At least about 1/3 of the license plates we see are from out of state. The water is the most beautiful turquoise color flowing over smooth, multicolored rocks with tree lined mountains as the backdrop. And when thousands of people converge on a small number of specific wilderness locations, those locations are negatively impacted and at risk of being harmed, destroyed, and blocked off to visitors entirely. Everythings coming up Dana & Alicia! They had to go take care of a parking ticket and let us borrow their board until they came back. We ate our oatmeal and eggs while he grazed on grass and leaves just 50 yards away. Ice-capped mountains dominating lush valleys. It isnt huge like most towns in Montana but it has a cute main drag to explore. We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. And in the second installation of whats the difference between we learned: Whats the difference between a farm and a ranch?. Outdoorsy has a diverse selection of road trip vehicles ranging from no-frills campervans to glamping-ready RVs that fit any budget. However, some Tribal Nations, including the Confederated Salish and Kootnai Tribes and the Blackfeet Nation, are leading the way on Tribal infrastructure and, in turn, tourism. We thought we made it on time, but when we went to the rental desk, we were told it was 81 degrees outside. If you do opt for the Red Bus Tour, youll want to bring a ton of sunscreen (open top means LOTS of sun), plenty of layers as the morning is quite cold and the afternoon is quite hot, sunglasses, loads of water, chapstick, and snacks (just be sure to pack all the snack waste out with you). Then we headed to the Norris Basin Geyser, where the pools ranged in color from milky sky blue to emerald green. This revelation resulted in frequent singings of Oh give me a home, where the Bison roam throughout the remainder of the trip. We even included a map to make things extra helpful. Because we didnt have the special tickets to enter the road during normal hours, we couldnt check out the east side of the park until after 5PM so we decided to hike up the road itself for a little bit, which was a great call. Insider Tip: Visiting Montana in the fall is all about flexibility. Missoula has a plethora of hotels so we booked a Comfort Inn near downtown on our way into town. Would love any/all suggestions for ways to be a responsible tourist while respecting, enjoying, and supporting the local community in Whitefish! Drop us a comment below! Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Jet boating, Hells Canyon. If youre feeling athletic, you can drive around the lake and pick up a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, or SUP. But be sure to time your visit just right: the road opens in June or July and closes for weather-related reasons around late September or early October, so be sure to check that date before you go (and remember: the weather in Montana is unpredictable AF). Its so important to respect the places youre visiting. While Boxcar was certainly sassy and took a while to warm up to me enough for us to share a hug and a selfie, the llamas that come along on hikes are perfectly well behaved. There are a few options for exploring Going to the Sun Road. Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. The simplest answer I can give you is to seek out Native-owned businesses. Even this winter, for the first time the traffic was worse than it ever has been. Within this guide, weve kept our suggestions for specific spots within Glacier National Park to a minimum to honor this principle. Here are a few highlights: Sawtooth Lake (10 miles RT, moderate rating) Pettit Lake to Twin Lakes (13 miles RT, moderate rating) Bench Lakes (7.8 miles RT, moderate rating) Alpine Lake Trail (7.4 miles RT, moderate rating) You can find tons of other hikes on AllTrails. Youre welcome. And yes: there are llamas. BEHAVE YOURSELVES and be GOOD VISITORS and youll be welcomed. Oooh, creepy! 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. We figured, worst-case scenario, we would be paying double what we had been paying alreadybut worth it for a little bit more flexibility during the day. Meanwhile, Alicia and I were so excited about our wolf encounter! Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. Taking a guided tour is a fantastic option for Going to the Sun Road because it allows you to sit back and take in the views while learning about the history of the park and the flora and fauna that inhabit it. It was crowded, as we expected, but we stayed a ways back and got a leg up on a log for a good view of the show. This is literally like the best Montana itinerary post Ive ever seen!! The goal of the cultural center is to dispel myths and stereotypes about Native Americans, and its well worth a stop! You can plan your Whitefish getaway in broad strokes and then fill in the details once you get there. Youll be able to do and see so much more compared to the rest of the year. 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. When we arrived at Small Dune (where the sledding was done), there was a couple heading back to their car. Id like to update this post to include a heads up to our readers about visiting Whitefish, and Id love your input or any other locals reading this. WebTrip: Big Sky (Washington, Idaho, Montana) TakeMyTrip.com The Big Sky Trip An adventure in the Pacific Northwest The Big Sky trip is a 10-night driving trip to the northwestern United States. 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. sorry you had to deal with that sort of garbage at the Miracle of America Museum. Our 5-mile hike to Bond Falls was gorgeous and offered me several hours to attempt to befriend my llama, Boxcar: a beautiful, sassy 1-year-old whose respected I needed to earn. Here are a few essentials to pack and bring with you on your trip: Montana has one of the highest American Indian populations in the US, with about 66,000 people of Tribal heritage. 