Glacier National Park in September is fabulous. The air is crisp, fall colours are beginning to pop, and most significantly, the crowds are starting to skinny. But if you’re considering of visiting Glacier National Park this fall, there are additionally many stuff you want to remember to correctly put together to your journey.
Before you e-book your journey to Glacier National Park in September, be sure to learn the following tips! And, don’t simply go to the park, make sure to strive a number of of those adventurous issues to do close to Glacier National Park too, or plan one in every of these Montana weekend getaways.
Visiting Glacier National Park in September
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Mid-September is a perfect time to go to Glacier National Park if you’re trying to get pleasure from most areas of the park with out giant crowds. Keep in thoughts that many elements of Glacier National Park are closed from fall by means of late spring, because the Going-to-the-Sun Road usually doesn’t absolutely open till late June.
Many of the lodges and companies start to close down by mid- to late-September, and Going-to-the-Sun Road closes by mid- to late-October, relying on the climate. This makes September a real candy spot for visiting Glacier National Park, particularly when the Aspen and Larch timber begin to present their lovely golden hues. But you continue to have to be ready!
If you need assistance planning a visit to Glacier National Park, my pal Bryanna has put collectively a terrific Glacier National Park Guide with 39 pages of stop-by-stop directions, mountaineering choices by problem stage, eating suggestions, and insider suggestions. It even consists of an alternate RV itinerary for RVers!
1. Know if you happen to want car reservations
You have most likely heard that you just want car reservations to go to many elements of Glacier National Park in the course of the summer time. In 2023, a car reservation is required for the next areas of the park: Going-to-the-Sun Road, the North Fork, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier. However, every location has completely different necessities and requires a separate reservation.
The excellent news is that reservations will not be required after September 10, 2023! But if you’re visiting in early September, maintain the next in thoughts:
- A Going-to-the-Sun Road reservation is required for automobiles getting into by means of the West entrance from May 26 by means of September 10, 2023, from 6 am to three pm and people getting into by means of the St. Mary entrance from July 1 by means of September 10, 2023, from 6 am to three pm The part of the highway that requires reservations is from the West Entrance Station, Camas Entrance Station, and the Rising Sun checkpoint positioned 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance. Reservations are good for 3 consecutive days.
- Vehicle reservations will be made at Recreation.gov for $2.00.
- Reservations will probably be obtainable roughly 120 days prematurely, utilizing a block-release system beginning at 8 am Mountain Time on February 1, 2023, for Going-to-the-Sun Road reservations for May 26 by means of June 30, 2023. The subsequent block will probably be launched on March 1, 2023, for reservations for July 1 by means of July 31, 2023. The third block will probably be on April 1, 2023, for reservations from August 1 by means of August 31 and the ultimate block will probably be obtainable on May 1, 2023, for reservations will probably be obtainable for all areas for September 1 by means of September 10, 2023. Any remaining car reservations will probably be launched on a rolling foundation at 8 am, 24 hours prematurely.
- Reservations are required when you have a lodging, tenting, or industrial tour reservation throughout the park.
- A park cross is required along with car reservations. You should buy a each day Glacier Pass on the gate ($35 for automobiles) or purchase an America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass.
- North Fork car reservations, which embrace the realm within the northwest nook of the park and all factors east of the Polebridge Entrance Station, are required from May 26 by means of September 10, 2023, from 6 am to three pm. These reservations are legitimate for sooner or later.
- Reservations for Many Glacier Valley and Two Medicine Valley are required from July 1 by means of September 10, 2023, from 6 am to three pm, and are legitimate for sooner or later.
If you might be visiting Glacier National Park earlier than September eleventh, be sure to set a reminder to log in to Recreation.gov as quickly as reservations open to your visitation date. There is at all times extra demand than availability, and reservations refill in a matter of minutes.
So whereas it’s tempting to attend till after September tenth, if you not want to fret concerning the problem of getting a car reservation, simply remember that many individuals have the identical thought and the park will probably be fairly busy within the days following the tip of required reservations.
2. Utilize alternate transportation
If you might be planning on visiting Glacier National Park in early September and you aren’t capable of safe a car reservation, there are nonetheless different methods to benefit from the park. First, you may hop on the free park shuttle that makes stops on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Just remember that the shuttle solely operates on a restricted schedule from Labor Day to mid-September and house is offered on a first-come, first-served foundation. If you make the most of this feature, you’ll want to get to the park early and plan on packing your endurance as you could find yourself ready to seek out an obtainable spot on the shuttle on the numerous stops.
