Glacier National Park Adventure
- Nicholas Clark
- Jan 8
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 10
My wife Stacey and I decided to rent a truck camper and explore Glacier National Park in Montana. A day before we left, Stacey had a gym fail and got whacked in the face with a resistance band, causing a black eye. You will see in pictures. I only say this because it looks like she got punched in the face.
Our trip began with a Friday flight into Glacier Park International Airport. We embarked on a week-long adventure exploring the mountains of Montana. We rented our truck camper from https://www.outdoorsy.com/. They have all kinds of cool rigs you can rent, from truck campers to camper vans.
We kicked off the trip by stopping at the Sacred Waters Brewing Co. https://www.sacredwatersbrewing.com/. This place has one of the best mountain views from a brewery you can get. Outdoor seating was only a couple of picnic tables, but we didn't mind. We both got the All is Good Scotch Ale and an appetizer.
Next stop was the Safeway in Whitefish, MT, to purchase a week of groceries. We planned to be off-grid in the mountains for most of the week.
After finishing at the grocery store, we headed north on N. Fork Road toward Polebridge, MT, to get into the northwest side of Glacier. We camped at an road side camping area south of Polebridge.
(Disclaimer I will not give exact locations of campsites to protect from overcrowding I will post pictures of the sites and with a little research you could figure out where they are.)
Fueled by a breakfast that could feed a small bear family (because in Glacier National Park, everything is bigger, including your appetite), we set off for day two. Our first stop Polebridge Mercantile, a legendary spot famous for its bear claws – pastries so good, they practically qualify as their own endangered species.
Next up: West Glacier and the Numa Lookout Trail. For those planning a summer trip to Glacier, Between June 13th and September 28th, you'll need a timed entry pass to snag a spot in the park. Luckily, our October adventure meant we bypassed that whole hurdle. Here's a helpful link for those brave souls venturing into Glacier during peak season: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm
Our journey took us along North Fork Road, a route that offered awesome mountain views with every twist and turn. Just a heads-up: this road isn't exactly smooth sailing. Think more bumpy rollercoaster ride than relaxing highway cruise. But hey, that's part of the adventure, right? Plus, it gives you more time to soak in the scenery (and maybe mutter a few apologies to your truck for the abuse). North Fork Road eventually leads to Bowman Lake Road, which dead-ends at the aptly named Bowman Lake Campground. This campground is closed for the winter starting in September. We parked in one of the empty campsites and spent a delightful hour snapping pictures and ogling at the beauty of this majestic mountain lake. Bowman Lake, by the way, is the one that graces all those stunning Glacier National Park wallpapers. You know, the ones that make you want to quit your job, buy a camper van, and disappear into the wilderness? Yeah, that's the one.
The hike was Numa Lookout Trail https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/numa-ridge-lookout-trail Alltrails calls the Numa Lookout Trail "hard" and they weren't kidding. This 11.3-mile beast that boasts a punishing 2,992 feet of elevation gain. But hey who needs smooth sailing when you can climb a mountain. The scenery is undeniably stunning, with the trail winding along Bowman Lake. Just try not to get distracted by the mouthwatering huckleberries – delicious snacks for you, but apparently a gourmet feast for the local bears. Speaking of bears, remember to carry bear spray. You know, just in case a furry friend decides you look particularly tasty in your hiking attire. We reached the lookout shack, perched dramatically halfway around the lake. The views were, as they say, epic. Seriously, the panorama down over Bowman Lake was enough to make you forget about those aching quads. Almost enough to make you forget about those aching quads. Almost. Back at the trailhead, we discovered a not-so-welcome surprise: an orange sticker and a sternly worded note from the park rangers. Seems we'd committed the cardinal sin of camping in a closed campground. Our pop-up camper, briefly opened for a pre-hike lunch and a quick change, apparently constituted camping. Who knew? Apparently, are not meant to change clothes or consume sustenance in the great outdoors. Luckily, it was just a warning. We escaped with our dignity (mostly) intact and found a more bear-friendly (and ranger-approved) campsite along N. Fork Road.
Day 3 was all about the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. Now, let me tell you, this road is not for the faint of heart. It twists and turns through the heart of Glacier National Park, offering jaw-dropping scenery at every corner. Imagine glaciers clinging to mountain peaks, waterfalls cascading down sheer cliffs, and meadows bursting with wildflowers. It's like a postcard come to life – if that postcard was prone to sudden hairpin turns and elevation changes that would make a roller coaster designer weep. We stopped at several lookouts around the Lake McDonald area, each one more breathtaking than the last. I think I spent half the day trying to capture the perfect Instagram photo (spoiler alert: I failed miserably. But hey, at least I tried!).
Apparently, Glacier National Park decided to give us a taste of its winter charm a bit early. The first snowfall of the season had arrived, and with it, the dreaded road closure. Yes, that's right – the Going-to-the-Sun Road, our star attraction for the day, was officially shut down at the Avalanche Lake trailhead. Talk about a plot twist! This is where having a backup plan (or three) is crucial. Plans A and B, both involving hikes on the now-inaccessible side of the road, were officially off the table. So, we dusted off Plan C: the Scalplock Lookout Trail. This involved a scenic (and slightly longer) detour, requiring an hour-long drive out of the park to reach the trailhead.
