The Ultimate Guide To Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park , home to pristine nature & the crown jewel of Montana!
Lush glacier-carved valleys with several gorgeous glacial lakes & waterfalls, the scenery at Glacier National Park is quite unmatched!
Located in northwest Montana, on the US and Canada border, Glacier National Park is home to a few glaciers from the ice age! Due to continuous melting, only a few glaciers remain today, and soon there might be no more glaciers left in the park.
However, the several glaciers that existed in the area have shaped the beautiful lush valleys, majestic peaks, gorgeous waterfalls, and blue glacial lakes of Glacier National Park, which we will cherish forever!
The creation of the distinct landscape at Glacier National Park dates back to a series of geological events that took place even before the ice age. It all started several million years ago when most of the Northwest US was part of the Belt Sea. Soon came the lava rising from the sea bed that created several limestone rock formations in the park, followed by collisions of the earth’s tectonic plates forming the mountains in the park. Then came the ice age, when the earth’s surface started to cool down, the remnants of what we see now at Glacier National Park!
With such a diverse landscape, many sightseeing opportunities, and several hiking trails and campgrounds, Glacier National Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers!
The Glacier National Park is part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the world’s first International Peace Park. The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the union of two National Parks – Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and the Glacier National Park in the US.
This enables hikers to hike from one park in the US to another park in Canada via the Goat Haunt area. However, you’re required to carry all valid documents, check-in with border customs, and comply with all immigration policies.
Glacier National Park is open year-round, but sightseeing & other outdoor activities are quite limited due to heavy snowfall in the region.
Here is my ultimate guide to Glacier National Park, featuring must-see places, attractions map, suggested itinerary, hiking trails, campgrounds, hotels, and restaurants in Glacier National Park.
Planning Your Trip To Glacier National Park
Summer is the peak season for sightseeing, hiking, and camping in Glacier National Park!
Best Time To Visit Glacier National Park: If your primary purpose is sightseeing, hiking, or camping in Glacier National Park, you must visit the park only in the summer months, June through October being the peak season. The Glacier National Park is open in winter but with very limited park services and sightseeing opportunities. The park’s winter recreational activities mostly include snowshoeing, skiing, and sledding in a couple of areas in Glacier National Park. There is abundant wildlife in the park, and no matter what season you go, chances are you will spot some wildlife in the park.
Glacier National Park Operating Hours & Seasons: The park is open all year round, summer being the peak season for hiking and camping. If you’re planning to camp in Glacier National Park, I highly recommend making campsite reservations in advance. Weather permitting, only some part of the park stays open and plowed during the winter months. Winter undoubtedly presents a unique scenery and offers several fun activities but comes with limited services and uncertain road closures in Glacier National Park.
Transportation & Parking Inside Glacier National Park: There’re parking lots at trailheads and viewing areas. However, during the peak seasons, the park gets quite crowded, and it might be difficult to find parking near the popular spots in the park. So, the park offers a free shuttle service during the summer months, starting at the Apgar Visitor Center on the west side and St. Mary Visitor Center on the east side of the park, taking visitors to all major trailheads and viewing points in the park.
Lodging Near Glacier National Park: There are several lodging options within Glacier National Park during the summer months, including campgrounds, lodges, and motels. However, the rooms tend to sell out, and I highly recommend making your reservations in advance. Glacier National Park is accessible from the east and the west side, and you will find quite a few lodging options on both sides outside the park. You will find my recommendations on lodging and dining options near Glacier National Park in the later section of the post.
Glacier National Park Guided Tours: There’re quite a few guided tours offered within Glacier National Park, including several boat tours provided by Glacier Park Boat Co.Β at different lakes in the park, guided bus tours offered by Sun Tours & Glacier National Park Lodges Red Bus Tours, and guided horseback rides offered by Swan Mountain Outfitters at several places in the park.
