Called the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier National Park is one of the highlights of the National Park System.  Located in northern Montana along the border with Canada, Glacier is one of the most rugged regions of the Rocky Mountains.  The mountains here have been carved out by intense glaciation, so visitors are graced with views of some of the most dramatic mountains in North America.

Named for the glaciers that sculpted this place, Glacier National Park contains one of the greatest concentrations of glaciers in the lower 48.  While in scale the glaciers here pale in comparison to the behemoths of Alaska and the polar regions, it full fledged glacier is a pretty cool thing to see.  Hurry though because they’re shrinking quickly!

What Glacier National Park Is Known For

Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass if you’re visiting Glacier National Park!

The main attraction of visiting Glacier National Park is the dramatically jagged mountain peaks contained in this massive wilderness.  Shaped by millenia of snow and ice, the peaks here are much more severe than most of the other mountains of North America.  Compared to the hulking bulk of the Colorado Rockies, the dry and barren peaks of the southwest, and even the severe Eastern Sierra, the Northern Rocky Mountains here are truly dramatic.

Beyond the beauty of the mountains themselves, the magic is increased by the presence of the glaciers that carved them.  With 25 glaciers still active today, this is one of the best places in the lower 48 to see real life glaciers.  Seeing one up close will require a lengthy hike, but if you’ve never been up close to an active glacier, it’s well worth your time!

Finally, the wildlife in this ecosystem rivals even Yellowstone.  While you are not likely to encounter bison in Glacier, you may be more likely to see some of the other large mammals up close here than Yellowstone.  Grizzly encounters are frequent, and moose frequently are spotted on the trails.  You must always be bear safe in Glacier!

Why You Should Go

If you are looking to experience one of the greatest wild ecosystems in the United States, Glacier National Park deserves your visit!  Those of you who would like to see a Grizzly up close and personal should definitely consider a trip to Glacier!

Beyond the wildlife, the geologic natural beauty here rivals anywhere in the country.  If you prefer to see it from the comfort of your own car, away from the bears, Going to the Sun Road is one of the best drives in the country.  If you’re an avid hiker or climber, Glacier has some of the best hiking trails I’ve ever been on, and the climbing opportunities are almost endless.

Bottom line: if you are an outdoor enthusiast and you have not made a visit to the Crown of the Continent, you need to visit Glacier National Park.  Or, if you are just someone looking for their next vacation destination, Glacier should be right at the top of your list!

Planning a road trip?  We’ve got all the planning tips you need!

The Good

• The views.  Pretty much wherever you go in Glacier, you are going to be graced by some amazing mountain views.  And the great thing is you don’t really have to work for them!  Driving the roads in Glacier will take you to some of the best viewpoints in the park, and if you do want to work for it, they just get better!
• The hiking.  With 734 miles of hiking trails, I promise you will find a trail that excites you.  From flat easy walks through the woods, to steep scrambles, to long distance backpacking loops, there is a trail here for everyone.  The hiking here honestly is incredible, and for me it’s easily a top 3 hiking destination in the country.
• The climbing.  While the rock in Glacier is notoriously bad, the climbing opportunities are essentially endless.  If peak bagging is your thing, there are loads of mountain peaks that range in difficulty from walk ups to multi pitch climbs that can take multiple days.  If you want to climb rocks, this is a really good place to do it.
• The quiet.  I’m not going to lie, the main trails in Glacier are rarely empty, and I’m not saying you are going to have the whole park to yourself during your visit, but compared to other national parks of this quality, there’s basically no one!  Parks like Zion, Yosemite, and Rocky Mountain are practically crawling with people.  Because of its isolation and relative inaccessibility, Glacier does not suffer from the same level of overcrowding as the other gems of the National Park System.

The Bad

• Getting there.  While I do consider it a positive that Glacier is so isolated, it does make it kind of a pain to get there.  Northern Montana isn’t exactly close to a bunch of major cities, so you’re either looking at a very long drive, or multiple flights into small Montana airports.  It keeps the crowds away, but it might keep you away too!
• The snow.  I know, I know, lots of people love the snow and the cold and winter.  I am not one of those people.  The northern Montana winter is brutally cold, and Glacier gets a lot of snow that sticks around well into summer.  If you’re a skier or snowboarder, its great!  If you’re a hiker or climber, the snow is mostly just a pain.  Many of the best trails in Glacier will be snow covered into July, so be aware of that when planning your trip.

How Much Time To Spend In Glacier National Park

Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!

