There are a ton of things to know before visiting Glacier National Park. Unlike national parks in more temperate regions, the weather in Glacier National Park is totally unpredictable regardless of the time of year. When it snows, it snows a lot! And then that snow will last what seems like forever.
If this is your first time experiencing Grizzly Country, definitely make sure you read this all the way through as I’ve included a lot of tips on how to stay safe in Grizzly Country.
Don’t:
Assume all trails and roads will be open when you visit. Definitely don’t assume that all of Going-to-the-Sun Road will be open. Glacier National Park is extremely far north and the weather can be unpredicticable.
Do:
Research weather and closures consistently leading up to your trip, right up until the morning you hit the trails. Mark and I visited Glacier National Park Labor Day Weekend (early September) and Going to the Sun Road had just fully opened about a month before. Because of the location, it snows much later into the year than most other places. They also get a lot of snow which takes an incredibly long time to melt and/or be cleared away. Due to the unpredictable winter conditions, there’s a good a chance that no matter when you visit Glacier National Park, at least one trail or road will be closed.
Don’t:
Treat the land as your personal dumpster.
Don’t:
Look up the weather ahead of time and assume that what you see in an app is what you’ll get.
Do:
Pack plenty of layers! I started my days in leggings, a tank top, a long sleeve shirt, and my Patagonia Nano Puff (something that should be brought on every hiking trip), but by the end I was in leggings and a sports bra. Depending on where in the park you are, what time of day it is, and what you’re doing, you can either be freezing cold or suffering from heat exhaustion. Always prepare for everything!
Do:
Practice Leave No Trace principles. These lands were preserved for generations to enjoy and to protect all types of life, from animals to plants and everything in between. Whatever you bring in with you, take it back out with you. This includes bodily waste when possible.
If it is not possible to carry out bodily waste, make sure you bury that shit. (Pun intended.)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Bears
Don’t:
Buy bear spray ahead of time and expect to bring it in your suitcase. Bear spray is not allowed in your carry on or in your suitcase, so unless you live in bear country already it is a total waste of your money to buy it before you leave.
Buy the bear bells that you see in the gift shops. This is a tourist trap. It may make a pretty cool souvenir to bring home, but ultimately it is useless because the sound of the bells don’t carry far enough to scare off any bears. By the time a bear would hear it, you’re already too close.
Do:
Have an audiobook or playlist downloaded onto your phone. While talking pretty loudly and yelling before turning blind corners can easily scare off a bear, it’s not super helpful if you’re traveling alone and not comfortable talking to yourself or if you’re just winded and don’t feel like talking anymore. Playing an audiobook or music at the highest volume can fill in those quiet moments.
Buy bear spray when you get there. We didn’t buy bear spray only because it’s pretty expensive and we were only there a couple days, but I would be lying if I wasn’t extremely nervous about that decision. I did bring a small can of hairspray, my go to makeshift defense mechanism, but I have much more confidence in hairspray’s ability to deter and distract humans than its ability to deter and distract a bear long enough for me to get away.
If you’re only going to Glacier National Park for a few days, consider asking around if anyone is leaving soon and would be willing to give you their leftover bear spray. People that go to national parks and take precautions like buying bear spray tend to be pretty friendly and I’m sure someone would at least be willing to sell you theirs for a discount or a beer.
Don’t:
Panic, scream, run, or climb a tree if you see a bear.
Do:
Stop moving, slowly wave your arms, and gently talk to the bear. Try to make yourself look as big as possible.
Don’t:
Drop your bag.
Do:
Leave your bag on. If you trip and fall or if the bear does attack you, having the bag between your body and the bear could be the difference between life and death.
Don’t:
Fight back if you are attacked by a grizzly bear.
Do:
Play dead if you are attacked by a grizzly bear. Try to lay on your stomach with your hands protecting your head and spread your legs wide, which will make it harder for you to be flipped over. If the bear doesn’t go away, attack by hitting it in the face with whatever you have.
In the case of a black bear, attack immediately with a focus on the face and muzzle.
And the most important “do” of this whole list:
HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!