The guided bus tours are the best option to explore Glacier National Park’s major attractions if you have limited time. Even if you’re spending a reasonable amount of time in the park, I highly recommend the boat tours to explore some of the pristine lakes of Glacier National Park.
Getting To Glacier National Park
The best way to get to Glacier National Park is by flying into Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Montana!
Airports Near Glacier National Park: Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), Kalispell, Montana, is the closest airport to Glacier National Park, about 25 miles to Glacier National Park’s west entrance. There’re a few other airports close to Glacier National Park in Montana and the adjoining state of Washington including, Missoula International Airport (MSO), Missoula, Montana, about 160 miles from Glacier National Park, Great Falls International Airport (GTF), Great Falls, Montana, about 150 miles to Glacier National Park’s east entrance, and Spokane International Airport (GEG), Spokane, Washington, about 280 miles to Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park is located on Canada and the US border, which opens up the doors to a few of the airports in Canada you could fly into to get to Glacier National Park, including Calgary International Airport (YYC), Calgary, Canada, about 208 miles to Glacier National Park, and Lethbridge County Airport (YQL), Lethbridge, Canada, about 95 miles from Glacier National Park.
However, flying into Canada and driving to Glacier National Park requires you to carry all valid documents, check-in with border customs, and comply with all immigration policies.
Glacier National Park is one of the few National Parks in the US, with train services taking passengers quite close to the park’s entrances!
Train Services To Glacier National Park:Β Amtrak offers a train service to Glacier National Park on its Empire Builder route, connecting several major cities in the US to Glacier National Park. The Empire Builder train service connects several major cities in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, to four Amtrak stations near Glacier National Park.
Amtrak Stations Near Glacier National Park
- East Glacier Park: Located about 40 miles from the East Entrance of the Glacier National Park, the East Glacier Park Amtrak station is a seasonal stop.
- Essex: Located near the Izaak Walton Inn, the Essex Amtrak station is a flag stop near Glacier National Park, i.e., it stops only if passengers are present.
- West Glacier: Located just about 2 miles from the park’s west entrance, the West Glacier Park Amtrak station is open year-round.
- Whitefish: Located about 28 miles from the park’s west entrance, the Whitefish stop is a full-service Amtrak station with several lodging and transportation options.
Bus Services To Glacier National Park:Β There’re no direct bus services to Glacier National Park. However,Β GreyhoundΒ provides bus services connecting several US cities to many major cities in Montana, including Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Whitefish, and others. Whitefish being the closest Greyhound bus stop to Glacier National Park.
Things To Do In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park Attractions Map
Glacier National Park Brief Overview
There’re several entrances to Glacier National Park, including West Glacier Entrance, Camas Creek Entrance, Polebridge Entrance on the West side of the park, and Saint Mary Entrance, Two Medicine Entrance, Many Glacier Entrance, Cut Bank Entrance on the East side of the park. However, West Glacier Entrance and Saint Mary Entrance are the most popular entrances used by visitors, while the other entrances are often used by locals and visitors planning to visit a particular area close to those entrances.
The West Glacier Entrance & the East Glacier/Saint Mary Entrance are the main entrances to Glacier National Park.
Main Entrances To Glacier National Park
- West Glacier Entrance: Located on the west side of Glacier National Park, the West Glacier Entrance is the most popular entrance in the park and is the only entrance that’s open all year-round. The West Glacier Entrance is home to the Apgar Visitor Center and provides easy access to the village of Apgar, Lake McDonald, and Going-To-The-Sun Road from the west side of the park. Apgar Visitor Center Address: GPS Coordinates: Lat: 48.5231, Long: -113.9885.
- East Glacier/Saint Mary Entrance: The Saint Mary Entrance located on the east side of Glacier National Park is the main park entrance on the park’s east side. The East Glacier Entrance is home to the Saint Mary Visitor Center and provides easy access to Saint Mary Lake and Going-To-The-Sun Road from the park’s east side. However, the entrance is seasonal and open to visitors only outside the winter months, May through October. Saint Mary Visitor Center Address: GPS Coordinates: Lat: 48.7617, Long: -113.4350.
