20 Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is arguably one of the best and most beautiful National Parks in the country, but as the National Park Service will tell you, visiting Glacier requires a bit of planning and patience.
The stunning peaks, turquoise-blue lakes, and amazing wildlife attract people from around the world, but all this comes with the reality of the crowds in one of America’s most popular National Parks.
Even after the implementation of the Glacier shuttle/ vehicle reservation system, many of the best areas, including trails, visitor centers, and even parking lots, are still a challenge to navigate the crowds. However, I encourage you to read through the section below to learn about the reality behind what the Park Service won’t tell you when planning a trip around these new rules.
What is the Glacier Shuttle & Vehicle Reservation System?
In 2020, Glacier National Park implemented a vehicle reservation system to enter the park between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., in order to reduce the amount of private vehicles within the park. There are slight variations for what time of the year this applies to what entrances, but from the peak season beginning on July 1 through mid-September, this applies to all entrances.
Along with the vehicle reservation system, Glacier also began a shuttle service that runs from Apgar Village up Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass and down to St. Mary at the east entrance.
From my experience riding the shuttle, it greatly needs improvements to extend the routes out into both West Glacier and St. Mary on the east side, similar to what Zion does in Springdale. For this reason, I anticipate some of this information to change year after year.
How to Visit Glacier without a Vehicle Reservation?
In my opinion, there are some obvious flaws in the vehicle reservation system, especially if you plan to find lodging outside of the park.
For one, Many Glacier is one of the best entrances in Glacier National Park, as you’ll see from my list below, and currently, a vehicle reservation is only valid for one day. This means that if you want to get an early start on any of the trails, which I highly recommend, then you won’t have an opportunity to get a day-before reservation because you’ll be in the park without cell phone service.
The next issue is that you can enter the park prior to 6 a.m. without a reservation, but doing so day after day to see the best of Glacier gets exhausting! This is the option I always choose, but if you’re paying for lodging outside of the park, waking up this early seriously devalues a hotel reservation.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, driving in the dark just to get into one of the entrances prior to 6 a.m. is a risk of its own, with the wildlife of this size found throughout these forests. Unfortunately, I have a friend who hit a bear in the night doing just this, and I even encountered a bear on the road one morning when I was making the early drive in.
That being said, it’s not a unique thing to drive into the park this early, as many visitors are doing it to beat the reservation system, but endangering both people and wildlife is not something that the Park Service accounted for when making these changes.
I hope to see more positive changes in the future because I can attest to Glacier both before and after the reservations, and they are helping to reduce the crowds, making Glacier that much better of an experience!
Book Here: Glacier Vehicle Reservations
Hiking Checklist - Glacier
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Glacier National Park.
20 Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst.
That being said, Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise, which is exactly why most of the best things to see and do within the park require exploring one of the park’s many beautiful trails.
However, before making your plans to visit Glacier, know that Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically only open from the middle of June through the middle of September.
Every year, planning around the snow conditions is a reality for at least half of the summer season, which is why I encourage you to travel with the micro-spikes that I have listed below before making the trip.
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Grinnell Glacier Trail
Distance: 10.6 miles / 17.1 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,600 ft. / 488 m
The Grinnell Glacier Trail is arguably the best hike in Glacier National Park for a number of reasons.
First, having the opportunity to swim with the icebergs that break off of the glacier is worth the hike alone. However, the stunning views of Grinnell Lake and Grinnell Falls from this beautifully constructed trail are like something you’ve never seen before—especially if you catch the beautiful fading light in the late evening as it cuts across Grinnell Lake!
Furthermore, mountain goats and big horn sheep were fairly prevalent along the upper elevations, all making the entire hike one of the best things that you can do in Glacier National Park!
Read My Separate Post: Grinnell Glacier Trail
2. Cracker Lake Trail
Distance: 12.8 miles / 20.6 km
Yes, the water is really that blue!
In my opinion, Cracker Lake is easily one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park next to the beautiful Grinnell Glacier Trail.
In any case, to learn more about this longer day hike, especially about the potentially challenging parking situation, be sure to check out my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: Cracker Lake Trail
3. Many Glacier Hotel
Imagine this sunrise and a warm cup of coffee each morning you spend in east Glacier!
This is the view out toward Swiftcurrent Lake from the Many Glacier Hotel, and in my opinion, there is not a better place to stay in all of Glacier than the Many Glacier Hotel!
