameras were shooting statics
We are planning a trip in July, this video was really helpful!
Thanks for commenting. Fyi there are very comprehensive GNP guides on the channel too
Excellent video. I subscribed and liked it. I'll check out the rest of your catalog of videos. Most likely share to a few friends and family, Thank you for the effort that you put in during filming and editing.
Thanks! Its very nice to hear the work is apreciated
I live in Calgary... Yes, having Waterton-Glacier practically in your backyard is VERY nice! We actually had to decide to NOT go to Glacier this year because we've done it the last two. Waterton is still just a day trip for us though 🙂
Incidentally, my favourite hike in Waterton is the Bear's Hump. It's the promontory overlooking the Prince of Wales Hotel... Wonderful view of the entire valley, while still having some peaks rising above you.
Hello again and thanks for commenting. Do you stop at Head smashed in on the way down? Thanks for the hiking tip. I hoping to make it to Calgary and the Canadian Rockies as well as get down to glacier and Waterton this year.
52 minutes ago
Not sure what you look like, but I always picture Tom Hanks because you sound like him to me. Always a good video. We went here last year and are going again this summer for 12 days total at various campsites.
On the subject of video fees, there is an updated fee schedule showing a zero cost for 1-2 persons with tripod and camera at National parks. I could not find if GNP tacks on a usage fee, that was difficult to locate as each park can make up there own beyond the permit fee. I feel like videos like yours should be exempt, but how they would determine that I don't know. I do enjoy scene stealing when I see a tik tocker, an influencer or another of the growing group of unproductives.
As far as the thin walls of the lodges, no one wants to hear old people rummaging in the sock drawer either
I have been through the Ptarmigan tunnel on horseback but about 40 years ago I am much too old to try it now
fun
Going back 1st week of August. I snag 6 nights at the Many Glacier Hotel and two nights at St Mary Village
wow! That's great- lucky you!
@TheWestisBigTravelGuides The last time I was at Glacier was the end of July 2022. That was when, as you know, GTTSR opened up late. The main hike I wanted to do was the Grinnell Glacier hike. But it was not fully opened because of 20 feet of snow blocking the trail by the waterfall that one section.
that’s a great trail! my favorite. If you shoot any nice video or stills please send them to me. As of Oct 2022, a $225 permit is required for youtubers to shoot in the park. so i don’t.
@TheWestisBigTravelGuides Yeah, I was watching your last video. You mentioned that. I am going to make a TikTok video of my top 5 hikes with the miles and elevation gain for each hike.
technically you need a filming permit- as u know tiktok is specifically mentioned in the regulation. please shoot some horizontal video for me- i’ll mention your channel
Amazing and informative as always. Do you know if there are e bike rentals on the east side? I’d like to go up GTTSR on an e bike.
Hmmm- I didn't see any in 2022, but the St. Mary resort has a shop and it seems like they could make money with eBike Rentals-- call them. btw- they are about $120/ day- surprisingly expensive but it would be a great side. I road up there about 15 years ago.
I am going with my family for the first time at the end of July. We have camping reservations for Avalanche Creek and Many Glacier.
congrats and thanks for commenting and subscribing
Thanks for sharing all of this fantastic details. We will be in Montana briefly this summer. We're interested in visiting the Two Medicine area only. We will be staying in Columbia Falls. Can we enter at Apgar and go south and east to Two Medicine without needing a vehicle entrance pass? Thank you.
You’ll have to cross the Gate before 6am or after 3pm- there will be a line
Hi Steve, I have watched and enjoyed many of your videos about Glacier and the Southwest. Have you ever done a video about Yellowstone NP?
I've been there a couple of times and it's too crowded and too expensive to spend 14-25 ish days in the park - that's how long it typically takes to shoot one of my videos. That's not how most youtubers do it. And it takes months to edit during which time I'm not making a living. Until I get a sponsor or figure out how to make quality quicker I won't do one on Yellowstone.
I also just did a share on Facebook
Thanks
I am going this year June 22-28. Was already told vehicle registrations sold out but can get purchase them day before. I hope I get them.
