Mountain lakes. Towering rocky elevations. Moose, mountain goats, and grizzly bears. Glacier National Park, which spans the Continental Divide, has 700 miles of hiking routes (we tackled 70 miles of them over the course of our week in the park), more than 100 named lakes (and another 500+ that remain unnamed), and a diverse variety of flora and fauna thanks to its unique position perched between the great plains and the Pacific Northwest.
The celebrated glaciers of the park are impressive, however the impact of moving water, which has made immense valleys and cascading waterfalls, is the genuine hero of the geological story of the park.
We spent a week in the park over the summer, when the weather is warm, wildflowers are blooming, and the hiking trails are clear of snow, and we loved every moment of it.
In this guide to planning the ideal excursion itinerary for Glacier National Park, we’ll go through the logistical details you need to be informed of to have a smooth and agreeable visit (and trust us, there are more than usual for Glacier) and provide you a 3 day Glacier National Park itinerary that you can essentially replicate for your own trip.
A note: Generally, we place the logistical aspects – like the number of days, when to visit, and how to get around – at the end and delve right into the heart of the itinerary. However, the logistics are extremely important for Glacier National Park, so we`re going to present them upfront for your review.
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Table of Contents
Key Logistics for Visiting Glacier National Park
Here are a few essential details you’ll need to know as you’re planning a trip to Glacier National Park.
The most important part here involves the vehicle reservation, which will be necessary in 2023 to enter Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, or North Fork.There will be some logistical elements involved in coordinating those different permits.
For the latest info on entry reservations, we’d head straight to the NPS site, which has a useful map (which you’ll also find below) and an extensive FAQ section.
We also have a section below on the Going-to-the-Sun Road permit system, which is probably the most important permit to secure before your trip.
Park Entrance Fees
It costs $30 per vehicle to enter Glacier National Park (valid for 7 days), and you can either pay online in advance (be aware that you must print and bring the receipt), or at one of the park’s visitor centers.
If visits to three or more national parks are planned within the next 12 months, we’d highly recommend an America the Beautiful Pass, which covers entry to all national parks, national forest trailheads, national monuments, and more for 12 months.
It costs $80, which means it pays for itself with three national park visits (or some combination of national parks, forests, and monuments).
Get Gas Outside the Park
Once inside the park, there exists a lot of lengthy drives, and precisely zero gas available. Be sure to refuel before entering the park, either at the western end in West Glacier or in St. Mary on the eastern side.
The Park Shuttle
There is a free park transportation service that operates from Apgar Visitor Center at the western extremity, all through to Logan Pass and down to St. Mary Visitor Center at the eastern limit of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Utilizing the shuttle is an effective way to avoid a) large crowds at parking lots along Going-to-the-Sun Road (seriously – the parking lot at Logan Pass is often full by 9:00 am), and b) driving a steep, narrow road that can be quite stressful to drive on.
We’d highly recommend using it.
Bears
Yes, you heard correctly – there are bears in Glacier National Park. The two types are black bears, which usually don`t pose a risk as long as you keep your distance, and Grizzlies, which require more care.
Rather than providing every detail about bear safety, we’ll guide you to the National Park Service advice on visiting bear territory at their website. Two essential tips to remember are hiking in groups of at minimum two people (but preferably four or more) and carrying bear spray.
Book Everything (Well) in Advance
Glacier is a well liked park, and the existing infrastructure is already strained in terms of the number of visitors that the park can accommodate. Be sure to have your camping or lodging reservations and entry permits booked far in advance, because they will sell out for the summer months.
There are parts of the park where you won’t have cellular network access, like at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. We like to download offline Google Maps of places we’re visiting because it gives you the ability to navigate even if you don’t have service.
Here’s a guide on how to download maps without an internet connection.
Permits for Going-to-the-Sun Road
Most importantly, you will need a reservation to enter either end of the park and drive Going-to-the-Sun Road.Here are the specific dates and times you need to be cognizant of.
If you wish to enter the park using the western entrance (near Apgar) or the eastern entrance (near St. Mary) and take in the most scenically stunning road within the park – Going-to-the-Sun Road – a timed entry authorization is required should you arrive between the hours of 6:00 am and 3:00 pm.
The following details are directly from the NPS site (which provides valuable information if planning a trip to Glacier National Park).
- Mandatory for each vehicle entering through the West entrance from May 26 through September 10, 2023, from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- Required for each vehicle entering through the St. Mary entrance from July 1 through September 10, 2023, from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Tickets become accessible 120 days in advance in a rolling format starting in February, and they go on sale precisely at 8:00 am Mountain Time. Get browsing within five minutes of them being released for the best chance at securing a time slot you want. Seriously. It costs $2 per entry reservation.
The other time window for reservations is 24 hours in advance at 8:00 am Mountain Time.