Glacier is massive, and the reality is you could easily spend an entire summer here and still not see everything.  That being said, the minimum amount of time you should spend in Glacier depends on what you’re doing and what your goals are.

If you’re just driving through Glacier as a part of a larger road trip, then you would be fine with just spending the day, or even a morning or afternoon.  Going to the Sun Road traverses the park from east to west, and if you are just driving through, it will be on this road.  The drive is legitimately fantastic, and you will drive down narrow roads with massive drop offs just beyond the guard rails!  If you only have a day, you can still see some of the highlights via this drive.

If you are going to visit Glacier and want to see the highlights, you will need at least a few days.  If you just want to see the absolute best of Glacier, I think you could probably hike the iconic trails in 3-4 days.  Obviously, you will be missing out on a ton of great stuff, but you could hit the highlights in a few days.

I think the real question for potential visitors is are there enough things to do in Glacier to keep me entertained for a week, and the answer most definitely yes.  There’s a year’s worth of hiking and climbing.  There is whitewater rafting.  You could go horseback riding.  Glacier is definitely capable of being the focus of a week long trip!

What Time Of Year To Visit

If you want to ski or snowboard or snowmobile, then visit in the winter, but I don’t want to do any of those things, so I am going to talk about the warmer season!

Glacier is very far north, and as such experiences extremely cold winters and gets a ton of snow.  Due to this, summer comes pretty late.  While temperatures may be pleasant in the spring months of April and May (or it might be freezing), there will certainly still be a large amount of snow in the mountains, and hiking and climbing will be quite difficult, and many trails may be closed outright.

With June comes the summer, and temperatures will be mostly pleasant, but at higher elevations, there will most likely still be large amounts of snow.  If it was me and I wanted to hike in Glacier, I would not go in June.  You might get lucky and the trails could be open, or there could still be a ton of snow and everything might be closed.  

By July, most of the snow will be gone, and the peak season for visiting Glacier begins.  July and August are definitely the busiest months, and for good reason.  The weather is the warmest, with highs most days in the 70’s and even 80’s.  The bulk of the snow is gone at higher elevations, and the trails will be open.  However, as it is peak season, this is the busiest time to visit Glacier. 

Off Season

An alternative to the peak months of July and August is to visit Glacier in September.  Many of the tourists have gone as schools start again, but the weather will mostly still be pleasant, and snow usually is not present at high elevations.  While it could snow, and winter storms are possible in September, this month gives you a really combination of good weather, good conditions, and low crowds.

For me, the best months to visit Glacier are August and September.  August will be a bit busier, but the weather is more reliably nice.  September will have fewer crowds, though there is a risk of early winter storms interrupting your visit.  

Depending on what you are looking for, there are lots of great times to visit Glacier, and the reality is you will probably have a great time no matter when you visit!

Top Things To Do

Don’t be rude; always following basic etiquette when on trail!

Go for a hike.  The hiking here rivals any hiking in North America, and there are over 700 miles of trails to choose from.  You are sure to find a trail that you like, and you’ll be hiking through one of the great natural areas in North America, alongside some of the great wildlife of North America as well!

Go rafting.  There are lots of rafting opportunities in this area as is the case with most mountain destinations.  If you’re feeling adventurous, try out whitewater rafting, or if you’re looking for a more relaxing day on the water there are lots of lakes that you could enjoy!  Be warned, the water is cold!

Go climbing.  If you’re interested in something a little more adventurous than hiking, climbing may be the answer!  There are places where you can do classic rock climbing, or you could get into more of the mountaineering side and summit some of Glacier’s peaks.  Be sure that you are adequately prepared and have the required skill level for your chosen route.  The rock in Glacier is notoriously bad, so what may seem easy could easily get you into trouble.

Best Hikes

Top Easy Hikes

Hidden Lake Overlook: 2.9 miles, 500 ft

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This short hike up to Hidden Lake Overlook is one of the best short hikes in Glacier.  From Logan Pass, the trail ascends up to the overlook with views over Hidden Lake.  While much of this hike is on boardwalks, it is a bit of a climb up to the viewpoint.  Continue down to Hidden Lake for a tougher hike.

McDonald Creek Trail: 5.6 Miles, 300 ft

This relatively flat hike begins at beautiful Lake McDonald and follows McDonald Creek upstream.  This hike is great for those looking for an easy walk in the woods, and will give you some really nice views for not a lot of work.

