Sales Tax Trip Tuesday - Seattle to Glacier National Part 3

We are up bright and early to head east from One Lakeside in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We have about a 6-hour drive ahead of us, and we also change time zones, meaning we lose an hour as we transition our way to Glacier National Park. We head east-southeast on Interstate 90 for about 3 hours until we reach Saint Regis. There are plenty of mountain views and curves along the way. About halfway there, we cross into Montana.

At Saint Regis, we turn northeast onto Highway 135 and follow that route until it merges with Highway 200 north of Quinns. Then, near Plains, we turn northeast again onto Highway 28, which turns east at Niarada and continues to Flathead Lake. At Dayton, the road becomes Highway 93 as it turns north, running along the lake on the way to Kalispell.

We continue north from Kalispell up Highway 9 to the town of Whitefish. In Whitefish, we take a slight jog west on Second Street, then almost immediately turn north onto Blake Avenue, which becomes Wisconsin Avenue at the north end of town. Continuing north, we reach our 'Base Camp' when we see the sign for "The Lodge at Whitefish Lake."

Source credit: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, an Averill Hospitality property

Stepping inside, you would think you were in a lodge somewhere in remote Alaska; this place is the perfect Montana retreat.

Source credit: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, an Averill Hospitality property

And am I ever ready for some retreat relaxation after those winding roads! I have quite a choice, from the lakefront pool to the lakefront hot tub or the indoor pool and hot tub… I bet you can guess which one we selected.

Source credit: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, an Averill Hospitality property

And in terms of accommodations, how could you want a suite better than this?

Source credit: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, an Averill Hospitality property

I feel like I never want to leave this place, and while this trip is one of my imagination, I can honestly say that I have stayed here long ago, and there have been so many enhancements and expansions that I would hardly recognize the place today.

By the way, I would like to mention that our four-night stay is $ 1,431.00 plus tax. Now let's look at the taxes that apply: 8% Montana Lodging and Use Tax equals $114.48, 3% City of Whitefish Resort Tax $42.93, 1% Community Sustainability Fund $14.31, 1% Averill Foundations Contribution $14.31, and 12% Resort Service Fee. So, if we look at the portion that is 'just required taxes' excluding the Resort Service Fee, we have $186.03. Our lodging total is $ 1,788.78, but we have included breakfast for two at the lodge's Boat Club', which equals $120 for the entire stay, and taxes are included in this amount. We end up with a grand total of $1908.75. But it's a luxurious time to end this Sales Tax Trip Tuesday mini-series.

And speaking of the Boat Club for breakfast, how could you not love French Toast like this?

Source credit: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, an Averill Hospitality property

Summer or winter, there is plenty to do at this lodge. Why not take a canoe trip on Whitefish River and do a little trout fishing along the way? Recreation doesn't get much more peaceful than this.

Source credit: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, an Averill Hospitality property

A trek up Going-to-the-Sun Road is the heart of any trip to Glacier National Park. This highway offers clear views of the park at every jog. Stretching about 50 miles from the West Entrance of the Park to the St. Mary Entrance on the east side of the park, you will climb to almost 6,500 feet at Logan Pass.

But the reality of Glacier National is that it's "phenomenal." No other word can describe the majesty of this place. No descriptions can do it justice, and photographs can hardly capture its essence… you are either (with simple photo equipment) unable to capture the magnificence of its breadth or the sheer grandeur of its heights.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

Fortunately, there are several National Park Service official photographs that I can include here to give you a taste of why you need to come here so it can change your life, just as it did the first time I saw it many moons ago.

The key to a first exploration of this place is the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which, in our case, was only fully opened for this summer season on June 16th. When entering from the west, there is timed access between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Most of the year, you must make a reservation to access Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west, but in our trip of the imagination, no such reservation was required.