Entry tickets are valid for 3 days, so a single entry ticket covers your entire trip. However, one entry ticket is needed per vehicle if you have multiple automobiles/groups.
Here’s a visual guide for you to use.
Permits for Many Glacier and North Fork
New for 2023, visitors will also need to make a reservation for the day they want to visit Many Glacier, Two Medicine Valley, and/or North Fork.
If you follow the itinerary as written below, you won’t actually go to North Fork or Two Medicine Lake (save it for next time!), so you’ll just need to determine which day you want to visit Many Glacier, and make your reservation for that day.
For Many Glacier, reservations are required from July 1 through September 10 for all entries between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm. Reservations here are valid for only one day.
Again, we’d strongly recommend you head over to the NPS site to read it directly from the source, as things are constantly changing and their FAQ section is surprisingly informative.
How Many Days Do You Need in Glacier National Park?
We chose to create this guide to 3 days in Glacier National Park because we feel it is an ideal amount of time to experience exploring the park`s offerings.
It’s worth noting that you could spend weeks in Glacier and still have new things to discover and see, but three days will give you a solid taste of hiking in Glacier, driving Going-to-the-Sun Road, and exploring around Many Glacier.
Which, conveniently, address three components we believe you shouldn’t fail to encounter during your visit to Glacier National Park.
Why not two days? Two days means you will need to compress those three activities into two days, which means either skipping a lengthy hike (the hiking in Glacier is without equal) or skipping some stops along Going-to-the-Sun road, which is one of the most scenic drives in the country (and we have done a lot of the memorable drives on the west coast).
After, descend to the beach via the pathway connecting the viewpoint to Risco del Paso Beach, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim.
It’s worth it, we promise!
If your time is constrained to just two days, we offer a suggestion below for how to fill your schedule at the park. There is also a one day itinerary below involving driving Going-to-the-Sun Road from west to east.
Where to Stay at Glacier National Park
This is a complicated issue that depends on your precise itinerary, but we’re going to do our best to cover it as thoroughly as we can.
Wish to learn more? We have an entire, comprehensive guide to deciding on a place to lodge in Glacier National Park that may be precisely what you`re seeking.
Our top suggestion is spending a night in Many Glacier if you have two or three nights (or more). We found that part of the park to be our preferred location, and it’s too long of a distance from the western part of the park to visit Many Glacier as a day trip alone.
If you have two days, dedicate the first day to driving Going-to-the-Sun Road, then spend the evening in Many Glacier, which is around another hour farther east from the scenic drive`s end. Then, go on a morning hike and make the return trip to the western part of the park.
If you have three days, follow the itinerary below, which has you spending the first night on the western side of the park, the second in Many Glacier, and the third back on the west side (or flying home).
Our second suggestion is to make reservations as far ahead as humanly possible, especially if you want lodging or camping within the park. Spots literally fill up a year ahead, especially for summer weekends. Reservations for lodges and hotels inside open thirteen months in advance, and reservations for campsites at Fish Creek and Many Glacier open six months beforehand.
Staying Near West Glacier
By West Glacier, we’re referring to the western half of the park, roughly from the Apgar Visitor Center to Logan Pass along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
In West Glacier, you`ve got a couple great options inside the park – both camping and lodges – along with a wealth of excellent options outside the western park boundary.
It must be acknowledged that lodging provided by the park, while highly convenient, typically does not present the best financial value.
If you are working with a limited budget, you will want to either camp, or reside outside the boundaries of the park.
Inside the park, we think you should remain at either the Lake McDonald Lodge (reserve well ahead of time… or 12 months in advance), which is the best place to remain, or Fish Creek Campground (reservable up to six months in advance).
Camping Options Inside the Park
Other options for camping include:
- Apgar Campground: A large campground located near the Visitor Center with a first come, first served policy.
- Sprague Campground: Situated on Going-to-the-Sun Road between the Visitor Center and Lake McDonald Lodge, accommodations are first come, first served – only 25 spots often fill by 6:00 am in the summer months.
- Avalanche Campground: At the Avalanche Lake / Trail of the Cedars trailhead along Going-to-the-Sun Road, first come, first served (closed in 2021)
Hotels and Lodges Inside the Park near West Glacier
There are two other non-camping choices located in Apgar Village (near the Visitor Center) – Village Inn at Apgar and Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins. Both are basic, and relatively expensive considering what you’re really getting (which is consistent with hotels inside National Parks, in our experience).
Outside the park, you have a couple of options.
Staying in the Town of West Glacier
Just outside the park entrance, this is the most convenient option outside the park.
The trade-off is that there are just a few, expensive conveniences (grocery store and gas), and only a couple of places to remain.
Stay here if you want the closest possible location to the park entrance without paying extra for accommodations inside the park.”
Click here to find lodging in West Glacier.
