Belly River Suspension Bridge

Are you a seasoned hiker, or just starting out? Let us know your questions or experience with the backcountry permit process.

Moderators: teapot57, Tara

Post Reply
User avatar
sbosecker
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:23 am
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Peachtree City GA
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by sbosecker »

I have a late September Itinerary - GAB,GLH,GLH,GAB (Sep 18-Sep22)...

Something just occured to me... Anyone know when the Belly River Suspension Bridge gets taken down for the season?

Scott
User avatar
Ear Mountain
Moderator & 2.1 Donator
Moderator & 2.1 Donator
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:53 pm
Gender?: Male
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: Choteau, Montana
Has thanked: 32 times
Been thanked: 34 times
Contact:

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by Ear Mountain »

sbosecker wrote: Sun Aug 28, 2022 10:56 am ...Something just occured to me... Anyone know when the Belly River Suspension Bridge gets taken down for the season?
Scott
In years past the date of removal would be posted in the Trail Status pages. Not sure if that will happen this year. And even if it does that post might not be accurate. I had experience with bridges being removed well before the posted date on the Trail Status page.

I suggest that you be prepared to wade.
Text and photos Copyright 2007-2023.
orin
Posts: 466
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 11:02 pm
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Seattle
Has thanked: 36 times
Been thanked: 45 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by orin »

In years past the bridge would still be up for your dates but who knows this year. There is a marked horse ford so you won’t need to scramble up and down the banks at least. The water level should be near its minimum in late September.
User avatar
sbosecker
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:23 am
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Peachtree City GA
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by sbosecker »

orin wrote: Sun Aug 28, 2022 9:05 pm In years past the bridge would still be up for your dates but who knows this year. There is a marked horse ford so you won’t need to scramble up and down the banks at least. The water level should be near its minimum in late September.
Ear Mountain wrote: Sun Aug 28, 2022 3:25 pm In years past the date of removal would be posted in the Trail Status pages. Not sure if that will happen this year. And even if it does that post might not be accurate. I had experience with bridges being removed well before the posted date on the Trail Status page.

I suggest that you be prepared to wade.
Thanks guys!

I've sent an email to Glacier NP requesting information on when the bridge would be scheduled for removal. We'll see what they say.

...but yeah, we may have to get our feet wet.

Best regards,

Scott
User avatar
sbosecker
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:23 am
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Peachtree City GA
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by sbosecker »

Received a response this morning from Glacier...

Hi Scott,

We do not yet have a date for removal of the bridge for this year. Last year it was Sept 28, so you should be ok.

Backcountry Permit Rangers
Glacier National Park


So I've got that going for me... which is nice.

Scott
User avatar
paul
Donator
Donator
Posts: 1696
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:42 pm
Gender?: Male
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: MA
Has thanked: 61 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by paul »

The bridge was still up on Sept 1st when we crossed it.
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
User avatar
sbosecker
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:23 am
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Peachtree City GA
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by sbosecker »

paul wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:36 am The bridge was still up on Sept 1st when we crossed it.
Paul,

Thanks for the report! However, it has become a moot point.

The forecast weather for our itinerary (18th-22nd) was looking to be "interesting" with low temperatures and rain. I've been to Glacier enought to know that weather forecasts are problematic but... my buddy & I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and we canceled our trip.

This will be the second time in the past 20 years I haven't made it to Glacier - the first time was 2020 (Covid).

I seem to be having issues with the Belly River itinerary. I tried a solo in 2017 and one of my hiking boot's sole delaminated on day 1. Stayed overnight at GAB and then hiked back to Chief Mountain the next morning.

We'll see what happens next year.

Best regards,

Scott
Last edited by sbosecker on Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
zozeppelin
Special Contributor
Special Contributor
Posts: 426
Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:53 pm
Gender?: Male
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Has thanked: 97 times
Been thanked: 56 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by zozeppelin »

Sorry to hear Scott. I’ve been seeing the same as we’re starting the 19th.
User avatar
sbosecker
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:23 am
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Peachtree City GA
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by sbosecker »

zozeppelin wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2022 1:50 pm Sorry to hear Scott. I’ve been seeing the same as we’re starting the 19th.
Be safe!

Best regards,

Scott
User avatar
paul
Donator
Donator
Posts: 1696
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:42 pm
Gender?: Male
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: MA
Has thanked: 61 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by paul »

sbosecker wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2022 12:26 pm
paul wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:36 am The bridge was still up on Sept 1st when we crossed it.
Paul,

Thanks for the report! However, it has become a moot point.

The forecast weather for our itinerary (18th-22nd) was looking to be "interesting" with low temperatures and rain. I've been to Glacier enought to know that weather forecasts are problematic but... my buddy & I decided that disgression was the better part of valor and we canceled our trip.

Scott
Scott,

Sorry that's really too bad about your trip. The last day of our backpack there was a big storm blowing in just as we were hiking out. It looked like Boulder Pass was really socked in. We were pretty lucky with the weather. No rain, mostly sunny skies. Our problem was the smoke from the fires was messing up the scenery (except for Sunrises and Sunsets).

Paul
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
User avatar
sbosecker
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:23 am
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Peachtree City GA
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Belly River Suspension Bridge

Post by sbosecker »

paul wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:05 am

Scott,

Sorry that's really too bad about your trip. The last day of our backpack there was a big storm blowing in just as we were hiking out. It looked like Boulder Pass was really socked in. We were pretty lucky with the weather. No rain, mostly sunny skies. Our problem was the smoke from the fires was messing up the scenery (except for Sunrises and Sunsets).

Paul
Paul,

Glad to hear you had a good trip!

It looks like the Glenns Lake area might be getting some moisture tonight.

Best regards,

Scott
Post Reply

Return to “Backcountry Permits”