A Visitor’s Guide to Glacier National Park: How to Make the Most of your Trip
In this comprehensive visitor’s guide to Glacier National Park, you’ll find everything you need to know in one place! We’ve got information about the basic layout of the park, the vehicle permit process, and things to do in Glacier National Park. We’ve also included maps, photos, and information on flights to Glacier National Park. Read on to learn how to make the most of your trip!
Introduction
Without a doubt, Glacier National Park is one of America’s best national parks! With stunning views, abundant wildlife, myriad activities, and even a spring season just for hikers and bikers, there is something for every type of visitor.
Throughout this article we’ll have plenty of Glacier National Park photos! We’ve also included a dedicated section at the end for photos of the Park. Be sure to check out our Instagram for photos of Glacier National Park as well!
Table of Contents
- Basics of Glacier National Park
- Flights to Glacier National Park
- Glacier National Park Weather
- Vehicle Permits in Glacier National Park
- Glacier National Park Lodging
- Going to the Sun Road
- Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
- Glacier National Park Maps
- Things To Do in Glacier National Park
- Itinerary for Glacier National Park
- Glacier National Park Photos
- Final Thoughts on Glacier National Park
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Basics of Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is located in western Montana. Named a US National Park in 1910, Glacier National Park is amongst my favorites, of the parks I’ve visited. The mountain formations are absolutely beautiful, and of course, Urmi and I are also interested in seeing the wildlife!
Areas of Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park has numerous areas. Here, we’ll highlight the 3 most important areas to know about: West Glacier, East Glacier, and Many Glacier.
West Glacier
West Glacier is by far the most popular section of Glacier National Park. No doubt this is in part because West Glacier is only a 35 minute drive from Kalispell airport, the closest airport to Glacier National Park.
On the plus side, this means that towns near the West entrance have the most developed infrastructure. You’ll find more accommodations availability, more restaurants, more shopping, and so on.
On the down side, you also have more crowds. In fact, we sat in standstill traffic for an hour inside the Park’s West entrance. Yes, you read that right! Accordingly, the West entrance to the Going to the Sun Road has the earliest date for vehicle permits.
Overall, West Glacier is a great place to stay and, if you’re willing to deal with the crowds, offers some of the most majestic views you’ll find in the world.
East Glacier
Visitors can access East Glacier either via highways that run through Flathead National Forest, or via the Going to the Sun Road after it opens to cars. Surprisingly, though the Going to the Sun Road is 40 miles shorter, the slow speed limits make it take just as long time-wise!
There are numerous major advantages to staying near East Glacier:
- crowding is considerably better
- you don’t need a vehicle permit to enter till July, and yet you’ll still be able to drive to West Glacier (after the Going to the Sun Road opens, or otherwise via the highways)
- you’ll be within a stone’s throw–about 15 miles–of both Two Medicine and Many Glacier
If we were to book this trip again, we’d almost definitely stay near East Glacier for the whole trip.
Many Glacier
Many Glacier is famous not only for having the most wildlife in Glacier National Park, but also some of the greatest viewing opportunities for wildlife in Montana as a whole! We had multiple bear sightings in Many Glacier!
Many Glacier is considered by some to have the best views in the entire park. Another advantage to Many Glacier is the great number of trailheads leaving right from Many Glacier Hotel and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn! In other words, unlike other trailheads or areas of the park, you don’t have to worry about transporting yourself (by car or shuttle) to the trailheads.
Flights to Glacier National Park
The airport closest to Glacier National Park is Glacier International Airport in Kalispell, MT (code FCA). This airport is just a 35 minute drive from West Glacier, MT. Another option for West Glacier is Missoula, MT (MSO).
For East Glacier and Many Glacier, you can also consider Great Falls, MT (GTF). The drive from Great Falls is about equivalent to the drive from Kalispell.
All 3 of these airports are served by major US carriers.
Glacier National Park Weather
Like that of many mountainous regions, summer daytime weather in Glacier National Park can be very pleasant (in the 80s, even). Nighttime temperatures can drop as low as 40 at night. Layers are key, to keep yourself comfortable all day.
