Glacier National Park

A visit to Glacier National Park is not complete by visiting only Glacier National Park. There are two other areas to include. All three parks are entirely different and their individual characteristics. Glacier National Park has everything. Whether it is lodging restaurants, campgrounds, gas stations, adjoining towns, tours, shuttle buses, visitor centers, and programs. Many Glacier is smaller. It has a hotel, motor lodge, and campground. You almost could see the whole park on foot. Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada is a town with all the convenience of a town, The town is in the park. It is small as well.

WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK OF CANADA

Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada is just north of Many Glacier National Park. This is a relatively small park. The town of Waterton is between two lakes. On a hill over looking the northern lake is the Prince of Wales Hotel. This hotel overlooks the town and the mountains to the south. Besides this stately hotel on the hill are lodging and shops in the town of Waterton. When in the central business district, most things can be reached by walking except for Red Rock Canyon. The canyon could be reached by bicycle if you can do the grade.

The following photographs are within walking distance of downtown,

The following photographs were taken at the start of the journey up Red Rock Canyon. A bench is placed to take in the view.

MANY GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.

Many Glacier National Park has all three lodgings close to one another. There is the Many Glacier Hotel, Swift Current Motor Lodge, and a campground. There is only one way in and out. Trailheads originate at all of these places of lodging. This park is more compact.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Continuing south from Many Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park is further south. You can enter by the east or west entrance. Entering by the east entrance pulling a trailer as small as a motorcycle trailer will force you drive around the park to get to the west entrance. Surprisingly, it takes just as long to drive around as it does to drive through. Driving on Going to the Sun Road does have a few tight turns. There are places to pull off the road and take in the views. The park does have numerous choices as to lodging besides the five campgrounds. The following pictures were taken traveling down Going to the Sun Road from west to east. Early in the morning a bear was rambling westbound on the road, being polite no stop was made to take pictures. The first stop is Oberlin Bend Parking lot. No parking was available at Logan Pass. The next stop was Siyeh Bend Parking. The final stop was St. Mary Falls. Parking was found by circling through the parking lot several times, Luckily two campers returned to their car.

Oberlin Bend

Enlargement of text on the sign.

Enlargement of text and map along the bottom.

SIYEH BEND

ST. MARY FALLS

Second Falls

further to down the trail.

Lake McDonald

A few thoughts.

Getting around this park can be a challenge with a motor vehicle. The Park Service is aware that there is limited parking. Shuttle buses are available that make stops at Apgar Village (west entrance), Avalanche Creek Campground, Sprague Creek Campground, Logan Pass Visitor Center, Sun Point, Rising Sun, and St. Mary (East Entrance).

If you want to use your car, you need to get an earlier start to find parking at popular places. Whether Logan Pass Visitor Center or a traihead.

Another choice is to take a tour in a vintage bus with a canvas top that can open. These two pictures show the bus or large station wagon.