Hello from Knoxville, TN... by way of Seattle and Charleston(SC, not WV).

[Matthew McDaniel]

Stumbled onto this while trying to find reliable information about trail conditions in Glacier. This will be my 5th trip, but so far I've been twice in mid-March, once in September, and then the first half of last August. Dates are May 31-June 4th. Not really sure what to expect. Lots of conflicting information online. I'll be camping with my 21 year old sister, my 9 year old son, and his 10 year old best friend. I'm sure we'll get wet, but is it worth lugging the kayak and paddleboards out there this early? And as much as I hate the thought, would I be better off going somewhere else. I've considered everything from Grand Teton or RMNP to the Moab/Zion/North Rim GC loop. Glacier is my all-time favorite, and I'm excited to show it to my sister, but I don't want to drage them on a 4,300 mile road trip for 4 days of hiking in the mud with heavy clouds blocking the views. Driving from Knoxville, TN - leaving this Friday morning. Haaalp!(please)

 

[Aldaron]

Hello, fellow Knoxvillian!

I would usually say that this might be too early to try backpacking in Glacier, but the snow models don't look too bad. I don't know what the mud situation will be like, though. Maybe just be flexible...if the trails are too muddy then maybe you could venture down to the north end of Yellowstone. The north end of Yellowstone usually melts out pretty early so maybe it wouldn't be as muddy, and it would be close enough that you could do both if you needed to.

Have you called the Visitor's Center at Glacier? They should have good info on trail conditions. Just remember to let them know your experience level because parks tend to treat every visitor as though he just got off a plane from New York City and they "up-play" the challenges in order to weed out the inexperienced.