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. Spend your last meal saying goodbye to Montana at PLONK Wine. The pass also gets you free parking at all federal recreation areas. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. The venue is an experience in itself, with wild game taxidermy lining the walls, a sturdy wooden bar, and a vintage piano in the corner. And by the way, Glacier is now going to restrict access, and initiate an online reservation system to get into the park, that you need to reserve at least 30, possibly 60 days in advance. We enjoyed our meal with a nice view of the sun setting over Jackson Lake and had our first local beer (a local beer and a local meal is our required criteria for getting to claim having been to a place). One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. It is a must-do. It went FAST!! We got to view Jackson Glacier, one of the few glaciers left at Glacier National Park and watch the sun starting to set over St. Mary Lake. Try not to let it bother you and focus your energy on appreciating the incredible natural phenomenon in front of you (easier said than done, sometimes). The plan was to go sand sledding and sand boarding. 6. Its the perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine! In the next section, Ill dive deeper into what we did in each destination. 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. So if you want to post some cool pics of the nature you seego for it! However, because we road-tripped in the summer and stayed near well-known US national parks, these cost about $100 an average each night not the cheapest option for accommodation. Ethical tourism can be a great way to support and grow Indigenous communities while educating others about their culture, but immersive, sustainable Indigenous tourism such as community homestays or community-led tours of Tribal Nations doesnt currently exist in Montana. I think we ALL should be able to visit one anothers areas, respectfully of course. I love this post! You can rent one from somebody who does on RVShare! We became best friends by the end of the hike and it made my entire life. Its an area of incredible natural beauty, isnt it? Your trip begins once your plane touches down in Missoula, Montana! Montana has so much to offer including its crown jewel, Glacier National Park and weve designed the perfect 10-day Montana road trip itinerary through Western Montana, complete with details to help you plan each step of your trip. But before too long, the Blackfeet were forced out of their re-assigned home in order to make way for luxury hotels and trains and wealthy tourists. Thinking Pacific Northwest. (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': The museum & cultural center showcases the traditions and culture of tribes that have traditionally been passed down orally from generation to generation, as well as examples of cultural tribal artifacts from the Salish, Pend dOreille and Kootenai tribes like basket weavings, beaded vests and more. We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace. WebTrip: Big Sky (Washington, Idaho, Montana) TakeMyTrip.com The Big Sky Trip An adventure in the Pacific Northwest The Big Sky trip is a 10-night driving trip to the northwestern United States. The variation in topography that we have seen on this short trip has just been amazing! One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. FOLLOW OUR PARKS RULES. Sadly I didnt have a chance to take this tour myself during my trip, but Ive heard nothing but good things. 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. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. Alicia and I stayed the recommended 100+ yards away and watched through our binoculars. We were very entertained by a lady sitting at the end of the bar, who was probably around the same age as us, talking about running her own farm (Can you believe he asked me that, Im busy, I have my own farm to run!). About an hour and $50 later, we were on our way to the last stop on our Idaho itinerary before Boise. We stopped first to walk through Freak Alley, an awesome display of street art and fun thing to do in Boise, and then got appetizers and drinks at Juniper (potatoes of course) and Chandlers, a fancy steakhouse. The man who was helping hopped the fence to check the farm house a little ways up. But if you wait until after school starts, youll be able to enjoy a much less crowded park and absolutely perfect weather! Were sick about it. You can make it almost all the way around Whitefish Lake and not have to share the road with cars! Once youre back in Big Fork, head to Raven for a post-hike dinner! Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. The trail is so gentle on the feet that we actually did it barefoot! 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). On the way north to Riggins we drove through the Payette National Forest, enjoying the tree lined roads and mountain views. 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. People have a lot to say about Vegas, but in my opinion, you just gotta enjoy it for what it is: a tacky fabulous adult Disneyland. But fun fact: designated in 1996, Escalante was the last part of the continental U.S. to be mapped. Note that shuttles have limited seating and you may find yourself waiting for a seat during high season. 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. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. The cocktails are boujie yet surprisingly affordable be sure to try the smoky grapefruit! Subscribe and well send you our FREE 22-page Travel Planning Guide. The cabin we stayed in was adorable. and enjoyed chatting with the owner and his father. Insider tip: try the cheeseburger pizza! Llamas take a very long time to go to the bathroom. We hit the beginning of the main road when it was still dark and rainy, but we found a spot to camp out along Lake McDonald to watch the sun rise. Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! But, adorably, they step politely off the trail to do it. 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