Author Topic: North glacier park loop  (Read 6204 times)

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Offline Flattire

North glacier park loop
« on: May 05, 2023, 07:28:57 pm »
Looking to do great parks loop section 2.   Any experienced riders with camping suggestions?   Also what is required to enter Canada?  Passport?  Early July from whitefish  ,eureka Haynes fernie pincher.   If it’s easier to contact me.  Phillipbev40@aol.com

Thank you

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: North glacier park loop
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2023, 08:10:29 am »
IIRC, if you are an American citizen you need a passport to re-enter the U.S. Good luck getting one if you don't have one.  The wait time, even for expedited processing, is months.

Check on the status of the municipal campground in Sparwood, B.C.  Stayed there in 2009.  Decent place with free firewood.  Make sure you stop at the world's largest truck ever built in the center of town.

The only thing I can think of in Eureka is the town campground right across from the Town Pump gas station/convenience store.  (The campground further up on U.S. 93 no longer allows tent camping.  Think I saw some power outlets there.  Not isolated at all.  Big grocery store a little farther up U.S. 93.  If you go off route on MT 37 there is a large, federal campground in Rexford.  You can reserve some of the sites.  Nice bathrooms with flush toilets and power outlets.  No showers, but the restaurant/bar in town sells showers.  $6 in 2019.  It also sells some of the best fried chicken and Jo Jos on the planet.  Seriously.  You can walk down to the lake from the camping area.

The Towne Campsite in Waterton Gillage is in a dramatic setting with great views of the mountains and lake.  Worth a day off there to recharge before the tough day back into the states.  Expect a headwind on U.S. 89 to St. Mary.  St. Mary campground inside the park as hiker/biker sites, but if you can make it farther up Going to the Sun to Rising Sun Campground you have a shorter climb the next day.  Only 2,000' IIRC. Broing plenty of nutirtion for the ride over Logan Pass.

On the other side of Logan Pass, I prefer Sprague Creek Campground.  There is a large-ish infield area with tables and some tent pads for hikers/bikers.  Smaller campground so not as chaotic and noisy as Apgar.  Also, you can walk to Lake McDonald Lodge.  Treat yourself to dinner at the lodge, but get there early.  But first take a tour of the lodge and then grab a drink at the bar and take it down to thr lake.  The camp store at the complex had mostly junk food.

Offline Flattire

Re: North glacier park loop
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2023, 07:09:18 pm »
Thank you for your time in answering my question.  I dont bike tour as much as i wish too, at least, not yet.     I do have a lot of worries, but i think once i get out there ill figure out what to do.  I can plan and over plan.  Ill do a basic layout then try to be flexible   im more worried about where to stay each night.  Do i even have to reserve a camp site in the states and in Canada? I think I heard most campgrounds will keep an open area for through cyclist.   This will be 4th of July through the 10th of July.  Busy time i am sure.   I think I am not allowed to take fruit and bear spray across the border.  I have a lot of planning and info gathering to do...oh and ride more too.

Offline ray b

Re: North glacier park loop
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2023, 09:34:07 pm »
(No matter how many years and miles I've put behind me, I'm always amazed at how the worries disappear with the first turn of the pedals.)

EPA-approved bear spray will not keep you at the border.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2023, 09:36:07 pm by ray b »
“A good man always knows his limitations.”

Offline John Nelson

Re: North glacier park loop
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2023, 12:12:03 am »
The rules required to enter Canada are complicated and have options. Best Google it. At any rate, there are rules, so don’t just show up. I recommend the ArriveCAN app. It simplifies things and speeds them up.

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: North glacier park loop
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2023, 11:26:42 am »
Thank you for your time in answering my question.  I dont bike tour as much as i wish too, at least, not yet.     I do have a lot of worries, but i think once i get out there ill figure out what to do.  I can plan and over plan.  Ill do a basic layout then try to be flexible   im more worried about where to stay each night.  Do i even have to reserve a camp site in the states and in Canada? I think I heard most campgrounds will keep an open area for through cyclist.   This will be 4th of July through the 10th of July.  Busy time i am sure.   I think I am not allowed to take fruit and bear spray across the border.  I have a lot of planning and info gathering to do...oh and ride more too.

Sorry. Haven't been to the site for a while.  July 4th is not a Canadian Holiday, but I am sure places will be busy due to the time of year.  Waterton campsite had no hiker/biker sites that I remember.  Same with Sparwood.  I would seriously consider reservations for those places.  Same if you go off route to Rexford.  In Pincher Creek there was a campground, but we got a motel because it was raining do hard that water was coming up through the storm drains.

One thing I completely forgot to mention is Whitefish Lake State Park at the north end of Whitefish.  It's one of the Montana State Parks that has special hiker/biker spots.  I have stayed there twice in recent years. The facilities were top notch.  Pea gravel tent pads, food storage locker, shade, covered picnic table with power outlets, a bike repair clamp, water, close to restrooms/showers, near the lake AND I was told there is a no-turn-away policy if all the tent pads are full.  There is plenty of space around the hiker.biker area tp pitch a tent.  Price was only $12 for oiut of staters, but I would bet it has gone up a bit. (And you needd a couple of bucks for a shower.)  Great place to start and/or end a tour. It is on th outskirts of town, so get yoour food and whatever else you need before you ride out there.

There are some trains that go by, but they no longer blow their horns at the crossing near the park entrance due to what is called a Quiet Zone being established.