If You Have Only 1 Day in Glacier National Park…
It was a balmy, summer day, with ominous thunder clouds looming over the mountains and still plenty of warm sunshine to warrant a summer attire this day. We had some time before a torrential could possibly hit us, so off we went. August was the month we chose to visit as there was no more snow to be concerned about and it would have wonderful weather, and maybe some rain.
I knew we had only 1 day, 1 day to see and explore a highly overrated park, make sacrifices to what we can do and not do, all in 1 day. How can anyone limit themselves to a national park just for 1 day, and not sure if you will ever come back?
Despite the tight timeline, Glacier National Park is a MUST-SEE for anyone. It is a park that offers scenic views, hiking, photography, fishing, kayaking or paddle board and more scenic views. But if you only have 1 day to visit, like we did, how can you accomplish the fun activities to do?
It is doable, but will require some planning and sacrificing on your part. Here are some tips to visit this magnificent park:
Check the weather. This is so important! Glacier is only open in the summer, and sometimes the summer window can be narrow. Since this is located near the border of Montana and Canada, it can be wintry for a long time. Last summer, Glacier did not open until mid July due to snow!
Take a car! The road is narrow with only ONE lane on each side, plus you will have a LOT of exposure on some parts of the road driving in either lane. We took our Ford Bronco and it was a challenge considering how wide it is - we pushed in our truck mirrors so we would not hit anyone. Plus we were kind of on the edge of the drop off due again to the width. Take a car!
Or even better, they have red busses you can purchase seats on for the day. Since it is fee based, you make reservations online, so no worries if you cannot access this bus as it is not first come, first serve. The people driving them are experienced and can pick you up from either the East entrance or the West entrance. Click this link to find out more about taking a red bus!
Or even the best way to access Glacier National Park: use their free shuttle. It is first come, first serve, accessible to anyone, and it starts in July and runs through Labor Day, depending on weather. Click this link (it is dated from summer of 2022) to find out more information about taking a free shuttle!
Another very important item is the vehicle reservation pass. What I did was I clicked on this site, Recreation.gov, and this will give you the overview with details on ticket purchases, camping information, and more. There will be one pass for the vehicle, at $2.00 per vehicle and a entrance pass, depending on your status. You can go in free (we did!) with the exception of the vehicle reservation pass because we have the senior pass, and also if you are military or disabled, you can have access to a free pass as well. click this link to find out if you qualify. Or you will pay full price of the entrance fee, plus the vehicle reservation pass.
One more alternative to enter: Go after hours. Yes, you can go after they close and explore all you want, FOR FREE! But the sun does set so it is important to explore early enough to enjoy the natural beauty all around you!
There are 2 entrances for Glacier National Park (GNP): East and West. We chose the west entrance as we were staying on the west side, but the east side is just as nice. We actually came up in our vehicle and stayed at the Polson/Flathead KOA, It is a beautiful drive going to the west entrance as you pass several retail stores (don’t forget to try the huckleberry ice cream!) and and plenty of green pine trees and blue skies.
Our 1 day consisted of waiting in line when we arrived. It was not terribly long, but make sure you have your rec pass and entrance fee as they do check! Shortly after entering, we made a right onto Going To The Sun road. We drove along Lake McDonald, in which you can take a kayak or paddle board. Make sure to pull over at the many pullouts for the stunning views of the mountains plus some of the rocks are pink!
As I absorbed this magnificent lake, my tummy got a little hungry and we decided to find a place to eat in the park. Since we were by the lake, there is a lodge nearby, Lake McDonald Lodge, with a few eateries that can satisfy even the most pickiest eater!
Shortly after leaving the lake and the lodge behind, this is when things start to get interesting. What I mean is you start driving up (if you went through the west entrance), and in my own opinion is so gorgeous as the mountain ranges have that jaw dropping affect on you, but also you will have plenty of exposure. They have some brick at the edge of the road, but not enough in case you roll off the mountain. Take your time and care as you drive up towards the east entrance.
There are plenty of pull-outs you can park at, sometimes a little crowded, I highly recommend pulling over for some of these for photo opportunities, calm down your anxiety if the road has made you anxious and stretch your legs. If you like wildflowers, there are plenty, even in August.
We had to pull in our mirrors on the Bronco as they stuck out and was a bit of a hindrance for other drivers. Remember what I said about bringing a small car? That I sometimes what I wished we had! You can drive to the top and come back to the west entrance, or exit out of the east entrance. If you have time, try a hike, take a swim in the waterfalls, enjoy the beauty all around you, but most importantly, take your time.
Before I knew it , it was time to go back through the west entrance. Remember those thunder clouds I mentioned at the beginning? Well, they were gathering closer together and I believe a storm was immenent. I did not feel comfortable driving on a road that was narrow with not protection from the edge if a storm happened to spill over.
So you can spend 1 day in Glacier National Park, but you will have to make decisions on what to do, how far you will be willing to drive, and how much money to spend. Even though I said it was an overrated park, meaning way too many people come to it, and it is not as big as Yellowstone, it still was a journey and I am so thankful we got the chance to experience Glacier National Park!
What is your favorite national park to visit?
