2nd trip eastern Wisconsin to Glacier (West) NP scheduled

[ChrisParise]

Home (Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin) to
Rapid City area to
Yellowstone NP to
Glacier NP to
Rapid City area to
Home
33 days
3,606 motorhome miles planned
??? wandering toad miles

All reservations completed
Going to The Sun Road pass to be completed!

[Wiscampsin]

Sounds like a great trip, enjoy!

[ChrisParise]

Originally Posted by Wiscampsin

Sounds like a great trip, enjoy!

Should be. Thanks

[Wandering]

It will be a great trip. We’ve done a similar loop a few times now. Glacier remains our fav.

[ChrisParise]

Originally Posted by Wandering

It will be a great trip. We’ve done a similar loop a few times now. Glacier remains our fav.

The drive, if coming from Yellowstone, for me anyway, was magical. The mountains, rivers, all spectacular.

The road running alongside the views of Flathead Lake

And that's all before getting to GNP

Was there too early last year for the complete drive on Going to the Sun Road - a little something about 14' of snow covering the road in mid-June, so this year going later.

[ChrisParise]

Got my Going to the Sun Road 3 day pass yesterday.

Last year, I think my pass was good for 5 or 7 days. 3 days is enough for me, this year anyway, as long as the weather cooperates.

[ChrisParise]

Got my Delta 01 Minute Man Missle Tour reservation!

Super excited. It's a below ground tour of the Missle Silo Control Room.

Visited the above ground site in 2019 been eager to go back since.

[DougW]

Originally Posted by ChrisParise

Got my Going to the Sun Road 3 day pass yesterday.

Last year, I think my pass was good for 5 or 7 days. 3 days is enough for me, this year anyway, as long as the weather cooperates.

How did you get a pass? I have been checking the Recreation.gov site and it shows they are not released when I click on a date, Jul 14, it says they will be available Jul 13.

[ChrisParise]

Originally Posted by DougW

How did you get a pass? I have been checking the Recreation.gov site and it shows they are not released when I click on a date, Jul 14, it says they will be available Jul 13.

Hey Doug,

As you know, the tours were on hiatus because of construction. The site said to check back, which I did starting last week because I'll be in the Rapid City area (Actually at Rafter J Bar Ranch) late July through early August - which is the start of their 90 day window for reservations opening up.

I did my early morning website checking this Monday for July 30 or 31 (can't remember) and lo and behold it gave me several times during the day to reserve. So I double checked my itinerary to make sure of the day I wanted and got a reservation for July 31.

Just a guess, I think what MAY have happened with the reservation you wanted, July 14, is the 90 day window started April 14 and they hadn't yet started taking any reservations yet so maybe they're making it first come first served 24 hours before hand? There's some verbiage on their website about 24 hours.

I think you can call the visitors center there for clarification. They were super nice when I was there in 2019.

Btw, one of the rangers there WAS a Minute Man there the day I was there and he was giving tours in 2019. Hope he's still there, he's got to be my age, almost 70.

Chris
Attachment 272626

[DougW]

Apparently they have different schedules for different parks, I guess I missed my chance for GTTS. I got Rocky Mountain National Park passes for June when they released on May 2nd.

I have camping reservations for the east side of Glacier in July so I guess we will just go into the areas that don’t require passes if I can’t get one reserved. We went over GTTS on the motorcycle a few years a go so if we miss out it won’t be a big problem.

[ChrisParise]

Originally Posted by DougW

Apparently they have different schedules for different parks, I guess I missed my chance for GTTS. I got Rocky Mountain National Park passes for June when they released on May 2nd.

I have camping reservations for the east side of Glacier in July so I guess we will just go into the areas that don’t require passes if I can’t get one reserved. We went over GTTS on the motorcycle a few years a go so if we miss out it won’t be a big problem.

Sorry, I didn't read that you were asking about my going to the sun road pass.

I think the sun road pass had a 120 day reservation window, got that about 30 or so days ago. I remember the website saying there was a specific number open to reserve that day, like maybe 100 remaining something like that.

I was there last year in June with pass in hand and the road was closed to vehicle traffic not too much past the lodge because of snow and ice.

[lewisra]

Originally Posted by DougW

Apparently they have different schedules for different parks, I guess I missed my chance for GTTS. I got Rocky Mountain National Park passes for June when they released on May 2nd.

I have camping reservations for the east side of Glacier in July so I guess we will just go into the areas that don’t require passes if I can’t get one reserved. We went over GTTS on the motorcycle a few years a go so if we miss out it won’t be a big problem.

For Glacier, they have more available that are released the day before. Also, you can get in before 6am or after 4pm without a pass.

[DougW]

Originally Posted by lewisra

For Glacier, they have more available that are released the day before. Also, you can get in before 6am or after 4pm without a pass.

I saw that, there is no way on this earth I am going to be able to get my wife up and around to get to the gate by 6 AM. After 4 might be an option because at that time of year it won’t get dark until near 9 o’clock anyway.

[lewisra]

Originally Posted by DougW

I saw that, there is no way on this earth I am going to be able to get my wife up and around to get to the gate by 6 AM. After 4 might be an option because at that time of year it won’t get dark until near 9 o’clock anyway.

I hear that, but I’ve got a decent chance of getting the wife up. We are coming from Michigan so it’s like 8am our time.

[Webefine]

We are at Glacier right now, we are here early because we are using this as a stop on our way to Alaska. On the west side everything is open but only to Lake McDonald lodge, can’t go passed there on Road to the sun. You can drive up to Pole bridge and Bowman lake and you can drive the Inner North Fork road that is where we saw this guy.
While in the Glacier area make sure you check out Hungry Horse Dam and reservoir, it’s only 20 minutes from the West Gate.

[NevadaMiniLite]

Heading to GNP in late August and staying until campground closes early Sept. Staying inside the park at Fish Creek Campground. Supposedly no pass needed for Going to the Sun if you are staying in the park. Really looking forward to this trip. Been on my bucket list for quite awhile.

[lewisra]

Originally Posted by ChrisParise

The drive, if coming from Yellowstone, for me anyway, was magical. The mountains, rivers, all spectacular.

The road running alongside the views of Flathead Lake

And that's all before getting to GNP

Was there too early last year for the complete drive on Going to the Sun Road - a little something about 14' of snow covering the road in mid-June, so this year going later.

What route did you take from Yellowstone to Glacier? We are heading from Glacier to yellowstone in mid-June. What do we need to see on that drive? Routed through Butte to Gardiner currently. Great Falls to West Glacier on way in.

[ChrisParise]

Originally Posted by lewisra

What route did you take from Yellowstone to Glacier? We are heading from Glacier to yellowstone in mid-June. What do we need to see on that drive? Routed through Butte to Gardiner currently. Great Falls to West Glacier on way in.

I believe I took the route west of what your planning and am planning on the same in August.

When you get off the Interstate theres gas and groceries along the way.

I am sure there's places of interest along the way too, just loved the scenery along the drive. Rivers, mountains. There are some scenic waysides including one overlooking Flathead Lake.

The drive on the east side of Flathead Lake hugs the shore. It's beautiful but slow. My total length is 51' towing and no issues.

[lewisra]

Originally Posted by ChrisParise

I believe I took the route west of what your planning and am planning on the same in August.

When you get off the Interstate theres gas and groceries along the way.

I am sure there's places of interest along the way too, just loved the scenery along the drive. Rivers, mountains. There are some scenic waysides including one overlooking Flathead Lake.

The drive on the east side of Flathead Lake hugs the shore. It's beautiful but slow. My total length is 51' towing and no issues.

Thanks, I was going to ask which side of Flathead Lake.