Perhaps more importantly, weather in GNP can be highly unpredictable! We hiked for an hour to Iceberg Lake in hail till beautiful skies blessed us for the rest of the day.
Because of the unpredictable weather, we strongly recommend you build flexibility into your travel plans, if possible. Thick mountain fog can cover your views of the landscapes, and rain can make hiking miserable (if not risky). Flexibility allows you to switch activities around to meet changing weather conditions!
Vehicle Permits in Glacier National Park
Like other popular national parks like Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park operates a permitting process for vehicles entering the park, depending on the specific entrance and the date of entry. The NPS sells passes months in advance, with a “small” number reserved to be sold the prior day. (For example, tickets for July 15-17 will open up on July 14 at 8:00 AM MST.) Tickets are valid for 3 days and can be purchased at www.recreation.gov.
We found that it was quite easy to get permits online the prior day, if you haven’t done your planning in advance (which we admittedly hadn’t!).
Alternatively, you automatically receive a vehicle permit for a section of the park if you have an activity booked in that section of the park. For example, if you booked a boat ride in Many Glacier, you’d be allowed to enter the Many Glacier section of the park the day of your boat ride, but you wouldn’t be able to enter the Going to the Sun Road.
Finally, if you are unable to get a permit, you can still use the NPS shuttle throughout the park.
Please note, the vehicle permits are separate from tickets to Glacier National Park, which require either a separate purchase or an interagency pass such as the America the Beautiful pass.
Glacier National Park Lodging
Glacier National Park lodging generally falls into 3 categories:
- Glacier National Park hotels/lodges within Park boundaries
- Campgrounds within Park boundaries
- Hotels outside Park boundaries
I’ll note here that I saw no shortage of pull-outs along the highways where RVs were parked. I don’t know if these are campgrounds requiring permits, or if Flathead National Forest administers them, or something else.
Below are some specifics for where to stay in Glacier National Park.
West Glacier Lodging
West Glacier hotels and lodging are plentiful, due to the higher volume of tourists. Here are a couple options:
- Paddle Ridge: An “Entire Home” as listed on Expedia/Hotels.com, this beautiful and highly-rated accommodation in West Glacier offers you a super convenient location to the West entrance.
- West Glacier Cabin Village: This is where we stayed during our trip to West Glacier. We really loved the cabin and would definitely stay again!
East Glacier Lodging
- St. Mary Village: This is a perfect location for access to the East entrance of Going to the Sun Road. The hotel is closed after September 30.
Many Glacier Lodging
- Many Glacier Hotel: This is one of the hotels in Glacier National Park. If you are able to nab a room in the coveted Many Glacier Hotel, you’ll have access to many trailheads right next to the hotel. The hotel is nice, but certainly more expensive than most hotels of this quality. Primarily, you are paying for the location. Well worth the price!
- Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins: A little more affordable than the Many Glacier Hotel, you can rent a cabin here, but be aware – you will be using a shared bathroom. Again, you are primarily paying for the location!
Going to the Sun Road
A National Historic Landmark, the Going to the Sun Road connects West Glacier and East Glacier. It opens to cars past Avalanche Loop from a date in June or July. The NPS determines the opening date every year based on weather conditions, and usually closes the road in October.
From May until the Going to the Sun Road opens to cars–also known as “Hiker-Biker season”–tourists are welcome to hike or bike the sections of the road that are clear of snow. Since the road was built when cars were still new technology, the grade is actually quite low! In other words, biking the Going to the Sun Road is a great opportunity for an active experience without needing a strong cycling background.
If you are the type that would still prefer to drive it, continue reading to learn about Going to the Sun Road “tickets” for your car.
Vehicles on the Going to the Sun Road
Vehicles are generally allowed from the West entrance up to Avalanche Loop year-round.
In the late spring, the National Park Service will begin plowing the Going to the Sun Road to clear the snow for the summer season. The date the road opens ranges from late June to mid-July every year. The NPS does not determine the date in advance, but rather makes the decision uniquely every year based on weather conditions and snow plow progress.
