Glacier National Park in May

[sf jakey]

I am planning a road trip home with my daughter from Bozeman around May 12 this year and was thinking of trying to check out Glacier. Is that too early to make it worth going, or is the park even open then? I looked online and it shows reservations required beginning May24, but not sure if that is just related to Memorial Day or not. We always try to go see something new on trips, so this was appealing because I thought maybe we could avoid some of the crowds. Thanks for any info.

 

[timekiller13]

I haven’t looked at the snow pack in that area but I know several years ago I was in that area in first week of June and basically the only thing that was open the visitor center. Most of the park was still under significant amounts of snow.

 

[jtevanMT]

That is pretty early for Glacier unless you enjoy snow shoes and mixed snow/ice hiking. Many of the higher elevation trails, lakes and views that Glacier is known for will not be accessible yet. Lower elevation trails should be accessible and fewer people in the park.

Your trip back to Bozeman in August (I assume your daughter is at MSU) would be a better time to see Glacier. Make reservations now, it fills up quickly.

Consider stopping by Lewis and Clark Caverns in your way home. It is only a 1/2 day stop but very cool.

 

[mtnbiker208]

cdt trail out of homestake pass is pretty cool hiking.

 

[MT_Archer]

Early June is the time to hit Glacier. My wife and I visited early June two years ago and if you time it right, the Road to the Sun will only be open to bicycles while still closed to cars.

 

[AKBC]

Thanks for posting this; I am headed to Bozeman for graduation at the same time and was planning to hit Glacier. Guess I need to rethink my plans and would appreciate suggestions for a 3 day rented RV trip out of Bozeman.

 

[JRS3]

This has probably been asked elsewhere but this was the most recent thread I could find so here goes….

I assume that those of you who have hiked GNP carry a handgun (and bear spray). Do you carry open or concealed and did you have any issues with park staff or others while carrying?

I’m taking the family in June. We have been to many other NPs in the wet but the first where we will be hiking in grizzly country so the handgun on me and spray for both my wife and I give me comfort.

What say you?

I have my CCW permit for what it’s worth and my state has reciprocity with MT.

 

[repins05]

FYi - Many Glacier is closed this year due to road work etc. It is my favorite area to visit at Glacier.

I am guessing it will be absolutely crazy in the rest of the park because of this closure. It was already crazy before this.

 

[repins05]

Early June would be a good time to try to avoid crowds. However the snow pack can still have trails closed etc. that time of year. Would be worth checking.

 

[longrangelead]

This has probably been asked elsewhere but this was the most recent thread I could find so here goes….

I assume that those of you who have hiked GNP carry a handgun (and bear spray). Do you carry open or concealed and did you have any issues with park staff or others while carrying?

I’m taking the family in June. We have been to many other NPs in the wet but the first where we will be hiking in grizzly country so the handgun on me and spray for both my wife and I give me comfort.

What say you?

I have my CCW permit for what it’s worth and my state has reciprocity with MT.

Because of the type of people that are the majority of park goers, I conceal carry.

My personal choice is pistol only. 50/50 chance the wind is in my face and if I have to deter a bear, I don't want to wonder if I'll be incapacitated for the next part.

May is often to early. The road to the sun is usually closed until memorial day. it's worth seeing but go early in the morning.

 

[JRS3]

Thank you…..We are going in mid-June. I searched for the most recent GNP and found this.

 

[jtevanMT]

East Glacier will be open to hikers in 2025 but only for about 120 groups through a limited shuttle service due to construction and limited parking. Absolutely worth it if you can get a shuttle permit.

Glacier G-bears see tourists nearly every day and are generally not aggressive, or would be removed by the park service rangers. Trails will also be closed if bears are aggressive or causing conflicts. Due to the high number of tourists, I recommend carrying bear spray instead of a pistol inside the park. Most tourists are not used to seeing open cary. Outside the park I carry a Glock 10mm, inside the part I cary bear spray.

