Hungry Horse, Montana - Glacier NP

Hungry Horse Montana - Glacier National Park

Leaving Northern Idaho and Bell Bay Campground behind, we headed out early Sunday morning to drive the 4 - 5 hours East to one of the Premier National Parks -(in my opinion)  Glacier National Park, in Northwest Montana .  We had originally made reservation at Fish Creek Campground (inside the park proper)for early July, But after deciding to modify our route, we opted to go with a National Forest site about 20 miles away, above Hungry Horse Dam. We were there about two weeks too early as the Going to the Sun Road through the Park was still not open in the mid point after a long hard winter. There are multiple campgrounds in the National Forests outside Glacier NP, and we choose Lost Johnny Point as it best accommodated our 32 ft rig.

SITE 2 - Lost Johnny Point Campground

We were very pleased and would definitely stay there again. It is all dry camping (as are many of the site in GNP itself) and sites 4,5,6 + 12 had very nice lakefront views. In addition, there are many private campground, including a nice looking KOA.

countryside in far western Montana

Glacier NP - stunning - visit in July or August to travel the whole way through

Arriving Sunday at dinner time, we setup, walked Cooper and CJ several times and mapped out our plan for visiting GNP.

Glacier National Park was established on traditional Blackfeet lands in 1910 and combined with Canada's Waterton National Park to create Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932.

We started out Monday morning by going to the West side Visitors center, talked with a Ranger about what we could do with dogs along (no hiking in Nat Parks with dogs!). She recommended touring the roads along the West side of the Park and to be sure to stop at the Polebridge Mercantile.  We also bought a canister of Bear Spray, just in case. Grizzles are common in Glacier NP!! After snagging some WiFi and after 25 miles of gravel and mud road, we arrived at Polebridge in time for a late lunch.

Polebridge Mercantile - great little place to stop

Glacier is known for its bears - this one was friendly

It was a really, really rustic in the hard to believe it gets a dot on the map place, but they had nice stuff, good sandwiches and great baked goods and coffee!! (Huckleberry Bear Claw!) Eventually we made it to Kintla Lake which is almost in Canada! Some really neat mountain meadows, streams.

even a rainy day is great in Glacier NP

Tuesday, even though rain was once again in the forecast, we drove around the bottom of the Park on US 2 to the East Entrance of Glacier at St.Mary. Again we went to the visitors center, this one being the main one, checked out the exhibits, watched some videos and bought a new cap! Then, back in the Jeep for an abbreviated drive on the Going to the Sun Road, for 12-13 miles to the turn around point. Just great views, even thought the day was overcast, glaciers, lakes, rugged mountains - Glacier NP delivers stunning views. One is found on lots of calendars - Wild Goose Island in St Mary Lake. Along the way we saw many of the Red Bus tours, going strong after over 70 years!!

our view of Wild Goose Island June 2018

Going to the Sun Road from St Mary

Red Bus tours - over 70 years and going strong!

Also on the East side of the Park, up North from St Mary about 20 miles is Many Glaciers, Beautiful with stunning views and a nice Swiss Lodge. Again the weather didn't allow for the best pictures. Definitely check this out.

Mountains and Glaciers combine to enthrall

Many Glacier - beautiful even without sunshine!

Our last day in the area was bathed in sunlight and we headed over to Glacier NP one last time to drive what Going to the Sun Road from the West Entrance to the turnaround point 14 miles in . We missed the middle section, which was still being repaired, and holds views similar to the Alps!! Even though we didn't get the entire experience, it was still great. Glacier NP is a good one to add to your list. Either camp or stay at one of the in park lodges. 3-4 days will be fine. In addition to hiking and driving there are horse back riding possibilities and boat tours on St Mary Lake.

Sunny day in West Glacier

Our last night there, the camp host stopped by to tell us that a Mountain Lion was seen at the entrance to the campground, only 100 yds from our site!!! We saw several deer and one Bald Eagle, but no Mountain Lion.

we are heading out for more adventures

until then take Care

Cooper and CJ