The Scalplock Mountain Lookout Trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/scalplock-lookout-trail Just the name sounds ominous, doesn't it? This 9.7-mile beast promised an elevation gain of a whopping 3,215 feet. "Hard" doesn't even begin to describe it. But hey, we're not quitters! Then, of course, it started raining. Typical. But we're seasoned adventurers (or at least we like to think we are), so we donned our rain gear and forged ahead. The hike itself was stunning, despite the inclement weather. In fact, the rain added a certain dramatic flair. Plus, we got to experience the unique thrill of hiking in the snow at the summit! My heart rate was probably higher than the altitude at some points. But we made it! We reached the lookout, a sturdy structure built in 1931, and rewarded ourselves with a well-deserved lunch and a steaming cup of coffee. The descent was a different story. By this point, the snow was coming down pretty hard. We practically slid down the mountain, occasionally slipping and sliding on the slick trail. Back at the truck, we huddled inside, sipping hot drinks and marveling at our resilience (and slightly questioning our sanity). And so, we continued our Glacier National Park: Winter Edition adventure, finding a new roadside campsite along N. Fork Road.
Two days of badass hikes had taken their toll. Our legs resembled overcooked spaghetti, and the thought of another uphill battle sent shivers down our spines (that probably had more to do with the surprise October snow). So, we opted for a more civilized approach to Day 4: a scenic mountain drive. Enter Forest Service road NF-114, a mountain shelf road that promised breathtaking views without the whole "almost dying from exhaustion" thing. Compared to the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Boooo), this route might not have had the same level of fame, but let me tell you, the scenery was no joke just like I described. It was like driving through a postcard come to life – minus the terrifying drop-offs and hairpin turns. The highlight, cruising along NF-114 and soaking in the sights without feeling like our lungs were about to explode. We even managed to find a sweet campsite called Tuchuck Campground, located right around the halfway point. Day 4 was a success: stunning scenery, minimal physical exertion, and a campsite that didn't require spelunking skills to reach. Here's to hoping Day 5 involves more relaxation and less questioning our sanity in the wilderness.
Day 5 was all about embracing the windy roads and questionable signage of Montana's Forest service roads. We continued our journey along NF-114, a route that was quickly becoming our old friend. Then, with a sense of adventure (or maybe just a misplaced sense of direction), we took a turn onto NF-756. This little road meandered north and south, eventually spitting us back out onto Highway 93. We fueled up the truck in a small town of Eureka,MT then found an abandoned campground to stay the night.
Day 6: We were so smitten with NF-114 that we decided to give it a proper farewell. We retraced our steps, enjoying the scenery one last time (and secretly hoping to discover a hidden waterfall or a lost treasure chest buried along the roadside). From NF-114, we ventured further north, deep into the heart of Glacier National Park. Our destination: Kintla Lake. The Kintla Lake Head Trail is a beast of a hike, clocking in at a whopping 12.3 miles. We weren't quite ready to conquer that monster, so we settled for a more manageable 5-mile jaunt. The scenery was breathtaking, as expected. We found a picturesque clearing and spent a blissful hour snapping photos (and pretending we were seasoned wilderness photographers, despite the fact that most of our pictures probably looked like blurry blobs).
With our time in Glacier winding down, we decided to squeeze in one last hike. We headed south, back towards the center of the park, near where the road was closed. We found a parking spot and opted for the Avalanche Lake Trail, a 5.83-mile moderate hike with a respectable 757 feet of elevation gain. This trail was a popular one, buzzing with activity (imagine a swarm of tourists in the warmer months – we shuddered at the thought). Avalanche Lake itself was a sight to behold. Words can't truly capture the beauty of the place. We spent a few moments in awe, soaking in the scenery before reluctantly heading back to the trailhead. And so, with the clock ticking down, we found a final roadside campsite along N. Fork Road, ready to say goodbye to Glacier National Park and embrace the inevitable return to civilization.
Day 7: It was time to bid farewell to Glacier National Park. We fueled up on the last of our camping provisions (let's be honest, mostly granola bars, whiskey and coffee at this point). Then, we embarked on a mission: to find a car wash worthy of our trusty truck camper.
We finally stumbled upon a car wash in Whitefish, where we meticulously scrubbed every inch of the rig, both inside and out. We wanted to return it in pristine condition (mostly because we were concerned of the potential cleaning fees). Dropping off the truck camper was surprisingly bittersweet. We went through the checklist with the truck camper owner, double-checking every. Thankfully, no hidden damage (phew!). They were kind enough to offer us a ride to the airport. We enjoyed a celebratory lunch at the airport, savoring the last of our Glacier adventure. As the plane took off, we looked back at the majestic mountains, already dreaming of our next road trip, and that my friends is our Glacier National Park adventure. It was a journey filled with unexpected detours, breathtaking scenery, and enough humorous mishaps to last a lifetime. What an adventure! I'm curious, what were your final thoughts on this amazing Glacier National Park road trip?
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