Thanks for the comment!! Yes donations are welcome. I’m very thankful for those who have!

Buck up buttercup

a few have donated and it’s very helpful. I got a check for $200 yesterday! amazing!

It is certainly not my mission to keep people from going! It's my favorite park, but its important to manage expectations.

I'm going for my 3rd time this summer. But I go hiker/biker, no car. It's the best way to enjoy Glacier and I feel good about myself for not bringing a giant polluter with me. Don't pollute, take the train. It's a joy. 😊

Ahem… you might want to check the carbon foot print of diesel trains- because they carry about the same number of people as a wide body plane and take several more hours or days to get to a destination studies show they are less green than air or even car transport.

Thanks for recognizing the effort!!

I hope you’re not saying my video was confusing

mine too! and you are correct!

Thanks- it took a couple of hundred hours to put write and edit. BTW- if you haven't already, my 2hr Glacier video is even better- if a do say so myself

I’m updating to 2hr epic this week

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching again

Great! be sure to watch my 2hr Glacier video- like my Utah videos it’s the most comprehensive Glacier NP video on youtube.

it's my favorite park- too bad to costs $225 to shoot a KZfaq video (for a filming permit) now

I’m glad the work helped. And it’s nice to hear the Voice Over is appreciated!

thanks for recognizing the effort!

Thanks for the kind comment- Please let me know how the camping works out. I'll add it to an update. In case you haven't seen my Sun Road update- please know the Sun Road west entrance does not open until 6am which means if you don't have a Vehicle res ticket you can't enter the west side until after 3pm with a vehicle reservation or camping permit- it gets confusing- check the the website.

You are so welcome! that is high praise. Where in Europe are you from?

@@TheWestisBig Munich, Germany - and love (or at least loved before Covid) traveling to the western part of the US

Ahh I've been there. I went to Oktoberfest a few days before reunification day

Thanks! you should watch my Glacier Hiking videos on my channel.

Thanks for the comment and for subscribing. Waterton Lakes is a great place havent been there since covid- looking forward to going back.

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks!! I work at it.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Glad it was helpful! Please go to the park website for the latest info- FOR EXAMPLE- Vehicle passes in '24 are only good for one day not 3 but you don't need on the east side at St. Mary.- I'll make an updated video when time permits

Thanks!! I need all the subs I can get. My 2hr GNP has lots more info

Yep. i’ve been there. A recently published a video that includes a hike up there.

Thanks for the feedback btw- I think you meant Many Glacier

@@TheWestisBig lol yes yes I did,

Thanks- fyi- since i made the video they’ve lets us know the West entrance will not open until 6am this summer. always check website for any other changes.

So nice of you

Much appreciated

Congratulations! If u haven’t already, you might benefit from watch my Glacier: the hiker’s national park. lots more detail

@@TheWestisBig We've watched a few of yours on Glacier. Thanks!

wow. that’s great.

Thank you kindly!

Best of luck! be advised- vehicle reservations are only good for one day this year. and you don’t need one for the sun road when entering from the east side. i’m working on an update.

Thanks! I work hard to make helpful guides. thanks for your support!!!

My pleasure! FYI- they recently announced for 2024 Vehicle Res tickets will be good for only one day!!! I'll be making an update soon

Ah- thanks for making it to the end. Re: Rising Sun , i’ve stayed there a couple of times it’s fine. It sounds like you haven’t watched my 2hr Glacier video that includes a tour of each of the lodging options in the park. My channel also has the lodging segment video by itself. The long one has chapter marks to make it easy to skip segments.

thanks for commenting!! please be advised I made an update to this a few weeks ago. they changed the vehicle reservation ticket system for this year- for the better and worse- the tickets are only good for one day now. By you do not need one to go to 2 Medicine or the SunRoad from the east at St. Mary

Glad it was helpful!

The park is too crowded, these rules will likely make it less so which is good for those lucky enough to go. If you want to refresh you memory check out my 2hr guide to the park - it shows how great it is.

Any unique suggestions of places to visit. What’s the best easy-ish hike??

