West Glacier Over Memorial Day. Beta on Going to the Sun and Middle Fork of Flathead?

[Kevo]

My GF and I just booked an impromptu Memorial Day weekend trip to West Glacier.

Our primary goal is to bike the Going to the Sun Road.

Secondary goals are SUPing and packrafting.

SUP details seem easy enough- just bring our sups to Apgar and expect the water to be cold.

How is the Middle Fork of the Flathead at high water? We're looking at the Moccasin Creek to West Glacier section.

We're both competent in whitewater and we've both taken swiftwater rescue courses. We'll be paddling in dry suits. Admittedly our Class 4 experience has been limited to big, swimmable rivers at high flows and not more technical rivers.

Any recommendation for biking Going to the Sun or places to eat in West Glacier are also greatly appreciated.

[yeahman]

It's not a super technical run, and at that flow it's going to be even less so. Some fun waves, I doubt you'll have any problem. West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge is also a very nice float on the Middle Fork, mellower but very scenic. Also sometimes overlooked is the Main Stem of the Flathead, like from Pressentine to Old Steel Bridge. Pretty cool river through there, wide and big with great views of the mountains, less crowded, and would probably make for good SUP floating.

Middle Fork might be my favorite river in the state. Even though it parallels the highway, you really don't notice it much. Have fun.

[yeahman]

Also, for eating in West Glacier, check out Belton Chalet. Pretty cool old place.

[brutah]

Memorial Day seems pretty early for going-to-the-sun road to open but I know it was a below-average winter up there and its been hot lately. You can still bike the road before it opens to car traffic and just turn around where they've plowed to or have closed due to avy danger. Biking the road before it opens to car traffic is a pretty awesome experience.

For SUPing: I'd check out the north fork as well as the middle fork. It's not technical at all, more of a float, but runs along the western border of the park and also has good views.

Last but not least, this is a ski forum afterall. bring your skis! There's typically good skiing in the park if the weather allows until June/July.

[yeahman]

I love the North Fork but at high water it has a reputation of being more dangerous, despite the lack of gnarly rapids. Just food for thought.

[Kevo]

Thanks Brutah and Yeahman.

Looks like the plows are already within a mile or so of making it to Logan Pass from the west side- https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Fingers crossed that the avalanche closure and plow closures go away between West Glacier and Logan Pass by the time we are there.

Maybe if flows are high enough on the middle fork we'll try to link Moccasin Creek all the way to Blankenship Bridge.

@Yeahman- For the Main Stem of the Flathead- is the section that you mentioned something with a commercial shuttle or would we be looking at a hitchhiking back to the car?

Thanks again for all the info. Seems like we'll hopefully be able to pack in some fun activities into a quick trip.

[truckeelocal]

Day after Going to The Sun road opened in 2021 [IMG][/IMG]

Make up your own mind if you want to deal (sorry about the alignment).

[Kevo]

^Surely that many people didn't bike to the top?

We're hoping to time things right to be on the road via bikes without cars.

[truckeelocal]

^^^^ we walked up the East side a couple of days earlier. Saw a few bikes (and marmots). We thought we'd do the drive given the road had opened. It was a sh!t sh@w. But if you want to walk in the snow don't be those people. Take spikes/crampons.

[yeahman]

@Yeahman- For the Main Stem of the Flathead- is the section that you mentioned something with a commercial shuttle or would we be looking at a hitchhiking back to the car?

Not sure about that, I've never hired a shuttle for that stretch. Call Glacier Raft Company and/or one of the fly fishing shops and ask. Last time I floated the Middle Fork we had Glacier Raft Company run the shuttle for us but I'm not sure if they run shuttles on the main stem. I'm sure somebody does.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Going-to-the-Sun road is not gonna be open for another month at least.

[yeahman]

It's open for biking and friends in the area have been posting photos. Looks awesome.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsMBHDPL...RlODBiNWFlZA==

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[Harry]

I have biked up Going-to-the-Sun road when it was closed to cars. Highly recommended.

I have also biked up at night under a full moon. Also highly recommended.

I suggest really good brakes as you will be hauling ass on the decent. Body armor might be a good idea for the hairpin turn at 50+mph…

I also suggest bear spray.

[Kevo]

It's open for biking and friends in the area have been posting photos. Looks awesome.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsMBHDPL...RlODBiNWFlZA==

Looks awesome. That's what we're hoping for.

I have biked up Going-to-the-Sun road when it was closed to cars. Highly recommended.

I have also biked up at night under a full moon. Also highly recommended.

I suggest really good brakes as you will be hauling ass on the decent. Body armor might be a good idea for the hairpin turn at 50+mph…

I also suggest bear spray.

Thanks for the deets. We'll definitely bring bear spray and will bring bikes with hydraulic disk brakes.

[Kevo]

Thanks for the info, everyone. We had a great time. I think the Middle Fork of the Flathead was the highlight of the trip-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwSFK91j5tQ

GTTSR was also really cool. It's currently closed maybe two miles from Logan Pass, so we were able to bike most of the way to the top.



All in all a solid intro to the greater Glacier ecosystem. I'd love to go back when more is open.

[The AD]

Glacier is pretty awesome. My wife and I went a few years ago in the first week of October. Beautiful fall colors down low and not insanely crowded. It is a bit of a crap shoot, though. I think a storm came in and closed the Going to the Sun about a week after we were there.

[yeahman]

Nice man, looks super fun. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

[brutah]

Looks like you nailed it! Thanks for reporting back!

And I'd be careful what you wish for, glacier can get awfully crowded in peak season once everything is open. Haha

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