Additionally, if you spend any time in east Glacier, which I highly recommend that you do, you’ll quickly see that there isn’t much in terms of services for visitors on this side of the park. This is because the land east of Glacier is reservation land, which has limited everything from restaurants, lodging, and all other services to just a few stores.
For this reason, I highly recommend staying within the park when you visit East Glacier, choosing either the Many Glacier Hotel or the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, which I talk more about below.
Many Glacier Hotel (Sunrise)
4. Glacier Bike Rentals
In the early season, when Going-to-the-Sun Road has yet to open for vehicle traffic; or if you’re looking for a way to avoid the advanced vehicle reservation system, renting bikes or even e-bikes can be one of the best ways to explore west Glacier.
Before the Sun Road gets too steep, you can ride as far as Avalanche Lake, which is one of the better early-season hikes, being that it’s so much lower in elevation compared to other trails found throughout the park.
5. Highline Trail (The Loop)
Distance: 13.3 miles / 21.4 km
The Highline Trail via Logan Pass is one of the most scenic hikes in Glacier National Park, as the entire trail parallels the beautiful Going-to-the-Sun Road from above!
That being said, there are many approaches when it comes to planning a hike on the Highline Trail, but in my separate post, I explain why I recommend completing what’s known as 'The Loop,' making a nearly all downhill hike out of this long adventure.
Read My Separate Post: Highline Trail (The Loop)
6. Hidden Lake Trail
Distance: 5.1 miles / 8.2 km
Overlook to Lake Elevation Change: ~800 ft. / 244 m
The Hidden Lake Trail is one of the best shorter adventures within Glacier National Park, as most of the best trails within the park easily exceed 10 miles (16.1 km) roundtrip.
Additionally, the Hidden Lake Trail is one of my favorites because most hikers don’t go past the popular Hidden Lake Overlook.
However, should you choose to hike either Hidden Lake or the Highline Trail, be sure check out my separate post to learn more about how challenging the parking situation is at Logan Pass and what you can do to find a spot at one of Glacier’s most popular trailheads.
Read My Separate Post: Hidden Lake Trail
My Print - Hidden Lake
7. Avalanche Lake Trail
Distance: 4.8 miles / 7.7 km
Avalanche Lake is one of the most iconic and picturesque lakes in Glacier National Park!
On top of this, the hike to the lake is fairly easy compared to other trails on this list, and in my opinion, the stunning crystal-clear waters, surrounding mountains, and the waterfalls that cascade down the cliffs easily make Avalanche Lake a must-see bucket-list item when visiting Glacier!
Read My Separate Post: Avalanche Lake Trail
8. Lake McDonald Lodge
Staying at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge is one of the best ways to enjoy the west side of Glacier National Park while avoiding the advanced vehicle reservation system. For that matter, any lodging or camping reservation within the park also qualifies as a vehicle reservation.
In any case, the Lake McDonald Lodge is a great place to slow down and relax. Whether by going for a cold swim in the pristine alpine lake or watching the sunset light up the mountains in the distance, staying at the Lake McDonald Lodge makes for one the best and most beautiful places to stay off Going-to-the-Sun Road!
Lake McDonald Lodge
9. St. Mary & Virginia Falls Trail
Distance: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
The Saint Mary and Virginia Falls Trail is the best waterfall hike in Glacier National Park for a number of reasons.
First, instead of just one, there are two beautiful waterfalls to see on this relatively short trail. But perhaps even more importantly, the St. Mary Falls Trail is the best cliff-jumping hike in Glacier National Park!
To learn more about all of the cliff jumps along this short trail, check out my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: St. Mary & Virginia Falls Trail
10. East Glacier & Two Medicine Private Tour
As mentioned previously, there is not a lot in terms of food, lodging, and basic amenities on the east side of Glacier, which is why this private tour out of Whitefish makes for a great option to see this side of the park, while returning to the west side at the end of the day.
Overall, I personally think that east Glacier is the best side of the park, and yet, very few people go out of the way to explore Two Medicine as opposed to all the other places that I have on this list.
For this reason, the opportunity to see both entrances in one day, without the hassle of a vehicle reservation, makes for a great full-day adventure within the park!
11. Jackson Glacier Overlook
The Jackson Glacier Overlook is one of the best places to learn about how the landscape across the park is changing.
