Glacier National Park in northwest Montana is known for its stunning scenery, plentiful wildlife, and rewarding hikes. With so many beautiful and exciting things to do, it’s hard to know what to prioritize!
Don’t miss out on the best that Glacier has to offer. I’m Linnea and I have lived and worked in Glacier National Park every summer of my life. I have spent the past decade guiding hikes and giving educational talks to park visitors of all ages. In my 25 summers of exploring, I have had many spectacular opportunities and experiences! Here are my top twelve things to do in and around Glacier National Park.
VISITING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK AND NEED A GAME PLAN? CHECK OUT OUR ITINERARY.
IMPORTANT: During summer 2025, the road past the Many Glacier Hotel T-intersection will be closed for construction. Trail access will still be allowed for trails such as Ptarmigan Tunnel (and points beyond), Iceberg Lake, and Swiftcurrent Pass, but the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, gift shop, restaurant, campground, and ranger station will be closed. Due to extremely limited parking during construction in the Swiftcurrent area, the park will restrict personal vehicle access into Many Glacier and provide a shuttle service for hikers to access Many Glacier. From July 1, 2025 to September 21, 2025, no general public entrance will be allowed in Many Glacier without a shuttle, commercial service, or lodging reservation. See the park construction page for more information. To use the hiker shuttle service, hikers will need to obtain a timed ticket for their party to board the shuttle. These tickets will be available on Recreation.gov beginning on June 24, 2025. More details on the Many Glacier hiker shuttle service are available here.
Avalanche Lake is one of the most iconic hikes in Glacier National Park. The trail features a lush cedar forest, waterfalls, wildlife viewing opportunities, and stunning mountain views from the trailhead to the lake. I have done this hike in June, August, and October. Each trip up to the lake was different and all were perfectly beautiful in their own way.
Avalanche Lake is one of the most popular trails in the park, for good reason, so make sure you arrive early to secure parking or consider using Glacier’s free shuttle system.
The trail is a 4.5-mile round-trip hike, making it a perfect half-day activity for families. Make sure to pack snacks, water, and your camera!
Just outside Glacier’s west entrance, you will find multiple raft companies offering both scenic and whitewater rafting trips:
Whitewater rafting is a fun and exciting way to experience the environment around Glacier. When I went whitewater rafting with my family, we took a float with Montana Raft Company. The water was so clear and the scenery was beautiful. The raft guides are knowledgeable, fun, and experienced which means you’re sure to have a great time!
One of the most wonderful things about visiting a national park is the opportunity to attend ranger-led programs. Interpretive park rangers lead guided hikes and give educational talks for anyone who wants to join, entirely for free!
Ranger-led activities help you to create a stronger connection to the land through education and unique experiences. These programs are also a fun way to meet and get to know other park visitors from all around the country and the world.
You can use the national park website to browse the ranger-led activities that will be going on while you are in Glacier. There are many options each day during the summer, so you will surely find something you enjoy!
I have spent hours and hours on a paddleboard in Lake McDonald and it never gets old. Lake McDonald is one of the most iconic locations in Glacier National Park. My favorite way to enjoy the views at this lake is to view it from the water! As you paddle around, you will be treated to views of spectacular mountains. Underneath, you will see rainbow-colored rocks through the crystal-clear water. Luckily, you don’t have to bring your own watercraft to Glacier for this experience.
Glacier Park Boat Company offers boat rentals in Apgar Village, at the foot of Lake McDonald. You can reserve your rental watercraft online ahead of time, or you can walk up and get a rental when you arrive. You can choose from kayaks, canoes, rowboats, motorboats, and paddleboards.
DON’T MISS: Glacier Park Boat Tours: An Expert’s Advice and Helpful Tips
If you enjoy delicious baked goods, spectacular mountain views, and friendly people, you should add Polebridge Mercantile to your Glacier itinerary. Polebridge Mercantile is located one mile outside of Glacier National Park and is renowned for its delicious pastries and quaint atmosphere.