Just go early before the timed entry starts you'll want to anyway to get parking at the logans pass which filled up before 7am when I was there. You can also just book an activity. McDonald lodge place to stay was the best. Many Glacier way the prettiest.
Thank you, Glacier every year till I cannot. I am a bigger fan of the east side, so Much easier this year for me. I will try to get Many Glasier pass, but If I don't, I will go early early.
The east side is my favorite too. Amazing place. But will have to get up early to go to Many Glacier because those tickets will go fast.
I'm really enjoying the video. All the information is fantastic. I am lost however at the 14:31 point. I scoured the Glacier website as best I can and no where do I find Glacier's Webpage Dashboard. Can you provide the exact location please Thank you!
ah yes. For some reason the park service doesn’t display that page until around the time the Sun Road is open. That’s what they did last year anyway. The same is true for the trail status page i show. I’ve emailed and phoned them asking why with no good response. thanks for watching so closely and for hopefully subscribing!
Great content and absolutely helpful! But I wonder is there any chance I can make a trip at the very begining of this April 2024? Since the seasonal road closure, almost all parts of Sun road are closed. What will be the best way to get any of the trail/scenario point in the park?
well few of the trails will be clear of snow and debris- that early. They didn’t get much snowfall this year- that may help you. I’d call the parks phone number and ask them what might be open. please subscribe
I booked a year in advance to stay in whitefish and a red bus tour For this september 2024. I am visually and hearing impaired. The more that I research, the more terrified I become and feel like I should cancel this trip. I can only do old granny hikes, and I am a person who is naturally highly anxious and am worried about altitude sickness. The more research I do, The more scared I become. Even though this is probably one of the prettiest places on earth.. It is beyond overwhelming to plan. I even read about people who took a red bus tour but couldn't get anything to eat BEcause when the tour stopped to eat at one of the lodge restaurants, it was so packed that not everyone could eat. People leaving the park in the evening. Sometimes can't find a place to eat because everything has closed. I would have done better to have had a guide lead me. I know if I don't go this year, I will never go. I'm thinking about doing an alaska cruise instead. Any advice for a nervous nelly like me? Thank you for this wonderful video.
Well, it’s not high enough to get altitude sickness. Regarding food. The first thing i do is go to a grocery store. I alway cary my own food and water where ever i go.
There are private guides though they are a few hundred $$
relax and enjoy you’ll be fine. it’s a great place
I'm thinking of going next week (may 9-12). I've been reading online about which trails are open. I'm thinking of driving up to the road closure on the west side and hiking from there, and driving around on highway 2 to St Mary for another hike on the east side. Any words of advice?
I'd call the park and talk to a ranger- may have to call a few numbers to get a human. The permit office is often answered. The Where are The Plows Page says the road is closed a long way from the Alpine section- you can bike to The Loop and Hike a little farther- weather depending. The drive on hwy 2 is the better option. the closure is up higher- near the Jackson Glacier viewpoint I think. The east side is also much prettier- also on the Many Glacier Road is open and there are many great trails there. They didn't get much snow this year so some trails might be open. Check trail status page and talk to a Ranger
Hey Steve, thanks for info. If I have a reservation at Fish Creek campground one night, and St. Mary on the following night, will that allow us to drive GTTSR from the West side to the East without a vehicle reservation?
since you have a camping res for the day you'll be driving across- yes. remember this is a pilot program and subject to change so check the park web site for changes.
Great info. Do you have the links to the dashboard, trail status etc? I tried to look for them but not able to get the same views
Last year they weren’t active until the Sun Road was open - or when the park got crowded. I assume that’s the plane for this year too. Why i don’t know because they are useful pages
@@TheWestisBig roger that!! Thank you. My wife and I got Sun Rising Motor Inn reservations for July this year. So we are validating we cover everything asap. ; )
Did you just get them? Lucky- I'll have to see if there is anything for this year still available.
Thank you for the video!
I am planning a multi day trip with elderly parents who will likely not be ablw to hike much if at all in July.
