The tickets were open at 8:00 that morningand were gone by 8:03. We explored both the Brink of the Lower and Upper Falls, as well as Artist Point. When visiting Reservations or stopping at places that appear to be Indigenous-owned (such as a trading post), look for Native-owned signage. We would like to spend a few days in Seattle and Portland at the start, aswell as a lake in Montana for a few days at the end. 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! They were designed especially for the inclines and turns of Glacier National Park & Going to the Sun Road, and their unique designs have been a staple of the Park ever since. As we were walking around, we were drawn to music and ended up catching the tail end of a free, outdoor show by the band Afrosonics. Its the perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine! Clear Sky. This part of the country is famously beautiful, characterized by lush green alpine landscapes and snow-capped peaks, winding rivers, and countless small towns dripping with old western charm. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. Today, youll be spending the day hiking with a very special friend: a llama! Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a I appreciate that you wrote about ethical tourism and what can be done to improve our relations with tribal nations and with the natural environment and places they call home. The trip begins and ends in Portland, Oregon, but spends much of the time in and around Glacier National Park in Montana. 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. We decided to backtrack a little to check it out since it was still fairly early and we were only an hour away from our final destination. One thing we had been noticing by this point is that things around here close early. This will come in handy as you drive and includes the map in case your cell service is awful! If nothing else, it gave us good story to tell laterbut we decided to wait to tell family and friends of our predicament until we survived the night (which obviously we did and to be honest, it was better than some of the s**tholes weve stayed in on other trips). The simplest answer I can give you is to seek out Native-owned businesses. The town was apparently poppin in its heyday and had no less than thirteen saloons. Its called Flessie, and locals say it often appears in the shape of a floating stick. We stayed safely far away and used our zoom lens to capture photos of them instead! No dont be sorry, its SO helpful to get reader feedback like this letting us know things have changed or are no longer the way we experienced or described them! The 50-mile route cuts across Glacier National Park at an elevation of 6,646 feet and is open seasonally, so youll want to plan accordingly. It was cute, and we picked up some locally grown cherries and bison pepperoni for the road. Our visit was during late September (in 2019) and I honestly didnt notice that many crowds, though I also dont have a frame of reference to compare to! Day 10: Twin Falls, Idaho to Boise, Idaho, Our car bed was actually not too bad. The primary road through Glacier National Park is a feat of engineering. Jackson Glacier seen from Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. It was the perfect way to end the first day of the Wyoming portion of our road trip. Ahem: Remember all that stuff from earlier in the post about how you can support Montanas Indigenous communities? Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. First stop was Moulton Barns on Mormon Row, an old Mormon settlement before the national park was established. We set ourselves to brainstorming and researching what our other options for the park would be, but in the meantime, we werent going to let it spoil the rest of the day. The man who was helping hopped the fence to check the farm house a little ways up. Alternatively, if youll be heading back to Boise or into Wyoming from Sun Valley on your Idaho road trip itinerary, make it a point to stop by Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve for some dramatically different landscape to everything youve seen on the trip so far. Firstly: be aware during your trip that Glacier National Park and, in fact, most USA National Parks was originally inhabited and maintained by Indigenous peoples. In the morning, we arrived to these views: Utah is home to Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, and other majestic but crowded national parks. For a shortcut version, you can take the Chief Two Guns shuttle boat across Swiftcurrent Lake, board the Morning Eagle to shuttle across Lake Josephine, and then hike a 3.6-mile hike to Grinnell Glacier. It was fun though, and Im glad we got to try it. There are lots of great things to do in Whitefish for every season if you know where to look! Lets go! For breakfast and coffee, head to Swift Creek Cafe. Welcome to Montana, where there are two times as many cows as people and miles and miles of gorgeous, rolling wilderness to explore! There are a few options for exploring Going to the Sun Road. Starting from Boise and working your way counterclockwise around the state to some of the best outdoor spots makes for one memorable Idaho road trip. We definitely want to do glacier but he also wants to do Yellowstone so we may need to figure out a slightly different itinerary. The menu is creative and modern, with local twists like elk meatballs and a bison burger. sorry you had to deal with that sort of garbage at the Miracle of America Museum. We also learned quickly that the beautiful scenic views came with a lack of cell service so for anyone planning this drive, download a couple playlists and pick up a paper map in advance. So far on this trip, rooms had been expensive due to the amount of travelers in the area. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. On Saturday morning, we checked out the citys weekly farmers market, which we read is a must during any visit to Missoula. About an hour and $50 later, we were on our way to the last stop on our Idaho itinerary before Boise. 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 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. Our brainstorming and researching along the way paid off, as we learned we WOULD be able to access Going to the Sun Road IF we arrived before 6 AM or after 5 PM. Just a short drive outside of Whitefish, the Resort has myriad ways to get your thrill on, like the mountain bike park, alpine slides, zip-lines, and rope courses. This time it was not a dog but a Black Bear that darted out in front of our car! But, adorably, they step politely off the trail to do it. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. We woke early and went into the Holiday Inn to get changed and ready for the day. After a few hours of biking, youve worked up an appetite for Ciao Mambo with Italian dishes big enough to share, and an Italian Nachos that will have your cardiologist running for the hills. We laughed as she made fun of tourists she would encounter who called her way of living primitive. This stunning park is the highlight of any Montana road trip! Are there ways for visitors to enjoy Whitefish responsibly, such as by visiting during a specific season or during a lull in tourists? If youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana, I recommend reading through this booklet or browsing this site! document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey, we are Dottie & Lenza, bloggers and video creators. Do NOT hit golf balls off Glacier National Parks Going to the Sun Road because youre stopped in construction traffic with nothing better to do than ENJOY THE SCENERY. Our favorite rapid was called the Time Change, which took us under a bridge where the time literally changed from Mountain to Pacific (our brains were very confused on time for the rest of that day since we went over and under that bridge multiple times). '&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= Everythings coming up Dana & Alicia! All National Parks utilizes the ethos of Leave No Trace. Torreys 33F. That all sounds amazing, I would love to get back to Montana and experience more! We were exhausted and crashed quickly. Today, they have free admission to visit the park but are not allowed to live on their land despite the original agreement made between the Tribe and the United States Government. Oh, and youll also need to book your tour about a year in advance. And be sure to get something comfy: this is a road trip, after all! We recommend staying somewhere walkable, so youll want to base yourself close to downtown on either side of the river. The Best Street Art in San Francisco: Mission Where to Find the Best New Orleans Street 10 Restaurants in New Orleans for Treating Yourself. You can find it here https://practicalwanderlust.com/yellowstone-in-winter/ Hope it helps to plan your trip! Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. 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). 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. Of course we had to stop and try to help said dog (whose name we learned was Hank). 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. Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. Even though they share a border, its a long drive through Idaho to Montana and we love an adventure-packed pit stop so Riggins was the perfect place to stop on a road trip from Idaho to Montana. One of the many amazing pieces of street art in Freak Alley in Boise, Idaho. Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come too close to them. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. We had many hmmm.should we move here? moments during our visit. They need plenty of room so they dont get nervous, just like humans. Eat: Sawtooth Luces serves up cold local beer and a mean Idaho Kobe beef burger, and we had a delicious breakfast at Stanley Baking Company. Wellwe learned from a ranger the next day that what we saw was actually a coyote. We really appreciate it! All around high-quality food in a rustic but modern wild west ambiance. Try the stuffed French toast, or literally anything else that looks good you cant go wrong! We spent the morning exploring the different geyser basins throughout Yellowstone. We were also able to see Teton and Middle Teton glaciers (ironically more glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park). Please try again. We made it in perfect time, just 4 minutes before the geyser was set to blow. 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. Do you condone those messages? And Im so glad the rest of the itinerary was helpful Im glad you had a good trip! Please also be courteous and wear a mask where required. and we had a shared campsite bathroom (which was actually quite clean and close to us). The sheer magnitude and untouched rugged beauty make you feel small in the most wonderful way. Be careful, though: if you time your trip too late in September, everything in Glacier National Park will begin shutting down because of snow (yes, that early)! I also loved your post on the Galapagosused it for my own trip and it was super helpful! Missoula, Montana is an adorable college town and makes a great base to begin and end your trip to Montana! BEHAVE YOURSELVES and be GOOD VISITORS and youll be welcomed. Or, you can charter a boat shuttle. National parks are protected for their scenic, inspiration, recreational, and/or educational value. Detour to Garnet Ghost TownOn our way to Big Sky from Missoula, we stopped at Garnet Ghost Town, a former mining town active from the late 1800s to the end of World War I. After about 2.5 miles walking east on Going to the Sun road, we decided to turn back and go for a hike. Would love any/all suggestions for ways to be a responsible tourist while respecting, enjoying, and supporting the local community in Whitefish! We hit the beginning of the main road when it was still dark and rainy, but we found a spot to camp out along Lake McDonald to watch the sun rise. One thing that stood out to us on this trip, compared to other road trips weve taken, was the beauty of the drives. But please dont post the exact location, particularly on Instagram or other publicly accessible social media platforms. To get you started, we mapped out an Idaho road trip for you and the family with more diversity than most cross-country trips can provide. 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. 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 were very excited to have a bear sightingfrom the safety of our car, and not on a hiking trail. This is literally like the best Montana itinerary post Ive ever seen!! 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. We continued on with no further interruption and made it to the park entrance. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr Llamas take a very long time to go to the bathroom. Our itinerary took us through the iconic national parks with a number of must-see stops on the way to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming! Which gives me hope for my future llama-owning self. Im so sorry to hear that your home is experiencing overtourism. Montana is a beautiful itinerary. Like everywhere we stopped in Montana, mountains frame the city in the distance. I guess when you live in the middle of nowhere youve got to entertain yourself somehow. This is how!! But if not, the next best thing is a guidebook. Missoula has a plethora of hotels so we booked a Comfort Inn near downtown on our way into town. Montana wasnt on my bucket list yet but your post convinced me . We enjoyed the views of Yellowstone and the beautiful Wyoming scenery from the drive and arrived at our Grand Teton cabin at Signal Mountain Lodge right before dinnertime. For water, we purchased a few 1.5-liter bottles and refilled them at gas stations throughout our trip. If you do opt for the Red Bus Tour, youll want to bring a ton of sunscreen (open top means LOTS of sun), plenty of layers as the morning is quite cold and the afternoon is quite hot, sunglasses, loads of water, chapstick, and snacks (just be sure to pack all the snack waste out with you). We really enjoyed experiencing the beauty of the different thermal pools, as neither of us had really seen anything like them before. Fuel up at Pocketstone Cafe, the ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork. Here are a few highlights: Sawtooth Lake (10 miles RT, moderate rating) Pettit Lake to Twin Lakes (13 miles RT, moderate rating) Bench Lakes (7.8 miles RT, moderate rating) Alpine Lake Trail (7.4 miles RT, moderate rating) You can find tons of other hikes on AllTrails. Just in time too, because about 20 minutes later the skies opened up. How bout the kettle house amphitheater and seeing show how bout rafting a river. If youre thirsty, The Great Northern Brewing Company, Bonsai Brewing, or Spotted Bear Spirits have you covered. I almost gave up and turned around halfway through but persisted with the encouragement of Lenza and a one-pound bag of Tillamook beef jerky. Do you have suggestions for Yellowstone or an itinerary that would be best to see both? Plus, who can resist a random winery stop on a road trip?!? If youre flying in, just pick up and return your RV in Missoula: browse RV rentals in Missoula. But before we jump into all of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we need to cover a few important basics. Pictures just cant do it justice. When it comes to navigating unfamiliar territory especially unfamiliar wilderness territory, full of legally protected critters and forests and such it really helps to have a guide. The group has a very unique sound and its members come from multiple nations who come together in one musical destination. They let us borrow their sled and Alicia and I took turns sliding down a few times. Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. But theres a hidden loophole! The venue is an experience in itself, with wild game taxidermy lining the walls, a sturdy wooden bar, and a vintage piano in the corner. Youll be able to do and see so much more compared to the rest of the year. Because we didnt have the special tickets to enter the road during normal hours, we couldnt check out the east side of the park until after 5PM so we decided to hike up the road itself for a little bit, which was a great call. Drop us a comment below! We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. Locals openly carry guns at family-friendly tourist destinations, and, I assume, elsewhere. Truly, you arent helping. Obviously, there are many other options at all price ranges. We had brunch at a small but very crowded Farmers Market (who knew Missoula was such a hip and happening place?! If you choose to take on the task, make sure to bring sunblock, plenty of water, and snacks to fuel you along the way. With so many people road-tripping, the prices were exorbitant so it was challenging for the budget-conscious traveler. We spent our afternoon hiking to the Escalante Natural Bridge, which we had all to ourselves. We enjoyed our meal with a nice view of the sun setting over Jackson Lake and had our first local beer (a local beer and a local meal is our required criteria for getting to claim having been to a place). We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace. This luxury condo in downtown Bigfork has spectacular views of Swan River, you can hear the sounds of rushing white water from the deck, and the loft bedroom has cathedral windows looking across spectacular views. So cool! The United States is an enormous country, and there are large swaths of sparsely populated land without cell service. Your next destination is Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater natural lake west of the Mississippi! Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. On the way out of town, we stopped at Fiddle Creek Fruit Stand and sampled some Huckleberry pie (eating something huckleberry is one of the must do things in the areaand we sampled our fair share by the end of the trip). From there, we set out to Jenny Lake where we rented a canoe to paddle across to Inspiration Point - a great thing to do in Grand Teton. We also found another great place to see on the drive back to Boise in Arco, Idaho, the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power. A bear ready for a dip in Hells Canyon. 6. In the morning, we had a gluttonous, all-American breakfast at Trails Inn Restaurant in town, which was just amazing. And in the second installation of whats the difference between we learned: Whats the difference between a farm and a ranch?. It was already 7:00good thing it stays light until 10 that far north! Yellowstone travel tip: Old Faithful is, well, faithful and you can check the times it is set to go off and plan your itinerary around it. Sadly I didnt have a chance to take this tour myself during my trip, but Ive heard nothing but good things. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Running all the way from West Glacier to East Glacier, the road winds through the valleys before suddenly plunging upwards and climbing turn by turn through the mountains of Glacier National Park, with views of sweeping U-shaped valleys and aquamarine lakes around every corner. We tied up our canoe on the bank and hiked halfway up to Inspiration Point, enjoying the views of the Hidden Waterfall on the way. We will be starting our trip from Las Vegas. Thank you!!! Today was one of our main driving days, which can be some of the best days of a road trip! People have a lot to say about Vegas, but in my opinion, you just gotta enjoy it for what it is: a tacky fabulous adult Disneyland. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. 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