Less Popular Entrances To Glacier National Park
- Camas Creek Entrance: Remotely located on the west side of Glacier National Park, the seasonal Camas Creek Entrance is partly paved and provides access to the Huckleberry Mountain Lookout trail, and an excellent place to spot wildlife in the park.
- Polebridge Entrance: Located on the west side of the park, the seasonal Polebridge Entrance leads to some of the park’s most pristine areas, including glacial lakes, alpine forests, and towering peaks.
- Two Medicine Entrance: The seasonal Two Medicine Entrance, located on the east side of the park, provides access to the Two Medicine area, which is home to Two Medicine Lake, Upper Two Medicine Lake, and Running Eagle Falls.
- Many Glacier Entrance: Located on the east side of Glacier National Park, the seasonal Many Glacier Entrance is home to some very prominent landmarks in the park, including Many Glacier Hotel and the Iceberg Lake.
- Cut Bank Entrance: The Cut Bank Entrance, located on the east side of Glacier National Park, is a seasonal entrance providing access to one of the campgrounds in the park and several hiking trails.
There’re three visitor centers in Glacier National Park, two located near the park entrances and one located in the heart of the park along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Apgar Visitor Center: Located near Glacier National Park’s west entrance, the Apgar Visitor Center is open all year-round, open daily May through October, and on the weekends during fall, spring, and winter months.
Saint Mary Visitor Center: Located near the east entrance of Glacier National Park, the Saint Mary Visitor Center is open only outside the winter months, May through October.
Logan Pass Visitor Center: The Logan Pass Visitor Center, located in the middle of the park, along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, is a seasonal visitor center open outside the winter months and is the starting point of a couple of popular hiking trails in the park. However, there’s limited parking in Logan Pass Visitor Center, and it often fills up early in the day.
Scenic Drive In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is home to one of the most stunning scenic mountain drives in the US, the Going-to-the-Sun Road!
One of the prettiest mountain drives in the US, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, traverses the entire Glacier National Park from the east to the west entrance of the park. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is about 50 miles long, well-paved, two-lane highway, and passes through all major vista points and trailheads in Glacier National Park.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road passes through several glacial lakes, roadside waterfalls, cedar forests and reaches the highest point on the drive at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. There’re several vista points and parking spaces along the road, but it gets quite busy in the summer months, and finding parking might get challenging. However, the park offers a shuttle service, and there’re several guided tours offered by a couple of tour companies.
If you’ve limited time when visiting Glacier National Park, I recommend driving through the Going-to-the-Sun Road and stopping at the vista points along the road to get the most out of your trip. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is about 50 miles long and takes about 2 hours if driven non-stop.
Going-to-the-Sun Road scenic drive, 50 miles of breathtaking scenery, is a must-do when visiting Glacier National Park!
You can find more details about the Going-to-the-Sun Road scenic drive, including all vista points along the road, guided tours, trailheads, and other information in my Going-to-the-Sun Road guide.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide To Going-to-the-Sun Road
Hiking In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, with numerous hiking trails, is a paradise for hikers!
There’re several hiking trails in Glacier National Park, some leading to glaciers, some to gorgeous glacial lakes, and some to a few historical places and pristine wilderness in the park! Hiking is the best way to explore Glacier National Park and the only way to see some of the park’s best sceneries!
Per the National Park Services, there are about 700 hiking trails in Glacier National Park and are spread all over the park! With so many choices, it can be quite overwhelming to select the best hikes for your trip to Glacier National Park.
To make it easy, I have outlined the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park and have also compiled and organized a list of all hiking trails in Glacier National Park by different regions in the park.