Not only do you get to see the beautiful Jackson Glacier off in the distance, but the overlook has a sign that helps put in perspective how all of the glaciers across the park are shrinking, which is truly something to see when comparing the sign with what’s left of the Jackson Glacier.
12. Sun Point
When the first light hits Glacier’s east-facing peaks, the mountains surrounding Saint Mary Lake make Sun Point one of the best sunrise locations in Glacier National Park!
However, if you visit at sunset, like in this photo here, you are almost always guaranteed to see very few people, if any at all, at this beautiful overlook, as most typically don't think much of the sunset on this side of Logan Pass.
Google Maps Directions: Sun Point
13. Village Inn at Apgar
When coming to Glacier through the west entrance, Apgar Village is one of the very first places off Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Overall, Apgar Village is one of the best places to swim in Lake McDonald, get food after spending a long day in the park, and stay within the park without needing an advanced vehicle reservation.
On top of this, Apgar Village is one of the only places in Glacier National Park that has cell phone service because it’s so close to West Glacier, MT. This may not sound important, but if you spend any time in east Glacier, you’ll find out what a luxury cell phone service can be, especially when you’re just trying to do something simple like check the weather.
Apgar Village
14. Ice Cream at Eddie’s Cafe
After a long day exploring Glacier, there’s nothing better than stopping for in ice cream at Eddie’s Cafe.
Eddie’s is located right in the heart of Apgar Village, and one of my favorite things is to take it down to Lake McDonald and watch the sunset light up the mountains!
Yelp: Eddie’s Cafe
15. Whitewater Rafting in the Park
One of the best tours that you can do in Glacier National Park is whitewater rafting the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with a local guide based out of West Glacier!
This scenic whitewater adventure takes you inside Glacier National Park, as your guide will lead you through some of the most beautiful backcountry, which is great for anyone looking for a fun family and friends adventure!
From personal experience, I can tell you that a few hours getting soaked in the river is one of the best ways to spend a hot summer day in the park!
16. Apikuni Falls Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
Located within the Many Glacier entrance, Apikuni Falls is one of the least-visited trails in Glacier National Park.
For this reason, and the obvious beauty of this towering waterfall, Apikuni Falls is one of my favorites when I’m looking for a quick and easy adventure on the east side of the park.
Read My Separate Post: Apikuni Falls Trail
17. Iceberg Lake Trail
Distance: 9.6 miles / 15.4 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,200 ft. / 366 m
As I’m sure it’s obvious by now, some of the best trails in Glacier National Park, including Iceberg Lake, are all located within Many Glacier.
That being said, the Iceberg Lake Trail is the easiest among the three most popular hikes out of Many Glacier, which includes Grinnell Glacier, Cracker and Iceberg Lake.
To learn more, as well as read about my once-in-a-lifetime Canadian Lynx encounter, I highly encourage you to check out my separate post. I was able to capture some photos of the lynx that surely will never happen in my lifetime again!
Read My Separate Post: Iceberg Lake Trail
18. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins
For a more affordable option in east Glacier than the Many Glacier Hotel, I recommend staying at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins.
These beautiful cabins are located right next to a number of trailheads, including Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier, and they are only 1 mile (1.6 km) away from the Many Glacier Hotel, where I recommend spending some time, even if you don’t have a reservation.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins
19. Johns Lake Loop Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Johns Lake Loop is an easy and relatively flat loop trail on the west side of Glacier National Park.
Personally, I think the Johns Lake Trail makes for a great hike if you’re looking for somewhere easy to explore, while avoiding the vast majority of the crowds found throughout other areas of the park.
Read My Separate Post: Johns Lake Loop Trail
20. Private Winter Glacier Tour
While most visitors get the impression that Glacier is closed throughout the winter months, you can still explore the park by hiking or skiing in.
Simply book below, and a professional local guide will outfit you with cross-country skis or snowshoes to explore the best of Glacier during the snowy winter months.
Why am I Recommending these Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve now and pay later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Additionally, I’ve included these tours because adventuring alone in grizzly territory, might not be the way you want to go. In this case, the tour options that I’ve listed provide a safe and amazing way to experience Glacier and the greater area, and they offer the opportunity to discover nearby adventures that you may not have heard of otherwise.
Additional Early Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, trails can be covered in snow into the middle of July or early August. This is why micro-spikes are a must on many trails until at least the second week of July, and possibly even later.