I assume you've subscribed to my channel- check my 2hr-ish of the 70min ish Glacier NP hiking video- lots of good recomendations

you’re welcome

I’m doing that more now too.

You are welcome!

Correct

Thanks for sharing

have designated parking.. it would fix that problem

they have designated parking and ticket those park elsewhere

thanks for commenting

I support global warming. Winters need to be eliminated

yes I caught the misspelling and corrected it in other videos. that's a tough one for a dyslexic

fyi- the west side entrance of the sun road is closed before 6am this year due to construction.

Ask if you get a vehicle res Ticket with your Amtrak ticket (assuming u get a rent a car). Or Call the Hotel's local number to see how things are going with the crowds etc. Else- it appears the park's rules are working- they want to reduce crowds.

How was your trip?

yeah i’ll update this vid soon. the other change is you don’t need one for the St mary entrance.

I’m conflicted. videos like mine may have contributed to the overcrowding problem

When I want to satisfy wanderlust & visit someplace new, I start with the usual resources (NPS, U.S.Forest Service…), then move on the websites w/large numbers of reviewers (TripAdvisor…) to get a good enough feel to make a decision about where I want to go next. Then I look at videos like this one to make sure I’m getting the most out of the experience. So-from my perspective-I don’t think these videos play so much of a role in the overcrowding; those who want to go have largely already made the decision to go. And the safety & access info (plan on adjustment to altitude, grizzlies, reservation system) may help alleviate overall strain on the NPS & prevent visitor frustration taken out on staff once at the park. BTW-visited in 2021 & had similar experiences trying to reserve access to GTTSR (shuttle tickets-not even car pass) 60 days prior to us getting there. Out of 1200 reservable shuttle passes for the day, roughly a couple minutes after 8:00 & after multiple error messages (too many users on system), I got our 3 tickets, but there were only a few hundred-less than half-left.

People want to see and experience this beautiful creation! I would share it all I can! It’s so much better than the noisy cities even if it is overcrowded! We have gone four times in the last two years. I haven’t been to many National Parks but this one has to be one of the most amazing. We already have our trip planned for this year 🙂.

Excellent video!! Wish I saw this video before I flew here. Now I guess I can’t get into the park. So the surrounding areas will get my attention!!

I'd appreciate a reply stating what you did when you couldn't get in the park. I'll include the info in next year's update. It will help others plan their trip! thanks in advance

My fave time to go is about now- a week to 10 days either side of Memorial Day- that when most of my 2h GNP video was shot. 2 years ago I went in the first week of Oct- it was peak fall and great colors. Of course, weather and forest fires anywhere in the NW and in Canada can impact your trip. If you haven't watched my Glacier: the Hiker's National Park" at least skim through it- especially the fire section.

Thanks for the info and congrats!

The wooden flat trail is trail of the cedars. the. hidden lake is boarded but has steps and over 600ft of elevation gain. there’s a .3 mile dirt trail to a water fall in Two Medicine. i assume the ongoing construction on the Many Glacier wheelchair trail is to add boards. It was loose gravel last year. Lots of eye candy on Sun Road and many glacier hotel area can be magical!

Thank you! My High school Spanish isn't good- I did a google translation- thanks for the kind words and enjoy your trip. FYI- I've been to Barcelona and parts of the southern coast.

be sure to check the park website because the west entrance is now closed before 6am

@@TheWestisBig I found out that I don’t need one as I have a campsite reservation. I automatically get one. Whew! 😅

Question for you? The web site says you get a ticket for the area of the park your camp site is in. Do you get access to the Sun Road and other areas of the park? I hope so. Curious if they changed that restriction

Unfortunately not. I have too much gear that needs to be charged to camp.

that's true and it's what is said in the video. FYI- I uploaded a new version of this video this year because a reservation is no longer required in 2 Med or the east entrance of the Sun Road.

According to the park's website- which you should look at regularly because things change- says a Camping permit includes a Vehicle reservation for the campsite's area. If you are camping in Many Glacier you will also receive a vehicle res ticket for Many Glacier- but not 2 Medicine, Apgar or possibly the Sun Road. So you may have to use Hwy 2 to get to the other side of the park.

