How to Explore Glacier National Park in Montana

Revered for its stunning scenery and awe-inspiring natural wonders, Glacier National Park is an incredible Montana destination, one that offers endless opportunities for adventure. Spanning more than one million acres, this magnificent park is home to approximately 25 active glaciers, 700 lakes, 200 waterfalls, and more than 700 miles of hiking trails. Commonly referred to as the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier National Park is undoubtedly one of the most impressive national parks in North America and well worth visiting.

From unforgettable attractions to thrilling hikes, cozy accommodations, and backcountry campsites, here’s how to visit Glacier National Park and make the most of your stay!

When you visit Glacier National Park, remember to camp only in designated areas and follow all park rules regarding wildlife, firewood, and trails. This post may include affiliate links that generate a small commission for me at no cost to you when you make a purchase through them (and I’m deeply grateful for each one).

Making Reservations to Visit Glacier National Park

Before we dive into how to visit Glacier National Park, it’s important to note that Glacier National Park does require vehicle reservations during the summer months. These reservations, which remain in effect during the park’s peak hours, are required of anyone who plans to bring a vehicle or motorcycle onto the premises. Dates for this vary depending upon the area and park entrance:

• May 26th—September 10th: West side entrances (including North Fork, Camas, and West Entrance) require reservations between the hours of 6 am and 3 pm.
• July 1st—September 10th: East side entrances (including Many Glaciers, Two Medicine, and Going-to-the-Sun Road from Rising Sun) require reservations between the hours of 6 am and 3 pm.

In order to access the park during these times, you’ll need to provide either a vehicle registration or service registration, as well as a park pass. You can purchase vehicle registrations ahead of time via Recreation.gov. Or you may use the registration received from any bookings you’ve made for lodging, camping, transportation, or tours within the park.

Meanwhile, park passes can be purchased on the day of your visit from any entrance gate into the park. Or you may use an annual, senior, access, or military pass, if you have one. If, for some reason, you’re unable to obtain a vehicle registration, you can still enter the park; you will just need to do so before 6 am or after 3 pm or on foot or bike.

How to Visit Glacier National Park

Situated in the heart of Montana, Glacier is a massive national park that offers countless attractions and points of interest. Thankfully, the park can be broken down into four manageable areas, which I’ve outlined for you below. Here, you’ll find a complete guide of where to go and what to do in Glacier’s main areas.

Many Glaciers, East Glacier, & Two Medicines Area

Spanning the park’s eastern edge, this area is home to numerous lakes, waterfalls, forests, mountains, and glaciers. While this area of the park is a bit more remote and secluded, it still offers a variety of activities, including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and guided boat tours.

Some of the best things to do in this area of the park include:

• Cracker Lake Trail – A challenging 13-mile out-and-back hike that leads to the stunning blue waters of Cracker Lake.
• Iceberg Lake Trail – A moderate 10-mile out-and-back hike that travels past several waterfalls, diverse vegetation, and active wildlife.
• Garden Wall Trail to Glacier Overlook – A challenging 15-mile out-and-back hike that offers incredible views of Grinnell Glacier.
• Triple Divide Peak – This rare watershed sends rainfall down to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Hudson Bay; hike to its peak or view it from afar.
• Famous Glacier Boat Tours on Swiftcurrent Lake: Book at Many Glaciers Hotel or online.

If you’d like to stay in this section of the park, you can choose from a variety of accommodations, including the Many Glacier Hotel, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, and Two Medicine Lake Campground. Or alternatively, you can stay at one of the many hotels located just outside the park’s east entrance within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Check out some of the other options near Browning Montana and the parks East Side.

Wherever you hike in the park make sure to always carry bear spray, which can be purchased or rented at most hotels and stores in the area.

You can follow along on my trip through Glacier National Park in the Video Below!

Going to the Sun Road

Traveling across the park and through the Continental Divide, the Going to the Sun Road is a 50-mile-long road that offers a sneak peek at some of the park’s most popular attractions. From stunning lakes to incredible lookouts, unforgettable hikes, and majestic waterfalls, this section of the park is absolutely beautiful.