There are certain things to know before and during your trip on this one-of-a-kind excursion. There are no fueling stations along the road; make sure you start with a 'full' tank of 'full charge.' Parking at the lots along the way can be limited, and they tend to fill up early. Many of the auxiliary roadways along the main route are restricted and require separate reservations. Some roads may be closed due to inaccessibility, depending on the time of year.

You can download 'narratives' from the National Park Service that will tell you about what you are seeing while you are en route, as well as at most of the available stops. It's like having your own 'tour bus travel guide' right in your car. By the way, if you wish someone else were doing the driving, consider a tour bus; they generally provide the opportunity to see more along the way, as you must 'watch the roadway' (for bears, fallen rocks, and spectators).

But in this trip of our imagination, we will make several stops as we traverse the route up, then down the "Crown of the Continent." Lake McDonald Lodge, Hidden Lake Trail, where we hope to see a mamma Grizzly and her cubs, along with a stop at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Believe me, that will be plenty, especially if we have to hustle away from a bear or two.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

Only about 800 Grizzly Bears are Montana residents, with a majority of them within the limits of Glacier National Park, which should always be considered 'bear country' whether you are in a motorized vehicle, on a bicycle, in a raft, or canoe, or traveling by foot. And by the way, unless you are an Olympic sprinter, you can't outrun a 600-pound Grizzly, nor out climb one.

And when a mother Grizzly is 'with cub(s),' she is even more apt to be aggressive than if you were attempting to steal her 'fresh kill.' One more thing, those cubs are indeed cute little 'Teddy Bears,' to be certain, but they are potentially lethal. Not in themselves but by the fact that "where there is a cub, there is a mamma nearby." But enough about bears at the moment; we will come back to them a little later in our story.

The Lodge at Lake McDonald is a timeless place. Just as the landscape and wildlife are part of the heritage of Glacier National Park, so is this lodge.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

Built in 1913, this lodge is picturesquely located on the shore of Lake McDonald.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

Not only does this lodge offer 82 guest rooms within the main lodge and a series of adjoining cabins, but it also serves as a primary visitor center for those heading up the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is where you will also find the famous 'Red Bus tours' of the park.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

If you thought, when I mentioned the idea of a bus tour earlier, that I was talking about a Greyhound-style bus, forget that. If you want to avoid driving the heights, these 1930 Red Buses with roll-back tops offer not only a guided tour but the perfect way to see the stunning mountains and Montana's 'Big Sky.' Not to mention, you will be riding in the same style that many of the first park visitors ever saw the sights. By the way, when you book one of these tours, your park access fees are covered in your tour fee. Speaking of tour prices, they range from $60 to more than $128 for adults but generally include taxes.

In case you decide to head into the park without having eaten breakfast, then Russell's Fireside Dining Room at the Lake McDonald Lodge offers a full breakfast buffet as well as a continental buffet option. They don't take reservations, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Overall, it's hard to leave this beautiful place, but we must continue the trek upward.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

Our next stop is Hidden Lake. We could rightfully reverse the order of Hidden Lake with the Logan Pass Visitor Center because the trail to Hidden Lake begins from the west side of the Visitor Center, but we will take in the Visitor Center on our way back and use it as a opportunity to rest up before departing.

Hiking Hidden Lake Trail is moderately difficult 1.5-mile hike as we circle to the back side of the Center, and then find our way to the Hanging Gardens Trailhead (even though it's known as the Hidden Lake trail). The meadows are beautiful almost all the time the trail is open, and this trail stays busy from the number of visitors who consider the relatively short distance not too much to attempt.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

You will be covering paved, boardwalk, gravel and dirt surfaces which means that a change in the weather can turn the trail from slick to muddy, from slushy to messy and everything in between. That makes mentioning the varied weather conditions something you should consider with the appropriate gear, while the summer son may seem warm even with 50 degree temperatures, a downpour that finds you without proper attire or rain gear can lead to hypothermia if the wind comes up as well.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

About a third of the way, a series of wooden steps shifts the direction toward Bearhat Mountain. Continuing, you arrive at Hidden Lake Overlook, which offers panoramic views of the lake and mountains, as seen above. From this vantage point, it is often possible to see Grizzly Bears in the near vicinity of the lake.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

You can certainly continue along the overlook to where the trail begins to slope toward the lake. It declines more than 700 feet to the lakeshore and will seem much steeper on your return trek than the first portion of the trail back to the visitor center. If you observe wildlife of the carnivorous kind while viewing the lake area from the overlook, you likely should refrain from descending to the lakeside.

