Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park has over 1,500 square miles of beautiful landscape to explore. With mountains, turquoise glacial lakes, and waterfalls, this park has something for everyone to enjoy.
In this guide to Glacier National Park, I’ll cover everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip based on my experience visiting the park.
Let’s get started!
Glacier National Park is open 24/7 every day of the year.
There are 3 Visitor Centers:
Apgar Visitor Centre which is located near the West Glacier entrance is generally open between 9am - 4:30pm, but during peak season may open earlier at 8am and close later at 5:30pm.
St. Mary’s Visitor Center which is located near the Eastern entrance to the park is typically open between 8:30am - 5pm.
Logan Pass Visitor Center sits atop the continental divide along the Going-to-the-Sun road. The visitor center is only open when the Going-to-the-Sun road is open during the summer season. During this time, the visitor center is generally open between 9am - 7pm.
Seven days passes are available per vehicle for entrance into the park for $35 in the summer and $25 in the winter. Annual passes are also available for all US National Parks for $80 per year, so if you’re visiting multiple parks, it is worthwhile purchasing the annual pass.
Going-to-the-Sun road is the main road that takes you to some of the best sites within Glacier National Park. During peak season, if you want to drive on the Going-to-the-Sun road between 6am - 4pm, a vehicle reservation is required in addition to the park entrance fee. Each reservation is valid for 3 consecutive days for a single vehicle. Reservations are $2 each, and if you’re visiting for more than 3 days, you can make multiple reservations back to back. Reservations can be made 60 days in advance and during peak season sell out quickly, so plan ahead to get your reservation. If you have certain campground reservations, lodging reservations, or commercial tours booked within the park, you may not need a reservation for Going-to-the-Sun road on those days.
There is also a shuttle that runs along the Going-to-the-Sun road. This is a great option if you’re not able to get a reservation to self-drive on the Going-to-the-Sun road or if you want to visit some of the stops along the road that have limited parking. The shuttle only runs when the Going-to-the-Sun road is open and generally operates between 7am - 7pm from the west side of the park, and between 8am - 7pm from the east side of the park. The western shuttle starts at the Apgar Visitor Center and stops at Sprauge Creek Campground, Lake McDonald Lodge, Avalance Creek, The Loop, and Logan Pass. The eastern shuttle starts at St. Mary Visitor Center and stops at Rising Sun Boat Dock, Sun Point, Sunrift Gorge, St Mary Falls, Jackson Glacier Overlook, Siyeh Bend, and Logan Pass.
West Glacier is the most popular side of the park for people to visit. There are a lot of great sites in the area and below I’ll cover some of the top sites we explored.
Distance: 14.9 miles one way
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Change: 2,578 ft
Trailhead Access: Logan Pass
Duration: 7 - 9 hours
The Highline trail is one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park. This is a challenging hike, but you are rewarded with amazing views along the route. Most people choose to do this as a one-way hike starting from the Logan Pass Visitor Center so that the hike is mostly downhill. Arrive early to get parking at the Visitor Center as it fills up quickly. Then cross the road to start the Highline trail. About a quarter of a mile into the hike, you’ll come to a narrow area where ropes are bolted into the side of the mountain for you to hold onto if needed. This narrow section only lasts about three-tenths of a mile but can feel longer for those with a fear of heights. I was nervous about crossing this section, but it really was better than I expected. As you continue along the hike you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the mountains. If you’re lucky you can even spot wildlife like mountain goats throughout the hike.
Roughly 7 miles into the hike, you have the option to take a short detour up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. It only adds about another 1.5 miles to your hike, but it’s a steep climb of roughly 900 ft up. I definitely recommend taking this detour as the views are absolutely incredible! The overlook also makes a great place to make a stop and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Grinnell Glacier Overlook
A short distance past the turnoff of the Grinnell Glacier Overlook is the Granite Park Chalet. You can choose to stay overnight at the chalet, but this must be booked in advance. If you’re in need of a drink or a snack, there is a small shop at the chalet where you can buy refreshments. There is also a vault toilet nearby you can use if needed. You can’t enter the chalet though unless you’re staying overnight, so options for shade are fairly limited.
From the chalet, it’s 3.8 miles downhill to The Loop shuttle stop. Due to the wildfires, there is no shade during this portion of the hike. When we hiked it was a really sunny day, so this portion of the hike was very hot which made it a lot harder. Right before making it to The Loop stop, the trail crosses over a river. This is a great stop to take a dip in the river and cool off after the long hike. Then when you’re ready hop on a shuttle to take you back to Logan Pass.