Staying Between Coram and Hungry Horse
This location provides a good balance of ease and amenities, being only a quarter of an hour from the Visitor Center, while also offering numerous bars, dining establishments, grocery stores, and fuel stations.
Additionally, there are some genuinely appealing places to stay – like camping under the stars at Under Canvas, or the historic Tamarack Lodge.
Click here to find an ideal place to remain near Coram.
Staying in Whitefish, MT
If you`re fine with a bit more driving (it`s 30 minutes from the Visitor Centre), Whitefish is a cool little mountain town that is the best municipality near Glacier National Park.
The town also offers excellent coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. And Whitefish Lake is just a two minute drive outside the community!
If you want to be in the heart of all activities, stay at the Firebrand Hotel, a hip boutique hotel in the center of town.
Alternatively, explore the rustic cabins at the North Forty Resort or the Lodge located by Whitefish Lake, both of which are located outside of the city.
By clicking here, you can find an ideal lodging in Whitefish.
Staying in Many Glacier
Sadly, Many Glacier only offers a few choices, and most are inside the park and fill up very quickly.
If camping isn`t your interest, then you have two options. The Many Glacier Hotel is gorgeous, directly on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake, and will cost you a pretty penny. The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is a little less magnificent, and thus a little more affordable.
If camping, the lone option is Many Glacier Campground (we had stayed here, and it was great – walkable to most of the trailheads!) which you can reserve up to six months in advance.
If lodging can’t be found near Many Glacier, other options include the town of Babb, MT, or areas close to St. Mary Lake in East Glacier (consider Rising Sun Campground and St. Mary Campground, or the Rising Sun Motor Inn for non-campers).
A Complete 3 Day Glacier National Park Itinerary
Now that preparations are complete, to the most enjoyable part – the actual itinerary!
We’ve outlined a 3 day schedule for you below, with options to modify it into one and two day versions further down.
Day 1: Going-to-the-Sun Road
On your first day in the park, you’ll travel the entire length of Going-to-the-Sun Road from start to finish – Apgar to St. Mary – making all sorts of incredible stops along the route that feature everything from brief hikes to stunning waterfalls to glacier overlooks beside the road.
Then, travel north to Many Glacier, our favorite section of the park, to spend the night and put yourself in position to tackle a hike in the morning.
We’re not going to provide every individual viewpoint you should stop at – there are too numerous to count. Instead, we’ll offer the ones we enjoyed most so you have a starting point for your own drive.
Transport for the day: Self-driving
Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road
Spend the majority of the day traveling along Going-to-the-Sun Road between the entrances situated at Apgar Visitor Center in the west and near St. Mary Visitor Center in the east.
We’re recommending that you drive it in this direction for two reasons.
Key points of interest along the road ascending to Logan Pass and beyond generally have viewing areas located on the right side of the carriageway.
Second because we want you to end up in Many Glacier for the night, which is accessible from the east side of the park.
Keep in mind that entry passes are required to travel on Going-to-the-Sun Road between 6 AM and 3 PM – they won`t let you access the park during those hours if you lack one. If you weren`t lucky enough to obtain a pass, be sure to get through the entrance booth before 6 AM.
Here are some of our beloved stops along Going-to-the-Sun Road, in chronological order if you’re driving from west to east.
The Apgar Visitor Center
We always advise stopping at the Visitor Center to check on trail conditions, road conditions, and weather patterns. The Apgar Visitor Center has a tiny store too, if you’re seeking a souvenir (we always obtain stickers).
Lake McDonald Lodge
A rustic-yet-luxurious lodge situated on the shores of Lake McDonald, as the title suggests. You can stop here to grab coffee, take a boat tour of the lake, or simply head down to the lakeshore to view the multi-colored rocks in the crystal clear water.
Trail of the Cedars / Avalanche Lake
This is your first hike of the day! Avalanche Lake is a 5.5 mile route with 750 feet of elevation gain (round trip).
The hike requires modest effort – we saw young kids complete it – yet rewards with beautiful views of a lake and distant waterfall amid rocky peaks.
Along the route, you’ll follow Avalanche Creek and tackle a second, shorter hike called Trail of the Cedars. Be sure to see Avalanche Gorge and its brilliant blue water. When you arrive at Avalanche Lake, you’ll be on the northwest shore.
The trail continues south along the western shore, which is far less crowded and would make a good spot to pause and relax before heading back down.
Parking can be difficult at the trailhead here – when we were there, it was routinely full by 6:30am, but people rotated through especially because most people seemed to be doing the shorter Trail of the Cedars.
The Loop to Logan Pass
The only real reason to stop at the Loop is for the view across the valley to Heavens Peak and the plummeting waterfall hurtling down its face.
From here, the pathwayclimbs aggressively to Logan Pass, and there are a number of stopping points along the way with spectacular perspectives of the valley.