You reverse your course to return to your starting point at the visitor center, which is our next stop.

Logan Pass is the highest elevation (6646 feet) in the park, which can be reached by car. When the Visitor Center is open (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), you may need to wait for someone to vacate a parking space to park. During peak tourist season, the Center is crowded. During other times of the year, the Center itself may not be open, although it remains accessible.

You can, just steps from your car, find spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities to see mountain goats and bighorn sheep up the slopes of Reynolds and Clements mountains that tower over the pass.

Source credit: U.S. National Park Service - Glacier National Park official photograph

And, with our visit to Logan Pass complete, we begin the descent to the St. Mary entrance on the east side of the park. Our return is via Highway 89, heading south from the St. Mary park entrance down to Highway 2; we then turn west and continue on US-2 until we make our way to Kalispell, then north again to Whitefish, and finally back to 'base came' at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

I know you're wondering about the 'bear story' I promised you. The last time I was actually in Glacier National Park, a few friends and I went with a 'park regular' who visits several times a year. Heading up the Highway-to-the-Sun, our guide decided to pull off on one of the lesser-traveled trails, where he told us we could get a good view of bears fishing for salmon in one of the swollen rivers. The best part about this was that the trail was less than a mile long to a suitable viewing area.

Now, our guide reminded us that we were in bear country and that there had even been a recent Grizzly attack, so we should make as much noise as possible as we hiked the trail up and back. At the top of our hike, we were given spectacular views of the river below, and sure enough, there were plenty of adult Grizzly bears fishing, along with mother bears and their cubs munching on morsels of salmon left by other bears. After a short period of viewing, we decided to head back to our vehicle.

It wasn't long before we started hearing noises in the brush on one side of the trail, so our guide told us to get louder, and a couple of us began to sing as we walked slowly but steadily back to the parking lot. Just one problem: the noises in the brush got louder the closer we got to the vehicle. We could even hear what sounded like a 'humph, humph' sound, the kind of noise a bear makes when it is exhaling hard.

Sure enough, we got back to the vehicle, had all climbed in, and shut the doors when suddenly, a massive thumb hit the right side of the passenger door; it was an eight-foot-tall Grizzly Bear on its hind paws with its forearms draped over the roof of the vehicle. Needless to say, the two individuals on the passenger side were scared out of their wits. Suddenly, from the open Driver's side window, our guide discharged his 357 pistol into the air, and the bear scampered quickly back into the brush.

We departed for the remainder of our trek. Along the way, I asked our guide if he had ever been concerned or if having a pistol helped keep his cool. He told us that his pistol was always in the vehicle; he never carried it on hikes.

He then told us that he wasn't concerned at all, saying, "While I knew I could never outrun the bear, I knew I could outrun the three of you."

The moral of the story… if you head into bear country, make sure you can outrun your companions. Think about that!

Hey, a special thank you to our Sales Tax Trip Tuesday sponsor Avalara.  When you need sales tax information where do you turn?  As for me, it's Avalara. I know Avalara has down to the address, down to the penny accuracy when it comes to sales tax.   

Disclosures and Credits:

Credits

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, 1380 Wisconsin Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937 (1-877-887-4029 or 1-406-863-4000), an Averill Hospitality property. 

Glacier National Park , U.S. National Park Service, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, MT 59936 (1-406-888-7800)