The Mercantile is open from April to November and is accessible by a gorgeous (but slightly bumpy) drive up a dirt road toward the North Fork area of Glacier. Because the Mercantile is outside the park, there is no reservation required to get there. Make sure to get a huckleberry bear claw when you visit!
The Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in 1933 after two decades of planning and construction. When you drive this iconic road, you will understand why it took so long to dream up and construct!
The Going-to-the-Sun road is the only road that cuts through the center of Glacier National Park and you can drive it from either the east or west side of Glacier. This beautiful, winding, mountain road takes you around cliffs, through tunnels, and over the continental divide.
The high point of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is Logan Pass. At Logan Pass, there is a visitor center where you can get information, restrooms, and a couple of great hiking trail options. Logan Pass is also a common place to view wildlife like mountain goats and bighorn sheep, so make sure you bring your binoculars!
Because the Going-to-the-Sun Road traverses such treacherous, high-elevation terrain, it is not unusual for the road to remain closed due to snow hazards until well into July. Before your trip to Glacier, check the park website to make sure the road is open. If it isn’t, don’t worry! There is plenty to see and do in Glacier without driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Additionally, the Going-to-the-Sun Road requires a reservation during certain parts of the season and specific times of day. Visit the Glacier National Park Website to find the latest information on the vehicle reservation system.
FIND OUT: What to Do in Glacier When the Going-to-the-Sun Road is Closed
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Enjoy a relaxing guided tour of Many Glacier’s famously pristine lakes aboard historic wooden boats. Come aboard the Chief Two Guns and the Morning Eagle for a 90-minute round-trip cruise exploring Glacier’s robust history and stunning natural resources. Make your reservation here.
For those feeling more adventurous, disembark the Morning Eagle at the head of Lake Josephine and go for a hike to Grinnell Glacier. A short but strenuous 3.5-mile hike through fields of wildflowers and glacial moraine leads you to a beautiful viewpoint of the glacier. Be sure to bring your binoculars and keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife that populates this valley!
For more detailed information, check out our article about the Grinnell Glacier Boat Tour and Hike!
DON’T MISS: Glacier’s Iceberg Lake Trail: Quick & Easy Guide
After a long day of hiking, you will crave a delicious, filling meal. Dining options are limited on the east side of Glacier, but you can’t go wrong at Two Sisters! The atmosphere is fun, the food is great, and the location is convenient.
My favorite dinner items to order at Two Sisters are the pork banh mi sandwich, the red burger, and the chicken fried chicken. If you save room for dessert, make sure you order a huckleberry milkshake! Or, use my favorite strategy, and order dessert first.
Two Sisters is open from 4 pm to 9 pm most days, but make sure to check their schedule online before your visit.
Two Sisters is often very busy in the summer because good food is all anyone can think of at the end of a strenuous day of hiking. Be prepared to wait! Service is generally very quick though and I have never had to wait more than 45 minutes. While you wait for a table, you can order a drink and spend time outside with the restaurant’s resident dog, a sweet black lab.
While you are in Glacier, you will want to maximize your time spent outside by catching a sunrise or a sunset whenever you have the chance. Sunsets from the Wild Goose Island overlook on the Going-to-the-Sun Road are spectacular.
Wild Goose Island is a unique geological feature that exists in the middle of St. Mary Lake and is a very highly photographed location in the park. Chances are, you will recognize it when you see it!
Reservations are not required on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in the evening, so you don’t have to worry about that when you take a cruise up to Wild Goose Island for sunset.
Check the sunset time when you visit. It is probably later than you think! For a good portion of the summer, the sun sets well after 9 pm.
If you can’t make it to Wild Goose Island, Swiftcurrent Lake in Many Glacier or St. Mary Lake near the visitor center are both alternative and equally beautiful sunset locations to choose from. Truly, you can’t go wrong in Big Sky Country. Montana got that nickname for a reason!
DISCOVER: What is the Best Entrance for Glacier National Park?
If you would like to experience Going-to-the-Sun Road without doing all of the driving by yourself, consider taking a Sun Tour. Sun Tours offers daily Blackfeet interpretive tours through Glacier National Park on the Going to the Sun Road.