Another solution to discover the park with out driving your self is to e-book an official bus tour. Xanterra operates the well-known Red Bus Tours using classic Thirties purple buses with rolltop convertible tops. These fashionable excursions promote out early and every of the 33 buses seats 17 folks, with 4 throughout bench seating.
Sun Tours additionally affords interpretive excursions that spotlight Blackfeet tradition. There are half-day or full-day excursions that function each day on all sides of the park on air-conditioned 25-passenger window coaches.
3. Visit midweek
While the group ranges actually drop off in September in comparison with mid-summer, Glacier National Park stays one of many busiest parks within the nation. If you wish to keep away from crowds, it’s best to go to in the course of the week and take a look at a few of these issues to do outdoors of Glacier National Park, or spend time in close by Whitefish or Kalispell on the weekend.
4. Go early
Like many nationwide parks, the parking tons at fashionable trailheads refill very early. If you wish to beat the crowds, you’ll want to be the early hen that will get the worm. Certain locations similar to Logan Pass and Avalanche Creek start filling up earlier than dawn and stay busy for a lot of the day. In September, you should still be capable to discover parking spots for the Highline Trail or Trail of the Cedars if you happen to get there earlier than 8 am.
However, you’ll want to be ready to spend time on the lookout for an obtainable parking spot. Unfortunately, when it is rather busy, they gained’t even allow you to circle the lot ready for somebody to go away and so they shut the parking zone solely.
Keep in thoughts that a number of the hottest hikes within the park, similar to Grinnell Glacier, the Highline Trail, and Avalanche Lake, all common a whole bunch of hikers per day. So even if you happen to can safe a parking spot, some trails would possibly get just a little congested in the course of the busiest hours in noon.
5. Lodges and eating places begin closing down
In September, the park lodges and eating places start shutting down so fewer companies can be found all through the park. By late September to early October, the customer facilities additionally shut, though the loos on the Apgar Visitor Center keep open year-round.
This means guests have to be well-prepared and self-sufficient, bringing their very own meals and requirements. If you go to in mid-September, you’ll doubtless nonetheless discover meals at Eddie’s Cafe at Apgar and Jammer Joe’s Pizza at Lake McDonald Lodge (however hours could also be restricted.)
When it involves lodging, you should have higher luck staying contained in the park if you happen to go to within the first half of September. Otherwise, the lodges shut by late September:
- Lake McDonald Lodge closes on September twentieth
- Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins closes on September tenth
- Many Glacier Hotel closes on September twelfth
- Rising Sun Motor Inn and Cabins closes on September sixth
- The Village Inn closes on September twenty fifth
6. Beware of bears
In September, the wildlife is aware of that winter is coming and so they begin to spend extra time foraging for meals as they put together to enter hibernation. The bears will probably be much more lively and the elk will probably be in rutting season from mid-September to mid-October.
This signifies that you’ll want to be much more cautious when round wildlife. Do not method wildlife or attempt to feed them. It is finest to solely observe wildlife by means of binoculars or a telephoto digital camera lens. You must also carry bear spray and hike in teams. When it’s open, you should purchase bear spray on the Apgar Visitor Center or lease it on the Apgar Campground (and return it on the finish of the day.)
7. Be ready for altering climate
When I visited Glacier National Park in mid-September, the climate was lovely with sunny days and temperatures reaching 70 at decrease elevations. However, it has been identified to snow or sleet in September in Glacier National Park too. You have to be ready for variable temperatures in several sections of the park and climate modifications all through the day. The finest approach to do that is by dressing in layers and packing rain gear.
8. Bring a picnic
Since lots of the lodges and eating places shut throughout September in Glacier National Park, it’s best if you happen to deliver alongside a picnic to your day. There are many locations alongside the Going-to-the-Sun Road and at different sections of the park to cease and luxuriate in a picnic whereas taking within the view. Just bear in mind to watch the ideas of Leave No Trace and convey alongside a trash bag to hold the whole lot out, don’t go away meals the place it could possibly be eaten by wild animals, and ensure nothing blows away when you are consuming.
