Glacier National Park & Surrounding Areas

I have had great luck with asking regional guys about their famous landmarks when traveling in that direction. I'm going to be doing a big "Out West" trip this summer and wonder what you put on your top three highlight destinations in the Glacial National Park and surrounding area? I'll be traveling w/ children and can't set out on a crazy adventure but would like your toughts about scenic beauty location, roads not to miss, small towns and stops off the beaten path.

Thank you for your help!

 

For the Portland area I would suggest;
1) Multnomah Falls
2) Timberline Lodge
3) Any of the Pacific Northwest beaches. Depending on what you are looking for, some cater to shopping, others focus on family entertainment.
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I'm guessing you might be referring to Glacier National Park ( as opposed to Glacial...)
Top of my list would be to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. You're not going to do any sporty driving here with all the other tourists in the park, but that's alright as it's a sensational road with incredible views all along the way. Plan to take a day to do it and stop lots along the way. http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm

If you're not taking the Ferrari (and I highly recommend you do if at all possible if for just the adjoining roads in Montana), then one fun way to do it could be to ride in the White Motor Company touring sedans. Cool vehicles, and lots of options for length of ride and where they go. http://www.glacierparkinc.com/tour_detail.php?id=1

I've only stayed at the Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier, and it was pretty cool. Big old Wooden lodge from the turn of the 20th century, much like the Timberline Lodge Jon refers to. http://www.glacierparkinc.com/glacier_park_lodge.php. On my list for future stays is the Prince of Wales Hotel on Waterton Lakes. I've heard and read good things about this place, too.

Stay off the interstates, and pick any of the smaller highways in the area and you'll be happy you did, if maybe sorry you didn't bring a Ferrari. . Lots of cool scenery up along the Canadian/Montana border. Hwy 2 is really nice.

If you're in the area, Marmarth, North Dakota is just barely there, but has a fun little car museum, Dory's Antique Car Museum. A real fun little museum with some interesting cars. The roads to and from (Hwy 12) are very nice!.
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Going to be coming up from the south - first stop Arizona and the Grand Canyon and then through Colorado/Utah/Wyoming straight to Montana. Not bringing the car just haven't quite figured out what kind of "rv" I'll be traveling in. Want to strap on a couple scooters for drive's like the one you are speaking of.

Thank you for the suggestions - those lodge's both will be on our list!

 

How far into Colorado will you get? HWY 9 north out of Summit County (Silverthorne, Breckenridge, etc) is pretty, and will turn into HWY 40 and take you through Steamboat, then through Dinosaur Nat'l Monument, and you should be able to tag on to the 191 in Vernal, UT, and head north on it all the way through Jackson, WY, the Tetons, Yellowstone, and it'll spit you out close at Bozeman, MT, at I-90.

 

Yes! This is a must do route if you are going to go through this area. I drove it a couple of years ago. Nobody around and some great roads and waypoints.

 

I spent a few days at Flathead Lake, and enjoyed it. A road circles the lake and was a pleasant ride.

 

Great suggestion - there are few good ranches outside of Steamboat. Went up through Trinidad, Durango, Silverton, OUray and Telluride last year.

Would kinda like to do a more western Colorado route if there is a suggestion? Maybe I should go up through Utah?

 

Hmm, coming from Grand Canyon... depending on exactly what point that is, you could find your way to the 191, and go north to Moab / Arches, then on your way "out" you should back track south to La Sal Junction, UT, and head east on 46 into Colorado (at which point it turns into the 90). The reason for this slight backtrack is so you can hit CO 141 and go north to Gateway...where there is a nice resort with a car museum, and fun activities (4 wheeling, rafting, kayaking) so it's a nice pitstop. After pressing on, keep north to HWY 50 and head back east (away from Grand Junction), meet up with the 92 at Delta, then the 133 at Hotchkiss so you can go over the pass, and come in the back way to Carbondale, and, if you want, can make a quick south jaunt on the 82 to Aspen, then back north on it to meet up with I80 at Glenwood Springs (dip in the hot springs!!). I'd recommend, if you want to stay west, you should still go a bit east on I80 and drive through Glenwood Canyon, to the "no name" exit, do a raft trip, stay at that campground, then head back west on I80 to Rifle, and go north on the 13. You could take it all the way to Craig, on the 40, or, just outside Meeker, head west on 64 where it will also take you to the 40, but put you there at Dinosaur. Then, attach aforementioned route.

 

I wouldn't miss highway 40 in Northwest Colorado and Eastern Utah. After visiting the Dinosaur National Monumnent (Note the main Quarry Visitor Center is closed for reconstruction) you head West into Utah. There is a section in Utah around Strawberry Reservoir where you can see for miles ahead as it curves around. The highway there is in great condition, no residences, no trees or obstructions - the visibility is excellent, traffic is low - it should be a section of highway limited only by "whatever is reasonable or prudent".

 

It's hard for me to think about making that trip and not making a stop in Yellowstone on the way by, that is well worth at least a day of your time.

I'll be at the house in Big Sky for the summer, PM me if you'll be in the neighborhood.