Wild Horse Island is a totally unique Montana destinationand the name says it all. Llamas take a LOT of snack breaks. By the time we left the monument, it was around 7:00 and we decided it was a good time to start looking for a place to stay the night. We enjoyed the 2 hour tour through the caverns - put this on your Montana itinerary! Just another good story to tell, right? Of all Montana road trips, this one is perhaps the most popular (and is sometimes referred to as Glacier National Parks Road to the Sun). And be sure to get something comfy: this is a road trip, after all! It hits different when you are talking to a flesh-and-blood human rather than working yourself up over the contents of a Facebook comment. They let us borrow their sled and Alicia and I took turns sliding down a few times. Trump 2020 banners hang proudly in front of houses and wave in windy fields and farmland. A bear ready for a dip in Hells Canyon. The food is amazing literally everything on the menu is incredible and the drinks are fantastic. We figured, worst-case scenario, we would be paying double what we had been paying alreadybut worth it for a little bit more flexibility during the day. At 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes. Salmon, two hours north of Stanley, is another small Idaho town of 3000+ residents. If you only have a short time in Wyoming, add this drive to your itinerary to really see the park. j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? WebDay 14 Day at Flathead Lake, MT. Taking a guided tour is a fantastic option for Going to the Sun Road because it allows you to sit back and take in the views while learning about the history of the park and the flora and fauna that inhabit it. This craft distillery, set in a stunning 1880s era saloon, creates spirits from grain grown on the owners fathers farm in central Montana. We tried to book a Foodie Tour, but they were sold out, so we decided to make our own! Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. If you are a Chinese food enthusiast and find yourself in Vegas, I highly recommend this place. Unfortunately, the bad weather thwarted our planned 2nd hike of the day, so instead, we did a scenic drive, hitting all the Big 4 things to do in Grand Teton National Park along the way. This is one of those things you kind of just learn to deal with when traveling. Our favorite part was the beaver slide, an area so narrow you literally had to sit and slide down to get through. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. The story of the horses on Wild Horse Island is that the Salish-Kootenai tribe kept their horses on the island to keep them safe from being stolen by other tribes. Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. Lets go! After a (super) hearty lunch, take your bike out to the open road. Yes! The colorful and unique rocks at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. I dont have all the answers, but as someone involved in driving tourism and educating visitors, the least I can do is share what Ive learned. Driving time: 45 Minutes from Whitefish, or 3 hours from Many Glacier. We definitely want to do glacier but he also wants to do Yellowstone so we may need to figure out a slightly different itinerary. After Teton, we embarked on the 8-hour drive towards Escalante, Utah, stopping at Salt Lake City to sleep overnight. You can pick up the boat to Wild Horse Island right in the heart of downtown Big Fork just make sure to call and reserve your spot in advance! These unique and beautiful formations are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary. Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come too close to them. Moon Travel Guides has a comprehensive guide to Glacier National Park, plus a Moon Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip guide. Guess we should have had wolf vs. coyote in our whats the difference between? series! Still, Im not sure I would choose this trail again as it was crowded and there is a large portion that runs alongside a road. But please dont post the exact location, particularly on Instagram or other publicly accessible social media platforms. Try the stuffed French toast, or literally anything else that looks good you cant go wrong! At 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes. This time it was not a dog but a Black Bear that darted out in front of our car! We only had one day scheduled in the park so we only had one shot to make it in before they stopped letting un-ticketed cars in at 6! During the summer, the traffic in town is terrible, bumper to bumper. I love this post! 18 Restaurants in San Francisco for the Best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V3TvpcgJfU&t=802s, Tulum Street Art Photo Tour (And Exactly Where to Find Each Piece! We started our Idaho road trip from Boise to Glacier National Park in Montana with a stop in Riggins, Idaho. The views of the powerful waterfalls were breathtaking and a must see in this park. That all sounds amazing, I would love to get back to Montana and experience more! Detour to Capitol Reef or Bryce Canyon National ParkCapitol Reef National Park is an hour and a half north of Escalante, and Bryce Canyon is about an hour South. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog andpodcast! Psst:Weve also created a free, printable version of this Montana Road Trip Itinerary! So, we made the hour and a half drive to Ashton for affordable lodging, which we found at the Eagle Peak Lodge. We were stocked up with essential items (PB&J fixings, fruit & snacks, water, bug spray, and most importantly, bear spray). If youve never tried to change from a wet bathing suit into comfy driving clothes on the side of a road, well, youre missing out. We stopped off first at the Holiday Inn. BEHAVE YOURSELVES and be GOOD VISITORS and youll be welcomed. Here are our picks: Your first stop after Missoula is the stunning, outdoorsy town of Whitefish, Montana, located just outside of Glacier National Park. We became best friends by the end of the hike and it made my entire life. If youre feeling up for a few hills, you can continue all the way up the accurately named Big Mountain for sweeping vistas. We continued on our way until stopping for the night in Helena, Montana. Its important to be aware of your impact in Glacier, like any National Park. They were also aggressively anti-mask. Id never seen so many taxidermy animals in one place, and near the counter, a sign read gun safety rule #1: carry one. Seriously, look at this place: We walked 7.7 miles around Jenny Lake, one of the many hiking trails in Grand Teton. We really appreciate it! The older llamas are very friendly and sociable. WebThe route to here from Bear Lake weaves along the Idaho/Wyoming border through Jackson, Wyoming, and passes west of another popular local destination, Grand Teton National Park, before ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. We passed a kayaker who told us to keep a lookout for a black bear he had just seen not too far from where we were going so we quietly paddled by and tried to catch a glimpse but he had disappeared back into the woods. We had a rough plan in place prior to our trip but gave ourselves the leeway to make unexpected stops the way hence why we hit Yellowstone twice! One of the many amazing pieces of street art in Freak Alley in Boise, Idaho. From Livingston, we took a two-hour drive to Red Lodge to enter Yellowstone via the 68-mile Beartooth Highway. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. Within this guide, weve kept our suggestions for specific spots within Glacier National Park to a minimum to honor this principle. We were drawn in by a shop called Latigo and Lace, which featured authentic and local artwork. We headed back to our lodge where we (annoyingly) had to change rooms, since there were no rooms available 2 nights in a row. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. Its definitely something travelers (especially in the Americas) need to be more conscious of! All National Parks utilizes the ethos of Leave No Trace. We will be starting our trip from Las Vegas. When we got to Boise, we ate a delicious lunch at Forks and then checked into our hotel to get ready for the evening. It bared its teeth and pulled back on its paws like she was going to strike. Multiple scenic byways, some of the most picturesque mountain views in the state, and plenty of waterfront beauty makes this road trip one you'll never forget. When we got back to the car we realizedDana had locked the keys inside. I grew up right around Glacier National Park and I think everything you mentioned was perfect for enjoying the area! WebThe route to here from Bear Lake weaves along the Idaho/Wyoming border through Jackson, Wyoming, and passes west of another popular local destination, Grand Teton National Park, before ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. And while youre exploring, if youre a cheese lover (and really, isnt everyone), be sure to stop by Flathead Lake Cheese for samples of local Montana deliciousness. But the problem is that places like Glacier are extremely delicate. International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. I would have never imagined Montana a place I would want to visit but you have me convinced I will love it! Wow I love this post and itinerary ,such lovely places. Theyre very popular. While our itinerary includes 2 days in Glacier NP, if youre planning to spend more time there or youd like to bookend this trip itinerary with a trip to Yellowstone, these two guides are essential. Its always better to see fewer destinations more completely than more destinations incompletely. As the day went on, the skies began to clear and we were able to experience the sheer beauty of the park. Super stoked to finally see it in a few weeks! Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. Every few feet, Boxcar would find an exciting looking leaf to munch on, which gave me a chance to catch my breath and earn brownie points for letting him snack. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. I just love, love, love your writing style and the way you travel. Not only will you be learning about the park directly from the people who originally inhabited (and still, technically, own) it, but your tour fee will be directly supporting a Native-owned business. Our main activity was a visit to the Goldbug Hot Springs in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. If youre lusting for more libations (and maybe something a little less fancy) check out the happy hour at The Bulldog for Huckleberry Wings and cheap beer. Remember, as a traveler you are a guest in someone elses home. Again, use Kayak to price-compare prices on car rentals for your trip! Our 5-mile hike to Bond Falls was gorgeous and offered me several hours to attempt to befriend my llama, Boxcar: a beautiful, sassy 1-year-old whose respected I needed to earn. Of all Montana road trips, this one is perhaps the most popular (and is sometimes referred to as Glacier National Parks Road to the Sun). As we headed on towards our cabin at Lake Lodge, we got to experience some of the awesome wildlife that Yellowstone has to offer. We had many hmmm.should we move here? moments during our visit. We continued south until we got to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You basically just hug them until they get used to you. Im so sorry to hear that your home is experiencing overtourism. and we had a shared campsite bathroom (which was actually quite clean and close to us). We arrived at the Glacier Haven RV Park & Campground in the early evening. I had a lot of questions about llama trekking, and if you do too, heres what to expect: The hike was pleasant and easy, and we ate lunch overlooking a beautiful waterfall. Llamas are very good hikers they are native to the Andes mountains in South America, and they feel most comfortable trotting around on steep mountain slopes. That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. We were exhausted and crashed quickly. To protect visitors and the park, there are a few key pointers to follow: Geotagging seems natural to many of us millennialswe want to share the cool things we see when we are traveling! It was heavily trafficked (though we still carried our bear spray because safety first), and it offered one amazing view after another culminating in the majesty of Avalanche Lake at the end of the trail. All of a sudden, we saw her pounce up from behind a ridge, just inches away from 2 of the male tourists. All opinions, recommendations, bad jokes, and suggestions that Huckleberries are actually just wild blueberries are 100% my own and absolutely not their fault. No boards for us. 6. An excellent reminder, and we couldnt agree more! The state is home to federally recognized Tribal Nations, as well as many unrecognized communities (the fact that Tribes must be defined by the State or Federal government in order to exist is, in and of itself, super problematic). During my trip I spoke with a Montana state government employee involved in developing Indigenous tourism, who shared some of the challenges faced at the State level. Eat: Vegas is a food destination that I hope to explore more in the future. We typically try to visit popular or overtouristed destinations during the offseason to minimize our impact and prefer to recommend the same to our readers. The app provides route maps, difficulty levels, trail photos, user reviews, and more. Start by biking to City Beach and along the River Trail to take in lakeside views more details & a map can be found here. There are several historic railroad lodges located within Glacier National Park, and we had a chance to stay at a few of them during our trip. ), and then set out on the road. There is a Department of Indian Affairs as well as a program dedicated to growing Indian tourism (including through grants and other funding) at the state level, and efforts are being made. It was cute, and we picked up some locally grown cherries and bison pepperoni for the road. We recommend staying at Pine Lodge, located right on the Whitefish River and a 3-minute drive to downtown. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. We have included a few excellent options in our itinerary. Down-home ranchers and honest-to-goodness cowboys. Your 2nd tour option is a historical icon of Glacier National Park: the Red Buses were the first-ever motorized tour buses in a US National Park, and they have been operating since the early 1900s! Big Mountain for sweeping vistas a ( super ) hearty lunch, your! Day went on, the traffic in town is terrible, bumper bumper. Whitefish, or 3 hours from many Glacier destinations more completely than more destinations incompletely VISITORS youll! Try the stuffed French toast, or 3 hours from many Glacier sweeping vistas that said,:. 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Remember, as a traveler you are talking to a flesh-and-blood human than! Bison pepperoni for the night in Helena, Montana bike out to the open road Utah, stopping at Lake!

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