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Planning to go to GNP this year. Was thinking around the last 2 weeks of May to be there before school let's out for the summer. Is that too early in the year to go? I understand there is usually snow out there but we want to ride the Going To The sun Road and we want it to be open. I have never been out there that early in the year, or out there at all for that matter.. Should we wait til September when the kids are back in school? Thanks for any info.
Last edited by h-d wrencher; Apr 28, 2024 at 02:28 PM.
September would be better IMO,anywhere out here in the West you can catch a snowstorm in the high country even in June.
I live in the foothills of the Cascades in SW Washington at 1000 ft elevation and have had some snow here in May albeit not a lot but Glacier is a lot higher and further North.
Either way check the forecast,it's about 6500 ft up top,definitely a great ride we've done it a few times over the years.
Hopefully not a bad fire season this year,it was pretty smokey a few years ago when we last went.
IMHO, I'd opt for early September over May.
You may encounter some rain in early September but in the higher elevations snow even in June is not uncommon.
I've (we've) been there three times "mid-summer" and on two of those trips the weather (rain and cold) was a bit challenging.
I'd highly recommend that you take your rain gear and leathers as you will likely need one or both.
Beautiful scenery,
On one of our trips we stayed (and left out truck and trailer) in Cut Bank (east of the park) rode through the park, spent one night in Kalispell and then looped south and east down under the park, returning back to Cut Bank.
On our second (and best IMO) trip we pretty much did the same in Cut Bank be we took a much longer trip up into Canada (Alberta) to Banff and Jasper Parks Parks). This ride has to be done mid-summer and even then it can be, at best a cool ride.
We did this ride and returned back to Sturgis and met some friends for the Rally
On our third and last trip to GNP, we went with another couple and trailered our bikes to Billings, MT.
We left the truck and trailer there and rode up to Cut Bank, then through to park to Kalispell then south through the Tetons, then West Yellowstone. Later on we rode through Yellowstone National Park to Cody.
From Cody we looped up to do the Bear Tooth Pass then back to Billings.
We trailered from Billings down to Hill City, SD for a couple of days then trailered back home.
I think overall this was a three week trip but the trailering (with two drivers) definitely made it easier and especially so for our wives.
In hindsight my wife even agreed that they should have flown to and from Billings.
I think I will plan for late August-early September. Maybe I will head for Beartooth Pass next month instead. Lower elevation so maybe less snow still hanging around that area. We went to Yellowstone last year but weather kept us from getting on all of Beartooth Pass.
I think I will plan for late August-early September. Maybe I will head for Beartooth Pass next month instead. Lower elevation so maybe less snow still hanging around that area. We went to Yellowstone last year but weather kept us from getting on all of Beartooth Pass.
Beartooth is not lower elevation,it goes up over 10,000 feet.
I think I will plan for late August-early September. Maybe I will head for Beartooth Pass next month instead. Lower elevation so maybe less snow still hanging around that area. We went to Yellowstone last year but weather kept us from getting on all of Beartooth Pass.
Thanks for the info guys. Next month we are going to Tennessee to ride The Dragon and spend some time in Gatlinburg. We will head out west in September.
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Glacier National Park
