The Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park occupies a special place in our hearts as one of our favorite parks in the US. Since our last visit in 2016, we have longed to go back and further explore its diverse wilderness and beauty.  Our first four day trip to Glacier National Park only scratched the surface of the park’s offerings, so when we return we plan to focus on backcountry trips and exploring more remote sections of the park.

Glacier National Park Location

Glacier National Park lies right in the middle of the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains giving it some of the most unique landscapes in the nation.  The west side boasts Pacific Northwest-style forests filled with wet, lush greenery, cedars, canyons, and narrow lakes. The east side houses taller mountains, sweeping plains, and grassy areas surrounded by hardy alpine plants and pine trees. You can hike directly on the Continental Divide on the Highline Trail at Logan Pass – easily one of the park’s most popular hikes.

Wildlife in Glacier National Park

Throughout Glacier National Park wildlife is plentiful: bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, elk, grizzly and black bears, wolverines, deer and so many more. We were fortunate enough to see a generous handful wild animals both from the safety of our car and while out hiking. The true wilderness of the park makes each sighting feel authentic & rare making you love the park even more.

Visiting Glacier National Park

We could rave for days about Glacier and will talk about it to anyone who will listen. However, words & pictures can only do so much; we believe that everyone needs to experience the park for themselves to truly understand its magic. With that, below you will find our guide for planning a trip to Glacier National Park!

Tips for Visiting Glacier National Park

  • Ignore the gimmick guides with flashy titles & spend more than one or two days in the park
  • For the better* views, drive the Going of the Sun Road from west to east
    • *all the views are amazing – regardless of driving direction
  • Once you’ve gotten your fill of scenery on the Going of the Sun Road, get off the beaten path and discover the true gems of the park
  • Bring Bear Spray on all hikes – even the short ones
  • To get more in touch with nature in the park, camp in a more remote campground and drive to all your day destinations (We loved Two Medicine Campground)
  • Book campsites ahead of time – if you plan that early in advance. Otherwise, most park campsites function on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Cost of Visiting Glacier National Park

Our Total Expense:  $827. 07 ($413. 54 per person)

  • Entrance Fee/Permits: $30/trip
    • Cost is per vehicle for a 7 day pass (includes all people in the vehicle)
  • Gas: $30/day
    • The cost is dependent on how far you plan to drive. We stayed at a remote campsite and drove about 60 miles per day.
  • Camping: $20/night
    • This is the cost of a basic tent site without electricity at Two Medicine Lake Campground inside the park. Private campgrounds and hotels are available outside of the park as well.
  • Food: $15/day
    • We went grocery shopping and cooked all our own meals during our trip – packing in lunches for day hikes. The park itself does not have much for food/restaurants. However, all entrances are surrounded by small towns were you can find a modest selection of restaurants, grocery stores, & gas stations.

Transportation in Glacier National Park

You can explore Glacier National Park from the comfort of your own vehicle or via a free park shuttle that runs along the entire Going of the Sun Road.

Driving in Glacier National Park

To explore the thousands of acres of remote hiking trails and landscapes away from the Going of the Sun Road, we used our own vehicle. A car allowed us to camp in more secluded areas of the park, like Two Medicine Lake (link), and visit lesser-traveled areas of the park that have fewer people and more amazing views. We also explored the eastern half of the Going of the Sun Road after peak hours in order to avoid the day traffic and masses of tourists. This allowed us to take our time exploring the short trails, waterfalls, and viewpoints located just off the road.

Riding in the Glacier National Park Shuttle

To explore hikes and attractions along the Going of the Sun Road, we rode the free park shuttle & highly recommend it. Run as a hop-on, hop-off bus, this option allows you to explore the park without white-knuckling along the narrow mountain roads and insane tourist traffic. Available from either entrance, the shuttle has designated stops at the park’s major attractions, viewpoints, and hikes. They run about every 40 minutes, providing you with enough time to explore before catching the next one. During weekends and peak seasons, shuttles can get really packed, so make sure you show up early to beat the crowds.

We used the shuttle to spend a day exploring the western half of the park – parking at the Apgar Visitor Center and riding to the halfway point, Logan Pass. Along the way we completed three hikes – Trail of Cedars, Avalanche Lake, and Hidden Lake – while also stopping at multiple interest points.

Each mode of transportation has its pros and cons, but both serves as a great option to explore the most popular portion of the park

Glacier National Park Highlights

Going-to-the-Sun Road

When most people think of Glacier National Park they think of the Going to the Sun Road – the only through-road in the entire park. The drive is one of the most scenic in the U.S. and is filled with breathtaking views and constantly changing scenery. The road itself was designed to showcase Glacier’s natural beauty by blending the road into the existing landscape.

With great beauty comes great crowds and an even greater headache. During peak season millions of tourists descend upon the Going of the Sun Road resulting in traffic jams, crowded viewpoints, and long lines for everything. For the best experience, start your day as early as possible to beat the crowds and use the shuttle to avoid the hassle of finding parking at the many attraction stops and viewpoints.  

Even though the crowds can suck – the Going of the Sun Road is too magnificent to miss. Just plan strategically to ensure you have the best experience possible. 