 

[displacedtexan]

This has probably been asked elsewhere but this was the most recent thread I could find so here goes….

I assume that those of you who have hiked GNP carry a handgun (and bear spray). Do you carry open or concealed and did you have any issues with park staff or others while carrying?

I’m taking the family in June. We have been to many other NPs in the wet but the first where we will be hiking in grizzly country so the handgun on me and spray for both my wife and I give me comfort.

What say you?

I have my CCW permit for what it’s worth and my state has reciprocity with MT.

I didn't carry a handgun when we went, we also went through Canada. Saw several open carrying though.

Spray on my pack though.

Carrying a gun hiking is basically always open carry for me, Pack waist strap is my priority.

 

[Tilzbow]

Last year Going to the Sun road didn’t open until late June (I think it was 6/23) and I don’t think that was abnormally late. We were there 6/11 - 6/25 and most hiking trails were open but some weren’t while many in the higher elevations required some snow traversing.

 

[rileybassman]

This has probably been asked elsewhere but this was the most recent thread I could find so here goes….

I assume that those of you who have hiked GNP carry a handgun (and bear spray). Do you carry open or concealed and did you have any issues with park staff or others while carrying?

I’m taking the family in June. We have been to many other NPs in the wet but the first where we will be hiking in grizzly country so the handgun on me and spray for both my wife and I give me comfort.

What say you?

I have my CCW permit for what it’s worth and my state has reciprocity with MT.

I generally open carry and haven’t had issues. Visitor centers etc. are federal buildings so you can’t there.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[repins05]

East Glacier will be open to hikers in 2025 but only for about 120 groups through a limited shuttle service due to construction and limited parking. Absolutely worth it if you can get a shuttle permit.

Glacier G-bears see tourists nearly every day and are generally not aggressive, or would be removed by the park service rangers. Trails will also be closed if bears are aggressive or causing conflicts. Due to the high number of tourists, I recommend carrying bear spray instead of a pistol inside the park. Most tourists are not used to seeing open cary. Outside the park I carry a Glock 10mm, inside the part I cary bear spray.

Yes that is correct. It would be pretty amazing if you can get a shuttle permit and hike with a limited amount of people in the east. You could always start from the west side and hike over as well.

 

[ScottP76]

Went in early July and Early August another year. In July there was still some snow and high line trail was still closed.

I’ll add unfortunately you won’t be escaping any crowds in Glacier. And the only way around the reservation system is to be in the park really early

 

[atmat]

This has probably been asked elsewhere but this was the most recent thread I could find so here goes….

I assume that those of you who have hiked GNP carry a handgun (and bear spray). Do you carry open or concealed and did you have any issues with park staff or others while carrying?

I’m taking the family in June. We have been to many other NPs in the wet but the first where we will be hiking in grizzly country so the handgun on me and spray for both my wife and I give me comfort.

What say you?

I have my CCW permit for what it’s worth and my state has reciprocity with MT.

Grizz are not a major concern in GNP. There are so many people around, many of whom will be carrying bear spray or a pistol themselves, that I wouldn’t really worry much about it.

I carried spray when I went, but mostly because a pistol on a jam packed trail didn’t leave me feeling super confident anyway.

 

[Tilzbow]

My wife and I met a young guy on the trail to Ice Berg Lake last year. He was a mile down from the lake and had a snowboard on his pack that was split in half. He apparently hiked to the lake early in the morning, hiked to the top of the cliffs surrounding the lake and boarded down a narrow 1,000 to 1,500 long vertical chute, wiped out part way down and split his board in half down the middle.

He told me he was more concerned about being attacked by a bear while hiking in than he was about getting injured boarding down the chute. I don’t get it…

 

[mt terry d]

My personal choice is pistol only. 50/50 chance the wind is in my face and if I have to deter a bear, I don't want to wonder if I'll be incapacitated for the next part.

So you want the Full Mauling Experience.

Give this man a Gold Star for his Man Card!!

Going to the Sun road is a real Cluster **** anymore.