Glacier NP - hiking buddy (Sept 10)

[foxtrot]

Hitting up Glacier solo the second week of September and am planning on mostly ranger-led hikes. I was planning on the Grinnell Glacier hike but that meets at 8:30 a.m. and I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to the start point in time, driving over from the west side. If you think you might be getting a late start and don't mind doing this hike, please let me know! (Advice about how long it takes to drive across the park at that time in the morning, assuming no stops would be appreciated too)

 

[Joey]

It takes at least 2 hours to get from West Glacier to Many Glacier. At least traffic isn't super bad in September.

 

[foxtrot]

Thanks. Google tells me that sunrise is at 6:46 a.m. and I can't imagine there are too many people driving at that time / before sunrise?

 

[Joey]

Probably not, especially the second week of September. But then again you will have people up early for both pictures and wildlife. The Going To The Sun Road is just a pain to drive. You just can't go fast, especially from the Loop up to Logan Pass. Even with no cars on the road your not going to go more than 25mph thru that section. The road into Many Glacier is rough in spots too. Actually, a large chunk of the Sun road on the east side had the pavement stripped up, and was just gravel. That was as of mid July, I don't know if they paved it since then or not.