The pathway is quite slim in places (recall, no vehicles more than 21 feet tall, 8 feet wide, or 10 feet elevated on this section of the roadway). You`ll pass the Weeping Facade, which is a trickling waterfall that emerges from a rocky ledge onto the roadway, and the Triple Arches, which are three arches carved into the stone under the roadway to support it and bridge the gulf within them.
Neither route has a place where you can stop and admire the views fully, so you`ll have to see them as you`re traveling.
As you approach Logan Pass, you’ll start to see the Highline Trail, one of our favorite hikes in the park, right above the road.”
Logan Pass and The Hidden Lake Trail
Firstly, there`s a chance you won`t be able to find parking at Logan Pass, situated at an elevation of 6,600 feet above sea level right along the Continental Divide.
The lot is full by 7am at the latest, and they completely close it to new vehicles by 10am (they don’t let you line up, and only let a few cars in at a time).
That being said, it’s okay! We have you taking the shuttle to Logan Pass on day 3 of this itinerary to avoid the whole parking difficulty.
If parking becomes available, take advantage of the spot and do the scenic hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook, which is a beautiful walk through alpine meadows and offers great chances to see wildlife such as Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats. There was a herd of sheep in the parking area when we were there.
Jackson Glacier Overlook
Upon arrival at Logan Pass, over half of the journey will be complete.
The pathway, which is roughly 50 miles in entirety, rises 3,000+ feet over 33 miles to reach Logan Pass from Apgar, then descends 2,000 feet over 17 miles to arrive at St. Mary. Right as you leave Logan Pass the road embarks on diminishing in elevation.
You will pass Siyeh Bend, then arrive at the Jackson Glacier Overlook. Here, you can see the shrinking Jackson Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the park, though it has receded quickly over the past 100 years.
Informative signs describe the glacier`s history, comparing its 1911 extent to that of 2009.
Just past the Jackson Glacier Overlook, you’ll arrive at the parking area for St. Mary Falls. This marks the beginning of your second brief hike of the day, a 3.5 mile route (450 feet of elevation gain) taking in two waterfalls starting from the St. Mary Falls Trailhead.
St. Mary and Virginia Falls
The hike to Virginia Falls, which is the further one from the parking area, is worth the effort to get there. Along this trail, there are countless unnamed cascades that are super photogenic. St. Mary Falls is at 0.6 miles in, and Virginia Falls is at 1.7 miles in.
Baring Falls
Another waterfall, this one is a short and flat 0.6 mile hike out and back from the Sunrift Gorge parking area. Because of its accessibility, it’s crowded. And a fire decimated the forest in this stretch of the park, so it’s fairly exposed. Still, it’s worth the stop.
St. Mary Lake
This portion does not really constitute a formal stop, but the scenic road’s final eight mile stretch runs alongside expansive St. Mary Lake, the second largest body of water within the park after Lake McDonald.
It’s 10 miles long, 300 feet deep, and consistently very, very cold. It’s 1,500 feet higher than Lake McDonald, which means the water stays colder throughout the season.
The stretch of road along the northern shore of the lake is prime habitat for bears, especially the last few miles as one gets closer to the end of the road where berry bushes line the shores of the lake.
It’s likely there will be bears here in the hours around dusk.
There are two stops worth making here.
The renowned Wild Goose Island Overlook offers views of a small tree-cloaked island in the center lake waters, with craggy Continental Divide peaks thousands of feet above towering in the backdrop.
The second is the Rising Sun Picnic Area, where visitors can disembark, have a snack break, and access the lakeshore.
Fishercap Lake at Dusk
When you reach the end of the road, head north towards the tiny town of Babb, Montana, which is where you’ll enter the Many Glacier region. The road from Babb to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (the largest parking lot in the area) is either a) bumpy and dusty or b) under construction.
The sole time they can do work on this road is during the summer, which is also when there are the most people going to the park. You may have to wait for up to 30 minutes for the road construction, so be prepared for that possibility.
As you get nearer to Many Glacier, you might detect the dense collection of berry bushes along the highway. This is prime bear habitat when the berries are ripe during the summer, and if you see a bunch of vehicles pulled over to the side of the road, that’s a good cue that there’s some kind of wildlife there.
You’ll pass Sherburne Lake, then Swiftcurrent Lake on your way to the parking area outside the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, which is your destination for the evening.
The main attraction for the evening, besides settling into your lodging, should be Fishercap Lake. It’s a brief 0.3 mile hike westward from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, and it’s an incredible place to spot moose!
We went twice – once during midday, and once in the evening. We saw a moose snorkeling in the lake in the evening, and dusk and dawn are generally the best time to see them roaming around outside.
After hopefully seeing your fill of moose, go to your lodging for the evening and call it a day.
Day 2: Many Glacier
Begin your day early to tackle one of the hikes around Many Glacier (we’ll give you some options below). End your day by driving back to the western side of the park.