9. Gas up earlier than you go
There will not be any gasoline stations inside Glacier National Park and driving by means of the park could take extra gasoline than you count on as you might be climbing mountains and driving at a gradual velocity with stop-and-go visitors at factors because of congestion. Make positive you gasoline up earlier than getting into the park on the service stations in West Glacier or St. Marys.
10. Book your automobile and lodging early
Since Glacier National Park is so fashionable, and since lots of the in-park lodges shut in early September, it’s best to e-book your lodging effectively prematurely. I’d suggest capturing for one 12 months prematurely if you happen to hope to remain inside the park, however you may at all times maintain checking again to seek for cancellations.
If you might be planning on spending a number of days within the park, you’ll most likely wish to break up your keep into two places to make it simpler to get out for these early morning hikes. Try to spend 1-2 days in Apgar or Lake McDonald and 1-2 days in Many Glacier.
Lodging within the areas immediately outdoors of the park additionally could e-book up a number of months prematurely, even in September. If you might be having hassle discovering lodging, there are lots of giant chain motels in Kalispell.
I’d additionally suggest reserving your rental automobile early. While automobile rental shortages are easing, there may be nonetheless a restricted stock and also you don’t wish to be left quick.
11. Pick up a park map
When visiting a National Park, I at all times suggest choosing up a park map on the gate and stopping on the Visitor Center to speak to the Park Rangers who could make suggestions on the right way to spend your day. The Park Rangers can provide you with a warning to bear exercise and the very best hikes and viewpoints to your desired exercise stage.
It can be useful to have a map to trace your progress alongside the Going-to-the-Sun Road and just be sure you don’t miss the highlights.
12. Be ready for little to no cell service
Once you enter the park, you should have very restricted cell service. The good a part of that’s that you just gained’t have something to distract you from the gorgeous environment. The draw back is that you just gained’t be capable to get in contact with anybody in case of an emergency. If you might be mountaineering or heading to a number of the lesser-visited areas, such because the lonely, bumpy gravel highway into Two Medicine, you could wish to contemplate bringing a transportable GPS locator such because the Garmin InAttain machine.
13. See the autumn colours
The timber in Glacier National Park begin to change by mid to late September. The lovely Western Larch timber, which flip a ravishing yellow earlier than the needles drop, are the final to show by mid-October. A great place to see the larch timber is alongside Highway 2, which runs alongside the southern border of the park.
14. What to put on in Glacier National Park
As I discussed beforehand, it is very important gown in layers when you find yourself visiting Glacier National Park in September. I’d suggest:
- Waterproof mountaineering boots (I like my La Sportivas)
- Wool mountaineering socks (I at all times use Darn Tough Socks)
- Quick-drying mountaineering pants
- A sweat-wicking t-shirt
- Long-sleeve button-up mountaineering shirt
- Thin fleece
- Waterproof shell or mild puffer coat
- Sun hat or baseball cap
15. What to pack in your day pack
Make positive you’re ready to your days in Glacier National Park by packing the next, particularly if you happen to plan on doing any hikes:
- Bear spray
- Water
- Snacks
- Emergency package
- Raingear
- Warm hat
- Thin gloves
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Tissues
- Sanitizer
- Trekking poles (I like my Black Diamond trekking poles)
- GPS tracker
- Compass
- Battery backup
- Headlamp
- Camera or cellphone
16. How to get to Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is in Northwestern Montana, abutting the border with Canada and bridging the Continental Divide. The closest airport to Glacier National Park is Glacier Park Airport (FCA) close to Kalispell, which is 40 minutes south of the park. However, it might be simpler to seek out extra inexpensive flight choices to Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), which is about 2.75 hours to the south.
You will wish to lease a automobile when visiting Glacier National Park. Even if you happen to can’t get car reservations throughout the park, you’ll want to have a automobile to get to eating places and different sights.
17. Where to remain close to Glacier National Park
If you may’t get a room or campsite in Glacier National Park, you’ll most likely wish to focus your search on the realm round West Glacier. If you might be keen to drive a littler additional, I had an excellent keep on the Homewood Suites in Kalispell.
You are actually all set to have a wonderful go to to Glacier National Park in September. If you might be driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road and making a spherical journey from both West Glacier or St. Marys, make sure to go away your self time to make the return journey. If you wish to keep away from the congestion on Going-to-the-Sun Road, you may loop again across the park. While this may occasionally take you simply as lengthy, you gained’t have any visitors to take care of. I hope you could have a improbable journey to Glacier National Park!
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