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Planning Your Visit to Glacier National Park Travel Guide
Glacier National Park is referred to as the Crown of the Content and is famous for its Going to the Sun Road. This 1562 sq mile park is located on the Continental Divide and receives 3.3 million visitors a year. Why? It’s gorgeous! Robin Williams said it best: “If it isn’t God’s backyard, he certainly lives nearby”. Glacier National Park is full of glacier-capped mountains, alpine forests, crystal clear lakes of red, yellow, orange, and purple pebbles, valleys of wildflowers, waterfalls, huckleberries, mountain goats, moose, cougar, wolves, grizzly, and black bears. Hiking, canoeing, fishing, white water rafting, horseback riding, and stargazing are popular park activities. With more than 200 waterfalls, 600 lakes, 700 miles of trails, and 25 glaciers, it’s hard to know how to spend your time at Glacier National Park. Plan your visit with this Glacier National Park Travel Guide.
You are excited to visit Glacier National Park and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, what not to miss, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do while visiting Glacier National Park while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this Glacier National Park travel blog.
READ 10 Day Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary
Facts About Glacier National Park
You need a reservation to enter Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park was the 10th US National Park
In 1932 Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park and the United States Glacier National Park became Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
In 1995 Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
It is possible to cross the Canadian border into Waterton Lake at Goat Haunt (with a passport)
In 1850 there were 150 glaciers in the area, today there are 26
Harrison Glacier is the largest glacier in the park, it is 1,661,456 sq meters
Lake McDonald is the park’s largest lake, it is 10 miles long and 500 feet deep
Going to the Sun Road was completed in 1932 and is a National Historic Landmark, National Historic Place, and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Glacier National Park became an International Biosphere Reserve in 1974
There are 762 lakes in the park: 131 are named, and 631 are unnamed
The symbol of Glacier National Park is the mountain goat
There are 175 mountains and 3 ranges in the park, Mt Cleveland is the highest at 10,448 feet
There are 300 grizzlies and 600 black bears in Glacier National Park
Rain that falls on Triple Divide Peak will flow into the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans
Glacier National Park averages 139 inches of snow between January and mid-March
Plan Your Trip to Glacier National Park, Travel Guide
Where is Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana along the US-Canada border. The closest airport is the Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell MT. It is 35 miles from the airport to the park.
Best Time of Year to Visit Glacier National Park
The summer season is from late June through mid-September. Temperatures average in the 80s. Hiking and white water rafting are popular activities during the summer months. July and August are the busiest times to visit Glacier National Park. West Glacier trees begin to change color in mid-September and the trees in East Glacier begin to change color in early October. Most of the park is closed in the winter. Roads to Apgar Visitor Center and Lake McDonald Lodge are often plowed in the winter. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter activities in Glacier National Park. Going to Sun Road is closed to vehicles but open for biking during the spring.
Transportation in Glacier National Park
Utilize the park’s free hop on hop off shuttle system providing service on the Going to the Sun Road between Apgar Visitor Center and St Mary Visitor Center July 1st through Labor Day. The park and shuttle system is divided into two areas. One group of busses drives from Apgar Village to Logan Pass and the other drives from St Mary Visitor Center to Logan Pass.
West Side
North Fork Area (Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Polebridge)
Apgar Village (Lake McDonald)
Logan Pass
East Side
St Mary Lake (Rising Sun and St Mary)
Many Glacier (Swiftcurrent Lake, Grinnell Glacier Trail)
Two Medicine (and Cut Bank)
Accommodation Near Glacier National Park
There are 13 campgrounds with over 1000 sites in Glacier National Park. Check here for dates open, fees, and reservation information. Backcountry camping permits are available. Seven lodges are available in Glacier National Park: Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Many Glacier Hotel, Apgar Village Lodge, Cedar Creek Lodge, Village Inn at Apgar, and Motel Lake McDonald. In addition, Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet both provide backcountry lodging. Lodging is also available in nearby communities of West Glacier, East Glacier Park Village, and St Mary as well as the resort cities of Whitefish and Kalispell.
Glacier National Park Restaurants
Glacier National Park has many restaurants to choose from. They are open from late June through Labor Day. Be sure to try bison burgers with huckleberry BBQ sauce and elk meatloaf while in the area. Also, the huckleberry bear claw from Polebridge Mercantile is worth the gorgeous drive.
