Our plan was simple: visit Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park, and fly back home. But as we began to look into this wonderful and wild region of America, our simple road trip turned into an epic journey down the Rocky Mountain’s!

The trip started out by flying into the Glacier International Airport located in Kalispell, MT. This tiny airport tucked deep into the mountains is absolutely gorgeous as you fly over the Flathead Mountains and the turquoise glacial lakes scattered between the peaks.

Once we got our bags and rental car, grabbed some groceries at the local Walmart, we headed northeast through Columbia Falls towards our home for the next few days in the serene West Glacier Village.

West Glacier Village provides cabins and RV hookup’s for quick access to Glacier National Park

West Glacier Village, located approximately 500 yards from the West Glacier Entrance to the park provides everything you need for an extended stay at Glacier National Park. The multiple restaurants, shops, rafting and biking rentals, and gas station ensure you are fully equipped for this expansive wilderness.

Entrance to the park through the West Glacier Entrance puts you immediately on the Going to the Sun Road, which aside from being an engineering marvel, is one of the most incredible drives in America. Reservations are now required for this road as visitation has dramatically risen to Glacier National Park, so be sure to check Recreation.gov for more information.

We spent a full day exploring the western region of Glacier National Park, but for those with limited time, a quick hike through the Trail of the Cedars and a drive along the Going to the Sun Road is highly recommended. After our day in West Glacier, we drove up the North Fork to the incredibly remote, off-the-grid Polebridge Entrance of the park.

Access to Glacier National Park through the Polebridge Entrance is via a rough dirt road that is best suited for higher clearance vehicles. With that said, our rental Toyota Camry did just fine with some careful driving. This area provides access to a seldom visited section of the park, and gives you a great appreciation for the true wilderness that is Glacier National Park. As bear activity is often high in the park, bear spray is highly recommended when hiking any trail within the park.

The Northern Lights Saloon in Polebridge is a great stop for some food and drink before returning to civilization

The next day, we headed southeast around the southern tip of the park and up to the Many Glacier Entrance to the park. The eastern entrances to Glacier National Park are accessed by passing through the Blackfeet Reservation, which although very rare, have the ability to restrict access through the reservation, and therefore to the eastern entrances. Be sure to check with park rangers regarding any restrictions that may be in place before venturing to East Glacier.

Grinnell Lake Trail in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park

The rugged landscape of the Many Glacier region is home to some of the best hiking in the park, as well as the historic Many Glacier Hotel, which is also a great spot to grab some lunch before heading back out on the trail.

The Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park

After thoroughly exploring the Many Glacier Region, we worked our way south along the eastern edge of the park to the St. Mary’s Entrance. This is also the eastern terminus of the Going to the Sun Road, and if the entirety of the road is open, allows direct access back to West Glacier.

The Going to the Sun Road is not only for vehicles

Views of St. Mary’s Lake, Jackson Glacier, and so much more are available in the St. Mary’s region of the park, as well as the small St. Mary’s Visitor Center. After enjoying this great section of the park, we worked further south to the Two Medicine Entrance of Glacier National Park. Two Medicine boasts a campground and store, as well as a boat rental to explore this mountainous region.

A bald eagle perched atop a tree at the Two Medicine Entrance

The Two Medicine region is a bit smaller in terms of its hiking opportunities compared to West Glacier, Many Glacier, and St. Mary’s, but the beauty of the hikes are unparalleled in this section of the park.

We were fortunate to spend 4 days at Glacier National Park, but one could spend a lifetime within this “Crown Jewel of the Continent” and continue to find something new. After our time at Glacier National Park, we took the 5.5 hr drive south on MT-83 into the booming Bozeman, MT.

Lush forests and snow-capped peaks make for a scenic drive south through Montana

Bozeman, MT, with its 58,000 residents is a gorgeous city in southwestern Montana. The rich historic section combined with the ever-expanded newer regions of the city and the beautiful Montana State University, give Bozeman a youthful and energetic feel with no shortage of activities.

From Bozeman, a short drive down the Gallatin Gateway brought us to Big Sky, MT. Traveling alongside the Gallatin River, with the towering Lone Peak rising above the surrounding area, Big Sky is a small town with a big presence. The world-renowned Big Sky Resort and the highly exclusive Yellowstone Club attract some of the better skiers and snowboards, as well as A-list actors on the planet. Aside from the glitz and glamor of the resort, the wide open country will truly let you appreciate why Montana is known as Big Sky Country. For those looking to experience those rolling hills, Jake’s Horses in Big Sky offers incredible horseback riding options that will make anyone feel like a real cowboy!

After a fun-filled 2 days in Bozeman/Big Sky, we headed southeast towards Gardiner, MT to get to the park that started it all: Yellowstone National Park.

A refreshing dip in the naturally-fed Yellowstone Hot Springs

Yellowstone National Park is known the world over for its unbelievable geothermal activity, impressive wildlife, and incredible vistas found throughout its massive 2.2 million acre landscape. As the first established National Park, Yellowstone typically sees more visitors per month than most National Parks get annually. While its crowds and Bison (and unfortunately both of them coming too close together) are well documented, Yellowstone National Park offers a unique glimpse into a wild landscape that is literally bubbling with activity throughout the park.