The Blackfeet called northwestern Montana home long before Glacier was ever a National Park. Learning about the park through that lens is not an opportunity to be overlooked.
I took a Sun Tour this past summer and it was an experience I will never forget. Even though I have lived in the park for my entire life, I learned so much and had a ton of fun. Our guide also happened to be a singer-songwriter, so he performed at a few of the stops along the road. It was fantastic!
Book your tour at Sun Tours to experience spectacular scenery, history, and culture.
If you have a day of dreary weather on your trip, consider making the drive out to the town of Browning just outside of Glacier to visit the Museum of the Plains Indian.
The Department of the Interior operates the Museum of the Plains Indian. The museum was founded in 1941 and displays richly varied arts of Northern Plains Tribal peoples including the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Sioux, Assiniboine, Arapaho, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Flathead, Chippewa, and Cree.
Historic clothing, horse gear, weapons, household implements, baby carriers, and toys highlight the exhibits.
I visited the Museum of the Plains Indian this past summer and was blown away by the quantity and quality of artifacts.
For more information, visit the Museum of the Plains Indian site.
In all my years working in Glacier, I have noticed that people visiting the park are often running around, stressed, pressed for time, and overwhelmed. Your vacation should not feel that way, though I understand why it does feel like hard work on occasion.
One of my favorite things to do when I am leading a guided hike in Glacier is to ask my group to sit or stand in silence with their eyes closed. It is uncommon that we, as humans in modern society, have a chance to exist in a space free from human noise and technological distractions. Glacier is one of those rare spaces!
I encourage you to find a serene location, sit down, close your eyes, and let your senses absorb the world around you. You’ll feel the cool breeze on your face and the warm sun on your skin. You will smell the rich earth and pine and you will hear bird song and wind in the trees. Soak it up and enjoy the stillness.
Remember, no matter what you do on your trip to Glacier, it will be an unforgettable experience. You really can’t go wrong!
Glacier is a large park, and figuring out the layout can be daunting, but fear not! I will help you develop an understanding of the different entrances and parts of the park so that you can plan your visit. Here are a few things to know before you read further:
When people talk about Glacier, they often refer to the “west side” and the “east side”. This division between sides is created by the continental divide (the hydrological divide created by the mountains) which runs north to south through the middle of the park. Logan Pass, the high point of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, sits on the continental divide. So, everything west of Logan Pass is the “west side”, and everything east of Logan Pass is the “east side”.
The west and east sides of the park are connected by the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which cuts through the middle of the park from west to east. The only other way to get from the west side to the east side is to drive Highway 2 around the bottom of the park.
The entrances on the west side of the park are the West entrance, the Camas entrance, and the Polebridge entrance.
From the West entrance and the Camas entrance, you can access:
From the Polebridge entrance, you can access:
The entrances on the east side of the park are the St. Mary entrance, the Two Medicine entrance, the Many Glacier entrance, and the Cut Bank entrance.
From the St. Mary entrance, you can access:
From the Two Medicine entrance, you can access:
From the Many Glacier entrance, you can access:
From the Cut Bank entrance, you can access:
Waterton Lakes National Park is the Canadian portion of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. If you would like to visit Waterton, you will need your passport. Waterton is beautiful, usually less crowded than the rest of Glacier, and is home to the charming Waterton Townsite.
You could spend a lifetime in Glacier and it wouldn’t be enough time to see and do everything the park has to offer. It is a huge park, it is spectacularly beautiful, and it has over 700 miles of hiking trails. With this in mind, a trip to Glacier should ideally be at least five days long. This gives you plenty of time to visit the west side and the east side of the park, do plenty of hiking, rest your legs on a boat tour, and drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
I know people who have visited Glacier for only a couple of days and still had a great time, but I really do think a longer trip is worth it.
I would recommend spending a couple of days on the west side of the park and a couple of days on the east side. The ideal situation would be to have lodging on both sides of the park at different points during the visit to cut down on driving time each day.