Visitors wishing to bring their own vehicles into the park need to purchase a permit in advance. Permits are sold months ahead of time, but the NPS holds tickets to be sold the prior day. Unlike the case for many other parks, we found that it was easy to purchase a permit the day before, if you didn’t do so far in advance.
Note that your permit is valid for 3 days, so if for example you’re trying to see the road on August 18th, you could get a permit that starts on August 16, 17, or 18.
You automatically receive a vehicle permit if you have any type of reservation in the park, including a reserved activity or lodging.
To purchase tickets/permits to drive your car on Going to the Sun Road, please visit www.recreation.gov.
Biking the Going to the Sun Road
Until the plows totally clear the snow, and the NPS determines it is safe for vehicles for the summer season, only hikers and bikers can travel past Avalanche Loop from the West side. This season is (perhaps unsurprisingly!) also called Hiker-Biker season.
Hiker-Biker season is the perfect time to attempt biking the Going to the Sun Road! Cyclists aren’t permitted to bike the entire road, but they are permitted between Avalanche Loop and the point where the snow plows are working. The NPS website posts updates every Thursday in the spring, so you can find the latest information every season.
Of course, since cars won’t yet be allowed on the road past Avalanche Loop during Hiker-Biker season, you won’t have to worry about biking in car traffic.
Bikes are also permitted on the Going to the Sun Road after the road opens to cars, but have many restrictions. For example, some parts of the road won’t allow cyclists between 11 am – 4 pm.
I’m unaware of any other park that has a road perfect for biking (due to its gentle incline), that also closes the road to cars. Biking the GTSR may possibly be one of the most unique things to do in the whole country!
Insider Info on Biking the Going to the Sun Road
You have 2 choices for getting your bikes to Avalanche Loop: either transport them on your vehicle by placing a rack on the top of your car, or taking the shuttle offered by Glacier Outfitters. Both offer their pros and cons. You can find cheaper bike rentals farther from West Glacier, but do you want to deal with the hassle of getting the bikes on top of your car? We booked the shuttle, which wasn’t cheap, and which required a strict schedule. A small price to pay to avoid hard work after a long bike ride!
Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park has a range of hikes, from easy to difficult. Hikes on the Going to the Sun Road are popular, but if you’re looking for Glacier National Park’s best hikes off the beaten path, we recommend the following. You can also find a collection of trail maps of Glacier National Park in the subsequent section.
Red Rocks
Red Rocks is an easy-moderate hike, 3.6 miles and 1.5-2 hours. It leaves from Swiftcurrent Motor Inn in Many Glacier. This hike is hugely popular for its wildlife opportunities!
Grinnell Lake
An 11 mile hike if leaving from the hotel, there’s actually a shortcut. If you take the Many Glacier boat tour, you can skip the long parts of the hike along Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. A moose cow and calf came within spitting distance of us while we waited for the return boat!
Iceberg Lake
Iceberg Lake has stunning views all throughout, before the feature presentation at the end! It takes approximately 5 – 5.5 hours round trip on moderate-hard terrain. While we saw many others hiking without poles, we have both injured ourselves in recent years on slippery terrain. We never go hiking without a great set of hiking poles, such as the Leki Makalu.
A Quick Note on Bears in Glacier National Park
Of note, Glacier National Park is bear country! In fact, it’s got the densest bear population in the lower 48 states. For wildlife observers, this can be a dream come true if going to Alaska is impossible for you!
Of course, you do want to observe bears safely. Most experts, including the NPS, will caution you to carry bear spray. While you can certainly buy or rent spray, these options are expensive, so we offer the following pro tip: try calling your hotel in advance to see if they have any bear spray they lend for free.
You can also try asking your rental car agency when you pick up your car! Our agency made a special trip to their back area just to get us bear spray that previous customers had left behind. We easily saved ourselves over $100 in bear spray purchases for our trip!
Glacier National Park Maps
I’m placing here a central repository of maps of Glacier National Park trails. (Unfortunately, the NPS website is quite difficult to navigate when it comes to maps of the park.)