Rafting the Yellowstone River at Montana Whitewater is a must for anyone in the area

Coming into the park from the north allows you to pass through the quaint town of Gardiner, MT. Gardiner offers an assortment of restaurants and lodging, as well as the Montana Whitewater River Guides, which allow you to run some Class II and Class III rapids along the Yellowstone river just along the northern boundary of the park!

Columnar Basalt rock formations of Sheepeater Cliffs at Yellowstone National Park

During our time in Yellowstone National Park, we took the Grand Loop Road from Gardiner through the park into West Yellowstone, which is where we chose to stay for 3 nights. West Yellowstone sits right outside the West Entrance to the park, and offers endless food and drink options, as well as Airbnb and motel/hotel options.

The exotic colors found at the Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park

As ultimately our trip would take us out of the South Entrance of the park, we chose to fully explore the West, North, and East regions of the park. This provided access to Old Faithful, multiple geyser basins, Mammoth Hot Springs, Artist Points, and so much more over the 3 days of our time in Yellowstone.

Lower Yellowstone Falls viewed from Artist Point

After 3 days in Yellowstone National Park, it was time to head south on Grand Loop Road towards the South Entrance of the park. We were able to explore various areas within Yellowstone before exiting the park and heading directly to Grand Teton National Park. The short, 6.8 mile drive between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is gorgeous and to see one without making the convenient trip to the other may be a decision that you regret down the road!

Coming into Grand Teton National Park from Yellowstone’s South Entrance is unique in that there is no entrance gate or station as you transition from one park to the next. Keep your eyes peeled for Grizzly 399 and her cubs as she’s known to traverse this Coulter Bay region, but keep your distance to not disturb her and any young she is raising. Continuing south on Route 191, we hit the Coulter Bay Visitor’s center for some information, food, and awe-inspiring views of the Teton Range and Jackson Lake.

Jackson Lake and the Teton Range at Grand Teton National Park

While the 310,000 acres of Grand Teton National Park are dwarfed by its neighbor to the north, the views, wildlife, diversity, and sheer beauty of the park feels larger than life. We chose to stay in the town of Jackson, WY, which provides quick access in and out of the park. Jackson, also known as Jackson Hole, is an incredible mountain town tucked within the Teton range. It’s seclusion from most every other town around, proximity to Jackson Hole Resort, and Grand Teton National Park make it a highly sought-after location.

The Mountain Modern Motel in downtown Jackson provided awesome accommodations right in town

During our 2 days in Grand Teton National Park, we were able to explore all regions of the park, including the backcountry, accessed via the Jenny Lake Ferry. Grand Teton National Park has, and always will hold a special place for our family as viewing those majestic peaks, breathing in the mountain air, and experiencing the incredible wildlife in its natural habitat is something that cannot be captured through words or pictures.

A juvenile moose at the aptly named Moose Pond in Grand Teton National Park

From Jackson, we set out on the long 8 hr drive south toward Rocky Mountain National Park. Taking Route 191 S to I-80 E provides an incredible view of the high desert found within this desolate area. Wyoming is the least populated state in America, and after a few minutes along this drive it was clearly apparent! We chose to break up the drive a bit with a rest stop in the small frontier town of Rawlins, WY.

The Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins, WY

Within the quaint town of Rawlins is the Wyoming Frontier Prison. This former prison-turned-museum provides an excellent look into the deep history that shaped this part of America, and provided a welcome opportunity to stretch our legs for a bit before continuing to Colorado.

Sage brush for miles in the high desert of Wyoming

After a long day of driving, we arrived at our next “home” within Estes Park, CO. Estes Park is a small, yet bustling town at the base of the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The location is an ideal basecamp for any traveler looking to explore the park as it is conveniently located close to the Beaver Meadows, Fall River, and Wild Basin Entrance Stations.

A bull Elk on the side of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park

Increased visitation to Rocky Mountain National Park has resulted in a somewhat frustrating Timed-Entry system. This system requires a reservation to be made through Recreation.gov to allow you access to the more popular areas of the park. For those thinking they can wake up early or head into the park late, the Timed-Entry system is enforced from 5 AM- 6 PM!

Trail Ridge Road takes you to the highest visitor center in the National Parks System

From our Estes Park basecamp, we were able to explore the entire east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, including the remote Wild Basin district and lesser visited Lumpy Ridge region of the park.

Copeland Falls trail in the Wild Basin at Rocky Mountain National Park

After 3 full days within this high alpine wilderness, it was time to head south into Denver to prepare to end this amazing journey down the Rockies. Coming from the north into Denver allows you to pass through Boulder, Golden, and (by taking a brief detour) hang out in Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Staying in downtown Denver put us within walking distance of multiple restaurants and breweries, which gave us a chance to unwind and relax after spending 13 days on the trail. A short drive to Denver International Airport the next day marked the end of our fantastic journey through the high alpine landscape of the Rocky Mountains as we made our way back across the country to the East Coast.

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