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There is an absolute abundance of fun things to do in Glacier National Park! It had always been on our bucket list but we still weren’t quite sure what to expect. However, it’s safe to say it exceeded our wildest expectations! The hiking, the lakes, the sunsets, the wildlife – it was all amazing. This park skyrocketed into our top 5 national parks in a heart beat.
Even with half the park being closed for the 2020 season, there was ample to do for the 3 days we were there. Below is everything you need to know to visit Glacier National Park and all the best things to do while you’re there! Make sure to read all the way at the bottom for crucial information for traveling to Glacier, especially in 2020.
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Where is Glacier National Park?
Glacier National Park is in the northwest corner of Montana, USA, near the Canadian Border. It is 32 miles from Kalispell, 25 miles from Whitefish and 137 miles from Missoula.
Overview of Glacier National Park
| Year established | 1910 |
| Location | Montana, USA |
| Entrance Fee | $35 |
| Bears | Yes |
| Number of days | 3-5 |
| Open | Year round |
| Best time to visit | May – September |
The first thing you need to know is that Glacier National Park is a massive park – I’m talking 1500 sq miles massive! In fact, there are 7 named areas of the park: Goat Haunt, The North Fork, Two Medicine, Many Glacier, St. Mary Valley, Logan Pass and Lake McDonald Valley. That said, definitely plan your trip itinerary according to areas since it is very spread out. We have a map you can save on Google maps below and you can also download trail maps for each area here.
Make sure you also read up on the park’s history before you go as it is super interesting. The park was founded back in 1910 as the 10th national park in the US. In 1932 the Canadian side of the Park and the US side of the park as Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the world’s first international peace park. This is why Canadian and US flags both fly at the same height throughout the park!
18 Things To Do in Glacier National Park
1. Hidden Lake Hike
If you only have time to do one thing in Glacier National Park, make it the Hidden Lake trail. On this trail we saw mountain goats and the most epic sunset, which made for the best first day in the park after a long drive!
This hike starts at Logan Pass and is a great bang-for-your-buck hike! It’s only 2.7 miles round trip with 540 feet of elevation gain, and most of the trail is boardwalk.
Once you get to the viewing deck you have the option of continuing further down to the lake. When we were there this was roped off for bear activity, so we weren’t able to go down. That said, people say the view from above is the best anyway!
2. St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls Hike
The hike to St. Mary and Virginia Falls is super unsuspecting and really blew us away! It’s yet another easy/moderate trek that has unbelievable views. Once you hit St. Mary’s Falls keep on going to Virginia Falls. It’s only another .8 miles and the payoff is HUGE! Seriously, Virginia Falls was so beautiful and powerful that it made us feel like we were transported to Iceland.
3. Bowman Lake
Bowman Lake is a total hidden gem and a local favorite. It’s located in the North Fork area of the park, which is the least visited area of the park (there are 7 areas total). While the road is dusty and bumpy to get there, it’s absolutely worth the trek. Along the way you’ll pass through areas that take you back in time to the early settlements, and then come across the town of Polebridge. Definitely stop here and take a look around!
Pro tip: there is limited parking at Bowman Lake, so once the lot is full they close the road there from Polebridge. Check the Recreational Activity Board at Apgar Visitor Center or online here to see if the road is open.
4. Drive Going-To-The-Sun road
Going-to-the-sun road is the most iconic scenic drive in Glacier National Park. Not only is it the main road to access all the hikes in west Glacier, there are so many turn offs to enjoy the sights along the way. Definitely pull off to admire Lake McDonald, McDonald Falls, Big Bend, Jackson Glacier and Wild Goose Island!
5. Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Creek
Trail of the Cedars is an ADA accessible loop trail that’s super easy and family friendly. Along the flat boardwalk you can see tons of different types of trees with informational postings about them. Our favorite thing along this trail, though, was Avalanche Creek! Avalanche creek is about halfway around the loop and the water is so pristine and blue, it’s absolutely stunning.
6. Avalanche Lake Hike
The Avalanche Lake Hike starts at the same spot at the Trail of the Cedars hike and is a moderate 4 miles round trip with 500 feet of elevation gain. With gorgeous glacial runoff coming down the mountains, this trek looked absolutely stunning. Unfortunately we got here in the mid-day crowds and heat after our Highline Loop Hike (below) and decided to pass. If we weren’t tuckered out we would’ve totally gone for it!
7. Highline Loop Hike + Grinnel Glacier Overlook
The Highline Loop Hike is such a unique hike! It takes you parallel with Going-to-the-sun road right along the side of the mountain. It truly made us feel like we were in a 3D image or VR headset – the feeling is hard to describe! The beautiful Granite Park Chalet is along this trail which is such a unique back country accommodation that was built in 1914.
One of the coolest things to see on this hike is the Grinnel Glacier Overlook, but you have to work for it as it adds about 1.6 miles and quite a bit of elevation to the journey.
