A trip to northwest Montana would not be complete without a visit (or two, or three, or four!) to Glacier National Park, and the west entrance is located less than 15 minutes from Spotted Bear Retreat. Whether you want to explore by car, bicycle, foot, or boat, there are boundless opportunities for everyone.
Drive – A visit to the park would not be complete without a drive on Going to the Sun Road. Without stops, this scenic drive takes at least two hours to complete the full 50 miles. Logan Pass is the highest point on the road at 6,646, and during the peak season the parking lot is often full by 8:00 a.m. Please keep in mind that gas is not available anywhere on this road. Be sure to visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm before your plan your drive.
For those who want to enjoy all the spectacular scenery without doing the actual driving, Xanterra Parks & Resorts offers tours and scheduled transportation between park lodges on Glacier’s fleet of historic red buses. Visit www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours. In addition, Sun Tours offers interpretive tours, on air conditioned 25 passenger window coaches, highlighting Blackfeet culture. Daily service from West Glacier, East Glacier, St. Mary, and Browning. Visit www.glaciersuntours.com for more information and to make reservations.
Bicycle – From June 15 through Labor Day, the following sections of the Going to the Sun Road are closed to bicycle use between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm:
- From Apgar turnoff (at the south end of Lake McDonald) to Sprague Creek Campground
- Eastbound from Logan Creek to Logan Pass
Due to ongoing road rehabilitation on the road, portions of the roadbed may not be paved. Bicyclists should use caution riding on gravel portions of the road.
Please keep in mind that bicycles are not allowed on trails in Glacier National Park; however, there is a paved path from headquarters to Apgar Village. There is also a paved bike path from Apgar Village to Fishcreek Campground. Bikes are also permitted on all paved roads. Be sure to visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm before your bike ride.
Hike – With over 700 miles of trails, there are opportunities for both short day hikes as well as extended backpacking trips. Be sure to visit Glacier’s website at https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hikingthetrails.htm for detailed information on hikes, which also includes distances and elevation gain. A favorite day hike of my family is Avalanche Lake. This is a very popular hike, so plan on arriving at the trail head early for best chances of finding a parking spot. Another day hike not to be missed is Hidden Lake. This popular trail starts at Logan Pass, and the parking lot is often full by 8:00 a.m. during the peak season. Plan to get an early start for this one!
Boat – Boat tours with commentary are available at Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Rising Sun, and Lake McDonald. Optional guided hikes are offered on some cruises at Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and Rising Sun. In addition, small boat rentals available at Apgar, Lake McDonald, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier. Visit http://glacierparkboats.com/ for more information.