Glacier Park Vacation Review

Don't surprise a bear-let them know well in advance of your presence!

With 50 glaciers, the climate in Glacier National Park remains snowy and cold well into June. You want to make sure that you travel late enough in the season that the roads won't be closed by late spring snows.

The five top destinations within the Park are the Going to the Sun Road, St. Mary's Lake, Lake McDonald, Iceberg Lake Trail and the Garden Wall.

The Going to the Sun Road is very curvy and, in places, quite narrow. If you are traveling in a large RV, you may want to consider using the Park's shuttle service or renting a car.

Don't rush yourself. There are so many surprises to delight your senses if you go slow enough to find them; for instance, along the hiking trails grow wild mint as well as a variety of rare plants.

If you are hiking on the 700 miles of trails, never go alone and let the rangers know where you are going. Keep talking, or have a noisemaker of some kind with you to make sure the bears know you are around. And, as always, when hiking, take plenty of water.

Glaciers

Glacier National Park is a nature lover's paradise! It is one of very few places where you can see, and in some cases touch, a glacier. There are nine lakes for backcountry fishing (no license is required for fishing inside the park, but there are fishing laws regarding size and number of fish you can catch).

There is a wonderful opportunity to cross the Continental Divide at Logan's Pass, and you are likely to see wildlife here at the Visitor's Center. Mountain goats are very common here.

The eastern border of the Park borders on a Blackfoot Indian Reservation, where you can easily view the arts and culture of these Native American Indians.

On the negative side, there aren't a lot of things for small children to do in Glacier National Park. The majority of "doing" the park is driving and riding, and some children tire quickly of that.

Unpredictable weather can change the access on the Going to the Sun Road both in early fall and in late spring.

Glacier National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but bringing small children might detract from the experience. Pay attention to the weather and take lots of batteries and memory for your camera.

There are several restaurants in the park, but not much opportunity to buy grocery items. You might want to take a cooler for a picnic and cold beverages.

Make sure you have your accommodations arranged before you travel here to avoid disappointment. You may need to make your reservations many months ahead of your journey.

Make sure your car gas tank is full before venturing into the park, as there are no opportunities to purchase gas inside the park.