Highline Trail: The most popular hiking trail in Glacier National Park, the Highline Trail starts at the Logan Pass Visitor Center, and offers some of the best views in the park, including lush and beautiful valley floors at the Garden Wall, views of the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the top, Granite Park Chalet a historical landmark, and spectacular views of the Grinner Glacier from the Grinner Glacier Overlook.
The Highline Trail is an 11.8 miles strenuous hike and takes about 8-10 hours, but it is the best hike in the Glacier National Park. You can find more details about Highline Trail in my Highline Trail Hiking Guide.
Hidden Lake Overlook: Starting at Logan Pass Visitor Center, the Hidden Lake Overlook trail is a very popular hike in Glacier National Park, known for the beautiful views of the Hidden Lake, lush valley floors, and mountain peaks. The hike to Hidden Lake Overlook is a moderately strenuous 2.7 miles roundtrip hike and takes about 2.5 hours, but you could continue hiking 1.4 miles to the shore of Hidden Lake, making the total hike 5.5 miles roundtrip.
Grinnell Glacier: The Grinnell Glacier hike is a strenuous 11.3 miles hike from the trailhead located in the Grinnell Glacier area. However, you could take two boat shuttles across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, which reduces the hike to 7.6 miles. The trail passes through lush valley floors along beautiful glacial lakes and ends at the Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint, where you can see the Grinnell Glacier.
Trail of Cedars: This is a prevalent, paved, kid-friendly, and wheelchair accessible one-mile loop, featuring a nature trail with gorgeous views of the canyon, Avalanche Lake, and a pretty waterfall. However, it often becomes quite difficult to find parking near the Trail of Cedars trailhead due to its popularity.
Avalanche Lake: Often hiked along with the Trail of Cedars, the Avalanche Lake trail branches from the Trail of Cedars and is about 4.5 miles roundtrip moderate hike. The first part of the trek via Trail of Cedars is paved and easy, but the Avalanche Lake trail branching out from the Avalanche Lake trail junction, past the Avalanche Creek footbridge, is moderately strenuous.
There’re seven hundred hiking trails and many campgrounds in Glacier National Park spread all around the park and can be best explored and organized by regions in the park.
I haven’t hiked all the trails in the park, but with the help of the National Park Service’s website and a few other online resources, I have gathered and listed all hiking trails and campgrounds in Glacier National Park and organized them by major regions in the park.
Lake McDonald:Β Located near the west entrance of Glacier National Park, the Lake McDonald area is home to the largest lake in the park, Lake McDonald, Lake McDonald Lodge, several hiking trails, and campgrounds.
Hiking Trails
- Apgar Lookout – 7.2 miles roundtrip
- Trail of the Cedars – 1-mile loop
- Avalanche Lake – 4.5 miles roundtrip, often hiked along with the Trail of Cedars.
- Fish Lake – 5.4 miles roundtrip
- Forest and Fire Nature Trail – 1.1-mile loop
- Howe Lake – 3.2 miles loop
- Huckleberry Lookout – 12 miles roundtrip
- Johns Lake Loop – 6 miles roundtrip
- Lake McDonald West Shore – 14.8 miles roundtrip
- Lincoln Lake – 16 miles roundtrip
- Mt. Brown Lookout – 10.4 miles roundtrip
- Oxbow Trail – 3 miles roundtrip
- Rocky Point – 2.2 miles roundtrip
- Snyder Lakes – 8.6 miles roundtrip
- Sperry Chalet – 12.6 miles roundtrip
- Trout Lake – 8 miles roundtrip
Campgrounds
- Apgar
- Avalanche
- Fish Creek
- Sprague Creek
You can find more details on the National Park Service website.
Many Glacier:Β Located near the east entrance of the park, the Many Glacier area is home to several glacial lakes, the Many Glacier Hotel, and several popular hiking trails in the park.