St. Mary Falls
Distance: 2.9 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: 452 ft
Trailhead Access: St. Mary Shuttle Stop
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls are located along the same trail. While there is parking at the start of the hike, there are only a few parking spaces available, so I’d recommend taking the shuttle to the St. Mary Shuttle stop to get to the hike. This is a very popular hike since it’s a relatively short distance to see two waterfalls so expect to see others on the trail.
The first falls you’ll pass are St. Mary’s falls. There’s a bridge that goes over the river downstream of the falls, which makes a great place to stop and view the falls. In the summer you’ll see people jumping into the river from the bridge or from the nearby rocks. I jumped in and it was COLD!!! But it was a nice way to cool off on a hot summer day. If you’re planning to jump in, I recommend hiking up to Virginia Falls first and then jump in on the return trip as a reward and a way to cool off after the hike. Just be cautious jumping in as the cold water can be a temperature shock to the system. Then when you land in the water there is a strong current produced by the falls, so you’ll have to be a good swimmer to get out of the current to the nearby rocks.
Bridge at St. Mary Falls
From St. Mary Falls continue on to Victoria Falls. You can get much closer to Victoria Falls than St. Mary Falls so this is a great place to get a photo op with the whole family.
Victoria Falls
Distance: 0.9 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: 49 ft
Trailhead Access: Across from Avalance Creek Campground
Duration: 4 hours
You can either take the shuttle to the Avalance Creek shuttle stop, or you can try to find parking near the trailhead. There is a decent amount of parking available, but this is an extremely popular hike so spots fill up quickly, so you may have to be patient to find a parking spot. From the parking lot, it is an easy hike along a boardwalk that takes you through massive cedar trees. This is a well-maintained trail that makes it accessible for those in wheelchairs or those pushing a stroller. Following the trail, you can also continue on a short distance to reach avalanche lake. There is a path you can take along the west side of the lake that will take you closer to the waterfalls coming down the mountain. While you can’t walk right up to the base of the waterfalls, you can enjoy their beauty while relaxing on the rocky beach of Avalance Lake.
Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. To get to the Going-to-the-Sun road from the western side of the park, you’ll drive next to the entire 10-mile length of Lake McDonald. You can stop at Lake McDonald and walk along the rocky beach or hike around the lake. You can also swim in the cold glacial waters here. The Lake McDonald Lodge is situated alongside the side, which makes it a popular place for people to stay when visiting the park.
Although, not actually in Glacier National Park, Polebridge is a neat area to check out if you have a little extra time during your visit. You have a chance to see wildlife along the drive, so keep your eyes on the lookout. When in Polebridge, take a stop at Polebridge Mercantile and get a huckleberry bearclaw; there are delicious!
East Glacier is less popular than the western side of the park but offers many beautiful sites. This is a great area to check out as it tends to be less crowded giving you a better possibility of seeing more wildlife in this area.
Grinnell Lake
Distance: 11.2 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Change: 2,181 ft
Trailhead Access: Many Glacier Hotel
Duration: 5 - 6 hours
This is one of the most popular hikes on the eastern side of Glacier National Park, so even though the eastern side is less busy than the west, you’ll still encounter many people on this trail. To start the trail, you’ll walk alongside Swiftcurrent Lake, Stump Lake, and Lake Josephine. Along the trail be on the lookout for fresh huckleberries, that you can pick straight off the bush and enjoy as you hike. Just be careful you know which berries are edible before consuming them.
After passing Lake Josephine, you can choose to continue along the trail to Grinnell Glacier, or head to Grinnell Lake. When we visited, it was still early in the season, so the hike to Grinnell Glacier wasn’t fully open, so we hiked up a little way to get views looking down on the lakes below. We then turned back and hiked to Grinnell Lake. Many people were swimming in the lake here and enjoying picnic lunches.
Another option if you do not wish to hike the full distance is to take a boat ride across the first three lakes, with a small hike between Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Stump. The boat leaves from the dock at Many Glacier Hotel and can cut roughly 4 miles off the hike roundtrip. You should book in advance as these boats can fill up quickly. You are guaranteed your reserved time towards Grinnell Glacier but are not guaranteed a time for your return trip. However, there is typically one time during the day where the boat will take multiple trips to bring everyone back, and the last boat of the day also will make multiple trips. You can find out more info on the boat offerings here.