St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail: 4.9 miles, 250 ft

If you’re looking for waterfalls, this is a can’t miss hike in Glacier!  There is a bit of an incline near the end of the hike, but with only 250 feet of climbing, this trail should be manageable for most, and starting at Going to the Sun Road, it is very accessible! 

Top Moderate Hikes

Cracker Lake Trail: 12 miles, 1600 ft

The hike to Cracker Lake is one of the highlights in the park (honestly I might say that a lot!), and with only 1600 feet of climbing, it’s not overly difficult.  The payoff at Cracker Lake is an incredible view as the lake lies at the foot of the towering Mt Siyeh 4,000 feet above you.  Definitely a hike worth doing!

Avalanche Lake via the Trail of the Cedars: 6.7 miles, 750 ft

For some, this trail might fall into the easy category, but don’t think that the views aren’t great!  If you want great views, this hike should be near the top of your list, as Avalanche Lake is one of the iconic images of Glacier!

Bullhead Lake Trail: 6.9 miles, 400 ft

One of the lesser known hikes on this list, the trail to Bullhead Lake is similar to the hike to Avalanche Lake in distance, elevation gain, and the destination.  If you want impressive views of stunning lakes with tower peaks above, this is a great, quieter, option to consider!

Top Difficult Hikes

The Highline Trail to Grinnell Glacier Overlook: 15 miles, 3500 ft

Probably the most famous trail in Glacier, the Highline Trail needs to be on your to do list when visiting the park.  The Highline Trail itself is actually fairly flat for much of it, and as an out and back, it can be as long or short as you want; however, the hike up to Grinnell Glacier Overlook makes this a very strenuous hike.  If you want a new and thrilling experience, the cliff-like drop offs on this trail will get your heart beating!

Grinnell Glacier Trail: 11.2 miles, 2200 ft

One of my favorite hikes in the park, this hike will get you up close and personal with Grinnell Glacier, one of the larger glaciers left in the park.  To me, this is one of the rare trails with everything: great views throughout, exposure, wildlife, and an awesome final view!

Iceberg Lake Trail: 9.3 miles, 1500 ft

Possibly the most beautiful lake I have ever seen, the color of Iceberg Lake needs to be seen to be believed!  The striking blue water is truly stunning.  The hike to Iceberg Lake might be considered moderate, so you may want to also hike to the Ptarmigan Tunnel for more great views!

Dawson Pass and Pitamakan Pass Loop: 17.2 miles, 3600 ft

This hike is no joke.  At over 17 miles, this will definitely take you a full day to do!  This hike is in the less visited Two Medicine area, and because of its length, you will have fewer crowds than some other hikes like the Highline Trail.  Make sure you’re up to it, and if you are, you’ll have a great day in the mountains!

Accessibility

The accessibility page on Glacier’s official website has links to different categories of services provided at the park.  Categories include areas such as physical/mobility issues, deaf and hearing loss, blind/low vision, and service animals.

All shuttles in the Glacier shuttle system are ADA accessible, and ranger programs try to “engage multiple senses and learning styles.”

Top Tips

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• Drive all the way through Going to the Sun Road.  This is legitimately one of the best drives in the country, and even if you don’t actually need to, you should drive over it.  With narrow hairpin turns, massive drop offs, and at times non-existent shoulders, the drive can be stressful, but the views throughout are 100% worth seeing!
• Visit some of the different areas of the park.  Glacier is a very big park, and some of the regions of the park can take hours to drive between.  While many will probably spend most of their time along Logan Pass and Going to the Sun Road, try to explore some of the other areas of the park.  My personal favorite area of Glacier is the Many Glacier area, but you may also want to check out Two Medicine, or even the very remote northern reaches of the park.
• Be bear safe.  Grizzlies are everywhere, so please be aware of how to stay safe, and the different methods of reducing your chance of a negative bear encounter.  They’re out there, and that’s something you have to accept when venturing out in Glacier, but there are ways to stay safe and make sure you come home!
• Go hiking.  Even if you aren’t a huge hiker, Glacier is probably one of the top 3 hiking destinations in the lower 48, so get out on the trails!  

Where To Stay

Like Glacier?  You might be interested in Grand Teton National Park too!

Glacier is a big park, and it can take hours to drive across, so where you stay is a pretty big decision.  

The first thing you need to consider is where you want to do most of your hiking, and what parts of the park you want to spend the most time in.  If you stay on the west side of Glacier, but want to hike in Many Glacier, you could be looking at a 2 hour drive each way.  

Once you have figured out which part of the park you want to spend the most time in, there are a few different areas to choose from.

