//
National park in Montana, United States
Photo: Please attribute as: "Wikipedia / Tobias Klenze" (user page link optional). Remember that you must also mention the license (and link to it). So for example, if, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Glacier National Park is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site that is on the northern border of Montana.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The most spectacular viewpoints in the park are along this road. It is closed to traffic in Winter and open from June - Oct. Depending on weather, it will be open as early as Memorial Day weekend (last Monday in May). You can check the road status online. Highlights include Lake McDonald, Logan Pass at the Continental Divide, Rising Sun, and St. Mary Lake. Road construction is possible in the summer with just one lane open to traffic (and opposing traffic held back). At about 6,600 feet (2,000 meters), Logan Pass is the highest drivable point in or near the park. The car park at Logan Pass fills up early in the morning and becomes a chaotic fight for a space the rest of the day. Though a "must see" for anyone visiting the park, it is not a shortcut from Lake McDonald to St. Mary. Despite the distance being several times longer, it is almost always faster to go around via US Hwy 2 and 89.
On the south side of the park. Also crosses the Continental Divide, though at a lower elevation than Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun Road. This is the route used by the Amtrak trains. The view of the forest, river, train tracks and a railroad tunnel all together in one location is very scenic. Several wilderness areas (no roads) are just to the south.
State Hwy 49
Has an excellent view of Lower Two Medicine Lake from the top of the hill. Also, it's a shortcut (though narrow and winding) from East Glacier to the east side of the park, so you don't have to go all the way to Browning and back. Beware there is no guardrail on this road. If concerned, only go in the northbound direction, so you won't be driving in the outer lane above the steep edge.
Connects with roads going into the park at St. Mary (Going to Sun Road) and Babb (to Many Glacier). It then continues north where it intersects with Chief Mountain International Highway (see below). Excellent views of St. Mary and the lake from the hills north and south of the town. Though unmarked, the Hudson Bay/Gulf of Mexico Divide is 4.5 miles south of the Going to the Sun Highway junction in St. Mary with Divide Mountain on the west side.
State Hwy 17
Begins four miles north of East Glacier, and runs on the north side of Lower Two Medicine Lake. A very easy (no hills) and short path goes to Running Eagle (Trick) Falls. Bears are frequently spotted in this area.
An unpaved road on the park's east side 14 miles south of St. Mary. A trail (not for beginners) goes to Triple Divide Pass where the Continental Divide splits three ways between the Pend Oreille-Columbia Rivers (mouth near Portland, Oregon at Astoria), Missouri-Mississippi Rivers (mouth near New Orleans), and the Saskatchewan-Nelson Rivers (to western Hudson Bay in Manitoba). Facilities are primitive, and this area is only for the most adventurous. However, it's 5 miles west of the US 89 Hwy, making a quick visit for a few photos possible also.
An unpaved road running north on the west side of the park which begins just north of Apgar at Lake McDonald. All the campgrounds on this far western side of the park are primitive, without running water. This road may be closed at times.
Runs nearly parallel to Inside North Fork Road but is paved. It leads to the Huckleberry Mountain Nature Trail. Both roads will eventually take you to Polebridge, but this route is paved most of the way -- except for a section in the middle. Note that all the campgrounds on this far western side of the park are primitive, without running water.
A beautiful little lake almost a mile above sea level. West of the lake, mountains raise 3000 ft above it, and on the eastern shore sits the large century-old Many Glacier Hotel which is a starting point for many trails.
Sperry Glacier Overlook can be reached by a steep climb up a trail from the Sperry Chalet (2.5 miles to Comeau Pass). The hike takes you by secluded alpine lakes and boulder-strewn meadows and up a stairway hewn into the rock, from which you emerge at Comeau Pass to be greeted by breathtaking views of the Little Matterhorn, Bearhat Mountain, and Mt. Reynolds. Another mile, marked (sometimes confusingly) by cairns, takes you to the edge of the glacier, where there is now a sign with information about the glacier's history. This trail is also one of the best places in the park to see families of mountain goats up close. The glacier is worth seeing, since scientists predict that it have completely disappeared between 2030 and 2050. The Sperry Chalet is also worth seeing, and has a dining hall where non-guests can purchase a hot lunch from an à la carte menu.
Built in 1913 on the eastern edge of the park, the Glacier Park Lodge was one of Great Northern's luxurious hotels that provided an entry point from the railroad into the park. The lobby is an impressive display of the park's early aesthetics.
Iceberg Lake is a beautiful and popular destination that can be reached by a 4.5-mile (7-km) hike out of a trailhead at Swiftcurrent Inn. The lake is aquamarine with glacial silt, and surrounded by steep, glacier-carved cliff faces. On the hike you will have the opportunity to see the Ptarmigan Falls, the Ptarmigan Wall, many wildflowers, mountain goats, and perhaps even grizzly bears.
Very good food for dinner and breakfast. Possibly the only restaurant in the park not attached to a lodging.
Cabins on edge of wood near to lake and river. Have showers and toilets.
