Going to the Sun Road opened on July 13, the day after we arrived at Glacier this year. We didn't drive across the 50 mile road until Saturday the 16th, as we were leaving Glacier NP. We checked out from Swiftcurrent, left Many Glacier area, drove south from Babb Montana on Hwy 89 to enter the park from the east, St. Mary entrance.
For the last two years a reservation to drive the GTTSR is needed as well as a park pass. The park pass is obtained at the gate- the annual pass is $80 a year, seniors $20 a year, and active military are free (defending the country should get you in the NP for free eh?!).
The reservation is obtained through rec.gov for $2 (released 120 days from when you want to enter at 8am MST- and they go fast!). The pass is good for a 3 day time period to get in between 6a-4p (ours was good for entry July 14-15-16). If you don't have the pass, you can't get in during those hours unless you have a reservation along the GTTSR corridor (Lake McDonald, Apgar Village Inn, Rising sun or a boat/bike reservation in the park).
Anyways, we had reservations in the park, but Many Glacier area is not on the GTTSR corridor so we additionally needed the entrance pass. There are those who don't know they need the pass and are turned away at the gate- they are strict about having the pass.
We entered the GTTSR about 7am and drove the 50 miles across. We were treated to amazing views, but no animals even though early morning is usually a great time to see them!
We got gas in Kalispell on the west side of Glacier for 4.74. Gas in St. Mary on the east side which is more remote was 6.39 a gallon!! We picked up a few groceries and headed north on hwy 93 to the Roosville border crossing north of Eureka, Montana. After a great lunch at Cafe Jax in Eureka and another top off with 4.79 gas, we were ready to cross the border to head into Canada.
We had all of our information (passports, enhanced license, vaccine card/status) scanned into the Arrive Canada app along with an address of the first hotel we were staying at. The crossing couldn't have went any better. So much different and easier than Detroit/Windsor!!
Once across the border we continued north on Hwy 93 to Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia the western border of Kootenay NP.
Beautiful mountain views the entire drive!. We checked out the Radium Hot Springs and stayed a a super cute place called the Gateway Motel. Would definitely recommend. Took a quick drive into Kootenay NP, but will drive through the whole park tomorrow.
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