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. And by the way, Glacier is now going to restrict access, and initiate an online reservation system to get into the park, that you need to reserve at least 30, possibly 60 days in advance. During the summer, the traffic in town is terrible, bumper to bumper. 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. Lunch is included and carried on the llamas, who are excellent pack animals (if youre a differently-abled hiker, this is a HUGE help, particularly for overnight or multi-day treks which would be far more difficult without the assistance of a pack animal). It also serves If youre thirsty, The Great Northern Brewing Company, Bonsai Brewing, or Spotted Bear Spirits have you covered. Minus the ostentatious Trump 2020 banners hanging on some of the houses, of course. For dinner, dont miss out on the best food deal in Montana: the small plate menu at the Kandahar Lodges Snug Bar. FOLLOW OUR PARKS RULES. We arrived early afternoon and checked out our trusty steed for the trip, a blue 2021 Hyundai Accent which we named Huckleberry (its bad luck not to name your car for a road trip), and we were off! Meanwhile, Alicia and I were so excited about our wolf encounter! 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. Every few feet, Boxcar would find an exciting looking leaf to munch on, which gave me a chance to catch my breath and earn brownie points for letting him snack. We really enjoyed experiencing the beauty of the different thermal pools, as neither of us had really seen anything like them before. Low key stalk us here and on social media. From the Sun Tours website: our Guides are life-time residents of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and possess extensive knowledge in many facets of Tribal History, culture, and lifestyle. The drive up to glacier has the bison range just to point out something you missed. Plus, who can resist a random winery stop on a road trip?!? They let us borrow their sled and Alicia and I took turns sliding down a few times. Alicia and I stayed the recommended 100+ yards away and watched through our binoculars. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr Dont dig holes to bury things (including bodily waste), just bring a trash bag or use the park-provided facilities and trash containers! Weve got an itinerary for the California bit of it to help you plan: https://practicalwanderlust.com/pacific-coast-highway-road-trip-itinerary/. 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. ), and it was Danas job to book us tickets to Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park (they were limiting the number of cars in a day due to the amount of post-Covid 19 travelers to the national parks). Until next time. We took a rather long detour on our stop to Glacier National Park at the National Bison Range in Charlo, Montana. This was one of the biggest cities we had been to so far, so we had high hopes of finding a room. Until next time. We spent some time here watching the chipmunks and ground squirrels play. The road coming in was very windy with a huge drop off over the side of a cliff (this made Alicia especially nervous since the cliff edge was just inches from the passenger side door). We saw many more bison, along with elk, coyotes, and even a groundhog. One thing that stood out to us on this trip, compared to other road trips weve taken, was the beauty of the drives. To quote the Essential Understandings, American Indian individuals and tribes are still here with distinct and intact governments, languages, and cultures that contribute to modern Montana. The plight of American Indians is quite complex, and relations between US citizens (and the federal government) and Tribal citizens are, in a word, tense. Sadly I didnt have a chance to take this tour myself during my trip, but Ive heard nothing but good things. WebTrip: Big Sky (Washington, Idaho, Montana) TakeMyTrip.com The Big Sky Trip An adventure in the Pacific Northwest The Big Sky trip is a 10-night driving trip to the northwestern United States. But one of them stood out above all the rest: Many Glacier Hotel. I would have never imagined Montana a place I would want to visit but you have me convinced I will love it! We arrived at Bruneau Dunes State Park just after 9:00. Today, the Island is part of the Flathead Indian Reservation and is managed by the Montana parks department. It was crowded, as we expected, but we stayed a ways back and got a leg up on a log for a good view of the show. 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. Im planning a roadtrip through Montana and Wyoming (yanno, as soon as its safe and whatnot), so I loved how in-depth your details were! Day 2: Riggins, Idaho to Missoula, Montana, Post white water rafting on the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho. To our disappointment the Boiling River (which normally you can swim in like a hot spring) was currently closed to swimmers because of dangerously fast running water. Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. 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. If you choose to explore Beartooth, I would budget at least 3-5 hours so you can get out and explore. Awesome. It was lightly trafficked, and we got to see more great sights in the stillness of the natural surroundings. Alica tried looking online. While Boxcar was certainly sassy and took a while to warm up to me enough for us to share a hug and a selfie, the llamas that come along on hikes are perfectly well behaved. We recommend visiting in late August/early September. Another car stopped as well and the two of us and the gentleman from the other car tried to coax the dog to us so we could read his tag. And yes: there are llamas. 