Mountains and Glacier Lakes

During a visit to Glacier National Park it is near impossible for you tire of seeing another one of the thousands of glacier fed lakes scattered throughout the park. Each one is crystal clear and a dazzling shade of blue with its own unique features and character. Most of the major lakes are located along the Going of the Sun Road, but definitely take the time to explore other sections of the park to experience even more stunning bodies of water.

  • Many Glacier
  • St. Mary Lake
  • Lake McDonald
  • Swiftcurrent Lake
  • Two Medicine Lake
  • Bowman Lake

Glacier National Park Day Hikes

Glacier National Park has too many trails to explore in one trip, however any hike you choose will provide you with an amazing day in nature and experience in the park. Below are a few of our favorites as well as some that we wish we had enough time to hike. Here is a link to Travel Montana’s list of Top 10 Hikes in Glacier.

Grinnell Glacier Hike

A 1,840ft. climb to an alpine glacier & lake with sweeping valley views and cliff-side trails for the majority of the trail. (Stephanie’s favorite hike in the park!)

Lake Otokomi Hike

An 11 mile there-and-back hike wandering through burnt forest and alpine landscape that ends at the stunning Lake Otokomi. A secluded treasure hidden in plain site, we only saw four other hikers and spent the day relaxing and fly fishing at the lake. (Travis’s favorite experience)

Hidden Lake Hike 

A perfect shuttle-stop hike; 5.4 miles round trip with a fairly challenging elevation gain and an amazing view at the end. We were lucky enough to see a few young mountain goats along the trail. 

Avalanche Lake Hike

A 4.5 mile hike along a canyon stream and through an ancient cedar forest. Its short distance and a low elevation gain also make it another great hike to do on a shuttle stop. 

Highline Loop

One of the park’s most popular hikes, the Highline Loop follows the Continental Divide and challenges hikers with diverse terrain and every-changing landscapes. Unfortunately, we did not get to hike the Highline Loop due to grizzly bear activity near the trail during the duration of our stay. 

Pitamakan/Dawson Pass

A challenging day or overnight hike near Two Medicine Lake, this 17 mile loop  gains 2,500 feet in elevation and boasts some of the most picturesque mountain-top views in the park. We discovered this hike too late & didn’t have enough time to explore it – however it will be our first stop when we return!

Camping in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park has 13 drive-up campgrounds that contain over 1,000 total campsites. Depending on the campground’s location and amenities, campsite prices can range from $10 – $23 in the summer, with cheaper prices during the off seasons. As an additional, more-rustic option, the park’s primitive campgrounds do not include running water and tend to stay open during the fall and winter. Prices are cheaper and campgrounds generally less crowded. General campground information is available here.

Only a select-few campsites allow reservations, the majority of the campgrounds are first come first serve. Although this works in the favor of last-minute planners (like us), not knowing if you will have a campsite can cause some stress. To best plan for our non-reserved accommodation, we used the park’s campground status website to monitor daily fill times and plan our arrival to the park accordingly.

After watching the fill times of Two Medicine Campground for about two weeks, we knew we had to claim a site before 8:30 am and likewise timed our drive from Wisconsin to arrive accordingly. We accidentally arrived too early, around 1:00 am and slept in our car until first light. By 8:00 am we picked our site, set up camp, and enjoyed a light breakfast by the lake. Even without a reservation, everything worked out great because of our pre-planning. You could also use the status website to find a last minute campground during a spontaneous trip.

Glacier National Park Campgrounds

Campgrounds near Going-to-the-Sun Road

  • Apgar – able to reserve  $20, 194 sites, primitive, summer, & winter camping available
  • Avalanche – $20/night, 87 sites
  • Fish Creek – able to reserve, $23, 178 sites
  • Rising Sun – $20/night, 84 sites, one of the rare campgrounds with showers, located directly off the Going of the Sun Road
  • Sprague Creek  – $20/night, 25 sites
  • St. Mary – able to reserve, Summer, Primitive & Winter Camping Available, $23/night, 148 sites

Campgrounds in East Glacier

Campgrounds in West Glacier

*Check the links for the most up to date/accurate information. Listed details from Spring 2018.

Backpacking in Glacier National Park

Nationally recognized for its hiking trails and conservation efforts, Glacier National Park also houses some of the best backcountry trails and camping in the United States. Backcountry trips allow visitors to explore the park’s wilderness free of the tourist hordes and traffic. The minimal roads and expanse of trails allows nature-enthusiasts to truly experience the beauty and wonder of the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park. Some people come back to Glacier year after year just to explore the seemingly endless exploration opportunities in the park.

For those of you planning a trip now, all the details you need to plan a backcountry trip in Glacier are located here. Before departing, check in at a ranger station to secure the proper permits and assess the current trail conditions. Like all backcountry trips, make sure to evaluate all possible terrain and weather obstacles and take the appropriate precautions to prepare for your trip.

Travis and I wish we had more in-depth details to share about backcountry in Glacier, but unfortunately at the time we last visited, we did not have the proper skills or experience and only completed day hikes & car camping. We have already agreed that our next tip to the park will be backcountry-centric – hopefully happening in the near future!

Glacier National Park Resources

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