Hiking Trails
- Apikuni Falls – 2 miles roundtrip
- Cracker Lake – 12.8 miles roundtrip
- Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint – 10.6 miles roundtrip
- Grinnell Lake – 6.8 miles roundtrip
- Iceberg Lake – 9.6 miles roundtrip
- Piegan Pass – 16.8 miles roundtrip
- Poia Lake – 12.8 miles roundtrip
- Ptarmigan Falls – 5.4 miles roundtrip
- Ptarmigan Lake – 8.6 miles roundtrip
- Ptarmigan Tunnel – 10.6 miles roundtrip
- Redrock Falls – 3.6 miles roundtrip
- Swiftcurrent Nature Trail – 2.3 miles loop
- Swiftcurrent Pass – 13.6 miles roundtrip
Campgrounds
- Many Glacier Campground
You can find more details on the National Park Service website.
Saint Mary & Logan Pass: Located near the park’s east entrance, the Saint Mary Valley is home to a few popular hiking trails leading to some of the pristine lakes and waterfalls in the park. Logan Pass, located in the middle of the park, is the park’s highest point and home to two of the most popular hikes in the park.Β
Hiking Trails
St. Mary
- Baring Falls – 0.6-mile roundtrip
- Beaver Pond Loop – 6.6 miles roundtrip
- Otokomi Lake – 11 miles roundtrip
- Piegan Pass – 16.8 miles roundtrip
- Red Eagle Lake – 16.2 miles roundtrip
- St. Mary Falls – 2.4 miles roundtrip
- Siyeh Pass – 11 miles roundtrip
- Sun Point Nature Trail – 1.6 miles roundtrip
- Sunrift Gorge – a short 400 ft hike
- Virginia Falls – 3.6 miles roundtrip
Logan Pass
- Granite Park Chalet – 15.2 miles roundtrip
- Hidden Lake Overlook – 2.8 miles roundtrip
Campgrounds
- St. Mary Campground
- Cut Bank Campground
- Rising Sun Campground
You can find more details on the National Park Service website.
North Fork & Goat Haunt:Β Located up north, close to Canada and the US border, the North Fork & Goat Haunt areas are some of the most pristine regions of Glacier National Park and home to several hiking trails and the Goat Haunt backcountry campground. Some parts of the roads are unpaved, and permits are required for backcountry hiking in the Goat Haunt region.
Hiking Trails
North Fork
- Akokala Lake – 11.6 miles roundtrip
- Bowman Lake Head – 14.2 miles roundtrip
- Covey Meadow – 3 miles roundtrip
- Hidden Meadow – 2.4 miles roundtrip
- Kintla Lake Head – 13.2 miles roundtrip
- Logging Lake – 9 miles roundtrip
- Lower Quartz Lake – 6 miles roundtrip
- Numa Lookout – 11.2 miles roundtrip
- Quartz Lake – 12 miles roundtrip
Goat Haunt
- Goat Haunt Overlook – 2 miles roundtrip
- Kootenai Lakes – 5 miles roundtrip
- Lake Francis – 12.4 miles roundtrip
- Lake Janet – 6.6 miles roundtrip
- Rainbow Falls – 2 miles roundtrip
- Waterton Townsite – 17 miles roundtrip
Campgrounds
- Goat Haunt Backcountry Campground
- Bowman Lake Campground
- Kintla Lake Campground
- Logging Creek Campground
- Quartz Creek Campground
You can find more details on the National Park Service website.
Two Medicine:Β Located remotely on the eastern side of the park, the Two Medicine and the nearby Cut Bank and Walton areas are home to some of the park’s most strenuous hikes.
