i am planning to hike the CDT as part of my hike this year and i will be pushed for time. i was just wanting to know if glacier national park in montana issue backcountry permits by post. it would mean i could leave the PCT and head to the start of the CDT with out having to waste time by getting there via GNP to pick up a permit. hope that makes sense!
“SQUEAKY”
You can make your reservations in advance, but you will still have to pick up the permit in person. They will require you to watch a bear video and listen to the LNT lecture, etc. Because of bear activity, they are unlikely to allow you to hike in the park without the permit and the prerequisite contact with the rangers. What you could do is make your reservations (there is a fee for advanced reservations, as well as the per night and park entry fees), then take the train from the PCT to East Glacier, then hike north through the park, picking up your permit in Two Medicine, 12 miles up the trail. Hike north to Waterton, then take the shuttle bus (about $50) back to East Glacier and hike south from there.
Yellowstone is a little easier - you can call for the permit there. RMNP’s permit station is on the trail as is the permit station for Indian Peaks.
Are you trying a dual or triple hike?
Spirit Walker
I read on the Glacier webpage that you can get permits in Waterton for GNP trips that begin at Goat Haunt. So, presumably you could fly to Calgary, then bus down to near Waterton (Greyhound will get you withing about 35k), then take a hiker/employee shuttle (or hitch) into the park.
I haven’t actually gotten anyone to confirm that you can get a permit in Waterton for GNP, but the 2005 backcountry guide says you can. Any one with experience on this? If I hike the CDT this year (highly probable), I’ll be coming from Calgary so will have to get my permit this way (or no way).
Suge
thanks for the responses. spirit walker, i am going for the triple crown but i am starting on the pct may 3rd.
thanks again
:cheers
“SQUEAKY”
first off- squeaky…yes, you can get advance permits from glacier, and yes you will have to pick them up in person and watch the bear video (it’s not really that bad…) however, advance permits cost a lot more than walk-ins. So depending on when you’ll be getting there and what your planned itinerary is you more than likely can just pick up your permits when you get there. i was a ranger there last summer, and i can tell you which sites on the cdt are going to be most crowded/hardest to do a walk in to if you want to run your itinerary by me. also, the advice about starting your hike in east glacier, picking up your permit in two med and then going north and taking the shuttle back is one of the easiest ways to negotiate the park. Amtrak goes right into east glacier where you can pick up the cdt and go north right up to two medicine and pick up your permit. the shuttle service that runs to chief mountain/waterton gets you there rather late for same day hiking, although it works well for returning. if you are starting/ending at chief mountain (the low route) it will be fairly easy to hitch-hike…hitching across the border is a little tougher, although i’ve done that too.
also, walk in permits give you more flexibility as to your arrival dates…if you don’t pick up your reserved permit by 1 pm (i believe) it can be reissued.
2nd-suge…as far as i know yes you can get your permits in waterton, but i believe you have to register for them in advance through GNP, you might want to double check that by calling 406-888-7800 As far as where you pick them up, i believe you pick them up at the waterton visitor center things may have changed since i was there last season, but i’m pretty sure that’s how it works. as long as you are starting from goat haunt or chief mountain you can obtain your permits through waterton.
hope this helps! hike on!
:girl
heather