Glacier National Park
With glacier-capped mountains, dazzling aquamarine lakes, and some of the most exciting hiking trails in the country, itโs no wonder that Glacier National Park is called the โCrown of the Continent.โ
Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the best scenic drives in the United States. Along the way, you get jaw-dropping views from the overlooks as the road twists and turns through the mountains.
But this is also the type of national park that just begs you to get out of the car and go exploring. Take a boat ride across Lake McDonald, paddle a kayak on Swiftcurrent Lake, or take your pick from epic hiking trails scattered throughout the park.
This is one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States and we canโt wait to share it with you in this guide.
Glacier National Park Stats
Founded: May 11, 1910
Annual Visitors: 2.9 million. In 2023, Glacier was the 11th most visited national park in the USA.
Size: 1 million acres
Location: Montana
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
Notable Fact: Just across the border with Canada is Waterton Lakes National Park. Together, these two parks form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the worldโs first international peace park.
Top Ten Experiences in Glacier
10 Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park
A detailed guide to the 10 best experiences in Glacier National Park.
Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is one of the best things to do in Glacier National Park. For 50 miles, this road twists and turns through the mountains and up and over the Continental Divide. It tops out at Logan Pass, where you can park, stretch your legs, enjoy the view, and even take your pick from several hiking trails that start here.
Visit Logan Pass. At 6,646 feet (2025 meters), Logan Pass is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road and part of the Continental Divide. This is the highest point in Glacier National Park that can be reached by car. Jagged mountains, fields of wildflowers, and the chance to see bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and other wildlife are the highlights.
Hike to Hidden Lake. This is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park. Not only do you get to see Hidden Lake, but thereโs a good chance that you will spot mountain goats and maybe even bighorn sheep.
Visit Many Glacier. This is a gorgeous area of the park. Numerous trails start here and this is one of the best places to see wildlife in Glacier National Park. If you are an avid hiker, plan on spending several days in this part of the park.
Hike to Grinnell Glacier. This hike has it all: stunning alpine scenery, waterfalls, emerald green lakes, a glacier, and a great chance to spot wildlife. We saw moose, mountain goats, and bear on this hike. This is a gorgeous hike every step of the way.
Iceberg Lake. Many people state that this is the best hike in the park. Starting in Many Glacier, itโs a 10-mile round trip hike to a stunning lake.
Visit Two Medicine. Two Medicine is less crowded than Many Glacier and Going-to-the-Sun Road. Itโs also a great place to go hiking.
Hike to Avalanche Lake. This trail starts at Trail of the Cedars and continues along Avalanche Creek until you get to Avalanche Lake. Itโs a wonderful hike with views of an alpine lake.
Spend some time at Lake McDonald. Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park. Visit the historic lodge, take a boat tour of the lake, or go hiking.
See Wild Goose Island. Wild Goose Island is a tiny island located on Saint Mary Lake and it is one of Glacierโs most photographed spots (it was used in the opening scenes of the movie The Shining).
ULTIMATE ADVENTURE
For the ultimate adventure in Glacier National Park, hike the Highline Trail. For almost 12 miles, this trail takes hikers high above Going-to-the-Sun Road, with stunning views of the park and a chance to see glaciers, alpine wildflowers, and wildlife. It is done point-to-point, so you never have to repeat the same views twice (not that you would mind on a hike like this).
Hikes in Glacier National Park
10 Great Hikes in Glacier NP | Easy Strolls to Jaw-Dropping Day Hikes
Glacier National Park is home to some of the most exciting hiking trails in the United States. The scenery in this national park is jaw-dropping and there is no better way to experience it than on your own two feet. Take your pick from easy strolls to spectacular alpine trails. Here are 10 of the […]
How to Hike to Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park
The hike to Grinnell Glacier is one of Glacier National Parkโs most beautiful hikes. This hike has it allโฆstunning alpine scenery, waterfalls, emerald green lakes, wildflowers, the chance to see wildlife, and of course, a glacier. On this hike, we spotted moose, mountain goats, and bear. The wildlife sightings and the gorgeous scenery made this […]
Highline Trail: Logan Pass to the Loop, Glacier National Park
The Highline Trail is one of Glacier National Parkโs best day hikes. For almost 12 miles, this trail takes hikers high above Going-to-the-Sun Road, with stunning views of the park and a chance to see glaciers, alpine wildflowers, and wildlife. Twelve miles may sound like a long way to hike, but these miles tick by […]
Vehicle Reservations
US National Parks that Require Reservations โ 2024 Guide
Glacier National Park requires timed entry reservations between May 24 and September 8. Learn more about how to get a reservation in our guide to the best things to do in Glacier National Park. We also cover these vehicle reservations, plus the other US National Parks that require an advance reservation of some sort, in our guide to National Parks that Require Advance Reservations.
When To Visit Glacier National Park
The park is open all year.
However, Going-to-the-Sun Road, the main road through the park, is only open during the summer months (typically from late June/early July through mid-October).
If you want to go hiking in Glacier National Park or if you want to be able to visit the entire park, you will have to plan your visit during this narrow window of time.
July and August are the busiest months to visit Glacier National Park. Crowds begin to lessen in September.
For good weather and low crowds, plan your visit between the end of September and early October.
Glacier National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in July, August, and September, since all the park roads are open during this time.
15 Best National Parks to Visit in July 2024 (USA)
Which are the best national parks to visit in July? In this guide, we list 15 great parks to visit in the USA. Go hiking in Mount Rainier and Glacier National Parks, go whale watching in the Channel Islands, and venture into Alaska for some amazing adventures. About this National Park Series This article is […]
15 Best National Parks to Visit in August 2024 (USA)
Planning a trip to the US national parks in August and donโt know which ones to visit? August is a busy time to visit the national parks, but crowd levels arenโt quite at their peak (that typically happens in July for many parks). In this guide, we list some popular summertime parks to visit plus […]
12 Best National Parks to Visit in September 2024 (USA)
September is one of the best months of the year to visit the national parks. The weather is fantastic across much of the USA, the busy summer season is coming to an end, and, in some parks, you can see the first of the fall colors. In this guide, we list 12 of the best […]
How Many Days Should You Spend in Glacier?
The Ultimate Glacier National Park Itinerary for 1 to 5 Days
Ideally, plan on spending at least two days in Glacier National Park. This gives you enough time to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike one or two trails, and visit the Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas.
Every day you add to Glacier National Park gives you more time for hiking, to explore more regions of the park, or day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park.
Road Trip Itinerary with Glacier
Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary
Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks are three of the top national parks to visit in the United States. With 10 days, you can visit all of them on an epic road trip.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
Waterton Lakes, which is located in Canada, feels like a quieter, mellower version of Glacier National Park.
Hiking and biking are popular things to do here, as well as some experiences you wouldnโt expect to have in a national park. Have high tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, go shopping at the boutique stores in the town of Waterton, or take your pick from one of many great restaurants in town. One of the best things to do is to take a guided boat tour on Waterton Lake. You will cross the border back into the United States, see remote Goat Haunt, and look for wildlife.
Glacier National Park Map
Glacier National Park Photos
US National Parks List
In our US National Parks List, get information on all of the US national parks, including interesting facts, the most and least visited national parks, and a FREE printable national parks checklist with map.
Ultimate US National Parks List for 2024 (+ Printable Checklist)
