Glacier National Park is one of those places that is a photo opportunity at every turn. It is like nature is constantly showing off and it’s spectacular!
It quickly became one of my favorite national parks to date and my favorite place in the US for nature and there is so much to explore you will need to come back (often) to see it all. And after one visit you will want to keep coming back over and over again.
What makes Glacier National Park special?
Alright, this is an obvious answer. It’s the glaciers….but it is also some of the most incredible forest and mountains I have had the pleasure of experiencing. There is literally a photo opportunity at every turn.
In 1850, there were 150 glaciers, now, because of rising temperatures with climate change, there are only 25 remaining. The largest glacier remaining in the park is Blackfoot Glacier at 0.7 square miles.
The Basics about Glacier National Park
Getting there and getting around
Location: Montana, USA
Depending on where you want to spend your time there are a couple entrances to the park, seven actually with only 3 connecting to the Going to the Sun road, the west entrance, Saint Mary entrance and the Camas Creek entrance. I highly recommend checking out the going to the sun road. You can bike, drive or take one of the tour vehicles. It is also the only road that crosses the continental divide. There is also a free park shuttle in the summer months to help get you to the trails without fighting for a parking space in the overflowing parking lots.
Staying in the west glacier area gives you easy access to Lake McDonald and St Mary. It’s about a 45-minute drive to Logan Pass as well, where the Highline Trail starts.
Staying in east glacier you will have access to Many Glacier and Two Medicine and is probably around a 30-minute drive to Logan Pass. The main entrance to the east side of the park is the Saint Mary entrance. It’s complicated, I know, and honestly, their maps don’t make it any clearer and I had a hard time finding information online on how to get where. I hope this post helps clear some of that up.
How much does it cost?
*These are summer rates
For a private car for 7 days = $35
For an individual (bike, walking) for a 7-day pass = $20
Motorcycle for a 7-day pass = $30
You can also use your America the beautiful national parks pass here if you have one (great to have if you plan to visit multiple National Parks this year).
When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?
The park is open year-round but naturally the summer, starting in late June, is glorious with beautiful weather and blooming wildflowers but due to immense crowds you now require reservations during peak season. I visited at the end of September, though parking at Logan Pass parking lot could still be a challenge if you don’t get there early enough it was much quieter.
Also, the fall foliage at this time of year is spectacular at the park. Keep in mind, if you do visit in late September or early October, there will be significantly fewer amenities within the park. The shuttle no longer runs, none of the lodges are open and there are no restaurants and you have to start watching the weather conditions. The going to the sun road closes during winter, because it would be extremely dangerous driving along this scenic drive that is an unmaintained cliff road.
How many days should you spend there?
You could spend a long time here. There is just so much to see. If you only have a few days, however, you need to go in with a plan. Pick one or two areas to check out and stick to it, otherwise you will just spend your whole time driving and not really getting to experience the park.
In my first visit I stuck to hikes from the Going to the Sun road, exploring Lake McDonald and St Mary as well as Logans Pass. That was in 3-days.
Other popular areas are Many Glacier and Two Medicine, which you could do together and forgo the others.
Where to stay
During the summer there are a number of lodges within the park but you need to book them about a year in advance if you want to get a place. You are also going to pay a premium for them.
I stayed in West Glacier, a 4-minute drive from the park entrance. There are a few options here with a couple lodges and an RV park that also has these amazing cabins. The cabins aren’t cheap either, but they have a kitchen and everything you might need. I highly recommend them.
Breakdown of the areas to visit
If you have never been to Glacier National Park before it can be challenging to figure out the setup. The maps aren’t great and piecing the whole park together is not easy. Below are the different areas you can visit in the park.
They are not all easily connected; some you need to leave the park and drive to another area and some you can explore by following the Going to the Sun Road.
- Many Glacier
- Lake McDonald
- Two Medicine
- North Fork/Goat Haunt
- Mary
The abundant wildlife in Glacier National Park
This park is full of incredible wildlife, but don’t take it lightly. There are both grizzly bears and black bears. It is required that when visiting the park you carry bear spray with you. It’s not a joke. And no you cannot rent bear spray, but most places outside the park sell it and it will cost you around $50. But it could also save your life.
But that wasn’t meant to deter you. I did not see a single bear during my visit, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Bears, more often than not, are more scared of you than you are of them.
There are also deer, mountain goats and sheep and if you’re lucky you can see golden eagles soring overhead. More often than not you will see at least one of these species while out hiking.
Best things to do in Glacier National Park
Drive along the Going to the Sun Road
This is one of the best ways to see the park and a great time to start is early morning so you have the best chance to spot some wildlife. Without stopping, it takes around 2 hours to drive the entire road due to the winding and narrow nature of the road. But make sure to stop along the Going to the Sun road, because there is a lot to see. There are plenty of opportunities to pull off and see overlooks of various glaciers and mountains and is one of the best things to do in the park if you aren’t into hiking.
Hiking in Glacier National Park
There are 700 miles of trails in Glacier National Park, which is why you can’t see it all in a day. It is one of the best places for a huge diversity of trail types and environments. Some of the best hikes in Glacier National Park, if you are looking for day hikes, are the Trail of the Cedars combined with the Avalanche Lake trail and the hike to Virginia Falls. For some of the best views, check out the highline trail and Hidden Lake trail.
Concluding Thoughts
This park is an outdoor lovers dream. Incredible nature, technical and easy hikes, plenty of lookoffs to check out, and an abundance of wild animals. To me that spells the perfect park.
Added bonus, if you don’t get enough Glacier National Park on the US side there is a continuation of the park in Canada called Watertown Lakes National Park!
