Planning a couple of days between Chilliwack and Glacier

[buellfire]

Hi all,
I pickup our new 21 on Monday May 6th. I pickup my wife Thursday May 9th in the afternoon at Glacier Int Airport. I am trying to plan a few days of sightseeing and acclimation to the camper for just myself, between those dates. I was thinking a day or two in Cascade NP, a day around Grand Coulee dam. There looks to be some camping areas off of rt20 in the cascades. Thoughts on this trip? I do not need full hookups. We are planning a couple of days in Glacier, two days in Cody Wy, and three days in Rocky Mountain NP, before heading home.

[cpaharley2008]

I'd stay in the area after Grand Coulee and head back north to Osoyoos for the rally starting the following week. We get our new 21 on the Tuesday, 21st and heading over to Osoyoos from Chilliwack. There will already be other owners there and with Tammy and Reace arriving on Wednesday, if there is anything your Escape may need, it can be brought directly to Osoyoos. The rally is a sight to behold and participate at least once and you are so close. On edit, Glacier may still be closed in May.

[davidmurphy02]

It is very unlikely that the Going To The Sun Road which bisects Glacier NP will be open in May, usually sometime in June before they get that open - and there has been a lot of snow this year. Prime season at Glacier is July - August, there will not be a lot open in May, things don't really kick off until Labor Day. The park will certainly still be open and there's lots of great scenery, just be aware that to get to the east side of the park you will have to take Route 2 around the southern edge of the park rather than being able to go across Logan Pass.

[buellfire]

Jim,
I originally had a delivery date on the 21st with you. Unfortunately work had other plans and those dates did not work out. We need to be back home on May 19th, so the rally is out this year. My wife and I have about 5 years of fulltime work still ahead of us, so this is the best I can do right now. I checked with Glacier and the west camp ground is open, but your right we may have some roads closed. I think the areas will still be beautiful with snow and some spring flowers coming up.

[Iowa Dave]

A couple years ago we stopped at Glacier on the way home from the Appreciation Rally.
We stayed in Apgar. It was May 31 and that campground had just opened. We cannot remember whether there was water on or not. We took the main road into the park like we were going to go “over the top” even though we knew it closed about 10 miles into the park. There the road was barricaded/ gated. Had a good night and were on our way. With the bears coming out of hibernation bear protocol was strictly enforced. We watched a nearby camper load his stuff up and get an escort out of the park. The Going to the Sun Road opened June 23 in 2018. I’ve seen it open as late as July 4.Take a warm jacket and some bear spray would be my advice. Glacier is great we’ve been there many times. Like a lot of the great National Parks, it takes several trips to see it all.
Iowa Dave

[davidmurphy02]

Blossom highly recommends seeing Glacier NP

[Iowa Dave]

Thanks to whoever fixed my sideways pictures. I’ve posted before, my recommendation to
Visit the website for Jack Gladstone the Blackfoot singer and songwriter. It will show his presentation dates and locations in Glacier for the summer. He is terrific, don’t miss him. I’ve already posted before also my reccomendation to read the trilogy by Ivan Doig, all about the area south and east of the park and Montana’s many attractions.
“Dancing at the Rascal Fair, English Creek and Ride with Me Mariah Montana” once you read these books, you’ll be heading for Montana. And Glacier Park. Then read Big Rock Candy Mountain by Stegner ( an Iowan by the way) and you’ll go west every year you can.
Iowa Dave

[arniesea]

Back to your original question, just south of Grand Coolie is Dry Creek Falls state park. It is where the Columbia River used to flow just after the last ice age. The falls were bigger than Niagara falls are today. Now it is an amazing canyon where you can see where the river cut back the rock.

Here is an article about the Missoula Floods that formed them. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missoula_Floods

.. and the Falls
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Falls

[davidmurphy02]

Here's the current road plowing status in Glacier NP - it is just now beginning, and they do not expect to have Going To The Sun Road open all the way through until June 22.
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/cr...M0N5udiGlTiNRk

[blue_bullet]

We like to hit this park during the shoulder season, No one goes to GNP anymore, it's too
crowded (Yogi Berra). In fact they have major parking issues at Logan Pass.

https://parks.state.wa.us/590/Steamboat-Rock

They pump water up to the lake from the Columbia for irrigation purposes.