Free shuttles are offered on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The free shuttle gives access to the areas between the Apgar Visitor Center (west side) and the St. Mary Visitor Center (east side). The shuttles do not require a reservation and are available to every park visitor. The shuttles run every 15-30 minutes throughout the day, usually beginning at 8 am and continuing until 7 pm, though hours may vary. Check the Glacier National Park Shuttle Service website for up-to-date information.
I have had good and bad experiences with the shuttle system. The primary issue is that the demand for the shuttles is higher than their availability. It is common for the shuttle to arrive with few to no seats available, leaving guests waiting for up to 30 minutes for the next shuttle to (hopefully) show up with availability. If you don’t mind waiting, I highly recommend utilizing the shuttle system.
Patience is an important trait when it comes to parking in Glacier. Parking in Glacier National Park is limited, and some areas require reservations. In the summer, it is common for parking lots to fill up by the early morning. For example, the Logan Pass parking lot usually fills by 7am and stays mostly full throughout the day. The parking at pullouts and trailheads along the Going-to-the-Sun Road is often full, but usually spots can be found if you are willing to wait a few minutes or come back in the evening when people have cleared out a bit.
During extreme congestion, access to areas may be temporarily restricted until parking becomes available. The Two Medicine valley is one such example. When the parking lot fills up, vehicles will be turned around at the park entrance until park staff determines that enough people have left and there is enough parking to start allowing people in again. This means that the valley is essentially closed for at least a few hours each day.
For the most up-to-date information about Glacier’s reservation system, visit the park website.
In 2025, a reservation is required to enter through the West Entrance, Polebridge Entrance, and Camas Entrance between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. from June-September.
In 2025, a reservation is not required to enter through the St. Mary Entrance, Two Medicine Entrance, and Cut Bank Entrance.
In 2025, no general public entrance will be allowed through the Many Glacier Entrance without a shuttle, commercial service, or lodging reservation from July-September.
See the park construction page for more information. To use the hiker shuttle service, hikers will need to obtain a timed ticket for their party to board the shuttle. These tickets will be available on Recreation.gov beginning on June 24, 2025. More details on the Many Glacier hiker shuttle service are available here.
A timed entry vehicle reservation is required for each motor vehicle accessing Going-to-the-Sun Road from the Apgar checkpoint (West entrance). Guests entering from the St. Mary checkpoint (East entrance) do not need a reservation. Reservations are required from mid-June through the end of September, 7 am to 3 pm. Visitors will enter the park according to the time block they have reserved and can remain in the park for as long as they like on the day of their reservation. Visitors who miss their reserved time block can enter after 3 pm.
Because of Glacier’s size, it is hugely beneficial to stay in the park or very near an entrance. This will help cut down on driving time. It is also a helpful idea to switch your lodging during your trip so that you can stay on the west side and the east side. This will help minimize driving!
| Pricing | Location | Description | |
| Apgar Village, Lodge and Cabins | ~$132 and up | In the park | Budget. Motel rooms and cabins featuring full kitchens. Can sleep up to 6 guests. |
| Belton Chalet | ~$160 and up | 6-minute drive to West Glacier | Luxury. Near Amtrak train station. Famous Belton Chalet Tap House and Restaurant. No lake views. Many rooms have private balconies. |
| Cedar Creek Lodge (book here) | ~$220 and up | Columbia, 30-minute drive to West Glacier | Luxury. Open year-round. New and includes a fitness center, pool, A/C, TV, and complimentary breakfast. Suites and standard rooms. |
| Lake McDonald Lodge | ~$152 and up | In the park | Luxury. Cabins and standard rooms. Beautiful lake views and fine dining at Russell’s Fireside Dining Room. Red bus pick up and Glacier Boat Tours behind the lodge. |
| Village Inn at Apgar | ~$257 and up | In the park | Budget. Standard, family rooms, and rooms with kitchens. Right on Lake McDonald. Recently renovated in 2015. |