The main CDT hiker hub in East Glacier; a former restaurant converted to a hostel. Accepts and holds resupply packages ($5+ donation requested). Address as both the PO Box and street address, since delivery carriers vary. No confirmed phone line — contact via lookingglassbasecamp.org.
This historic chalet, dating from ca. 1914, is accessible only through hiking trails. It is the only chalet remaining of the original six operated by Great Northern, and is supplied by weekly or biweekly mule trains. The Granite Park Chalet ($108 first person, $80 each additional person) can be most easily reached by a 7.6-mile hike from Logans Pass along the Highline Trail, and is now a simple backpacker's lodge. A kitchen and composting toilets are available to guests, as well as potable water (which guests are asked to assist in fetching themselves). Accommodations are spartan, and linens are provided for an extra $15. The chalet offers complimentary hot drinks for their guests in the evening. The season is from July to September, and reservations should be made months in advance. All trash must be packed out.
Lake McDonald Lodge & Complex is 11 miles inside the park from the west entrance on the Going To The Sun Road. This hotel has 100 rooms, ranging from motel style to upmarket hotel suites. The main dining room overlooks Lake McDonald and has an excellent, moderately priced menu. Televisions, elevators and air conditioning are not available.
Many Glacier Hotel is Glacier National Park's largest hotel with 208 rooms and is in the northeast area of the park and is 11 miles west of Babb on Highway 89. Premier service as the flagship lodge of the Park in beautiful location. Tries to give a Swiss style look, impressive looking building but of basic construction so do not expect modern hotel comforts. One good restaurant, one diner/bar and one snack outlet. Also souvenir shop.
Offers basic cabins and motel style rooms. Renovated old wooden buildings, some have showers and toilers, none have refrigerators or TV but oddly an ironing board and iron. The onsite restaurant has Italian style cooking and good breakfast.
194 sites (25 can accommodate a trailer or RV), 10 group sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. Apgar campground is the largest campground in Glacier National Park. Amenities include flush toilets, sinks with running water (no showers), and summer evening programming at the Apgar Amphitheater. Apgar Village has a restaurant, gift shops, and a ranger station. Swimming and boating possible in Lake McDonald, and boat rentals and horseback ride reservations are available nearby. Open late Apr to early Oct. The campground itself is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with shade and some privacy.
87 sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. Avalanche campground in located in one of the most popular sections of Glacier National Park west of the Continental Divide. The campground accommodates tent and RV campers, however only 50 sites will accommodate vehicle lengths up to 26 feet. The campground provides access to Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Creek trailheads. Flush toilets, running water (no showers), evening programs at Avalanche Amphitheater. Open late Jun to mid-Sep.
48 primitive sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. Primitive campsite right on Bowman Lake, with access to Quartz Lake Loop, Bowman Lake, and Numa Ridge Lookout trailheads. Potable water and pit toilets. Open mid-May to early Aug. The drive to Bowman Lake is a very slow, dusty, and bumpy ride on dirt roads. RVs and trailers not advised. The campground is located close to the shore of Bowman Lake and camp sites are within trees for shade and some privacy. Tent campers looking for peace and quiet will enjoy Bowman Lake for its serenity and remote location.
14 sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. Primitive and secluded campsite, with access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. RVs and trailers not advised. No potable water (bring your own water or some means of purifying water from Cut Bank Creek). Open late May to mid-Sep. The Cut Bank campground is located on the east side of Glacier National Park and provides a sense of peace and quiet that may not be found in larger campgrounds within the park. The campground is accessed by a 5 mile dirt road off of highway 89. Cut Bank Campground operates in primitive status all season, meaning it has no flush toilets or disposal station. The campground should not to be confused with the town 50 miles to the east.
178 sites, 18 of which accommodate RVs or trailers. Large campground near but not directly on Lake McDonald offering flush toilets, running water, and nightly evening programs at the Fish Creek Amphitheater. Access to Howe Lake, Howe Ridge, and McDonald Lake trailheads. Fish Creek is the second largest campground in the park. Fish Creek is one of two campgrounds in the park that take reservations. Advance reservations may be made online or by phone +1-800-365-2267 but are not required. Open late May to early Sep. Sites within the campground are surrounded by trees and provide shade and some privacy to both tent and RV campers.
13 sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. Glacier National Park's smallest and most remote car-accessible campground. Due to its remote location, the campground is very quiet and is very rarely filled, offering tent campers a sense of solitude. Non-motorized boats allowed on lake, and lake is full of trout. Site is primitive but has a potable water source. Open early Jul to early Aug. It is located in the upper most northwest section of the park known as the North Fork, approximately 40 miles from the west entrance. Access is via a rough dirt road. Trailers not advised.
7 sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. Very small, primitive, secluded campground with no potable water (bring your own). Access to Logging Lake trailhead. No reservations. Open early Jul mid-Sep. The Logging Creek Campground is located on the west side of the park, south of Polebridge. Access is via the Inside North Fork Road, a dusty narrow winding road. Caution is advised when traveling this road and RVs are not recommended. Once there, campers will find a small primitive campground with all the solitude one could want. The trailhead to Logging Lake is nearby and the easy hike to the lake is a great family day hike.
