How is Glacier National Park?

[sdcampers]

We are considering a camping trip to Glacier National Park, Montana.  Any recommendations for can't miss activities or campgrounds?  Any bear problems?
How about reservations, needed or not?

[SpeakEasy]

We are considering a camping trip to Glacier National Park, Montana.  Any recommendations for can't miss activities or campgrounds?  Any bear problems?
How about reservations, needed or not?

Can't miss activities?  Just three: hiking, hiking, and hiking. You can't go wrong.

Oh, and in between hiking, of course you're going to drive the Going to the Sun Road (with lots of stops along the way for photos).

The lodge is awesome too. What's it called, Many Glacier Lodge?

There are bears there, but if you follow all the rules and guidelines on how to behave toward them you should be fine. With a little luck you may see moose too.

I wish I were going back there! It's so far from here, though, I'll be surprised if I ever get back with gas prices being what they are.

-Speak

[Kelly]

I love love love love Glacier.  I've been there 3 times already and we're planning on heading out there again next summer.

The hiking is spectacular.  As is the Going-to-the-Sun Road ~ just avoid driving the westerly direction at the end of the day!  :cool:   You will also run into a lot of traffic at the Logan Pass Visitor's Center during some parts of the day.  Early and late in the day are the better times to go there.

Many Glacier Hotel is pretty cool.  It just amazes me that something that huge can look so tiny when built in the mountains!  

There are bears ... and lots of other wildlife, but ask Speak sez ... follow the rules/guidelines and you'll be fine.  The closest we've been to a bear is seeing it's backside heading into the brush on the side of the road.  Close enough for me!   :p

We did the Red Jammer ~ now called Red Bus ~ ride one year.  That was pretty cool.  I believe it was about the only way around the park back in the 1930's.

As far as camping ~ I believe all the campground inside the park are non-reservable.  Back before we camped ~ we stayed in Kalispell and at Many Glacier.  The last time we went was in 2004 and we tent camped with my sister and her family at the St Mary's KOA.  We had a HUGE site right on the river.  I like to have reservations when I'm traveling with the kids and we're going to be someplace for a while.  

The whole park is one of those can't miss trips.  You will never run out of things to do/see.  

[sdcampers]

Thanks for the information.  Sounds like it will be an enjoyable trip.  Has anyone taken one of the boat trips?  There appears to be several available.

[AustinBoston]

I've never been, but it sure is on my top few list.

In this informal survey of Arvee Club members, Glacier was the #1 place people wanted to see in the lower 48 states.

NPS link to Glacier National Park:
http://www.nps.gov/glac/

Austin

[Clarabelle]

We were there about 12 years ago.  Didn't see any bears, but a couple of park employees were mauled.  They closed that camp down for awhile.  The victims were park employees and they were not following their own guidelines.  They were  out for a stroll at dusk.  Big No NO.