Yes, we don't hike anywhere out here without bear spray (and a 10mm when I am in backcountry areas outside the parks). You can't fly with bear spray, so I recommend getting some in Kalispell or Missoula (depending on where you fly into). Costco has a 2-pack of UDAP for $40-something which is the best deal by bar. At the end of your vacation, you can give it (unused, hopefully) to a less prepared tourist or a local.
Appreciate it. I was hoping you would respond.
Most of the VRBO's in which we stay leave us spray. When we stayed in Yellowstone, my oldest thought it would be funny to open up the bear spray on his siblings at the VRBO. They learned a valuable lesson.
I'm sure y'all will have a great time. As for the hikes, I think 2-3 days of what I call "real" hikes is probably about right. There are lots of other waterfalls and sights near the Going to the Sun road that are a mile or less round-trip that are worth seeing. I don't consider these real hikes since they require practically no investment, so make sure to stop and explore some of these areas.
Depending on your tolerance for crowds, you should not miss hiking out to Hidden Lake overlook. About 4 mi round trip, but almost guaranteed to see goats, sheep, possibly griz.
Glad you are arming yourself. Have read that bear spray doesn't work sometime.
I read that you need reservations unless you get in very early (don't remember the time off-hand). On the days we'll hike, we'll be in before the required reservation time.
I'm not familiar with that story, but grizzly/human encounters are certainly on the rise, usually to the detriment of both species. Grizzlies are being spotted in parts of Montana where they have not been seen previously in over 100 years. They have always been around Yellowstone and Glacier, but the two grizzly ecosystems have more or less merged now. Montana FWP officially tells hunters and hikers now to be prepared to see grizzlies anywhere in the western part of the state. I carry both bear spray and a 10mm, but I'm not arrogant enough to think I know which is better.
6am. We have not been up there since the reservation system went into effect (we rarely plan weekend getaways 4 months in advance) so if you do the early-hour thing, please report back and let us know how that works out. I've wondered if thousands of other tourists have the same plan of entering the park at zero-dark-thirty each day. We have an in-law visiting in August and are thinking of doing that very same thing some weekend.
Yes, you are correct. The receipts for kayaking etc will get us in. I am a morning person and will be good to go very early. An early morning start to a long hike is perfect. That said, my wife is not a morning person. She will be very grumpy for the first couple of hours. The kids are a mixed bag but they are a lot easier to get moving in the morning than my wife.
Which makes those trails in Glacier NP quite safe due to lots of hikers/noise.
If you live in the east, your 6 am is Glacier's 4 am. If you're trying to eat somewhere before going into the park, you may have problems finding a place open earlier than their 6 am (8 am EST). My experience is those parks don't start getting crowded until after 8 am.
We got it! We did our big Yosemite and Teton hikes starting at about 5:30. Very little trail traffic on the way up and nice and cool.
Went to the Bison Range on the way out of Missoula. Saw a good many bison, deer etc. Good call. They saw bear in the morning but we didn't get there until mid-day.
Awesome.
Just got back from the Highline trail. We show we did just over 12 miles starting at the trail head and ending at the loop on going to the sun road. Awesome hike. The last four miles going down were the hardest on my feet. We didn't have a pass so hit the gate at 5:30. No problem at all getting in. Started the hike right at 6:00 am and ended around noon. 90% of the hike was in the shade which was a bonus. Breathtaking views for sure. We are beat so we're calling it a day. Saw a good many animals. I couldn't believe how lush and green the landscape was on the hike. The past forest fires had really changed the landscape. I was expecting things to be much drier.
That's the worst. I hiked 12 miles one time....never again. I'm a big fan of the 3-4 mile specials!
Yeah, 12 miles is a FULL day. Sounds like it was a great time, though.
Yes. They don't start manning the gates until 6. You simply drive through prior to 6. Starting at 6 kept us in the shade about 80% of the hike. The downside; I had to wake up the troops at 3:30 am. I'm a morning person so I drove while they slept.
We went to Yellowstone Park back in 1975. I want to go back so bad. The cameras we got now are like night and day. When we go back we are staying for about 4 weeks
4 weeks would be awesome. Most tourists try to roll through Yellowstone in 2 or 3 days, hitting all the "check the box" highlights and think they have seen Yellowstone. They haven't seen much of Yellowstone.
We did Grinnell Glacier / Lake. Really enjoyed the views. Much different than Highline. We saw a grizzly and a brown beer today picking huckleberries. Made my trip.
