Pack_Mule wrote:Thanks Pete.
I was planning on the following:
ELF
GLH
KOO (2 nights)
FIF
GRN
MAN
I was just asking about the "best" in general because I would be open to others. I heard some campsites are better than others in terms of views, bugs, food prep areas, water access, proximity to others, or just some cool other things to do around them. Plus, if we get re-routed somehow I'd like to know what I'm looking at ahead of time (such as Gable Creek/GAB; Slide Lake/SLI, Poia Lake/POI, or even coming in via Waterton Lake). I also don't know if spending two nights at Kootenai Lakes is worth it. We were going to try to go up Porcupine, but if it turns out to just be a day of rest instead, I'd like to be somewhere that is worth it all around. Thanks again!
I know at least a half dozen active chatters here who are better qualified to talk about the North Circle route and the Northern Traverse route.
They can answer some of your questions better than I.
The itinerary you're planning is good IF, you plan on using KOO as a base to doing something like Porcupine Lookout.
Have you read this?
https://hike734.com/trip/porcupine-lookout/
That first river crossing might be problematic in early August. No way to know when you make reservations.
Starting in Canada is doable. Just know that beginning at Goat Haunt requires care logistic planning.
Border issues and transportation/shuttle problems require careful planning.
Regarding a side trip during your trip, you might consider something like:
ELF
GLH for 2 nights, or 1 night and
MOL(1 night)
This would give you time to do Margaret Lake and/or Sue Lake overlook.
STO
FIF
GRN
MAN
So 6 or 7 nights for this proposed itinerary
I heard some campsites are better than others in terms of views, bugs, food prep areas, water access, proximity to others, or just some cool other things to do around them. Plus, if we get re-routed somehow I'd like to know what I'm looking at ahead of time (such as Gable Creek/GAB; Slide Lake/SLI, Poia Lake/POI, or even coming in via Waterton Lake).
I've been to Margaret Lake and it is well worth seeing. Easy to get to from GLH or MOL or MOJ and GLF.
Sue Lake Overlook is a longer hike and probably best done as a day hike from GLH, MOJ, MOK, or...on the way to STO.
I'll leave it to
others to talk about "other things to do" in the various campsites you mention.
If you aren't familiar with GNP's backpacking rules, regs, and the lottery procedure for a backpacking permit, I strongly suggest you do that asap.
Start here:
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/camping.htm
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm
And this page is one of the most important pages to be intimately familiar with imo,
especially all that fine print and footnotes!!
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... ap-Web.pdf
pete