In normal years, you can start the hike at Logan Pass and finish at The Loop, and get a shuttle back to your car. Unfortunately shuttles aren’t running in 2020 so if you do the whole 11.8 miles, you have to reverse the whole thing. That said, you still have a few options for enjoying this hike in 2020.
- Start at Logan Pass and hike 3.6 miles to Haystack Butte. This makes for a beautiful 7.2 mile round trip hike and is what we chose to do for time’s sake.
- Start at Logan Pass and hike to the Chalet and Grinnel Glacier Overlook and then reverse your route (around 16 miles total). This hike is a doable day hike but you definitely need to be prepared.
For health reasons, we absolutely don’t recommend doing the whole hike and trying to hitch hike back to your car!
8. Big Bend & Paradise Meadow
Big Bend was our favorite stop along Going-to-the-sun road! It’s actually unmarked (strangely) but it’s right by the Weeping Wall and there is a large turn off area. It consists of the most gorgeous purple flowers and mountain views. If you hike up a bit on the mountainside you will get a gorgeous view of the road, and if you cross the street you can wander through Paradise Meadow. Please be sure to not trample any of the beautiful flowers.
9. Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald is the quintessential lake when I think of Glacier National Park. It’s the biggest lake in the park and is typically a hot spot for kayaking. Unfortunately kayaking is not open for the 2020 season, but in future years you can rent from Glacier Outfitters on the southwest side of the lake.
This lake is also known for sunrise and sunset and is a photographer’s paradise. Our favorite view for this was from the Apgar Area. One bonus of the boats being shut down this season is that the water is more still for photos!
10. Jackson Glacier
Jackson Glacier is a quick turnoff on Going-to-the-sun road just past Logan Pass. It’s one of the only glaciers (maybe the only?) that you can see from a road pull-off. Unfortunately less than 26 of the Glaciers remain of the 100+ that existed when the park was formed in 1910, so definitely enjoy the view!
11. Rising Sun
Rising Sun is a beautiful area of the park and in 2020 is the furthest east you can go into the park. Located right off of St. Mary Lake, Rising Sun is a great pit stop along Going-to-the-sun road. There is a General Store here that really blew us away! We are not souvenir people and we wanted to buy everything in there. Plus, the food and snack selection was top notch and the prices weren’t jacked up at all – we couldn’t believe it. Also, if you’re looking for anything Huckleberry, they have it all!
12. Wild Goose Island
The pull off for Wild Goose Island is absolutely stunning! This spot provides postcard-worthy views of St. Mary lake, the surrounding peaks and of course the adorable little island named “Wild Goose.”
13. Polebridge Mercantile
Polebridge Mercantile is a general store and bakery in the town of Polebridge that will take you back in time. It’s been around for over 100 years and is a must-visit in the North Fork area of the park.
Plus, when you’re in Montana you MUST try huckleberries. It’s like a right of passage, seriously. Anyways, Polebridge Mercantile is famous for their Huckleberry Bear Claws. And trust me, the taste absolutely lives up to the hype! Be sure to stop here on your way to Bowman Lake (you can’t miss it on the route).
14. Cracker Lake Hike
(Closed for 2020) The next 3 hikes are on our list because had we gone when East Glacier was open, these would have been at the top of our list. Cracker Lake is the bluest blue turquoise lake and the hike there looks AMAZING. It’s decently long at 12.6 miles (hike details are here) but the views look out of this world. We can’t wait to get back and do this one!
15. Grinnel Glacier Hike
(Closed for 2020) The Grinnel Glacier Hike (which is different from the Grinnel Glacier Overlook hike) is also closed this year (2020) but it looks incredible! It’s a glacial lake down in the bowl surrounded by mountains. It’s rated as strenuous but looks worth it! Check out the full trail here.
16. Iceberg Lake Hike
(Closed for 2020) The Iceberg Lake Hike looks absolutely incredible! With icebergs floating throughout the piercing blue lake, and mountains towering above, this place is insane. Definitely at the top of our list when we return! Check out full trail details here.
17. Explore Whitefish
Whitefish is a super cute town just 40 minutes outside of West Glacier. You can choose to base out of this town or just go for a visit. There are adorable boutiques, delicious restaurants and amazing coffee shops here!
18. Wandering Gringo burritos
Right outside the park in West Glacier is a Mexican food truck called Wandering Gringo. The burritos here are the PERFECT post-hike meal and it’s so nice not having to go all the way to Kalispell for a hot, reasonably priced lunch.
Map of the things to do in Glacier National Park
Below is a map of the top things to do in Glacier that we covered above. You can use this for relative location of the different things to do and to plan your route! Just click the ‘star’ to save it to your Google Maps!
Is Glacier National Park Open?