Hiking Trails
Two Medicine
- Appistoki Falls – 1.2 miles roundtrip
- Aster Falls – 2.4 miles roundtrip
- Aster Park – 4 miles roundtrip
- Cobalt Lake – 11.6 miles roundtrip
- Dawson Pass – 13 miles roundtrip
- No Name Lake – 9.8 miles roundtrip
- Oldman Lake – 12.8 miles roundtrip
- Paradise Point – 1.4 miles roundtrip
- Pitamakan Pass – 15.2 miles roundtrip
- Rockwell Falls – 7 miles roundtrip
- Running Eagle Falls – 0.6-mile roundtrip
- Scenic Point – 7.8 miles roundtrip
- Twin Falls – 7 miles roundtrip
- Upper Two Medicine Lake – 10 miles roundtrip
Cut Bank
- Medicine Grizzly Lake – 12 miles roundtrip
- Morning Star Lake – 13.2 miles roundtrip
- Triple Divide Pass – 14.4 miles roundtrip
Walton
- Firebrand Pass – 9.6 miles roundtrip
- Scalplock Lookout – 9.4 miles roundtrip
Campgrounds
- Two Medicine
You can find more details on the National Park Service website.
Guided Tours In Glacier National Park
Several guided tours help fast-track sightseeing and open doors to some pristine areas in the park!
Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, you will find several guided tours in Glacier National Park to aid you with your sightseeing and hiking activities in Glacier National Park.
If you’re short on time, undoubtedly, the guided bus tours are the best way to see most of the park’s attractions in a short time. If you’re planning to stay longer in the park, the guided boat tours are also a great way to explore some of the park’s stunning glacial lakes.
The guided boat tours and boat shuttle services also come in handy while hiking in the park; as for a few hikes, you can shorten the walk by taking a boat across a few lakes in the park.
Guided Bus Tours In Glacier National Park
There’re a couple of companies that offer guided bus tours in Glacier National Park, with quite a few options, including half-day tours, full-day tours, Going-to-the-Sun Road tours, and a few other choices. The tours are well-narrated, well-paced, and stops at all major attractions in the park. If you’re short on time, I highly recommend the bus tours from either of these two tour companies.
Red Bus Tours: The iconic red buses of Glacier National Park offer in-park transportation, connecting several park lodges, and also offers seasonal guided tours of the park departing from the east and west side of the park. There’re are several tour choices and can be reserved online on the Red Bus Tours website.Β
Sun Tours: Offers daily tours during the summer months and offers several choices, including Westside tours, Eastside tours, and full-day tours of the park. You can find more details and reserve your trip online on the Sun Tours website.
Guided Boat Tours In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is home to some of the most pristine and gorgeous glacial lakes on the earth, and no trip to Glacier National Park is complete without exploring a few of the turquoise glacial lakes in the park.
While seeing the lakes from the shore is lovely, but taking a boat ride to the middle of the lake is a memorable experience and a must-do in Glacier National Park!
The Glacier Park Boat Co. offers seasonal guided boat tours at several lakes in the park, including Lake McDonald, Two Medicine, Many Glacier, and a few others. They also offer small boat rentals and guided hikes at a few locations in the park. You can find more details and reserve online on the Glacier Park Boat Co. website.
Guided Horseback Rides Tours In Glacier National Park
Swan Mountain Outfitters offers guided horseback ride tours at several places in Glacier National Park, including Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, and others.
The horseback ride tours in Glacier National Park are really a fun way to explore the park’s wilderness. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional rider or a first-timer, as the tours are well-paced and designed for all age groups. Swan Mountain Outfitters offers several horseback ride tour packages ranging from 1 hour to overnight excursions, including Lodgepole Loop, Ride, Wine & Dine, Glacier Gateway, Overnight Trip, and several others.
Guided Raft Tours In Glacier National Park
Taking the fun to a new level, the guided raft tours in Glacier National Park are a great way to explore the park on a thrilling river raft ride! Several tour companies offer guided raft tours along the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River.
The rafting tour companies offer several choices, including family-friendly rafting, scenic floats, whitewater rafting, overnight and multi-day rafting trips. You can find more details about the rafting tours and tour companies on the National Park Service website.
Glacier National Park Trip Itinerary
Glacier National Park is unique in a way that you could see a lot in one day just by driving the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road. On the other hand, you could easily spend a couple of weeks hiking and exploring several lakes and hiking trails in the park.