Thanks for watching another one. You might want to check out my New Mexico tour- cool stuff no crowds.

Should be a great time to go- for fall colors. hopefully there’s no smoke

Pre- covid i had no issues. Ask the rental car Co if crossing the border is an issue. I take CA hwy 2 south past the buffalo jump. border crossing hrs change. the border crossing near waterton has limited hrs.

Thanks and please help support the channel if u haven’t already. The park is open 24 hrs however this year the west side entrance doesn’t open until 6am because of construction. check the website for latest info - things change. thanks for subscribing

Obviously it varies but i was able to park at trail of the cedars around 4pm. Check the parks webcam of logan pass parking lot regularly before you go to get an idea

That’s correct for the area of the park you entered before 6am. Each area requires a vehicle res.

Hmm. that’s a good question! I would assume you have a res to access the trailhead. Id call the ranger office

I'm sure you'll need 15 different reservations, all stamped different colors, in proper order while the sun was shining off your left shoulder. This is government after all.

Rent a subaru outback- you can sleep in the back- I sleep from experience

@@TheWestisBig The wife has an Outback; but we're not flying out, we are going to be out there w/ our camper, going from Denver to Vernal to Jackson to Yellowstone, making our way north. All of the trip is already booked, except Glacier. It will be early-mid June when we arrive.

There are a couple of campgrounds outside the park on East side and many on the west side. You don't need a vehicle reservation to enter the park on the east side until July 1st. The east side is better anyway.

@@TheWestisBig I wish I knew but I have no idea which campground we were in when I was out there in the early '90's (college geology trip). For the Smokies, we usually camp outside of the park too. Reading people's descriptions of Many Glacier, I was hoping to get a site there, but don't know if I'd really like it any better than Apgar or Fish Creek, etc. I think any of them would be fine; but yeah, just to know that we 'have' a site, I may plan to book something outside of the park itself. I do appreciate your video, is helping me try to focus on what we try to see. (The wife isn't a big hiker, is more of a pulloff-view seeker.) Since I have a veteran's pass, we can get into the parks themselves easy enough, and park campsites are usually affordable. Regardless, we'll have fun. Thank you!

The east side is much more interesting to me even though many of the trails will be closed due snow cover and the temp bridges won't be installed yet. It might be a choice based on weather. Last June when I was there it rained every day on the west side- where I was staying. I drove the 2 + hrs to the east side where it was fine. Also, west side requires a Vehicle reservation ticket starting May 26 you don't need one on the east side until July1. also, my Glacier: The Hiker's National Park video is long but might help you or he wife decide - if she hasn't been there. - my 50 Hikes video has descriptions of each area. I have a question for you as a Geologist. I'd like to understand the Belt Super group that sits on glacier- and add the info to my videos. Is it the same as the Louis Overthrust belt? How far did it slide over the younger cretaceous limestone? I've heard 50 miles and much farther. And, why is the Green Argilyte Green and the Red, Red? And Argilite has been metamorphosed twice? And they are chemically the same? But the green formed in an oxygen free sea floor and the Red had o2? And over a billion years it sank 6-10 miles into the crust and rose twice in the last billion years? Westward subduction when this was the passive margin of NA? It's a fascinating story that I think will add to my videos but I want it to be accurate. Yes, I've read the Road Side geology books including the new one released a couple years ago. And a 200 plus hours of other geology training- via KZfaq. Any help in this area is appreciated.

You should go to the Park’s website for the latest info. You don’t need a res to go to yhe st mary vid center. You can get to ave lake but that’s not one of the better trails. Subscribe and watch the hiking segments of my 2hr Glacier video to see the best trails. The hiker shuttles run the length of the Sun Road. Red Buses go to the Diff park areas, they require hard to get reservations and there is a fee. your best option is to get to where u want to go way before 6am - when no reservation is needed. Remember the goal of the Res system is to discourage people from going to the park to reduce overcrowding.

