If you plan to go to more than one national park, opt to buy an annual pass for $80 instead of individual day passes at $35 a pop. We also learned quickly that the beautiful scenic views came with a lack of cell service so for anyone planning this drive, download a couple playlists and pick up a paper map in advance. We learned that it is not uncommon for people living in these small towns to drive 1 hours to get to everyday events (like baseball games or getting your tractor fixed). Alternatively, if youll be heading back to Boise or into Wyoming from Sun Valley on your Idaho road trip itinerary, make it a point to stop by Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve for some dramatically different landscape to everything youve seen on the trip so far. Looking for a convenient summary of our Montana itinerary? It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! I, personally, drive on side streets (where possible) because the main streets get all backed up. Five Northern Idaho Bike Trails Quirky sights on the Montana Idaho Road Trip Coeur dAlene in Northern Idaho Harrison in Northern Idaho Flathead Lake and the Silver Dollar Bar Glacier National Park camping West Glacier National Park East Glacier National Park Garnet Ghost Town in the Montana Mountains near Glacier National Park Obviously. Super stoked to finally see it in a few weeks! And yes: there are llamas. A farm is where crops are grown and a ranch is where livestock are raised. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. Bryce Canyon is obviously more famous weve all seen photos of the parks breathtaking Sunrise Point but Capitol Reef received raving reviews from our friends and is far less crowded. We took our road trip at the height of summer, and I highly recommend anyone considering a visit to this region to travel during this time. Before you head out, pack a picniclunch to keep you fueled up as you hike through the island looking for wild horses! WebThe route to here from Bear Lake weaves along the Idaho/Wyoming border through Jackson, Wyoming, and passes west of another popular local destination, Grand Teton National Park, before ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. You know Dana touched ALL the animals and then Alicia doused her in hand sanitizer before letting her back in the car. Thanks for sharing all this info! Ahh, Glacier National Park. Insider tip: the wild forest mushroom and puff pastry tapas will literally change your world! It was more comfortable than tent camping anyway! There are only 100 wolves in all of Yellowstone, and some people we talked to had been working at Yellowstone for years and never saw a wolf! All opinions, recommendations, bad jokes, and suggestions that Huckleberries are actually just wild blueberries are 100% my own and absolutely not their fault. Alica tried looking online. Lumbering bears, moose, bison, and llamas. By Lia Garcia | Updated on: February 20, 2022. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr Starting from Boise and working your way counterclockwise around the state to some of the best outdoor spots makes for one memorable Idaho road trip. So, we made the hour and a half drive to Ashton for affordable lodging, which we found at the Eagle Peak Lodge. We each had our own twin bed (the most comfy beds of the whole trip!) You dont want to trust the weather report beyond a couple of days out, and even then, you pack an umbrella and a jacket. It was flat and easy, with gorgeous views of the lake and the Tetons. The variation in topography that we have seen on this short trip has just been amazing! The primary road through Glacier National Park is a feat of engineering. Pictures just cant do it justice. The springs, located at the top of a mountain, are reachable via a relatively short but steep hike. We enjoyed the 2 hour tour through the caverns - put this on your Montana itinerary! Down-home ranchers and honest-to-goodness cowboys. This was probably my personal highlight of my entire Montana road trip! If youre up for it, wander all the way across the bridge to the other side of town to check out the Hip Strip, Missoulas coolest neighborhood. Neither did we but the kind owner at the fruit stand took pity on our eastern palates and let us sample huckleberry jam before we bought the pie. Its larger than Lake Tahoe and 18 bodies have been discovered lurking in its murky depths. I LOVE LLAMAS SO MUCH. We also found another great place to see on the drive back to Boise in Arco, Idaho, the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power. On the way north to Riggins we drove through the Payette National Forest, enjoying the tree lined roads and mountain views. Additionally, this itinerary includes routes that pass through American Indian reservations. But the problem is that places like Glacier are extremely delicate. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. But before we jump into all of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we need to cover a few important basics. Torreys 33F. From the Norris Basin, we continued on to the famous Prismatic Spring. The 50-mile route cuts across Glacier National Park at an elevation of 6,646 feet and is open seasonally, so youll want to plan accordingly. Your email address will not be published. Canoeing on Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. I appreciate that you wrote about ethical tourism and what can be done to improve our relations with tribal nations and with the natural environment and places they call home. Low key stalk us here and on social media. Day 2: Riggins, Idaho to Missoula, Montana, Post white water rafting on the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho. Boujie coffee and sustainability a match made in heaven! But please dont post the exact location, particularly on Instagram or other publicly accessible social media platforms. Llamas take a very long time to go to the bathroom. I had a lot of questions about llama trekking, and if you do too, heres what to expect: The hike was pleasant and easy, and we ate lunch overlooking a beautiful waterfall. Dont know what a huckleberry is? Today, they have free admission to visit the park but are not allowed to live on their land despite the original agreement made between the Tribe and the United States Government. Driving time to West Glacier: About 30 minutes. