Favorites for Glacier National Park, MT

[gtkato]

I will be heading up to Eastern Washington via WY and MT and want to spend 5 or 6 days in Glacier National Park. I will be traveling in an Rockwood Mini Lite 1809S and pulling with Nissan Xterra. I have not been to Glacier Park before and need some recommendations for:
1. Best Campgrounds (will spend 5 nights) WITHOUT RESERVATIONS
2. Our favorite spots are next to water (lake or river)
3. Will be traveling through the park east to west
4. Don't mind going off the beaten path IF not too rough and towing a TT
6. I do fly fish
7. We may take our kayaks if there are enough lakes to portage
Any suggestions from those of you that have done Glacier already.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
(in the past, I have asked for suggestions on RV Net and had many great suggestions from RV'ers.)

[cjones]

Can't remember the name of the park campgound but its the one on the southwest corner of Lake McDonald. Stayed there about 6 years ago and it was great.

[Glenn5995]

I'm soooooo envious. I love Glacier! If you are up to hiking, make sure you hike to Hidden Lake and Iceberg Lake.

We didn't stay in the park itself. We stayed at Canyon RV Campground in Hungry Horse. Hopefully they will soon have the Going to the Sun Road open. Have a GREAT TIME! (I know you will)

[kz08h5]

Do a thorough check before you plan your route. Last year when I was there you could not pull a TT through the park. There were also restrictions on motor homes.

The North Fork of the Flathead river has good fishing on the west side of the park. National forest on west side GNP on the east side.

[Glenn5995]

Correct, you will not be able to pull your TT on GTTSR. Vehicle and vehicle combination restrictions are 21' max length, 8' max width and 10' max height. To get from one side of the park to the other with your TT, you would need to cross on the south side of the park on US 2.

[jimh]

i wouldn't even think of pulling a trailer thru the park.
we stayed on the west side at "the great north American rv park and yert (or yurt) village".
full hookups. chose because of price and hookups. no lake.
there is an rv park on the east side close to the gate.
we also went into canada and saw their part of the park. that is assessable from the east side of glacier.
i think it is US 2 that goes around the park to the south. no problem with the roads roads around the park.

[gtkato]

Thanks everyone for you input. Great pictures that have me inspired to get to Glacier.

[DAISY BOYKIN]

Columbia Falls Is a good place to stay, there is a "GOOD SAM" park by the name of Columbia Falls RV Park 1-888-401-7268. If you are of age, make sure you have a "Golden Age Pass" for the national parks. Was there in 2009 in August. The weather was great. There is a great rodeo in Kalispell on the weekends worth seeing. There is no sales tax in Montana.

First Class trip, probably tops all my trips and vacations, yes even Key West !

Columbia Falls is just outside the gate to the park, for fuel, groceries ETC.

[Glenn5995]

The Going to the Sun Road opened yesterday (07/13/2011)! Have a great time.

[gtkato]

Thanks Daisy, we will check out Columbia Falls
and thanks for the heads up on the GTTS Road Glenn.
My only decision now is whether or not to take our two kayaks that have to go on top of our TV. Can you launch kayaks from any of the campground lakeshore sites (we have transport wheels but would like to be within close proximity to the water). The question of whether it is worth bringing them, or just enjoy the scenery, hiking, and photo ops. I think we will plan our first two nights at Two Medicine CG, then a night or two at Many Glacier. Go around to west side and spend a night or two a Apgar or Fish Creek. Any insight would be helpful.
The rest of our vacation up to Washington State, the kayaks would just sit on top of our TV (create a lot of wind turbulance and weight with all the kayak gear)