@@TheWestisBig I'll definitely check out your other videos. Thank you so much for your fast reply!

thanks

First, thanks for watching. I have been to Yellowstone, but only twice, both years in May- and at a time when I was only producing video for clients. Why haven’t I made a Yellowstone guide? Well, during the summer it’s just too crowded. There’s really not a lot of places to stay outside the park and inside the Park the lodge is very expensive. My Glacier and Utah videos took 30+ days to shoot. During the busy season, it reminds me of Disneyland. Crowds and lines. And people trying to pet wild animals as if they were kids in costumes. Frankly, I can’t afford to stay even a week in the park and I think it would take at least 2 weeks to do a half decent job of shooting Yellowstone. My 90-120 minute guides also take at least four months to research, write and edit. I’m not sure I can dedicate that much time to a project anymore when there is little chance of recouping expenses. I also need to spend time on projects that pay. This inflation really hurts. I’ll still be doing projects, but i’m trying to do projects for the channel that take less than 3weeks. Gotta make a living too. And youtube is making it harder for long form creators like me. Also, The National Park Service now requires filming permits which cost $350 at yellowstone and must be applied for 30 days in advance and you have to adhere the shooting schedule in the application- That’s not possible on a shoot like mine due to weather and other variables.

Glad to hear you know about the Closures. The Park website has a winter travel section Please subscribe

The Logan Pass and Ave creek/ Trail of the Cedars parking lots will still fill by 7:30a ish. you’ll still need to start early

​@TheWestisBigTravelGuides hey I am going to glacier October 12th thru the 15th. I heard if I get there before 6 am I don't need one? Does it usually snow around this time? Any help would be much appreciated thanks!!!!

The east side is open before 6M without a reservation. The west side may not be because of road construction. CHECK THE PARK WEB SITE for latest info- it seems to vary. It can snow any month of the year. I was there in early OCT in a couple of years ago and the weather was perfect- except there was a lot of forest fire smoke on a couple of days.

Thanks

That’s a great time to go. As i say in the video you don’t need a vehicle reservation ticket after sept 10 according to the website- this may change but that is unlikely. you still need a park pass which anyone can get at the gate. And I have a question? we’re you able to write a comment from the TV? or did you use pc or phone? thanks for commenting and hopefully subscribing

@@TheWestisBig I wrote the comment on phone, but did not try on tv. We are going for first time with 2 other couples. Went to Yellowstone in 2021 for our 25th wedding anniversary and my hubby fell in love with the area and climate. I had been prior, but he’d never seen anything like it! We hope this trip is equally inspiring! 🌲🦌🐻🦉🐃✈️

Thanks- But the video does NOT say you may be stopped at several locations by people asking for a parking pass. Once you are in the park you are good. Please know that the West Entrance of the Sun Road is not scheduled to be open before 6am this summer due to the continuing construction/work program. Please check the website for more info as things like this tend to change frequently.

@@TheWestisBig Thank you for the clarification. Greatly appreciated.

you’re welcome and please subscribe if u haven’t already- it really helps

Yes park entrances are always open but of course there are NO lights on park roads to ruin the park for local animals. We are guests in nature’s park- not the other way around. Lights on roads in national parks is a very bad idea.

@@TheWestisBig Thank you for the reply!

That is an interesting and good question. id either check the website or call them. I’m curious to learn the answer

Please subscribe if you haven't already. You should watch my Glacier Lodging video and the 2hr one too. Pine top is a bit of a dump- I got bed bugs there. the motor Inn is may favorite place to stay in the park. Basic rooms though. Again, see the lodging video. Don't know about the Red bus tours but in a week or 2 I'll be hosting a live stream with a Red Bus driver. There will be a Q and A session.

Thank you for replying so quickly, I have subscribed and look forward to more of your video's. Hopefully your information won't make me feel like I'm planning the "invasion of Normandy " instead of a trip to Glacier!!

Thanks

There are several. I like the Mini Golden Motel in Hungry Horse.

That is correct. it’s a supply and demand issue. lots of demand not so much supply. they will keep crowds down.