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. The weather in Montana is fickle, and its not uncommon to experience all 4 seasons in the course of a day during the summer and fall. The sun sets late in Montana in the summer, so you can still catch the sunset after your dinner; Check it out at Wayfarers State Park, a locals favorite place to see the sunset over the lake as the sun sinks behind the mountains. You basically just hug them until they get used to you. Ive made the common road trip mistake of trying to pack too many stops into a short time period. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, on the other hand, is just as impressive and a true hidden gem. While our itinerary includes 2 days in Glacier NP, if youre planning to spend more time there or youd like to bookend this trip itinerary with a trip to Yellowstone, these two guides are essential. We were very happy to see our new cabin was much larger (3 beds with 2 separate rooms!) Just another good story to tell, right? This part of the country is famously beautiful, characterized by lush green alpine landscapes and snow-capped peaks, winding rivers, and countless small towns dripping with old western charm. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog andpodcast! That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. As the day went on, the skies began to clear and we were able to experience the sheer beauty of the park. Be warnedthis trail is not for the faint of heart, but you will be rewarded with some of the best views Montana has to offer. Drop us a comment below! Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. Moon Travel Guides has a comprehensive guide to Glacier National Park, plus a Moon Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip guide. This luxury condo in downtown Bigfork has spectacular views of Swan River, you can hear the sounds of rushing white water from the deck, and the loft bedroom has cathedral windows looking across spectacular views. Wellwe were wrong. Take in the views from the balcony off the spacious living room. Eat: Sawtooth Luces serves up cold local beer and a mean Idaho Kobe beef burger, and we had a delicious breakfast at Stanley Baking Company. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. Its full of racist and sexist messaging and far right propaganda. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The goal of the cultural center is to dispel myths and stereotypes about Native Americans, and its well worth a stop! Here is a day by day breakdown of our recommended Montana road trip itinerary. Id never seen so many taxidermy animals in one place, and near the counter, a sign read gun safety rule #1: carry one. Seriously, look at this place: We walked 7.7 miles around Jenny Lake, one of the many hiking trails in Grand Teton. To get you started, we mapped out an Idaho road trip for you and the family with more diversity than most cross-country trips can provide. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. We have included a few excellent options in our itinerary. We ended our night with dinner at our lodge, watching the sunset over Yellowstone Lake while a herd of elk and their babies grazed on the grass in front of us. Site by, 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel, 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple, 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America, The Ultimate Montana Road Trip: Detailed 10-Day Itinerary. I almost gave up and turned around halfway through but persisted with the encouragement of Lenza and a one-pound bag of Tillamook beef jerky. You can loop back from Lakeside to Big Fork. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. Its also important to keep in mind that American Indian culture is not something that exists in the past it is still thriving and present, despite centuries of oppression and brutal policies that have pushed out Indigenous peoples and disenfranchised them. Although the parks had been fairly crowded this whole time (Yellowstone more so than Glacier), this is the first time it began to feel a bit too touristy. Meanwhile, Alicia and I were so excited about our wolf encounter! We took a rather long detour on our stop to Glacier National Park at the National Bison Range in Charlo, Montana. Oooh, creepy! Outdoorsy has a diverse selection of road trip vehicles ranging from no-frills campervans to glamping-ready RVs that fit any budget. Whichever you decide, they are both great stops for your Western United States road trip! ), and then set out on the road. Here are the top things to do in the area: Livingston is a historical railroad and ranching town in Southwestern Montana, a short distance north from Yellowstone National Park. For water, we purchased a few 1.5-liter bottles and refilled them at gas stations throughout our trip. 18 Restaurants in San Francisco for the Best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V3TvpcgJfU&t=802s, Tulum Street Art Photo Tour (And Exactly Where to Find Each Piece! Still, Im not sure I would choose this trail again as it was crowded and there is a large portion that runs alongside a road. The story of the horses on Wild Horse Island is that the Salish-Kootenai tribe kept their horses on the island to keep them safe from being stolen by other tribes. You can even take the lift up, down, or both ways depending on your preference something I have wished for on literally every hike Ive ever done. After dinner but not too late, breweries and distilleries close at 8pm by Montana law head to Montgomery Distillery for an early nightcap. This time it was not a dog but a Black Bear that darted out in front of our car! You can make it almost all the way around Whitefish Lake and not have to share the road with cars! We started at the north entrance and made our way to Mammoth Hot Springs. We continued for a stop at must-see on any Idaho road trip, Craters of the Moon National Monument - an insanely unique landscape in the middle of nowhere. And like, Im not going to lie: this was probably the best thing Ive ever done in my entire life. How about a thank you, Hanks dad!? We continued south until we got to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. 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