Est. 1910 | Montana | 1,013,126 acres

Dubbed an International Peace Park, Glacier National Park sits on the northern border of Montana sharing land with Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. This park is a land of convergence as eastern prairies meet western mountains and northern ice meets southern heat. Here, glaciers define life in the park, feeding lakes their turquoise minerals and carving down the jagged mountain faces. Hike the Grinnell Glacier trail, drive up Logan Pass, or float the picturesque Swiftcurrent Lake to soak in the dramatic scenery left behind by these mighty glaciers.

Glacier National Park is comprised of two closely-knit mountain ranges running up the spine of the Rocky Mountains creating a west side and an east side to the park. The famous Going-to-the-Sun Road traverses up and over the sculpted peaks bridging the two sides. The West Entrance Station is the primary foray into the park beginning the 50-mile long road to the eastern St. Mary Entrance Station. From here, visitors can exit the park and reenter the very popular Many Glacier and Two Medicine areas of the park, famous for their wildlife sightings and lake views.

Park Highlights

1. Going-to-the-Sun Road—The Going-to-the-Sun Road stretches across the park, offering countless pull offs and trailheads with breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, and lakes, giving Glacier its reputation as a premier mountain paradise. Due to its elevation, Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically only open from June to mid-September. During the winter, Highway 2 circumvents the ranges outside the park as an alternate route from west to east.
2. Hidden Lake Nature Trail—At the apex of Going-to-the-Sun Road, sits Logan Pass and the trailhead for Hidden Lake Nature Trail. Nestled right at treeline, the 1.4 miles of trail and boardwalk to Hidden Lake Overlook is a great venue to spot mountain goats scrambling the cliffs. From the overlook, some hikers continue 1.2 miles down to Hidden Lake itself for a roundtrip of just over 5 miles.
3. Granite Park Chalet via Highline Trail—For the more active adventurous hiker, Highline Trail (beginning at Logan Pass) is an excellent route traversing along the mountain slopes. Portions of the trail provide cable handholds as the trail is pretty well exposed along cliff faces. For a long day hike, the Highline Trail winds 7.4 miles back to the Granite Park Chalet, a quaint rest stop for backpackers and campers with gorgeous views of the northern mountains.
4. Grinnell Glacier—Grinnell Glacier sits high upon the continental divide but offers a rewarding sight for those willing to make the effort. Hike 5.3 miles from Swiftcurrent Lake past waterfalls, wildflowers and sub-alpine lakes to Grinnell Lake for a jaw-dropping view of this retreating glacier. An additional angle of Grinnell Glacier, can be accessed along Highline Trail (whether approaching from Logan Pass or Many Glacier) and with a short 0.75 mile ascent to Grinnell Glacier Overlook (different than the Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint along Grinnell Glacier Trail).
5. Swiftcurrent Lookout—For the ultimate day hike, tag on a couple extra miles to Swiftcurrent Lookout from either Swiftcurrent Pass (if approaching from Many Glacier) or Granite Park Chalet (if approaching from Logan Pass). This historic fire lookout tower sits at 8,346 feet with commanding views of the surrounding landscape. Peer over to the chiseled rock faces of Mount Grinnell or down along the chain of lakes fed by glaciers.

Best time to visit Glacier

The best time to visit Glacier is spring and fall. Though summer is gorgeous and warm, it brings with it large crowds and requires advance reservations. While spring and summer produce abundant wildflowers, the fall is especially magical in September when autumn colors light up the mountain passes in golds and reds. Wildlife is also more active in this shoulder season as they make preparations for long winters ahead.

How long should I visit Glacier?

With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is almost inexhaustible. One could spend weeks exploring the backcountry lakes and valleys, but for purposes of experiencing the highlights Glacier is best explored in 3–4 days. Spending 1 day on the west side, 1 day at Logan Pass, 1 day at St. Mary and 1 day in Many Glacier should be adequate time to enjoy Glacier’s landscape.

Getting to Glacier

The closest airport to Glacier National Park is Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, Montana—about 30 miles from the park’s west entrance. Though 130 miles away, Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) in Missoula, Montana, offers cheaper flights. If approaching from the eastern slopes, Great Falls International Airport (GTF) in Great Falls, Montana, is about 150 miles from the park’s eastern entrance. From these airports, you can rent a car to drive into the park.

If already in the surrounding region, driving is one of the best ways to get to Glacier. From Kalispell, drive 30 miles along Highway 2 to West Glacier, the most popular entrance to the park. From Great Falls, take Highway 89 North to the East Glacier entrance, which brings you into the park’s Many Glacier region.

Though not as practical for exploring the interior of the park, Glacier can also be accessed by train. Depots in West Glacier, East Glacier Park, and Essex along Highway 2 give travelers immediate access to a few front country trails.

Where to stay in Glacier

Within the park, Glacier is equipped with 7 lodges and 13 campgrounds servicing over 1,000 campsites. For hotel-style lodging, Glacier National Park Lodges by Xanterra operates the Village Inn Motel, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Many Glacier Hotel while Glacier Park Collection by Pursuit operates the Apgar Village Lodge and the Motel Lake McDonald.

Of the 13 frontcountry campgrounds, 8 are located on the western slopes and 5 are located on the eastern side. Apgar Campground, Fish Creek Campground, St. Mary Campground, Many Glacier Campground and Two Medicine Campground are the biggest and most popular. Being centrally located along Going-to-the-Sun Road, Avalanche Campground is an ideal location for visiting both the east and west sides as well as early morning trail hikes. Reservations can be made through Recreation.gov.

During high-occupancy dates, additional lodging and dining can be found outside the park in West Glacier, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Babb.

When should I book?

The speed at which lodges and campgrounds in Glacier National Park fill up can vary significantly based on the season, the site’s popularity, and whether or not it allows reservations. Generally, the busiest months are from late June to mid-September. During this time, lodges and campgrounds can fill up 6 months in advance. For first-come, first-served campgrounds, arriving early is highly recommended.

Many Glacier Hotel and Many Glacier Campground is known for its stunning views and proximity to hiking trails. It’s a favorite among hikers and wildlife watchers, making it one of the most competitive locations. The campground can fill up within hours of the reservation window opening. Booking early (6 months out) and check often during peak season.

Campgrounds with tent-only sites like Sprague Creek, Kintla Lake, and Bowman Lake generally have fewer sites and are more remote. The smaller size of these campgrounds tends to make them less competitive than the larger, more accessible ones like Apgar or St. Mary, though they’re still quite popular with those looking for a more secluded experience.

During the off-season in the spring (late May to early June) and fall (September to early October), campgrounds tend to be less crowded, and you may have a better chance of finding a spot a several weeks out, especially if you’re flexible with where you stay.

How much should I budget?

A 4-day trip can cost roughly $1000–depending on your required needs. Here is a range of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Missoula	$250–$500
Car Rental	$60–$100/day (not including taxes/fees)
Campsite	$20–30/night (not including taxes/fees)
Lodge	$150–$400/night
Restaurant Meals	$15–$25/meal
Entrance Fee	$35/vehicle for 7 days

Packing list for Mesa Verde

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Glacier National Park, we wouldn’t want to be caught without hiking shoes, sunscreen, binoculars, camelback, headlamp (for long hikes) and a hat. Bear spray is not essential but a nice security to have on backcountry trails, especially in the spring and fall months.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into our trip to Glacier.

For more detailed information on Glacier National Park, visit the official park website.