Many Glacier:  

Staying in Many Glacier unsurprising provides you with easy access to the Many Glacier area, and is not too far from Logan pass and Two Medicine.  Two Medicine is about 2 hours from West Glacier, so be sure that you don’t want to spend much time over there if you decide to stay in Many Glacier.

The classic places to stay at in Many Glacier are the Many Glacier Hotel,  Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, and the  Many Glacier Campground.  Be sure to book ahead of time!

East Glacier Park Village:  

Located near the east side of the park, East Glacier is the best place to stay if you want to explore the Two Medicine area.  Two Medicine is in the south east corner of the park, very close to East Glacier.  Additionally, Two Medicine is quite a drive from many of the other parts of the park, so I would definitely recommend staying in East Glacier if that is where you want to spend a lot of time!

East Glacier Park Village has a number of different accommodations, many of which are hotels and cabin rentals.  There are many to choose from, but I would highlight Glacier Park Lodge, and if you want to camp,  Two Medicine Campground is just inside the park boundaries on Two Medicine Lake!

West Glacier:

Fittingly on the west side of Glacier, West Glacier is the only major area on this side of the park.  If you want to primarily explore the western half of the park, this is definitely the place to be.  However, if you want to hike in Two Medicine or Many Glacier, it’s going to be quite a drive!

There are a number of different types of lodging in West Glacier.   The Glacier Outdoor Center has cabins for rent, and they also offer rafting and fishing tours.  For a rustic vibe just outside park boundaries,  check out Apgar Lodge & Cabins. 

There are tons and tons of campgrounds on this side of the park both inside and outside park boundaries, some to look at include  Glacier Campground outside the park,  Sprague Creek Campground within the park, and  West Glacier RV Park outside park boundaries.

St Mary:

For me, this is the place to be when staying in Glacier.  It gives you the best access to all of the different areas of the park.  It lies right on Going to the Sun Road, is not too far from Many Glacier or Two Medicine, and gives you the best access to West Glacier other than staying all the way over in West Glacier.

St Mary isn’t really even a town, it’s more a collection of campgrounds, resorts, and restaurants, but if accessing different areas of the park is your priority, then to me this is the place to be!

There are two busy campgrounds almost right next to each other here, Saint Mary Campground within park boundaries, and St Mary/East Glacier KOA.  Both are quite busy.  If you are looking for a quieter experience, check out Chewing Black Bones Campground.  The facilities are a bit rough, but its just a couple miles up the road, and there are some great tent sites right along a beautiful lake!  Look into St Mary Village or The Cottages at Glacier for indoor lodging options. 

Must See Spots:

• Hike the Highline Trail, at least a little bit.  You can tackle some one of the best hikes in the country with relatively little effort.  Starting at Logan Pass, the trail is pretty flat as it hugs the face of the Garden Wall.  This hike is a must see because of the massive drop offs along the trail.  There are no guardrails, and a slip would result in a very long fall!  Even if you turn around after a mile, it’s 100% worth seeing!
• Hike to at least one of Glacier’s alpine lakes.  The water here is incredible shades of blue depending on which lake you visit, and the best are situated in incredible valleys beneath Glacier’s highest peaks.  I highly recommend doing at least one of the following hikes: Avalanche Lake, Cracker Lake, or Iceberg Lake.  You won’t regret it!
• Drive the full length of Going to the Sun Road.  Consistently ranked one of, if not the best drive in America, it really is worth your time.  If going for a long drive doesn’t sound like your thing, do some of the short hikes along the way, or stop at the viewpoints.  There are plenty of places to stop and explore on the way!
• See the wildlife.  I can’t give you an exact place to see wildlife, but I can say you will give yourself the best chance by just getting out there!  Always be bear safe (insert link), because you are in grizzly country, but there are more than just bears to see here!  I personally have seen grizzly bears, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats in Glacier.  It is a wildlife viewing dream! 

Conclusion

Like this article?  Check out our full guide to Yellowstone National Park too!

The name Crown of the Continent is fitting for this place.  Glacier National Park is one of the greatest habitats in The United States, it has some of the most beautiful lakes and mountains in the United States, and it has some of the great hiking trails and climbing routes in The United States.  

Basically, you need to visit.

Whatever you like doing outdoors, you can do it here.  Climbing, hiking, rafting, biking, wildlife viewing, Glacier has it all.  The glaciers that this amazing place is named for are disappearing, so take a road trip, or get on a plane.  Either way, you need to visit Glacier National Park!