I have organized my Glacier National Park trip itinerary and my recommendations based on the number of days you plan to spend in the park. Also, my Glacier National Park itineraries are only for the summer months, as winters in Glacier National Park are less sightseeing and more of skiing and snowshoeing.
1 Day Glacier National Park Trip Itinerary: If you’re visiting Glacier National Park just for a day, your best option to see most of the park is by driving through the Going-to-the-Sun Road, stopping at the vista points along the road, and hiking one of the easy and short trails in the park. I also highly recommend doing one of the guided bus tours in Glacier National Park for day trips.
- Enter the park from East/West Glacier.
- Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road making brief stops at the overlooks along the route / Take a guided bus tour.
- Hike the Trail of Cedars, an easy one-mile nature loop.
2 Day Glacier National Park Trip Itinerary: If you have two days in the park, I would recommend driving Going-to-the-Sun Road, doing a moderate hike, and a guided boat tour in the park.
- Day 1Β – Leisurely explore all points along Going-to-the-Sun Road and hike the Trail of Cedars and a few other easy hikes, if time permits.
- Day 2Β – Hike the Hidden Lake Overlook, a moderately strenuous 2.7 miles roundtrip hike starting from Logan Pass, and do a guided boat tour in the park.
3 Day Glacier National Park Trip Itinerary: Same as the 2-day itinerary, plus the popular Highline Trail hike.
- Day 1Β – Leisurely explore all points along Going-to-the-Sun Road and hike the Trail of Cedars and a few other easy hikes, if time permits.
- Day 2Β – Hike the Hidden Lake Overlook, a moderately strenuous 2.7 miles roundtrip hike starting from Logan Pass, and do a guided boat tour in the park.
- Day 3Β – Hike the popular Highline Trail, an 11.8 miles strenuous roundtrip hike starting from Logan Pass.
4 Or More Days In Glacier National Park: Same as the 3-day itinerary, plus the Grinnell Glacier hike.
- Day 1Β – Leisurely explore all points along Going-to-the-Sun Road and hike the Trail of Cedars and a few other easy hikes, if time permits.
- Day 2Β – Hike the Hidden Lake Overlook, a moderately strenuous 2.7 miles roundtrip hike starting from Logan Pass, and do a guided boat tour in the park.
- Day 3Β – Hike the popular Highline Trail, an 11.8 miles strenuous roundtrip hike starting from Logan Pass.
- Day 4Β – Hike the Grinnell Glacier trail to see the Grinnell Glacier, 11.3 miles strenuous hike from the trailhead located in the Grinnell Glacier area.
Lodging & Dining In Glacier National Park
Camping is a very popular activity in Glacier National Park during the summer months. There’re thirteen campgrounds in Glacier National Park, with thousand campsites. However, due to the popularity, planning and reserving campsites in advance is highly recommended.Β
I have organized the list of campgrounds In Glacier National Park by major regions in the park in Hiking Trails & Campgrounds In Glacier National Park section. You can check the Glacier National Park campground’s current status on the NPS website and reserve the campsite online onΒ recreation.gov.
The lodges inside the park are the best place to stay on your Glacier National Park trip, but they’re often sold out and must be reserved well in advance!
There are quite a few lodges and a couple of chalets inside the Glacier National Park, and they are my preferred lodging choice when visiting Glacier National Park. The lodges and the motels in Glacier National Park offer breathtaking views and easy access to the park’s trailheads and lakes.
However, Glacier National Park gets quite busy in the summer, and the lodges and motels are often sold out. I highly recommend planning and making your reservations well in advance.
Glacier National Park Lodges & Motels
- Apgar Village Lodge: Located on the west side, the Apgar Village Lodge is known for its stunning views and offers rustic rooms with modest amenities.
