I am having a difficult time figuring out how to get to East Glacier from Kalispell, Montana. I am coming from Colorado, flying in to Kalispell, nearest airport to East Glacier. I have checked Amtrack and Greyhound, neither go to East Glacier-any ideas?
LA
Yogi’s CDT handbook says that greyhound stops in Kalispell. Because there may not be a ticketbooth there, just a stop along the road, you will have to be at the busstop (whereever that might be), get on the bus and buy your ticket in East Glacier. We had to do this in Grants NM as there was no ticket booth there either. Her other option is to fly into Spokane and grab the Amtrak into E Glacier.
You can call grehound 800-231-2222 and ask them about Kalispell stop. Loved that town. Stopped there in 1992 during my Xcountry bike hike.
Marti /Swannee
I’m planning a section hike in September that will end at East Glacier. According to Avis, I can rent a car there and return it next day to Helena for $60 + gas (+ assorted other fees perhaps). The same thing might be possible from Kalispell to East Glacier.
Mike
On our first hike in Glacier, we took Amtrak from Whitefish, which is a few miles from Kalispell, to E. Glacier. There is only one train a day, early in the morning, which arrived in E. Glacier just after the shuttle left for the northern border, so we ended up having to stay at a motel in both Whitefish and E. Glacier.
On our second hike there (first thruhike) we walked to E. Glacier but took Amtrak east to Shelby, where we picked up Greyhound to take us to Warm Springs where we had started our hike.
On our third hike in Glacier (second thruhike) we rented a car which we drove north (we did a flip). Contact the Avis rep. in E. Glacier. Mark is a friend to hikers and owns a motel (Whistling Swan), diner and grocery. He told us that the Avis dealer in Kalispell didn’t do one way rentals at that time. That may have changed.
Ginny
thanks for all the info; I have not looked into car rental yet. Bus schedules have changed, no availability in Kalispell, they told me today. looks like fly to kalispell, taxi to Libby and motel, Amtrak from there to E. Glacier. I am going to keep looking. thanks all
LA
working on the same issue here. Does traveling to waterton and starting from the Canadian side work?
Joshua
Getting to Waterton is a problem if you are using public transportation. There is a park bus from East Glacier to Waterton that arrives early afternoon. If you are coming in from somewhere in Canada, there is a Greyhound bus from Calgary to Pincher Creek, then it is about a 40 km hitchhike from there to Waterton. You would have to have your Glacier Permit arranged ahead of time.
Ginny
They made us get our permit at 2-Med. I decided to hike trail to there in mid-June past a young grizzly (a few minutes after passing 2 young girls & told em to make some noise). There is something also about a permit on that stretch that crosses Blackfoot land, but I couldn’t get one in East G. (will be included on your park permit, unless you just get a permit from Waterton/Chief to 2 Medicine like I did because I had already done that stretch, but ended up doing it again anyway for continuous footsteps purposes). There was a steep snowbank to cross in mid-June & I was glad I had my austria-alpin baby crampons.
Then they wouldn’t give me a permit with the campsites melting out at the time! There are scheduled park buses, but I paid a bit extra to jump on a reserved one. They are about 80 years old +/- so it is a must do to take one!
Find out the schedule online when they put in the bridges over rivers & when buses start running & when backcountry campsites open for reservation. The backpacker/bicycle campsite is far from the excellent 2 med store, unfortunately. The Brownies HI hostel was also far from E. Glacier town, so I stayed at Serrano’s. Because of all the park stores, you really don’t need a huge haul of food to begin with…especially since because of the popularity of some campsites, you will inevitably get a permit with a 9 mile day then a 32 miler (no way, I just stealth camped that day).
inchworm plumber
If starting out in waterton, is there an issue crossing the border? or none what so ever?
How do I get a permit for Glacier in Waterton (pre entering the US? possible at all? or do I have to get the permit in the national park?
Joshua
You need to get the campsite permit in Glacier NP prior to going to Waterton. They are available at Two Medicine, Swiftcurrent, and St Mary. A Blackfoot permit is required to hike the trail between East Glacier and Marias Pass. It costs $5 and can be purchased at the gas station in E Glacier. That should be easy enough if you are SOBO, but is a problem for NOBO hikers.
bearcreek