It was a seemingly ordinary day in January when I had the powerful inspiration. What if I set a goal to touch a glacier this year? The thought grew, rooting in my mind. Did this mean that I wanted to arrange a trip to Alaska?
No – that didn’t feel quite right.
Then, I remembered my friend Amanda’s trip to Glacier National Park years before. Not only did it look absolutely stunningly gorgeous. But, it was an area of the United States that I had not yet explored.
So, all I had to do was wait until a certain airline ran a 50% off special for all flights. Within a few months of being patient, I secured a round trip from Burbank, California to Glacier Park International Airport for $98.
Everything seemlessly fell into place. And, before I knew it, I was awake at 6am in Kalispell, Montana, eating a light breakfast at my hotel before heading into Glacier National Park.
Truly, driving the Going to the Sun road in Glacier National Park was everything my heart, mind and soul desired and dreamed of – and more.
Travel Tips:
- You MUST have a reservation to drive Going to the Sun Road in the summer – For this, I have a few suggestions. First, if reservations for the date you are thinking of going are booked up, do NOT worry. As I learned with my trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, just be at on the reservation website the day before at 7pm to select your preferred time slot.
- Reserve the earliest time possible – Ideally, I would suggest the first entrance category, between 7 – 9am. I left my hotel around 6:45am and arrived at West Glacier around 8am. Asking a ranger after he scanned my entrance QR code, I was told that the estimated drive time to St. Mary’s at the East entrance was 2 1/2 hours. However, because of stopping for photos and going with the flow, it took me 4 1/2 hours. Plan your snacks and water accordingly.
- Plan for gas accordingly – There are no gas stations in Glacier National Park. However, there is gas available in West Glacier and St. Mary’s.
The next day, I explored Waterton Lakes National Park – the Canadian side of the Rocky Mountains.
Combined with my experiences in Colorado, Banff National Park and Jasper National Park and my life and photography are better because of the roads I’ve traversed in the Colorado, Montana and Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Glacier National Park
250 Going-to-the-Sun RoadWest Glacier, Montana 59936