This section of the park was our favorite. The plentiful alpine lakes. The wildlife encounters. The Many Glacier Hotel. And that you don’t need to worry about shuttle reservations and entry tickets here! In fact, many of the trailheads and attractions are within walking distance if you’re spending the night inside the park borders.
If shuttle reservations aren`t possible to obtain, exploring solely Many Glacier in the three days would be simple.
Over the span of three days, we hiked a total of 40 miles of trail in this area. If you enjoy hiking, you’re definitely going to love exploring this region of the park. That’s why we insist you spend at least one night in this location!
Transportation for the day: Drive yourself (or walk to the trailhead, if you’re staying in the park!)
Take a Hike!
The finest path in the park, based on our viewpoint, is the Grinnell Glacier Trail. It starts either from the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead or the Many Glacier Hotel (the travel length and altitude gain are truly similar, approximately) and rises into the lofty alpine landscape preceding Lake Grinnell.
From the trail, the views over Lake Grinnell and Angel`s Wing (plus numerous waterfalls) are worth the climb. You`ll start in the forest and ascend into alpine terrain, which is decidedly more rocky and less verdant.
The route is strenuous, covering 11 miles roundtrip and gaining 2,400 feet in elevation along the way. The first two miles follow the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine.
Then, the trail begins an aggressive climb, and roughly half a mile into the ascent you’re treated to your initial views of Lake Grinnell and Angel`s Wing, which only improve as you continue ascending.
The trail climbs up to a picnic area with benches and a pit bathroom, where you can stop and relax in the partial shade before tackling the final climb up to Upper Grinnell Lake and the glacier itself.
The light blue-green water colored by glaciers and the pieces of broken glacier are worth the effort to see. You`re visiting Glacier National Park after all, you should try to see a glacier before leaving.
There’s a boat service that originates from the Many Glacier Hotel, crosses Swiftcurrent Lake, crosses Lake Josephine, and deposits you at the farthest end of Lake Josephine.
This is welcome news as it trims 3.4 miles off the trail, significantly shortening this hike.
The unfavorable news is that it cuts off the simplest part of the hike, which is essentially just a level stroll along the lakeshore. It costs $35 per person, so unless you’re eager about the boat ride itself, we wouldn’t recommend it.
This hike is crowded, but worth facing the crowds. Get an early start before 8am to beat the crowds on the way up and have the trail basically to yourself.
If you’re seeking a less busy hike, we particularly recommended the trek up to Cracker Lake, which is 12 miles long and concludes at another stunning blue-green high-altitude lake.
A Drink at Many Glacier Hotel
After hiking in the area, we highly suggest trying a drink at the Many Glacier Hotel, which is near Swiftcurrent Lake. The vistas from the upper deck of the hotel are spectacular.
The hotel had an area where alcoholic drinks were served, but we opted to browse the market on the ground level, which offered a great selection of beers, ciders, and wines, including one of my favorite gluten free beers, Ghostfish Brewing from Seattle!
The Drive Back to the West Side
Head back to West Glacier so that you can be well-positioned to catch the shuttle from the Apgar Visitor Center the following morning. You have two options – driving along Going-to-the-Sun Road, or bypassing the southern end of the park via Highway 2 (which is longer but an easier drive).
Day 3: Logan Pass and the Highline Trail
On your last day in Glacier, tackle the Highline Trail, one of the most scenic hikes in all of the United States, and explore the area around Logan Pass.
This day involves approximately 15 miles of hiking – we believe you should do both the hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook (~3 miles) and the Highline Trail (~11 miles) if you’re up for it. You’ll need to pack plenty of water, snacks, and wear suitable footwear and sun protection.
If that sounds as well demanding for you, our suggestion would be to do the Hidden Lake Overlook and the first two miles of the Highline (and back), which is seven miles of comparatively effortless hiking.
Transportation for the day: Take the park shuttle from Apgar Visitor Center up to Logan Pass, then back from the Loop
Hidden Lake Overlook
Board the earliest shuttle you can up to Logan Pass from the Apgar Visitor Center, which takes approximately an hour.
This short hike (3 miles, 600 feet of elevation gain) heads up the hill behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center using a nice boardwalk with excellent views all around.
Wildflowers were in full bloom during the summer months, and the spectacular Garden Wall and surrounding mountain peaks provided a breathtaking backdrop as visitors made their way up to the Hidden Lake Overlook viewpoint. The hike was moderately difficult and climbed more steeply than anticipated.
This is a prime location to observe both mountain goats and bighorn sheep – we spotted both along the brief walk up to the viewpoint. Cute little marmots are also plentiful at the viewpoint itself.
You can continue down to the lakeshore, but it doubles both the distance and elevation gain and we’d only recommend it if you aren’t planning on doing the Highline.