Many Glacier: Ptarmigan Dining Room, Swiss Lodge, Heidi’s Snack Shop
Lake McDonald: Jammer Joes Grill and Pizzeria, Eddie’s Café, Lucke’s Lounge, Fireside Dining Room
Rising Sun: Two Dog Fats Grill, Nell’s at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
Tips for Visiting Glacier National Park
Stop for gas and groceries in Columbia Falls or Whitefish
Purchase bear spray and learn bear safety
Never feed bears, and always use food storage containers
Report all bear sightings immediately
Keep your distance from goats, bighorn sheep, and bears, they are not friendly
Hold your thumb in front of you and if your thumb does not cover the animal, you are too close
Download offline maps, cell service is inconsistent
There are no gas stations in the park
Rent a small car, Going to Sun Road has tight turns
The park has a shuttle system but many areas are remote and you will need a car
Do popular hikes before 8 am
Parking is limited and it is common to be turned away from Logan’s Pass during peak hours
Vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet are prohibited on Going to the Sun Road between Avalanche Campground and Rising Sun picnic area
Pets are not allowed on trails, backcountry areas, or any building
Be safe, do not hike alone; always wait for others, there is safety in numbers
Glacier National Park is spread out, plan your itinerary before you arrive
Temperatures can change drastically, bring warm clothes and an umbrella
Visitor centers have water bottle-filling stations
A fishing license is not required in the park, and live bait is prohibited
Tics are most active in Spring and early Summer; check yourself and remove them immediately
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass
Things to Do at Glacier National Park
Drive the famous Going to the Sun Road
Rent a canoe and paddle around Lake McDonald
Photograph McDonald Falls and the Sacred Cascades
Hike the Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Gorge
Drive under the Weeping Wall
Stop at Logan Pass and enjoy the view
Check out Bird Women Falls
Watch for mountain goats on the hike to Hidden Lake Overlook
Cross the Continental Divide on the Highline Trail
Take a photo of the park’s 7th largest glacier at the Jackson Glacier Overlook
Hike to Baring Falls, St Mary Falls, and Virginia Falls
Enjoy the view from the Sun Point Nature Trail
Photograph Wild Goose Island
Go for a swim in Bowman Lake
Take a boat tour of Many Glacier
Hike to Apikuni Falls
Photograph the Grinnell Glacier
Check out the icebergs in Upper Grinnell Lake
Snack on a huckleberry bear claw at Polebridge Mercantile
Eat huckleberry ice cream at Many Glacier Lodge or Eddie’s in Apgar Village
Watch the sunset at St Mary Lake
Find a dark spot to stargaze and photograph the Milky Way
Kayak in Swiftcurrent Lake
Look for moose feeding at Fishercap Lake during sunrise
Buy huckleberry steak sauce souvenirs
Go whitewater rafting on Middle Fork Flathead
Enjoy the wildflowers in Paradise Meadow
Photograph Lake Josephine with Mount Gould in the background
Hike to Running Eagle Falls and Paradise Point at Two Medicine Lake
Hike to Iceberg Lake and photograph the icebergs
Enter Canada’s Waterton Lake at Goat Haunt
Glacier National Park Travel Guide Three-Day Itinerary
Arrival Day:
Pick up a rental car and stop for water, groceries, and bear spray before checking into the accommodation. Spend the evening at Lake McDonald. Be sure to Photograph Lake McDonald from the lodge, hike to McDonald Falls, and check out Sacred Cascades from the footbridge. If time permits walk the Trail of the Cedars boardwalk loop to Avalanche Gorge (.7 miles). Grab a huckleberry ice cream from Eddies and find a spot to watch the sunset on Lake McDonald. Settle into your accommodation and look for the Milky Way before going to sleep.
Day One: Explore Going to the Sun Road
Photograph Bird Woman Falls, Haystack Falls, and the Weeping Wall.
Stop at Big Bend to take a photo of the valley and mountains.
Hike to the Hidden Lake overlooks from Logan’s Pass Visitor Center, 1.5 miles. Watch for mountain goats and bighorn sheep along the trail.
Photograph the Jackson Glacier and continue on to St Mary Lake.
Park at Sunrift Gorge and hike to Baring Falls, St Mary Falls, and Virginia Falls.
Photograph St Mary Lake from Sun Point and stop at the Wild Goose Island Overlook.
Turn around and return to Apgar Village for dinner at Eddie’s.
Day Two: Many Glacier
Check out the lodge at Many Glacier before taking a boat tour of Many Glacier.
Hike to Grinnell Lake: Take the boat across Swiftcurrent Lake to Lake Josephine. It is a very short up/downhill walk between the lakes. Then hike 1.1 miles (one way) to Grinnell Lake. Return and hike as much of the trial to Grinnell Glacier as time allows.
Return to the lodge and relax on the porch overlooking the lake.
Day Three: Two Medicine Lake
Get up early and drive out to Polebridge Mercantile for a Huckleberry Bear Claw.
Stop in the resort town of White Fish and shop for souvenirs.
Drive out to Two Medicine Lake and see two waterfalls in one at Running Eagle Falls.
Hike 1.4 miles RT to Paradise Point, or 9.7 miles around Two Medicine Lake.
Take the boat across the lake then hike 4 miles RT past Twin Falls to Upper Medicine Lake.
Hike a section of the Continental Divide on the Mt. Henry Trail or 5.5 miles to No Name Lake
Have more time? Cross into Canada and explore Waterton Lake National Park or take a helicopter ride over glaciers, waterfalls, Iceberg Lake, and Waterton Lake.
Be sure to check with the Glacier National Park Service for current events
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Montana Travel Guide
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Glacier National Park Attractions and Day Tours
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