Travel to Glacier National Park and Western Montana – Episode 257

categories: USA Travel

glacier-national-park

The Amateur Traveler talks to Karl Anders who returns to the show to talk about travel to Western Montana and in particular to the majestic Glacier National Park.

Karl encourages us to drive the Going to the Sun Highway but then to get off the blacktop and hick some of the backcountry of the park (preferably in a group large enough to discourage the curiosity of bears). He describes some of his favorite hikes such as the trail to Hidden Lakes. Glacier is often rated as one of the top places in the United States to hike or backpack.

The valleys of Glacier are carved by glacial activity although there aren’t as many glaciers still in the park. Karl also talks about some nearby destinations like the National Bison Refuge, Bitterroot Valley and nearby Missoula with its museum to Smokejumpers.

[itunes: https://traffic.libsyn.com/amtravm4a/257AmateurTraveler.m4a]

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Show Notes

Travel to Sri Lanka – Episode 202
U.S. National Park Service – Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park
Hotels in Glacier National Park
Glacier Park Boat Company
Going to the Sun Highway
Clark Ford River
Missoula, Montana
Missoula Smokejumpers
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
National Bison Range Wildlife Refuge
Bitterroot Valley
Friends of Scotchman Peaks
Montana’s Crown Jewel – Glacier National Park
Missoula – Home of the Grizzlies
Rafting the Clark Fork River

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Chris Christensen

by Chris Christensen

Chris Christensen is the creator of the Amateur Traveler blog and podcast. He has been a travel creator since 2005 and has won awards including being named the "Best Independent Travel Journalist" by Travel+Leisure Magazine.

3 Responses to “Travel to Glacier National Park and Western Montana – Episode 257”

Randy

Says:

Hi Chris,

Love your podcast. Longtime listener. Glacier NP is a wonderful place to explore. Just wanted to note that Going to the Sun Highway typically does not open until the week of July 4. It depends on snowfall and efforts to clear it. The week I was there in 2007 it opened on July 2. Timing was good for me as I arrived on July 1. Much of the very popular Hidden Lakes trail near Logan Pass Visitor Center was snow-packed and icy but still quite wonderful in early July. WIldflowers were wonderful below the snow line. If you check the Glacier NP website in the early summer, you’ll see the frequent updates on status of plowing and opening of Going to the Sun Road.

Just wanted to emphasize how late in summer the season is there. Many people find it hard to believe.

Thanks for your podcast,

– Randy in Annapolis

Sam

Says:

I went to Glacier National Park in June 2001 and was sad to find the going to the sun road wasn’t open yet, but drove around and also visited the Two Medicine section and loved the short hike to a double waterfall (when there is sufficient rainfall) where one falls over a ledge above, and more water flows below through a cave under the upper fall – Magnificent (and a short, easy 20minute or so hike from a parking lot! “Running Eagle Falls” Hike)

Rod Austin

Says:

Great post, that I had only discovered. From Missoula here. GNP is one of the best places in the world to visit–and yes, people should visit it now.

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