109 sites, 1 group site. 41 sites can be reserved in advance. Large, popular campsite near the Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge, restaurants, token-operated showers, and the Swiftcurrent Pass, Piegan Pass, Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, and Ptarmigan trailheads. Also useful for backpackers through-hiking the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (of which Swiftcurrent Pass and Piegan Pass Trails are a part). The campground is situated within trees for tent and RV campers, though there are only 13 sites that can accommodate vehicle lengths up to 35 feet in length. Bring your binoculars, as there are opportunities to view wildlife like bighorn sheep, moose, and bears. Flush toilets, sinks, and nightly ranger-led programming. Open late May to late Sep.
7 sites. All sites are first-come, first-served. This primitive campground is the smallest developed campground in the park, accessible only by a rough, dusty, dirt road with many blind curves and few pullouts. Trailers are not advised. Quartz Creek trailhead is easily reached from the campsite. No potable water. Pit toilets. Open late Jun 30 to late Oct.
84 sites, 10 of which can accommodate vehicles up to 25 ft.. All sites are first-come, first-served. Rising Sun Campground is located just west of St. Mary and halfway along St. Mary Lake. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red Eagle Mountain as a backdrop, and the campground serves as a convenient base camp to many day hikes located east of Logan Pass. Some sites are open, allowing for cool breezes throughout the day, while others are located among trees, accommodating those seeking some shade and privacy. Amenities include showers, flush toilets, a disposal station, camp store, restaurant, and nightly programming. Shuttle stop. Open early Jun to early Sep.
25 sites. All sites are first-come, first-served, and due to the size of this campground, it is suggested you arrive early. About a mile south of Lake McDonald Lodge, the Sprague Creek campground is sandwiched between Lake McDonald and Going-to-the-Sun-Road. Towed vehicles and RVs prohibited, and one group site reserved until 10PM for bicyclists or backpackers. The beauty of Lake McDonald is marred by the campground's proximity to the highway - traffic, including motorcycles, is both visible and audible well into the night. The campsite is not convenient to any trailheads so if you want to hike, plan to drive first. Flush toilets, picnic tables, and a communal bear box are provided. Evening programming at Lake McDonald Lodge. No showers. The campground is located within trees, providing shade during warm summers. Some sites near the shore have unobstructed views of Lake McDonald. Open early May to early Sep.
148 sites, 25 of which can accommodate RVs/trailers, 2 group sites. St. Mary campground is the largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park and is open year round. Beautiful views of the lake, flush toilets, running water, shuttle service, and the small town of St Mary about half a mile away, outside the park. Though shade may be sparse, aspen trees grace St. Mary campground with soothing sounds from spring and summer breezes, and colorful splashes of yellow late in the season. St. Mary is one of two campgrounds in the park that take reservations, and advance reservations can be made online or by calling 1-800-365-2267. Open late May to early Sep.
100 sites, 13 of which can accommodate RV/trailer up to 35 ft, 1 group site. All sites are first-come, first-served. Two Medicine is located approximately 13 miles from East Glacier. Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sites within the campground at Two Medicine are generally shaded by trees, and offer some privacy from other campers. Located on the shore of Pray Lake, the campground is also a short distance from Two Medicine Lake. There are numerous day hiking opportunities available, including a handicap accessible trail to Running Eagle Falls. Campstore in only building remaining of historic Two Medicine Chalet. Flush toilets. Open late May to late Sep.
Accepts general delivery and resupply packages.
By plane
Visitors to the park may fly to Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell, Montana (FCA) (25 mi/40 km from West Glacier).
By car
From the east: Take I-90 freeway to about 8 miles west of Missoula, then exit at US Hwy 93 north (Exit #96).) From there it's 32 miles to the West Glacier entrance.
By foot
The Continental Divide Trail, a 3,100-mile United States National Scenic Trail, has its northern trailhead in Swiftcurrent Campground, accessible by car from Babb on Glacier Route Three.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is also a viable way to travel among destinations along Going-to-the-Sun Road, but be sure to thumb vehicles down from a turn out or shuttle stop so that they can safely pull over to pick…
By bicycle
Cycling is permitted on Going-to-the-Sun Road, and the ride may be beautiful and rewarding.
By foot
With over 700 miles (1100 km) of trails, Glacier Park is best enjoyed through hiking.
Rental car
Dollar Rent-a-Car has pick-up and drop-off at all the major train stations, and the Kalispell airport. There's no one-way fee, if for example, you arrive by train and leave by plane.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Kalispell · Regional · FCA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Glacier National Park (Montana) and United States.
Nature & adventureHow to use the America the Beautiful pass, navigate timed-entry reservations and win hiking permits across America's top national parks.
7 min read
Travel tipsHow to master the NYC subway with OMNY contactless pay, dodge airport transfer traps and explore iconic Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
7 min read
ItinerariesHow to plan the classic California Highway 1 road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, navigating Big Sur closures, coastal stops and vehicle tips.
6 min read
Travel tipsSplitting a city stay between two hotels can cut costs, save hours of travel and buy you a night of luxury. Here is how to do it well.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.