Some of the best things to do here include:

• Highline Trail Loop – A challenging 11.8-mile overnight loop hike that offers stunning views of Grinnell Lake & Grinnell Glacier.
• Gunsight Pass Trail – A challenging 20-mile point-to-point trail that offers access to Gunsight Lake and Gunsight Lake Backcountry Campground.
• eBike Rentals – You can reserve your bikes ahead of time and travel along the Going to the Sun Road at your leisure.
• Lake McDonald & McDonald Falls – Two major highlights within the park, both the lake and falls are worth a visit.
• Scenic Boat tour on Lake Mcdonald 
• Red Bus Tours : Scenic tours of the park in historic stretch red Jeep-like buses.

 If you plan to stay along the Going to the Sun Road, there are several options for you to choose from, including the Many Glaciers Hotel, Village Inn, and Sprague Creek Campground in the East, or the Lake Mcdonald Lodge in the West. If you’d rather stay outside of the park, consider Montana Duck Lake Lodge, which is located just beyond the park on the east end of the Going to the Sun Road. The West end of the park has many more lodging options in and nearby the town of West Glacier.

West Glacier

Encompassing the lower western half of Glacier National Park, West Glacier is home to several prominent park attractions, including a number of lakes, lookout points, and hikes. West Glacier Village, which lies just outside the park’s boundaries, offers a variety of tour experiences that park guests can partake in. West Glacier is the most common entrance for visitors and has the largest amount of restaurants, accomodations and tour operators in the park.

Some of the best things to do in West Glacier are:

• Avalanche Lake Trail – A moderate 6-mile out-and-back hike that offers stunning views of Avalanche Lake.
• Mount Brown Lookout Trail – A challenging 10-mile out-and-back hike (or horseback ride) that leads to an incredible lookout point.
• Horseback Riding – Several companies offer guided horseback riding tours through this part of the park.
• Flathead River – Traveling along the western boundaries of the park, Flathead River is a popular place to go whitewater rafting, you might enjoy this half-day scenic float trip perfect for seeing the quieter side of the park.
• Lake Mcdonald With a Guide– For a guided hiking experience of one of the west side prettiest trails, try this local guide.

 If you’d like to stay near West Glacier, the park has several options, including The Lake Mcdonald Lodge, the Sperry Chalet (reservations highly coveted), Avalanche Campground, and Agar Village Lodge. Outside the park, you’ll also find a number of accommodations, including WanderCamp Glacier, which offers glamping-style tents.

Polebridge

Set along the northwestern section of the park, Polebridge is a remote area of Glacier National Park. With few amenities but lots of secluded attractions, it’s perfect for those looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience.

Some of the best things to do near Polebridge are:

• Bowman Lake Trail – This challenging 13.5-mile out-and-back hike follows the shoreline of Bowman Lake.
• Numan Lookout – This challenging 11-mile out-and-back trail offers incredible park views.
• Polebridge Mercantile – A historic must-visit attraction, this store and bakery dates back to the park’s founding days.
• Logging Creek Ranger Station – Built in 1907, this ranger station is the oldest continually operating building in the park.

 While there aren’t many accommodations in this area of Glacier, there are a few campgrounds that you can utilize, including Logging Creek Campground, Cowman Lake Campground, and Kintla Lake Campground. In addition, there is also a hostel and a bed and breakfast located just outside the park.

Travel Tips: Glacier has unpredictable weather, you won’t want to visit without a great raincoat, layers for changes of temperatures, and some sun protection. My favorite t-shirts for the outdoors are these merino wool shirts from Unbound Merino.

Getting Wilderness Permits for Glacier National Park

Regardless of your destination within Glacier National Park, you will need to obtain a wilderness permit if you decide to do any off-trail hiking or backpacking. These permits can be purchased either in advance via Recreation.gov or in person no more than one day before your trip.

Most backpacking permits will be reserved in the early season lottery which usually starts in April of the same year. During the peak summer season, between June 15th and September 30th, only 70% of permits may be reserved in advance; the remaining 30% are available for walk-ins only on a first-come, first-served basis. Outside of this peak season, wilderness permits are only available for purchase in-person at one of the rangers stations in the park.

Exploring Glacier National Park

No matter where you end up in Glacier National Park, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time. Between the astounding views, thrilling adventures, and exciting wildlife sightings, Glacier truly is a national park unlike any other!

Want to save this article for later? Pin 📌 It on Pinterest and drop a comment down below if you are heading to Glacier soon. Want help planning a trip? I can take care of all the planning with my Travel Advisor services, saving you big on hotels and alleviating all the headaches of planning.