Waterton or 2 Medicine

Hello. Trying to firm up plans for this summer. We%26#39;ll be staying 2 nights at Rising Son, 2 nights at Many Glacier Hotel, last night at Lake McDonald. For the Many Glacier days we%26#39;ll probably hike Grinnell Glacier one day and perhaps to Bull Lake the second day. Don%26#39;t really want to hike more than 8 miles rt or so, so likely won%26#39;t do Iceberg or Cracker Lake. Want to have a back-up plan in case there are lots of bear closures at Many Glacier and we can%26#39;t do the hikes we%26#39;ve planned. So would Waterton or 2 Medicine be better as a back-up plan? We need to plan somewhat ahead because we%26#39;ll need to get a passport if we want to be able to do Waterton. That%26#39;s not a problem, we will likely need a passport in the next few years anyway. So if we have a flexible day, which would you recommend? Or is either so terrific that we should spend just one day in Many Glacier and do the second day there anyway? Also, other things we are thinking of at Many Glacier are canoeing the lakes there, the boat ride and short hike to Grinnell Lake, and the Horseback ride to Cracker Flats. Any comments on these activities?

Waterton or 2 Medicine

You could combine the boat ride with the hike to Grinnell Glacier and take some mileage off that hike. Otherwise it is about 11 miles. I would not drop one of the nights at Many Glacier as I think that area offers a lot. Two Medicine and Waterton are both nice. It will take about an hour to reach either destination. You might be able to go to Two Medicine from Rising Sun. What plans do you have while there? You can canoe around the lake at Many Glacier one evening after you have done something else. I think even with possible closures of trails at Many Glacier you will have no problem filling two days. A trip to Waterton may rush you.

Waterton or 2 Medicine

A second on taking the boat to the trail for Grinnell. Beautiful hike but wore us out.

Are you hiking to Hidden Lake Overlook at some point. Its at Logan Pass. That would be a possibility too unless you%26#39;re doing it when you cross to Lake McDonald.

If you only have 5 days, I%26#39;d probably just stay in GNP. You%26#39;ll find plenty to keep you busy there.

If we do the Grinnel Glacier hike we would definitely take the boat to shorten it. The whole itinerary is:

Day 1 - arrive Kalispell around 1:30 PM, drive GTTSR to Rising Sun, with stops along the way for pictures but no major hikes. Maybe boat ride around St Mary Lake in late PM if time.

Day 2 - GTTSR, including photos of Wild Goose Island in the AM, then Hidden Lake overlook hike and a mile or 2 of Highline if my fear of heights can take it. Stay at Rising Sun.

Day 3 - Drive to Many Glacier, hike Grinnel Glacier hike if time that day, if not perhaps Bull Lake and canoeing Swiftcurrent Lake or horsebackride to Cracker Flats. Stay at Many Glacier Hotel

Day 4 - Whichever we didn%26#39;t do on day 3, stay at Many Glacier Hotel

Day 5 - Drive back down GTTSR to Lake McDonald Lodge, do Avalanche Lake hike on the way

Day 6 - plane leaves Kalispell around noon.

How does that itinerary sound? The question was about that 4th day, should I stay at Many Glacier even if there are trail closures or would that 4th day be better spent at Waterton or 2 Medicine?

For day 4, I%26#39;d stay put. Maybe you can find a moose at Fishercap Lake. Walk to Grinnell Lake.

On Avalanche Lake, you need a back up plan. The parking there gets crowded to the point that sometimes you can%26#39;t hike it. We couldn%26#39;t find a place to park and missed that one.

The Red Bus Tours are interesting too. All parties get to see the sights instead of all except the driver. Ours made several stops along the way.

Hopefully you can just hike where and when you want.

while I like 2-med., it just doesn%26#39;t hold up to Waterton. Take the boat to goat haunt and the 3.5 miles up to kootenai lakes, where moose are (nearly) guaranteed (usually multiples). Drive up the canyon and to cameron lake.

There was an earlier post that there is a less expensive document for crossing to Canada, check some of the other posts.

Okay, sounds like we should stay at Many Glacier and just do activities there those 2 days. Thanks. AKJ, we were planning on trying to hit Avalanche Lake hike as we drove down from Many Glacier to Lake McDonald, and if the parking lot was too full, driving in to Lake McDonald and taking the shuttle from there. Is that a reasonable plan?

K2Kelly, thanks for the ideas for Waterton. Sounds like if we did do something outside of Many Glacier, it should be that. We%26#39;re getting the regular passports because we%26#39;ll be flying to Canadian Rockies again in a few years and will need them then anyway. Thanks for all the help.

I suppose the shuttle is a good plan. Not sure there was one when we were there. We opted for drinks at the lodge in the rockers.

haha AKJ! Drinks @ the lodge in rockers sounds pretty good too! First off, I also agree just staying 2 nights at Many Glacier. There are so many options there and nearby. I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;d recommend the horseback ride to Cracker Flats. I hiked there, and while the scenery was pretty nice, I think your time would be better spent doing something else. If you did want to do a horseback ride, Cracker Lake would be wonderful (I think they still offer that).

Another option, just since no one has mentioned it, would be Piegan Pass from Siyeh Bend off GTTS Road. While this is 9 miles roundtrip and, thus, a little longer than you stated you%26#39;d want to do, it is not all that difficult of a hike. The views from the pass are beautiful from what I%26#39;ve seen %26amp; heard.

Otherwise, you have gotten great information so far anyway. Whatever you do, it will be wonderful! The area is so filled with beauty that whatever you choose will be a most memorable day!