The best part about this trail is the hike up to the Overlook. The hike down to the lake closes for two to three weeks in late July when the fish are spawning in the lake, attracting grizzly bears down for an easy meal.
At the overlook, you’ll have a great view over Hidden Lake, with Bearhat Mountain towering several thousand feet above its shores.”
The hike heads back along the same route – there’s a water station at the Logan Pass Visitor Center (near the restrooms) and the starting point for the Highline trail, your next challenge, is near Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Hike the Highline
Traveling along the Highline Trail was one of our favored hikes in the park, and it makes for a nice one-two hit with the Hidden Lake Overlook. Combining the two guarantees it`s a enormous day of hiking, but we firmly accept that it’s worthy of the effort.
After dinner, if you’re looking for a beverage head to Vino di Sedona or the Art of Wine to sample local Arizona wine (they also have other varieties), or Oak Creek Brewery for the local craft beer.
Here’s a very condensed version of that guide.
The optimum way to experience the Highline Trail is as a one-way hike starting from Logan Pass and concluding at the Loop, which is a shuttle stop where you can catch the shuttle back to your lodging.
That hike is just a hair over 11 kilometers, with 450 meters of elevation gain along the way (and a big descent at the end). You can do it as an out-and-back from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, but it’s 15 kilometers and 730 meters gained if you do it that way.
The hike starts on a narrow ledge above Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is a little unsettling for people who are apprehensive about heights.
To provide context, heights make me very uneasy. I was comfortable on this stretch of trail, which lasted around half a mile before widening. There was something akin to a garden hose attached to the inner wall that could be held for reassurance while traversing this section.”
Hugging the inside and getting through the initial half mile or so yields immediate rewards.
The hike takes walkers out to the Granite Park Chalet, which is a rustic remote hut where visitors can remain for the night if able to secure a reservation ahead of time.
The entire trail between Logan Pass and the Chalet is spectacular. You’ll traverse the mountainside, hugging the Garden Wall (part of the Continental Divide), towering over you to your right. To your left, ever-changing views of the valley beyond present themselves.
The initial miles of trail provide magnificent views of Going-to-the-Sun Road, lying a couple hundred feet below at some points.
Around 6.5 miles into the hike, there is a turn off to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. Visibility was limited due to smoke at the time, so we skipped it. However, everyone we spoke with stated it was their preferred part of the hike.
So what issue arises? To arrive there, you climb 900 feet in 0.6 miles, which is brutally taxing on its own, and even more demanding as part of a 15 mile day. Here is the scenery you see from the top:
If you follow this itinerary as outlined, you would have already seen Grinnell Glacier from below. However, this viewpoint provides a different vantage point from higher up.
The chalet was located just over seven miles into the hike. It’s a good spot to take out packed meals and snacks, sit on a bench, and relax while refueling and recovering one`s energy. The remainder of the hike – either down to the Loop shuttle stop or back to Logan Pass – will be very difficult.
The descent to the Loop, while downhill, loses 2,500 feet of elevation in four miles. It`s straight down, no breaks. Trekking poles will be your best friend.
This hike will consume most of the day. It took us 5 hours, and we are quick hikers (plus we omitted the overlook). Plan on somewhere around 6-7 hours, including stops.
The Lake McDonald Lodge
On your way back to West Glacier, make a stop at the Lake McDonald Lodge to enjoy a well-earned drink while taking in views of Lake McDonald and the surrounding landscape.
Lucke’s Lounge is a wonderful place to grab a drink and a small meal with lake views – they feature craft beer and cider, wine, and cocktails. Russell’s Dining Room is another option, and has a nearly identical beverage selection.
There are boat tours of Lake McDonald that commence from behind the lodge. If experiencing such is something that appeals to you, make sure to arrange well in advance.
After that, grab a beverage (and perhaps a snack) to unwind – you surely earned some relaxation by this point today.
How to Spend One Day in Glacier National Park
For a single day in Glacier, we`d solely concentrate efforts on experiencing Going-to-the-Sun Road in its entirety from start to finish, making periodic stops for short hikes here and there along the magnificent scenic highway, as well as pausing at all viewpoints catching your eye.
Here is what that perfect day looks like in our minds. You will want to self-drive instead of using the shuttle so you can move at your own pace.
Begin at the Apgar Visitor Center, consult a ranger about trail closures and things to know, and acquire a park map. Make your first stop along Going-to-the-Sun Road at the Lake McDonald Lodge to admire the lovely architecture and, more importantly, Lake McDonald.
Keep along the street to the Trail of the Cedars / Avalanche Lake Trailhead. Get out and traverse the Trail of the Cedars Loop no less, ensuring to check Avalanche Creek Gorge.
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Elevation starts to increase as the climb up to Logan Pass begins, situated at 6,500 feet along the Continental Divide.