Currently the west side of the park is open (August 2020) but the east side is not. The park has said the Many Glacier and Two medicine areas are not planning to open in 2020. You can enter the park through the West Entrance and can drive Going-to-the-sun road until the Rising Sun area, then you have to turn around. The east entrance is not open or accessible.
Also note that campgrounds are closed except Fish Creek Campground and the shuttle service is not running this season. Reference the map below from the National Park Service for the areas that are open, and check here for the most up to date opening information.
When in the park, be sure to follow guidelines for social distancing and wear a mask. We all need to do our part in stopping the spread and keeping each other safe.
All that said, in normal years the park is technically open year-round, barring some road closures from snow. You can always check the road status here and get the most up to date information.
How to get to Glacier National Park
Driving to Glacier National Park
To get to the west entrance, head to Kalispell and follow highway 2 north until you get to West Glacier. To reach the east entrances, take highway 89 north to Browning and then follow signs to the entrance you’re looking for.
Airports near Glacier National Park
If you’re wanting to start in West Glacier, the best airport is Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell. You can also fly into Missoula if you don’t mind driving a few more hours.
If you plan to start in East Glacier, consider flying into Great Falls International Airport. Regardless of where you fly into, you will want to rent a car to explore Glacier.
Train to Glacier National Park
You can take the historic Empire Builder Amtrack Train from many places in the US directly to Glacier National Park. Check out the routes here!
How to get around Glacier National Park
The best way to get around Glacier is by car. There is also a shuttle that runs throughout the park, however it is closed for 2020. All the information about the shuttle system is here.
Where to stay in Glacier National Park
There are only 8 places to stay within the park (including 2 backcountry chalets you have to hike to) and they all book up very quickly. The Lake McDonald Lodge and the Many Glacier Hotel look the best, but you can see all the in-park accommodations here.
That said, there are plenty of beautiful accommodations just outside the park! Consider these:
- Glacier Outdoor Center (West Glacier)
- Under Canvas Glacier (West Glacier)
- St. Mary Village (East Glacier)
Here are all of the accommodations near Glacier to check out. You can also consider using the town of Whitefish as a base. Check out all of the accommodations in Whitefish here.
Camping in Glacier National Park
Camping in Glacier National Park is a total treat! We did our usual car-camping here and had the best stay. Since it is a national park, though, you can’t just park anywhere. Within the park boundaries you must camp at official campgrounds. However, outside the park you can use the iOverlander app to find some free camping spots.
That said, there are 13 beautiful campgrounds within the park and they’re all super affordable ($10-23 per night)! Some of them you can reserve on recreation.gov (they also have an app) and others are first come first serve. The Fish Creek campground is the only campground open for 2020, and we stayed there all 3 nights. Spots book up super quick but I suggest just refreshing recreation.gov over and over and hoping for a cancellation. For all the info on camping in Glacier, visit the official park site here and check this out if you’re interested in backcountry camping.
>>Read our Ultimate Car-Camping Packing List before you go!
Best time to go to Glacier National Park
The peak season is the summer, typically from May to September. This is when most of the roads, hikes, ranger stations, etc. are open and available to visit. Depending on the year, spring or fall could be nice times to visit if you don’t mind the visitor centers, campgrounds, etc. being closed. The park will always keep conditions up to date here so check before you go.
How many days in Glacier National Park?
I’d suggest 3 to 5 days in Glacier. 3 days is plenty to see the west side of the park, but to see all areas I’d say 4 or 5 should do it!
Glacier National Park Entrance Fee
It costs $35 for a 7-day pass May through October and $25 November through April. You can also use your America The Beautiful pass here which gets you into all of the national parks for a calendar year. It costs $80 so if you plan to visit 3 or more parks during the year it’s absolutely worth it. You can purchase one here.
Animals in Glacier National Park
There are all kinds of animals in Glacier, but Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Mountain Goats and Mountain Lions are the most prevalant. Make sure you keep your distance from these animals and know what to do if you encounter them before you go. Always carry bear spray and be bear-aware at all times. Here are the park’s tips for bear safety.
Things to know before visiting Glacier National Park
- There is limited cell coverage in the park. The only place we found signal is near the Apgar Area. So plan ahead and make sure you have offline maps downloaded.
- Trails can close unexpectedly for bears, etc. so always be sure to check by calling or visiting a ranger station before you head out
- The Recreational Activity Dashboard (RAD) at the Apgar Visitor Center is a great resource to know the weather, what’s open, parking availability, road closures, etc. You can also check it online here.
- Parking lots fill up SUPER early. Aim to be at a hike’s parking lot no later than 7:15 am to get a spot. Otherwise, after 4 pm is a good time too. This is especially crucial at the Loop, Avalanche and Logan Pass.
- Don’t forget to pack bear spray, bug spray and sunscreen!
- There is no gas inside the park. There is a gas station just outside the west entrance, though, if you’re in a bind.
- Make sure you know the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and take care of our beautiful outdoors!
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Have a great time in Glacier National Park!
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