1) Do you have any tips specifically for elderly people?
2) Given lodging within the park is likely all booked up, for multi day trip - do we just try to find lodging in nearby towns and get driving reservations for multi days?
3) How do you recommend we navigate the limited parking if we are planning the trip in a large van with limited hiking
Thank you so mucj again for the video and the time/effort you have spent creating this content!
that's a lot of questions- please subscribe or click super like before I answer
@@TheWestisBig already subscribed before posting :)
Thanks for Subscribing- I'd recommend staying at the Mini Golden Inn in Hungry Horse- all rooms are on first floor and some rooms have bathrooms set for for wheelchairs. Mention this video. Also, my lodging and 2hr Glacier videos tour the Mini Golden Rooms.
As far as parking the Sun Road is limited to vehicles that are less than 21 feet. If you're bigger than that you'll have to book a Red Bus Tour. Parking fills up early pretty much everywhere- before 7:30am- it tends to open up again sometimes as early as 1p. But since your not staying in the park you'll need a Vehicle Reservation to drive into the park from the west side and into Many Glacier. These are good for only one day and hard to get as I say in the video.
The Red Bus Tours and some of the boat tours may be the best option for you. Only the Swiftcurrent to Lake Josephine boat tour has a portage with a short hike.
BTW- I've seen 77 year olds hike the 8 miles up to Grinnell Glacier and other older types hike the flat Bullhead Lake trail. It really depends on how fit they are.
The other option is - try to stay on the east side- it's not cheap! Or drive the 2.5 hrs to the east side from the west - you do not need a Vehicle res to drive the GTTSR from the st. Mary entrance. Also the none is required for 2 Medicine area which has a nice view. the drive between Many Glacier and Two Med is also quite nice. My longer videos show these places.
so, does the gate at Rising Sun mean you can't drive all the way through to the West entrance on Going to the Sun Road if you don't have a reservation?
The video explains this. In 2024 you don’t need a reservation to drive the sun road from the east entrance. but remember the road does not fully open until the snow is cleared- mid june ish depending on weather. The rising sun gait was used during covid, last year during the summer and when conditions require.
I was sick and unable to get reservations 120 days prior for my trip this summer. I’ve never had a problem getting reservations the day before for other parks but do you see this as a concern for glacier? When I get reservations the day prior I’m logged onto wifi and the reservations app with everything up to date and ready to go. I just start refreshing the page a minute before until the time slots appear and click and pay immediately.
When i tried to get a res on the day i was ready with hotel wifi- it wasn’t fast enough. Be in a spot with good WiFi and be early. i’d try it a few days before you go as a test. Glacier is might be more popular than parks your use to. or get to the gate at 5am ish. or drive to east side
@@TheWestisBig Thanks! Would I need to be in before 5am or 6am? I’ve gotten conflicting feedback. I’m on eastern time so even 5am mountain is still only 7am my time. I usually stay on my time when I go west to parks so I can beat the crowds more and reduce jet lag coming back.
You don't need a pass before 6am mt- but there will be a line
I know you don't need a vehicle registration entering before 6AM but do you still need a park pass if you are entering before 6AM?
The park pass is the entry fee- yes you have to pay for an entry pass.
what is hiking like in Aug? We got our reservation for Aug 18-20. We are 67 and in pretty good shape. Wondering what the weather will be like that time of year and what clothing to wear?
Please subscribe! My favorite time to go is Labor Day week. it could be snowing, or it could be 90. There may be fire smoke too. Basically you chose a good time to go but nature is in charge.
you should watch my 2hr Glacier: Hiker’s national park video before you go
Had a nice time there last year but found the park and it's reservation requirements to complicated. Also super expensive for hotels and motels.
Thanks for commenting and subscribing
Please do some for the EVers, especially for Glacier.
I’ve seen a Tesla in Glacier
Can you recommend a motel in a nearby town ?
Yes- The one shown in the video- the Mini Golden. I’ve stayed there twice and for me it’s perfect. It’s highlighted in my Glacier lodging video. Mention my video when u call.