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. Glacier National Park the star of both Montana and our itinerary is crowded and packed with visitors in July. Its also important to keep in mind that American Indian culture is not something that exists in the past it is still thriving and present, despite centuries of oppression and brutal policies that have pushed out Indigenous peoples and disenfranchised them. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. People live in isolated rural areas hours away from the nearest grocery store. This is one of those things you kind of just learn to deal with when traveling. Outdoorsy has a diverse selection of road trip vehicles ranging from no-frills campervans to glamping-ready RVs that fit any budget. A 12-Day Road Trip Itinerary for Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas Before we dive in here, it's important to note that this itinerary does include traversing through or near some Indigenous lands, mostly belonging to The ladies were very nice and gave us some numbers of local mom and pop places we could try. We made it in perfect time, just 4 minutes before the geyser was set to blow. But if not, the next best thing is a guidebook. We continued for a stop at must-see on any Idaho road trip, Craters of the Moon National Monument - an insanely unique landscape in the middle of nowhere. But be sure to time your visit just right: the road opens in June or July and closes for weather-related reasons around late September or early October, so be sure to check that date before you go (and remember: the weather in Montana is unpredictable AF). Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. There are several historic railroad lodges located within Glacier National Park, and we had a chance to stay at a few of them during our trip. Stay: Country Motor Inn is a budget motel in town. One thing we had been noticing by this point is that things around here close early. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. Find and book campsites wherever you are with ReserveAmerica or Campendium (roughly $30 a night) or use an app like Free Roam to locate Forest Service and BLM land where you can legally boondock. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. The hotels wraparound deck offers the best lakeside sunset view Ive ever seen! By the time we got ready to canoe back, a storm was starting to roll in. We arrived at the Big Iron Motel just before 9 (and it was still light outside!) Pine Lodges complimentary bike rentals are the perfect way to explore Whitefish. Montana has so much to offer including its crown jewel, Glacier National Park and weve designed the perfect 10-day Montana road trip itinerary through Western Montana, complete with details to help you plan each step of your trip. Im so sorry to hear that your home is experiencing overtourism. And like, Im not going to lie: this was probably the best thing Ive ever done in my entire life. My trip to Montana, which was hosted by a State tourism bureau, was eye-opening; I realized how little I know about our American Indian neighbors and the ways in which my country (and by extension, myself) are still, today, complicit in oppressing Indigenous culture and communities. We didnt even play any car games with so much to see! 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. Which stop on our itinerary are you most excited about? Five Northern Idaho Bike Trails Quirky sights on the Montana Idaho Road Trip Coeur dAlene in Northern Idaho Harrison in Northern Idaho Flathead Lake and the Silver Dollar Bar Glacier National Park camping West Glacier National Park East Glacier National Park Garnet Ghost Town in the Montana Mountains near Glacier National Park This will come in handy as you drive and includes the map in case your cell service is awful! 18 Restaurants in San Francisco for the Best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V3TvpcgJfU&t=802s, Tulum Street Art Photo Tour (And Exactly Where to Find Each Piece! This revelation resulted in frequent singings of Oh give me a home, where the Bison roam throughout the remainder of the trip. And Im so glad the rest of the itinerary was helpful Im glad you had a good trip! It was the perfect way to end the first day of the Wyoming portion of our road trip. I also loved your post on the Galapagosused it for my own trip and it was super helpful! Read more Access exclusive video content, free resources, and more! Then we headed back to the campgrounds where Dana (of course) took a nap in preparation for our evening excursion into the East side of the park, and Alicia made friends with some people at our campground. We stopped to see what the fuss was about, and as soon as we got out of the car, we heard the murmur of wolf throughout the crowd of people. Downtown Missoula is quite walkable, so pick a place to eat from this curated list and explore the town on foot! We had all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ at Ginseng BBQ on the strip and authentic, mouthwatering Shanxi beef noodle soup at Shang Artisan Noodle. 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). Its similar to a blueberry but a bit sweeter and the fruit is smaller. Road Trip through Idaho to Missoula, Montana After splashing and sunning in Lava Hot Springs and leaving our comfy digs in Idaho Falls, Idaho, we headed straight up the I-15 and then I-90 into Missoula, Montana, our home for two nights and three action packed days. I LOVE LLAMAS SO MUCH. There are shuttles running throughout Glacier National Park, and you can take them from the entrance of West Glacier up Going to the Sun Road all the way to Logan Pass and East Glacier (and back again) for free! One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. You can even take the lift up, down, or both ways depending on your preference something I have wished for on literally every hike Ive ever done. About halfway through our drive back we had our second animal encounter. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. You can find it here https://practicalwanderlust.com/yellowstone-in-winter/ Hope it helps to plan your trip! Youll learn all about Missoulas history as a frontier town. This time it was not a dog but a Black Bear that darted out in front of our car! Both boat shuttles are operated by the family-run Glacier Park Boat Company and operate from June through September. You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Lumbering bears, moose, bison, and llamas. WebDay 14 Day at Flathead Lake, MT. Unfortunately, the bad weather thwarted our planned 2nd hike of the day, so instead, we did a scenic drive, hitting all the Big 4 things to do in Grand Teton National Park along the way. Torreys 33F. The road is 50 miles long and takes about 2 hours one-way with no stopping (but youll definitely be stopping a few times, so allow yourself extra time). Your trip begins once your plane touches down in Missoula, Montana! You might recognize the town as the setting of A River Runs Through It (if not, be sure to watch it or read the book before your trip)! We also love their biscuits and gravy, and the giant, gooey cinnamon rolls. A bison at the National Bison Range in Charlo, Montana. The trip begins and ends in Portland, Oregon, but spends much of the time in and around Glacier National Park in Montana. The app provides route maps, difficulty levels, trail photos, user reviews, and more. After a long day of exploring, dinner at Grille 459 is exactly what you need to refuel and get ready for your trip back to the big city in the morning. She stays in touch with her Taiwanese side largely via food, and loves to cook, eat, and discover new dishes around the globe. I dont have all the answers, but as someone involved in driving tourism and educating visitors, the least I can do is share what Ive learned. 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. 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. All around high-quality food in a rustic but modern wild west ambiance. First things first: head immediately to Butterfly Herbs downtown to pick up a huckleberry malt milkshake made with locally made ice cream. Since my trip, Ive been reflecting and researching ways that I can better educate myself as well as supporting existing Indigenous activism. (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': So much has been said about Yellowstone already, so Ill just share a list of attractions we visited in the park: Detour to Ashton, IdahoIt is impossible to find a campsite in Yellowstone in the summertime. Be sure to book your boat shuttles in advance! Buckle up, because this is a detailed AF post! Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a The variation in topography that we have seen on this short trip has just been amazing! When we got back to the car we realizedDana had locked the keys inside. 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. Until next time. The river was low, so the water was not running fast, but we still hit 3 good class III rapids on our run. They provide an all-encompassing history and experience surrounding the landscape of Glacier National Parks inhabited areas: Park history; animal species; common plants and roots used for nutrition and medicine; and the Blackfoot spiritual and philosophical perspectives/stories of life in the Buffalo Days as well as modern times.. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a 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. If you have any questions about this Western United States road trip guide, leave a comment below. Its a shameful fact that all outdoor enthusiasts and National Park visitors should be aware of, as well as the efforts that are being made by the National Park Service. When visiting Reservations or stopping at places that appear to be Indigenous-owned (such as a trading post), look for Native-owned signage. Rest time was over at about 5 PM, and we were back out on the road heading to the East park entrance. The Lewis and Clark Brewery had one of our favorite beers of the trip: the Halo Huckleberry Hefe. Im sorry to hear that overtourism has had a negative impact on Whitefish Is there a season that would be considered off-season, when visitors would have less of an impact? The beautiful thing about visiting Whitefish particularly in August & September is that you have easy access to the town, lake, and mountain in one neat little package. We continued south until we got to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Locals openly carry guns at family-friendly tourist destinations, and, I assume, elsewhere. I was lucky enough to have a lakeside room, and that view was everything. We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace. 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. Their eggs benedict is LEGENDARY, or if youre feeling sandwhichy, the Reuben is insanely good. Thanks for sharing all this info! And how cute is Boxcar the Llama?! 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. We learned that it is not uncommon for people living in these small towns to drive 1 hours to get to everyday events (like baseball games or getting your tractor fixed). Your next stop on the road will explore the rich Indigenous history of Montana at The Peoples Center. The early morning rainy start actually ended up working out in our favor, since we got to enjoy the park without the large crowds of people. 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