I strongly recommend you download any relevant maps to your device. I’d also recommend you download an offline version of (for example) Google Maps. Cell signal is mostly nonexistent within the park and surrounding areas, even on the highways.
For each of these Glacier National Park maps, right-click to save them as images, or click the image to access the relevant NPS page. You can download pdf versions of the same maps from the NPS pages.
Finally, you can download a single file with all 4 areas of the park here: Glacier National Park Trail Map. You can also request a paper copy of this map when you enter the park.
West Glacier / Lake McDonald Trail Map
East Glacier / St. Mary Trail Map
East Glacier / Two Medicine Trail Map
Many Glacier Trail Map
Things To Do in Glacier National Park
Compared to many other National Parks, Glacier (in my opinion) has a much more diverse set of activities that pertain to visitors of all types. Here are some things to do in Glacier National Park:
Tour the Going to the Sun Road
Whether by car or bus, seeing the Going to the Sun Road is a must-do when visiting GNP! There are frequent lookouts containing some of the most beautiful mountain views on the planet. It really is a blessing to have scenery like this in our country!
Bike the Going to the Sun Road
As mentioned above, biking the Going to the Sun Road is a unique experience you won’t find in other National Parks, since the road has a dedicated Hiker-Biker season during which there are no cars!
Take a Boat Tour
A variety of boat tours exist around Glacier National Park. We recommend the Many Glacier boat tour, which actually had 2 boat rides split up by a 15-minute hike. At the end of the second boat ride, you can get off the boat and spend several hours hiking, before returning on a later scheduled boat of your choice!
Hike a Beautiful Trail
No doubt one of the best ways to enjoy the park! There are plenty of short, easy hikes in Glacier National Park if you prefer that – and of course, more challenging hikes for experienced hikers. Read about our recommended best hikes in GNP!
Go Horseback Riding
If long hikes are too exhausting for you, consider trying them by horse! Having tried horseback riding in Wyoming and again in Belize, we couldn’t turn down the opportunity in GNP. We saw some really incredible views from Cracker Flats, which was closed to hikers!
Observe the Wildlife
Glacier National Park is probably the best place to observe wildlife in Montana! As mentioned earlier, the Park has the densest concentration of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. Other animals you may be excited to view include moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles. You’ll find wildlife all over the park, but Many Glacier is considered to be the best of the best!
Take a Scenic Float or Whitewater Raft on the Flathead River
Strictly speaking, these tours aren’t within Park boundaries. Nevertheless, we include it because some travelers may wish to see other things in the area, or may even just be unable to get permits into the park. Whitewater rafting is unavailable in the Park itself, so if you’re the adventurous type, you’ll have to do it outside the park!
We recommend this scenic float tour, or if you prefer whitewater rafting, you can try this half-day whitewater raft trip, or this full-day trip with an included lunch!
Itinerary for Glacier National Park
If you’re wondering how long you need to see Glacier National Park, you can do a bare bones trip in 3 days. We’d recommend 5-7 days to account for unpredictable weather, incorporating some flexibility into your plans where possible.
The following itinerary should give you a comprehensive visit. Keep in mind you can swap the order of any individual day! Daylight is long, especially around the summer solstice, so take full advantage!
- Day 1: Take your flight to Glacier National Park
- Day 2: Scenic Float on Flathead River, then drive the Going to the Sun Road west of Logan Pass
- Day 3: Horseback riding in Many Glacier in the morning, afternoon boat tour & hike to Grinnell Lake
- Day 4: Tour Two Medicine and enjoy a hike
- Day 5: Drive the Going to the Sun Road east of Logan Pass, include 1-2 hikes
- Day 6: Hike Iceberg Lake and/or another full-day hike
- Day 7: Return home 😢
Glacier National Park Photos
Need motivation to actually visit? Or perhaps this trip is out of reach for now, but you still want to experience the majestic views? Check out our Glacier National Park photos! All images are ours, unless otherwise noted.
Final Thoughts on Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park may be my favorite National Park in the lower 48 states. Incredible landscapes, fun hikes, abundant wildlife, and a host of varied outdoor activities truly makes this park appeal to everyone. I hope you found this guide useful!