Here, one will absolutely want to hike to the view from the Hidden Lake Lookout, which is a 2.6 mile roundtrip, for one of the finest views in the park. You can continue down to the lake and make it about five miles, but it was closed due to trout spawning and grizzly activity when we were there in late July.
Logan Pass is the high point, and it’s all downhill from here to St. Mary at the eastern end of the road. Stop at the Jackson Glacier Overlook,St. Mary Falls (the relatively short hike to Virginia Falls is worth the trip too!), and Baring Falls.
Finally, enjoy the sunlight along the shore of St. Mary Lake before reaching the road`s end and returning to West Glacier via Highway 2 along the southern border of the park.
As we rounded a bend at the bottom of a lengthy downhill slope, suddenly the ocean came into view before us.
You could take the road up and over Logan Pass again on the way back, but we think it’s a more stressful drive given the number of people on the road, and the combination of steep and narrow two-lane roads. Plus, the speed limit is just 35 mph!
How to Spend 2 Days in Glacier National Park
If you have two days in the park, follow days 1 and 2 of the itinerary above. Do the scenic drive over Going-to-the-Sun Road to stay in Many Glacier on the first day, do a morning hike, and drive back the next day.
For those with sufficient energy, planning a more involved day hike such as to Avalanche Lake, Siyeh Pass, or the Highline Trail could conveniently be tackled simultaneously with the scenic drive.
If you choose the Highline, plan on driving (instead of taking the shuttle) and head straight there as early as possible to get a parking spot.
In the summer of 2021, the parking lot was frequently full by 6:30am and closed to additional vehicles by 9:00-10:00am. You’ll also need to hike out-and-back along the route, which makes it a 15 mile round trip if you go all the way to the Granite Park Chalet. It’s an extensive hike, so you’re going to have to dedicate most of the day to complete it.
Completely worthwhile. We`d recommend that along with Hidden Lake Overlook, then downward on the road into St. Mary with stops at Jackson Glacier Overlook, St. Mary Falls, Baring Falls, and St. Mary Lake before reaching Many Glacier.
Then, the next morning, hike the Grinnell Glacier Trail, head out to Fishercap Lake to see if you can spot some moose, and head back to West Glacier for the night (or to catch your flight).
When to Visit Glacier National Park
The season for visiting Glacier is absurdly brief. This holds true for most alpine wonders up and down the west coast.
The best time to visit Glacier National Park is from mid-June through Labor Day, also known as the summer season.
July and August are peak season months because the roadways are accessible, the trails are relatively clear of snowfall (mostly), and the wildflowers are blooming. Crowds are most substantial in the summer, as you might deduce, but it’s nothing compared to Yellowstone or Yosemite, which see notably more people each year.
Note that early June (usually through the 11th or thereabouts), Many Glacier Campground is closed.
However, if you are visiting in summer months, you will want to make lodging arrangements inside the park itself several months ahead of time (as far as 13 months beforehand for the lodges), and be prepared to arrive at popular trailheads early in the day to secure parking.
One of the biggest challenges with visiting Glacier outside of summer is the fact that Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed until late June or early July (see past opening dates here). Essentially, this means you`ll miss most of the best attractions and sights within the park.
Additionally, the high mountain hikes will be covered in snow from October through the early summer, relying on the year. So even if you could get to them, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy them without serious winter hiking gear.
Getting Around Glacier National Park
The park offers two options for navigating the landscape: driving or utilizing the shuttle service.
Driving oneself provides the most flexibility but means coping with parking difficulties that can develop.
The park shuttle, which basically operates on two routes along Going-to-the-Sun Road from opposite ends of the park that connect at Logan Pass (the center point), presents a good option if you want to avoid parking troubles OR your vehicle will struggle with the 3,500 foot climb to Logan Pass (our van was unhappy about tackling it).
With that being considered, it`s truly a scenario of “why not both”. You should undoubtedly have a vehicle in Glacier National Park so that you can explore Going-to-the-Sun Road at your own pace, but you should also take advantage of the park shuttle to access the most popular trailheads for your hikes and avoid finding yourself in a life-or-death battle for parking or waking up at 4:30am every day (there is no third option).
Initially we did day trips to each hike but then realized the shuttle option allowed us a bit more sleep while still conveniently accessing the trails.
In the guide below, we`ll cover when to use the park shuttle and when to drive according to the day-by-day itinerary.
A note on larger vehicles in Glacier National Park: Automobiles over 21 feet in length, 8 feet in width, or 10 feet in height are restricted along Going-to-the-Sun Road. It’s narrow, steep, and sometimes with limited space. You can travel between the west end and east end of the park using Highway 2, which is external to the park to the south, but you’ll miss out on all the great stops along the picturesque drive. If you have an RV, plan on parking it at the campground or Visitor Center and using the shuttle service.
Getting to Glacier National Park
There are fundamentally two approaches to reach Glacier – driving and air travel.
