Day trip to Waterton Lakes NP from Columbia Falls?

Hi. Planning a trip from Scotland to Montana. At the moment, we plan to spend 3 nights in Columbia Falls around May 13th. We would love to make it up to Waterton Lakes NP as a day trip. Is this possible, given that the Going to the Sun road will still be closed? If it%26#39;s doable at that time of year, which route would you suggest as a good day trip taking in the best of the scenery. We%26#39;re travelling with a wheelchair-user so we%26#39;ll really just be in the car most of the time, with stops for photos and snacks. We have a couple of extra nights on our trip that we could use either before or after our stay at Columbia Falls (nothing firmly booked yet). At the moment our planned stopover before Columbia Falls is Great Falls and then on our way south we plan to stopover at Missoula. Having made it as far as Glacier (from Salt Lake City) we want to be sure we see as much as possible of Northern Montana. Our trip is a little different from most folks visiting this area in that we don%26#39;t need time for hikes etc. Posting this on Waterton Lakes forum and Glacier park - sorry for repetition to anyone who looks at both forums. Thanks for any help/advice!

Day trip to Waterton Lakes NP from Columbia Falls?

If you will be headed to Great Falls, than having a 2-day on the east side of the park would make this trip much easier. Camping Girl posts here often and is the Waterton expert so you can get details from her on the status of Cheif Mntn road and Waterton opening. You would be driving US 2 though east Glacier and into Browning, and then up toward St. Marys, where accomodations may be available. (you can google this for accomodation ideas and contacts) Heading south from Browning toward Choteau, before heading to Great Falls, is a very nice early morning drive along the rocky mntn front.

Day trip to Waterton Lakes NP from Columbia Falls?

Waterton is a great trip if you can squeak it in. It is so different than the US side, and a fun way to say you%26#39;ve been to Canada on this trip. I%26#39;d try to make it work.

If you can add those days before you go to Columbia Falls, I%26#39;d suggest you go north from Great Falls with the intent on staying a night or 2 in the St. Mary or Babb area to see the east side of Glacier and then on up to see Waterton. If you don%26#39;t mind a little out of the way, from Waterton continue north to Pincher Creek and catch highway 3 west over Crowsnest Pass, stopping to examine the Frank Slide visitor%26#39;s center. Continue west on 3 to highway 93 south which will join highway 2 just a few miles west of Columbia Falls.

I believe the planned opening dates for the Chief Mt. Road to Waterton and the road into Many Glacier is May 15. Some years it is a little earlier if weather isn%26#39;t too bad, but mid May is the norm.

Hi,

I have left a reply to your question on the Alberta forum regarding this same query. And, yes, Chief Mountain doesn%26#39;t open until May 15th.

(I%26#39;m not around here much these days folks - I%26#39;m smack in the middle of tax season, with no forecasted light at the end of the tunnel until May 1st! 70 hour weeks are *not* conducive to surfing the internet...!)

Hi. Many thanks to you all for your great help. We%26#39;re just trying to put everything together (it%26#39;s a 19 day trip) and investigate good lodging options. If I have any more questions, I%26#39;ll get back to you all - you%26#39;re obviously really knowledgeable!