Distance: 9.3 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: 1,450 ft
Trailhead Access: Iceberg Ptarmigan Trailhead
Duration: 4 - 5 hours
This is another popular lake on the eastern side of Glacier National Park. But it is also a great place for wildlife viewing. When we visited we saw a moose and other people saw a bear that day. Along the hike, you’ll have gorgeous views of the nearby mountains. Once you reach the lake, you’ll be rewarded with the sites of icebergs floating in the lake and dramatic mountains rising up around the lake.
Additional things to check out are:
Check out the neighboring Waterton Lakes National Park
Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park were the first international peace park, bridging together the United States and Canada. If you’re visiting Glacier, I definitely recommend taking a trip across the border into Canada and exploring the sites in Waterton Lakes.
For more info on Waterton Lakes National Park, check out our blog post!
Take a Guided Tour
There are multiple types of guided tours available within Glacier National Park. Some of the offerings include:
Boat Tours
Bus Tours - including the historic red bus tours
Guided Hikes
Raft Tours
Horseback Rides
Check out the national park website for more info on guided tours.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed during certain times and areas within the park. A fishing license is not required to fish within the park, but any fish caught must be immediately released.
Bicycling
Bicycling in the park is a great way to take in the views of the park. Bikes are only allowed on paved and unpaved roads unless otherwise noted. Bikes are not allowed on any of the hiking trails within the park. E-bikes are allowed, but only if the motor is less than 750 watts (1 hp).
Boating
Boats are permitted during certain times and within certain areas of the park. All boats must be inspected prior to launching and must follow a 30-day quarantine prior to launching. Personal floating devices are required for all people before launching your boat.
Glacier National Park Lodging:
If you are looking for lodging provided by Glacier National Park Lodges, be prepared to book early. Reservations open at midnight 13 months prior to the month (not the day) you are looking to book and fill up extremely quickly. We logged in exactly at midnight to make a reservation and were unable to get lodging at Lake McDonald. So be prepared with a backup plan if your top pick if full
Lodging in West Glacier:
Lake McDonald Lodge
The most popular place to stay in West Glacier is in the historic Lake McDonald Lodge. Set right alongside the banks of Lake McDonald, this lodge provides convenient access to the western side of the park. Staying at Lake McDonald Lodge provides you with access to the Going-to-the-Sun road without a need for a separate reservation for each day you stay at the lodge. As mentioned above, book as soon as available if you want to stay here.
Belton Chalet
We ended up staying at the Belton Chalet which is a historic railway hotel just outside the park. There is a railroad right next to the hotel, which may be a bother for some. The hotel provided earplugs for use, but really the railway never really bothered us during our stay. The basement of the lodge also had a nice area to hang out with others with games such as ping pong and shuffleboard.
Lodging in East Glacier:
Many Glacier Hotel
Many Glacier Hotel is a historic lodge built in 1915, right on the edge of Swiftcurrent Lake. The hike for Grinnell Glacier starts from the hotel, making it an ideal place to stay. There is also a small waterfall located right next to the hotel which is easy for the whole family to check out. We had rooms on the bottom floor, so we had direct access from our room to the lake.
Camping in Glacier National Park:
There are 13 different campgrounds within Glacier National Park in addition to backcountry camping. Some campgrounds require a reservation while others are first-come, first-served. As Glacier National Park is extremely popular, I recommend making reservations early. Reservations are available 6 months in advance from the day you wish to stay, and new in 2023, there will be a number of campsites that will be reservable up to 4 days in advance.
Dining in West Glacier:
The Belton Chalet Restaurant was one of the best places we ate during our trip. Since it is located right at the Belton Chalet it is also very conveniently located if staying at the Belton Chalet. Here you can enjoy a delicious steak, chicken, fish, and more.
The nearby town of Whitefish has a variety of restaurants to choose from.
Dining in East Glacier:
There are not many dining options in East Glacier, so the main place to eat is at the Many Glacier Hotel. Here you can enjoy a variety of food and pair it with a delicious huckleberry margarita.
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Good to protect your knees on longer, steeper hikes, especially on the Highline trail.
Definitely needed along with snow baskets if hiking in spring or early summer as there will still be snow on the trails.
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Good hiking socks to keep your feet comfortable when scrambling over rocks or climbing up inclines.
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Bring waterproof hiking boots that are comfortable and you have a chance to break in before you set out on long hikes.
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Needed for hikes in spring or early summer as you can still find snow and ice along the trails.
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Keep your hands free while having space for your sunscreen, water, extra layers, quick dry towel, and more.
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Is a must as some areas are exposed and do not offer much shade.
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Stay hydrated while you’re hiking in the hot sun.
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A roll-up hat you can pack in your day bag to keep cool as the temperature varies throughout the day.