Avoid the B.S. of glacier and go to the beartooth wilderness instead .it just as beautiful with less regulation
hmm If I do a video on the Beartooth I'll be accused of ruining it by telling to many people about it.
@TheWestisBig don't go to the beartooth ,there's nothing to see there
Love glacier but denali and rocky mountain national are my favorites
just a couple more Many Glacier passes to go. I know you did highline to swiftcurrent. I want to do that but in the opposite way, and take the shuttle back to ST Marys. Do you know of a morning shuttle going to Many Glacier? or where I can look. Looked at red bus, but didn't see anything.
looking for my 5th trip and to get down to two medicine for at least a couple days.
Thanks for watching and I assume Subscribing- That's 2400+ feet of up. There used to be a Red Bus from 2 med to MG. I don't know why they would have stopped that one. The Red bus and other park web sites often aren't updated until just before the Hotels are open. I'd suggest calling the hotel itself not the booking agent- you'll have to be clever to find the number- and ask them. Lots of folks coming in by train are going to need to get around the park so there must be a way.
Non motorized units like paddle boards and kyaks are banned as of this spring
Hmm. that must be very new rule- I'll check it out.
By chance do you do any narration for the Disney parks?
Ah no! but i’m available!
@@TheWestisBig could’ve fooled me. Keep up the great videos.
I wish they'd hire me
Can i go to the Glacier National Park after septiember the 8th?
of course
@@TheWestisBig So i would not have to make the car registrartion right?
correct- please to go the park website
Thank you!!
I go hiker/biker. I'm not clear on how, when or if I must reserve the h/b sites. The website refers me to the Park phone #. A call to the Park gets me a msg that refers me to the website. 🤷♀️But my challenge pales when compared to trying to get into the Park with a car.
you don't need reservations for hiking- unless your talking about backcountry camping and bicycles are not allowed on trails. If you're a motorcyclist they are treated as cars with regard to vehicle reservations. FYI- there is a number at the bottom of the park's webpage- I called it and pressed the number for the vehicle res system and to my astonishment- someone picked up on the 2nd ring. She could only answer Qs on the reservation system but she knows the numbers of others in the office. good luck
Thanks so much for your reply. This is my 3rd time to the Park as hiker/biker. I'll be there for 2 weeks, visiting 4 regions, very limited cell service. H/B sites do fill up, and I have no idea how I'll reserve a site once I'm in the park. I realize that those of us who don't bring a car or an entire house to the park are few, and not much concern is given to us. Still, I'll be able to attend ranger talks about how the glaciers are being destroyed by our reliance on fossil fuels and that's a comfort. At least we're talking about it, right? (my environmental rant)
Great video. Its my dream to see it. However, Logan pass closes on Labor Day.
I don't want to go during the main season...
Hate crowds.
ah why do u think Logan pass closes on Labor Day.? I don’t believe it ever closed that early even due to construction. i’ve been there many times after Labor Day
Dude, I don't have a car. I will be walking to the park and sleeping in a tent. Is that allowed?
Dude, you can only camp in designated campgrounds and u need a reservation for most of those. go to the park website
For a US citizen an Enhanced I.D. will get you in and out of Canada by land. A passport is needed to fly.
Hmm. Various websites do list Nexus, Fast and passport cards as acceptable IDs- enhanced ID which are rare are only acceptable with other forms of citizenship. If you have different info please copy a link. Thanks for the comment.
@@TheWestisBig Good catch. I was wrong about flying into Canada so I edited my post. An Enhanced ID (driver’s license) which many of us have in Minnesota allows us to enter Canada by land. A passport is needed for flying.
no problem
So you can’t post pictures of social media? 🤣
technically no! There’s a video on my channel that explains it in detail. it’s a ridiculous law and some parks will enforce it more than others. I use professional gear which is a huge red flag for them. but the law actually says it doesn’t matter what or how much equipment you use and it specifically mentions youtube and tiktok require a permit. that’s our Fed government!
What a shame… I feel it may be time to start closing them to foreigners during certain seasons, or at least giving priority to US during peak seasons.