| West Glacier Cabin Village | ~$239 and up | In the park | Budget. Modern cabins sleep up to 4. Full kitchens. Amenities include A/C, TV, mini golf, and kids playground. |
| Pricing | Location | Description | |
| Glacier Park Lodge (book here) | ~$199 and up | Black Feet Nation: 12-minute drive to Two Medicine 1 hour and 5-minute drive to Many Glacier | Luxury. Value, standard, suites, and family rooms. Impressive lobby with giant wood beams. Fine dining in the Great Northern Dining Room. No lake view. Access to the Amtrak train station. Grounds include a golf course. Sun Bus Tour pick up station. |
| Many Glacier Hotel | ~$278 and up | In the park on Swiftcurrent lake 1-hour and 20-minute drive to Two Medicine | Luxury. Standard and deluxe rooms accommodate up to 4 people. Shared balconies. Fine Dining at the Ptarmigan Dining Room. The lobby has impressive views of Swiftcurrent Lake and Grinnell Peak. Best lodge in the park and the most difficult to get reservations. |
| Rising Sun Motor Inn and Cabins | ~$254 and up | Located on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in the park 30-minute drive to Many Glacier | Budget. Cabins and motel rooms that sleep up to 4 people. Two Dog Flats Grill is across the street. |
| St. Mary Village (book here) | ~$199 and up | 30 minutes to Many Glacier 1 hour 20 minutes to Two Medicine | Budget. Several options include suites and standard rooms in the motel and lodge. Cabins are also available. Amenities include TV, AC, and Wi-Fi that actually works. |
| Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins | ~$149 and up | In the park by Many Glacier Hotel. 1 hour 20-minute drive to Two Medicine | Budget. Rustic cabins and motel rooms that sleep up to 4. Right next to the Many Glacier Hotel. Quick access to the ranger programs and hiking trailheads. Nel’s Grill is onsite. |
In Glacier National Park, there are 9 dining options available in 4 different locations. Restaurants range from snack shops to fine dining. The average price is about $20 per plate. No restaurants in the park accept reservations. My favorites in the park are the Ptarmigan Dining Room, Two Dog Flats Grill, and Eddie’s Café.
| Dining Option | Location | Price (per person) |
| ‘Nell’s | Many Glacier, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn | $$ |
| Ptarmigan Dining Room | Many Glacier Hotel | $$-$$$ |
| Swiss Lounge | Many Glacier Hotel | $$ |
| Heidi’s Snack Shop and Espresso | Many Glacier Hotel | $ |
| Two Dog Flats Grill | Rising Sun | $$-$$$ |
| Eddie’s Café | Apgar Village | $$ |
| Jammer Joe’s Grill and Pizzeria | Lake McDonald Lodge | $$ |
| Lucke’s Lounge | Lake McDonald Lodge | $$-$$$ |
| Russell’s Fireside Dining Room | Lake McDonald Lodge | $$-$$$ |
There are plenty more dining options outside the park for you to check out. If you are on the east side of the park, search for restaurants in St. Mary, East Glacier, Babb, or Browning.
If you are on the west side of the park, you can find restaurants in West Glacier, Coram, Hungry Horse, Kalispell, Columbia Falls, or Whitefish.
Some favorites of mine are The Cattle Baron Supper Club (Babb), Two Sisters (between Babb and St. Mary), Johnson’s (St. Mary), Serrano’s (East Glacier), Josephine’s (Coram), Backslope Brewery (Columbia Falls), and Bonsai Brewery (Whitefish).
Planning a vacation shouldn’t be stressful. We created a step-by-step itinerary so you can visit the best places at the right times.
Not only that, but we’ll tell you about the park while you drive with our audio guide! Stop planning and start having the vacation of your dreams now!
GLACIER TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Glacier National Park, check out our Glacier Homepage
THINGS TO DO: Check out what not to miss and other things to do in Glacier including, hiking, watching a sunrise, and the amazing boat tours. Find out how to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road with our free printable
WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss the best places to eat in Glacier National Park
WHERE TO STAY: Learn all about where to stay when visiting Glacier National Park
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out which entrance is best for Glacier National Park as well as if you need bear spray while visiting or if swimming is allowed
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Glacier National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Glacier YouTube Playlist
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