Many hikers miss out on trails that they could have done simply for this reason alone, which is why I recommend coming prepared.
I personally use the Yaktrax below.
10 Best Things to Do Near Glacier National Park
While the best of Glacier can easily consume your time in the park, I highly encourage you to look outside of the park if you’re looking for other fun things to do!
Some of the best restaurants, trails, and excursions are all outside of the park boundary, which can definitely make for a more quiet and relaxing vacation compared to how busy Glacier gets during the summer.
1. Bear Creek Overlook Trail
Distance: 5.2 miles / 8.4 km
I would go as far as to say that the Bear Creek Overlook, located a little south of Missoula, is the best trail outside of Glacier National Park!
On top of this, the Bear Creek Overlook is one of my most favorite trails I’ve ever hiked! I hope this stunning trail doesn’t need me to sell it more than I have, but I can say with absolutely certainty that Bear Creek in the Bitterroot Mountains is worth going out of the way for!
Read My Separate Post: Bear Creek Overlook Trail
2. Black Rifle Coffee Company (Kalispell, MT)
If you know anything about the brand, then you probably have a good idea of what Black Rifle Coffee is all about.
Regardless, Black Rifle has a beautiful coffee shop located in Kalispell, right outside of Glacier National Park. In my opinion, it’s one of the nicest and cleanest coffee shops I’ve ever been to, and as a veteran myself, it’s hard not to support this awesome veteran-owned company.
3. Private Hiking Guide (Whitefish, MT)
When it comes to hiking in grizzly territory, it’s completely understandable if you’re not comfortable exploring Glacier and the surrounding forests without someone who is more experienced.
Therefore, if you think might fall into this category, I highly recommend hiking with a local guide. Heading out with someone with a little more familiarity is not only a great way to hike safer, but having the opportunity to learn about the area from a local guide is always a great experience.
4. Casa Mexico (Kalispell, MT)
When someone from the area recommend Casa Mexico, I didn’t think too much of it before arriving.
However, on a beautiful summer weekday night, the place was packed and for good reason, as Casa Mexico is so much better than any average Mexican restaurant!
Yelp: Casa Mexico
5. Scenic River Float (West Glacier, MT)
While whitewater rafting within the park may not be for everyone, taking this guided scenic float just downstream along the same Middle Fork of the Flathead River is a great adventure for those who don’t want such an adventurous experience.
This tour begins right out of West Glacier along the southern border of the park, and it makes for a great scenic and relaxing adventure through the beautiful Flathead National Forest!
6. Park Cafe & Grocery (St. Mary)
While there aren’t many places to get food in St. Mary, Park Cafe is easily one of the best!
I say this because their shakes hit just right after a long day hiking in Many Glacier, but perhaps even more importantly, Park Cafe & Grocery is one of the only locations on the east side of Glacier with reliable Wi-Fi!
While you may not think too much of this until you’re there for a few days, simply trying to send a photo or get some updated weather can be a real challenge through many of the big carriers.
Yelp: Park Cafe & Grocery
7. Rising Sun Pizza (St. Mary)
Since a lot of the locations on this list highlight the beauty out of east Glacier, I think that it’s important to talk about the best dining options when you’re looking for good food outside of the park.
To me, Rising Sun Pizza is always a good, reliable option among the few dining options surrounding East Glacier.
Yelp: Rising Sun Pizza
8. Loula’s Cafe (Whitefish, MT)
Located right in Whitefish, Loula’s Cafe is my favorite place to grab breakfast outside of the park.
My photo surely doesn’t do it justice, but believe me, this small-town local diner is worth going out of the way for!
Yelp: Loula’s Cafe
9. Private Fly Fishing Lessons
If you didn’t know, fly fishing doesn’t come as naturally as spin casting, but if you want to learn a few tricks and tips so that you can hike in somewhere like Hidden Lake and fish for the day, I highly recommend learning a few things from a local guide before going.
Once you get the hang of it, fly fishing on the calmer waters of an alpine lake within the park will be much easier to apply what you’ve learned than on a faster-moving river.
10. Shop Small Business National Park Gear
A few of my good friends based right outside of Zion National Park design their own National Park gear from parks around country.
My camera strap, made by my friends at WildTree, has been my longest-standing camera strap that I’ve owned, and I encourage you to check them out over any of the overpriced souvenirs in or near Glacier National Park.
Shop: WildTree