[GoCampBC]

Well if everyone is going to reminisce about past Glacier trips, I might as well pile on! My father and I road our Harleys through Glacier in 2010 and again in 2014. The picture below is from 2010. We didn't pre-book any campsites and ended up in a motel in West Glacier on year and Browning the other. As we were tent camping on those trips, in retrospect being forced into a motel was likely a good thing given all the bears! This year the wife and I are doing a rocky mountain trip with the Escape Pod from Yellowstone to Banff. We will be spending 8 nights in Glacier (4 in each of Many Glacier and Fish Creek campgrounds). After planning this trip, I second the idea of bringing lots of bear spray!

[davidmurphy02]

Originally Posted by GoCampBC

After planning this trip, I second the idea of bringing lots of bear spray!

Ditto on the bear spray...and always yield the trail to bears!

[Rossue]

Since you don't need hookups you might consider going up the 486 from Columbia Falls, but first stop by Perfect Cuts Butcher Shop. The pavement ends, however it is graded very flat and is wide. About 6-7 miles after pavement ends you will find some free BLM campgrounds on the Flathead River. Then you go up a little ways more and can make a right and loop back south right to Apgar- and is paved. You avoid the entrance gate and last year they had the road torn up so that was great.

[Rossue]

Here's a picture of that road to Lodgepole.

[Treblemaker]

We love the Glacier/Kalispell area-spent many summers there with friends who have property on the North Fork that borders GNP. Fish Creek Campground is nice, heavily forested with tamarack. Some sites are on Lake McDonald, but all are lovely. If you want an adventure, drive the dirt road to Polebridge and stock up on yummy baked goods. Rough road, slow going, but worth it. There is also a restaurant/bar that serves good home cooked meals. The town of Whitefish, about a 30 minute drive, is fun with lots of microbreweries and eclectic shops. While in Glacier, if you hike please do take bear spray and keep it readily accessible. Mountain lions are present, many folks forget about that. We carry bear spray and trekking poles. Spring is an awesome time to visit but as in all wildlife areas if you hike, situational awareness is important. Trail of the Cedars should be open and is an easy hike on the west side. McDonald Lodge is nice to visit as well. It came close to burning in the fires a few years ago (we were there...ash on the camper, sky glowing at night....another story)

What route are you taking to Cody? There is wonderful NF camping west of Cody, several campgrounds to choose from. We lived in Dayton, WY just over the Big Horns for 15 years and made a lot of trips to Yellowstone through Cody. It is a fun town. Be sure to visit the museum if you are interested in Buffalo Bill.

[cpaharley2008]

Speaking of Cody, is Beartooth Highway towable with an Escape?

[Treblemaker]

I personally would not tow anything on that road. It is narrow and has many hairpin turns, and not much shoulder. That said, some people do tow and there is a campground near the top. The Montana Highway dept maintains it and some seasons they put length restrictions based on weather and construction. Many years it is not open until June. Snow storms happen at any time of year that high. I would camp lower and do the Beartooth as a scenic day trip. Towing up is not so much the problem as the steep and narrow grade coming down!! My hubby says no amount of money could convince him to tow the Beartooth!

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Here's a picture of that road to Lodgepole.

Oops- meant to say Polebridge. Did not take it past the turn to go down to Apgar on the east side of Flathead River, however up to that point it was very smooth.

[bndnrd]

Originally Posted by Treblemaker

I personally would not tow anything on that road. It is narrow and has many hairpin turns, and not much shoulder. That said, some people do tow and there is a campground near the top. The Montana Highway dept maintains it and some seasons they put length restrictions based on weather and construction. Many years it is not open until June. Snow storms happen at any time of year that high. I would camp lower and do the Beartooth as a scenic day trip. Towing up is not so much the problem as the steep and narrow grade coming down!! My hubby says no amount of money could convince him to tow the Beartooth!

Having to deal with the impatient drivers behind you on the way up and then monitoring the braking systems on the way down would hinder the breathtaking views surrounding you.

[dkirk]

We have towed an Escape 15 over the Beartooth with a V6 Jeep GC. No issues. Great campgrounds with good hiking. Check the weather and go!