- Village Inn Motel: Rustic and comfortable rooms and cabins with spectacular views of the lake and basic amenities. However, there’s no airconditioning available in Village Inn Motel.
- Lake McDonald Lodge: Located on the west side of the park on Lake McDonald’s shore, the Lake McDonald Lodge is a historic lodge. With gorgeous lake views, several dining options, airconditioning, and the starting point of several tours in the park, including Red Bus Tours, Boat cruises, and several other ranger-led programs, Lake McDonald Lodge is my favorite place to stay in Glacier National Park.
- Motel Lake McDonald: The Motel Lake McDonald is another lodging choice on the banks of Lake McDonald. Besides the incredible lake views, the motel offers basic amenities and comfortable rooms.
- Many Glacier Hotel: Located on Swiftcurrent Lake’s shores on the park’s northeast side, the Many Glacier Hotel offers guest rooms with the park’s most stunning views. The Many Glacier Hotel offers gorgeous views of the turquoise Swiftcurrent Lake, quite a few dining options, Red Bus Tours, Boat Cruises, ranger-led programs, and other basic amenities.
- Swiftcurrent Motor Inn: Located just a mile from the Many Glacier Hotel, the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn offers rustic cabins and motel rooms with basic amenities and access to several hiking trails.
- Rising Sun Motor Inn: Located on the east side, near the Saint Mary Visitor Center and the beautiful Saint Mary lake, the Rising Sun Motor Inn offers rustic cabins and rooms with basic amenities.
- Glacier National Park Chalets:Β There’re two backcountry chalets in Glacier National Park that can be used for overnight stays on long backcountry hikes. The chalets are nothing fancy but rustic rooms with very basic amenities and can be booked online Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet.
Lodging Options Outside Glacier National Park
Staying inside the park, undoubtedly, is the best option, but as mentioned earlier, if not planned and reserved in advance, it’s quite challenging to get a room in the lodges inside Glacier National Park.
If you weren’t able to reserve your stay inside the park, your next best lodging options are in the nearby town of Whitefish, Kalispell on the west of the park, and a few hotels and bread and breakfasts on the east of Glacier National Park.
Hotels Near West Glacier
- Whitefish: Located about 30 miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park, Whitefish is home to a few good hotels, including The Firebrand Hotel, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Hampton Inn & Suites Whitefish, Grouse Mountain Lodge, and a few others.
- Kalispell: Located 35 miles from the west entrance, Kalispell is home to a few chain hotels and bread and breakfasts near Glacier National Park, including Hilton Garden Inn Kalispell, Hampton Inn Kalispell, and Homewood Suites by Hilton Kalispell.
Hotels Near East Glacier
There’re a few hotels and bread and breakfasts near Glacier National Park’s east entrance, including Glacier Park Lodge, Dancing Bears Inn, and Bear Creek Guest Ranch.
You will find a few excellent dining choices inside the park with great views, but only during the summer months!
Dining Options Inside Glacier National Park
There’re a few great dining choices inside the Glacier National Park offered at several park lodges featuring good food with great views of the park. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or fine dining, you will find it in one of Glacier National Park’s restaurants.
Lake McDonald Lodge
- Jammer Joe’s Grill & Pizzeria
- Lucke’s Lounge
- Russell’s Fireside Dining Room
Apgar Village
- Eddie’s Cafe
The Many Glacier Hotel
- The Ptarmigan Dining Room
- Swiss Lounge
- Heidi’s Snack Shop & Espresso Stand
Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins
- Two Dog Flats Grill
Dining Options Outside Glacier National Park
Outside the park, you will find restaurants and cafes in the town of Whitefish, Kalispell on the west of the park, and a few options in Browning located on the east of the park.
Other Montana Attractions & Related Posts
I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Glacier National Park, and I hope this will help you plan your trip to Glacier National Park. You can find other attractions and things to do in Montana in my Montana Travel Guide.
Happy feeding your soul!
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