We had made reservations at a private campground some distance out, but when we got there, we rejected it-no running water, sites almost on top of each other, and a general feeling of grossness that was far worse than the KAO we'd stayed in in Butte. Neither as fancy nor as inexpensive as the Copper King Mansion, it was still a pleasant and restful place to stay. Not long out of Helena, we stopped along the Missouri River at Gates of the Wilderness for a guided boat tour, well worth doing. Our guide also pointed out a range of sights from ospreys to an ancient buffalo jump, and told us of a terrible forest fire that had claimed the lives of many men fighting it. And then, on to Glacier National Park.
Glacier is large, diverse, and very scenic.
Our introduction was through the west side, with incredible tall forests 100 feet and higher, and lush moss canopies. Though it's hard to gather any meaningful quantity, their taste can only be called divine. Another, more remote section of the park is the area near Many Glacier. Wildlife watchers will definitely want scopes, or at least a pair of powerful binoculars. The park continues north across the Canadian border into Alberta, where it's called Waterton Lakes.