You always need a park pass to get in. you need a vehicle reservation ticket to drive in. If on a Red bus u don’t need a vehicle reservation ticket. as far as how early- too many variables- i’d try for 5am on the west side. maybe a little later on the east.

I was wondering how this problem affected the locals. Really not good. This weekend is my favorite time to go, but it’s been years since lucky enough to get a res for this weekend

Yes that’s correct- but there are a surprising number of early risers

No your Camping reservation includes a vehicle res for that day/s. Please subscribe if you haven't already

@@TheWestisBig I am a subscriber already. I’m waiting for your new uploads 😊

Thanks for subscribing!!

I contacted the park about this exact question and your camping reservation is only good for the area it is in. It’s not good for every area in Glacier. Hope that makes sense.

thanks

The daily 8am release tickets are only good for the next day. The advanced tickets become available on the first of the month for - from memory- 60 days out. they too go very quickly on Mar 1 I couldn't even get in before they were all gone.

@@TheWestisBig okay, got it. So we are screwed if we want to get access to restricted areas on, say, July 29, unless we nab one on July 28. Discouraging. I guess we have to be philosophical about there being much to do and see without access to the “iconic” areas. Thanks!

try on April 1 or May 1 for those dates. check the park website. I can’t remember which date will allow for your late July visit.

Glacier is a long way from Bozeman. Why not Yellowstone/Grand Teton?

Correct. Take highway 2. Please subscribe

thanks!!

I’d say Many Glacier- but the best answer is- anyone you can get into.

Parts are twistier. it’s not as high and more colorful. Checkout my video guide for the road on my channel. The Best Guide to Glacier NP's Going to the Sun Road & its trails- Everything you need to know kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eciZprqW1KmZopc.html

​@@TheWestisBig Thank you!

Yes, as I said you can drive into the park without a vehicle reservation ticket between 3pm and 6am. There will be a line at 6am so get there early. That is the only way to drive in to the park. Is it worth going without one- that depends on what you want to do. Some of the trails are short. Its designed to reduce crowds / stop people from going. If you have a place to stay in the park you get a Vehicle res ticket for that area for that day. If you're not an early riser- it may not be worth going.

That’s insane. They wouldn’t let you in because of a muddy car. Wow

@@TheWestisBig The border guard was unreasonable with the way he treated me at the Chief Mountain border on the U.S. side when I tried to cross the border that day on September 17th, 2023 when he said I could cross but not my vehicle that day!

Warn Canadian travellers that the U.S. border guard hassles people over mud on their vehicles as well as bringing garbage bags across the border at Chief Mountain border crossing there on the U.S. side as you are coming down from Waterton Lakes National Park I went through that bullshit last fall on September 17th,2023 this year then!

I'll add it to the next version which I hope to get out in January

Of course the line will vary from day to day. I suggest you look are the park's entrance web cams to look for patterns.

Yes. and new info. the west entrance is closed until 6am each day

@@TheWestisBig Thank you for that info. Any of course we are camping one mile from the west gate so almost 2 hours to the east side. Ugh. Maybe we find things to do outside the park. Thank you for your help!

check park website often for new info

@@TheWestisBig I will thank you!

thanks

Everyone needs a Vehicle Reservation to drive in during the designated times. Check the website as i’m not sure what u mean by site pass. Your veteran park pass is needed as well. Thanks for your service. and for subscribing

Another youtuber posted an interview with a lawyer regarding this issue. the lawyer said any post to a for profit media company is covered by this unfair reg. I exchanged several emails this week with a park site in New Mexico and he danced around the issue. He wrote if i feel i need a permit I should get one. For Park personnel this law is an unwanted hassle. If you’re low profile you likely won’t be selected for prosecution. Still not a good place to be. Scary because they could.

Uh no. Bikes and scooters are not aloud on the trails. There are 2 wheel chair accessible trails- the Trail of the Cedars on the west side and another in Many Glacier. You might benefit from watching one of my hiking videos to see why this rule is in place. It wouldn't be safe for anybody. My 2hr "Glacier: The Hiker's National Park" shows about a dozen trails in great detail.