You can also travel to Glacier National Park via Amtrak (from Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, or Chicago), but we think it may only be worthwhile if you truly enjoy train journeys.
Driving between Banff and Jasper takes about the same amount of time as flying between the two locations, and once arriving, a vehicle would need to be rented anyway…which essentially combines the disadvantages of driving and flying without providing many clear benefits.
Driving to Glacier
Driving has the advantage of you bringing your own car and avoiding needing to rent one, because you definitely require a car to visit Glacier National Park. However, the disadvantage is time – it’s going to take an entire day (if not more) to get to Glacier from most major cities in the country.
If you will be driving to Glacier National Park from outside of Montana, the trip will take some time. We drove from Seattle, which took around 9 hours total. Here are approximate driving times and distances to the Apgar Visitor Center from some nearby major cities:
- Boise, Idaho: 10 hours / 500 miles
- Salt Lake City, Utah: 10 hours / 650 miles
- Seattle, Washington: approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes / 552 miles
- Portland, Oregon: 10 hours / 625 miles
- San Francisco, California: 19 hours / 1,200 miles
As is evident, if driving, you`ll need to add an extra day on either side of your trip to account for travel time.
If you’re traveling from Yellowstone or Grand Teton, you can add Glacier as a third stop on your journey, but it’s really not as near as it appears. It’s seven hours from the northern boundary of Yellowstone, and several more hours from Grand Teton.
Flying to Glacier
If a couple of long days of driving doesn’t seem like your cup of tea, the best option is to fly into Kalispell, Montana (Glacier Park International Airport / FCA), rent a car, and drive the 30-45 minutes to the western side of the park from there.
Delta, United, and Alaska (the best airline!) offer flights to Glacier Bay, but unless you’re traveling from a select few cities, you’ll likely need to make a connection. Most airlines increase direct routes and options during summer months when demand is higher.
Additional airport options include Missoula (MSO), which is only two hours south, Bozeman (BZN), which would serve as a perfect central option if wanting to combine this itinerary with our 7 day Yellowstone and Grand Teton excursion.
Great Falls is also an option, but it’s not a great one since it’s a ways away, and it has fewer flight alternatives.
A Geography Overview of Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana, just south of the US-Canada border. Nearby towns include Kalispell and Whitefish outside the park`s western entrance, and Shelby and Great Falls outside the eastern entrance.
For the objectives of this guide, we’ll break the park into three distinct sections. While there are really five or six sections, a few of them (Goat Haunt, Polebridge, and Two Medicine Lake) are a bit removed, so we’d recommend focusing your time there unless you have more than four or five days in the park.
Those three regions are West Glacier and East Glacier at either end of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Many Glacier, which is north of that stretch and is accessed via Babb, MT.
West Glacier
This is the stretch along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance to Logan Pass, and is the most visited part of the park. It’s about 33 miles, and takes around an hour and fifteen minutes to cover the whole thing without making any stops.
Along the route are stops like the Apgar Visitor Center, Lake McDonald Lodge, Avalanche Lake, the Loop, and the world-renowned Highline Trail, considered one of Glacier`s finest treks. It culminates at Logan Pass at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the loftiest point in the park accessible by vehicle.
East Glacier
This 17-mile section of Going-to-the-Sun Road starts at Logan Pass, and descends down to St. Mary Lake and the town of St. Mary, passing the Jackson Glacier Overlook, Baring Falls, St. Mary (and Virginia) Falls, and more.
It saw slightly less tourist traffic than West Glacier, yet was still worthwhile to invest some time exploring. A few lodging options near tranquil St. Mary Lake would serve as a good backup plan if accommodations near the scenic Many Glacier region were unavailable, leading us to consider…
Many Glacier
If you fancy hiking, this is our preferred area of the three in the park. Many Glacier is not along Going-to-the-Sun Road. To get there, you have to leave the park through the east side, and reenter near the town of Babb, Montana.
There are an incredible number of amazing hikes starting from nearby trailheads, and a number of great lakes that are directly accessible if a long trek is not preferred. There are also some great spots to see wildlife (including moose), and an interesting boat tour option.
We would highly advise dedicating one day of your Glacier National Park itinerary to Many Glacier, and staying overnight if possible.
We’re going to utilize these three areas to assist you in organizing your itinerary in the subsequent section by day, therefore we wanted to provide you a quick lesson in Glacier National Park’s geography before we began mentioning terms that we haven’t clarified.
Of course, it goes without saying this method partitions and sections the park into more manageable pieces, and much remains to experience and observe outside these three regions.
And also, we’re not experts on the geography of the park – consulting a ranger at one of the Visitor Centers is highly recommended to learn more!
Hey travel enthusiast! Planning a trip to Glacier National Park? Be sure to check out our other Glacier travel guides to assist you with planning an incredible trip.
