20 Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park
From its turquoise-blue alpine lakes to its rugged, glacial-carved peaks and valleys, Glacier National Park in northwest Montana is often regarded as one of the best and most beautiful National Parks in the country—and for good reason!
All that to say, it’s certainly no secret why Glacier National Park holds the nickname "Crown of the Continent," as there are stunning world-class hikes, amazing fishing opportunities, scenic drives, and so much more!
However, Glacier National Park is just as beautiful as it is busy, and as the National Park Service will tell you, visiting Glacier requires a lot of planning and patience!
Yes, the stunning beauty that makes this small section of the northern Rockies so special attracts people from around the world—which comes with the reality of the crowds in one of America’s most popular National Parks, particularly because parking is so limited and congested.
By this, I mean that over the years, the National Park Service has experimented—and continues to experiment—with a free shuttle service and reservation system that changes year after year based on new data and public feedback. That said, many of the best and most beautiful areas, including trailheads, visitor centers, and more, are still very challenging to navigate due to crowds, regardless of the efforts made by the National Park Service since this all began in 2021.
This is why I highly recommend that you read through the section below, as there is quite a bit to know before visiting, including some information that others won’t tell you—including the National Park Service—when planning a trip around these new and ever-changing rules.
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Glacier National Park?
The answer to this question is very easy. The best time to visit Glacier National Park is mid- to late summer, but I think there is a lot more to know if you’re truly trying to target the best of the beautiful summer season.
What I mean is that each year, the National Park Service undertakes the immense task of clearing Going-to-the-Sun Road of all the snow received throughout the winter. This usually begins in early April and typically lasts through mid-June, sometimes even into July!
Prior-season opening and closing dates from Logan Pass can be seen on the National Park website.
That said, I personally would never consider visiting Glacier National Park before mid-July, because even though the road typically opens by mid-June, your ability to enjoy the best of Glacier will be severely limited by snow on the trails—and make no mistake, Glacier National Park is a hiking destination through and through!
However, by mid-July, the vast majority of trails across the park should be snow-free, aside from a few lingering patches, mostly in shaded areas.
As for the end of the season, Going-to-the-Sun Road typically closes in mid- to late October, but in some rare years, Logan Pass has remained open into the first and second week of November.
I hope all this shows that the main consideration when planning a trip should be snow, but the one thing I haven’t yet referenced is wildfires, which typically become more problematic, if at all, around mid- to late August and through September.
With all this in mind, the best time of year to visit Glacier National Park is mid- to late July, with the second and third week of July being my number one pick overall!
What is the Glacier Shuttle & Vehicle Reservation System?
In 2021, Glacier National Park implemented a vehicle timed-entry program in order to reduce the number of private vehicles within the park, as available parking space is the single-most limiting factor when it comes to the number of people that can visit Glacier.
As for the 2026 season, the National Park Service reversed course for the first time since implementing the system, announcing that advanced vehicle reservations are no longer required.
However, in 2026, Glacier National Park is piloting a three-hour time limit for parking at Logan Pass, as well as a ticketed express shuttle system that provides transportation directly to Logan Pass. This is designed for those looking to do longer day hikes from the popular trailhead, like the Hidden Lake Trail and the Highline Trail.
It’s important to keep in mind that these changes are made on a year-by-year basis, meaning that the National Park Service may again decide to reverse course in the future if limiting traffic in one of the country’s busiest National Parks is necessary to improve the visitor experience.
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 said, Glacier National Park is a hiking destination, and given that hiking is one of the best things to do within the park, all visitors have a responsibility to carry bear spray, know how and when to use it, and understand how to identify the difference between a Black Bear and a Grizzly Bear, especially considering their colors can look very similar.
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 a stunning day hike out of Many Glacier on the east side of the park that I would argue is the single best trail in Glacier National Park for a number of reasons!
The first is that the entire hike, from the very beginning to the Grinnell Glacier at the top, is absolutely gorgeous! There are sweeping views across Grinnell Valley, including Grinnell Lake, waterfalls that pour down the cliffs from both Grinnell Glacier and Mt. Grinnell above the trail, and wildlife, including Mountain Goats and Bighorn Sheep that can often be seen right along the trail!
However, the second and perhaps biggest reason is that having the opportunity to swim with the icebergs that break off of Grinnell Glacier is second to none!
I believe this because there’s nothing quite like finally making it to the end of the almost all-uphill trail and getting to jump into the freezing cold waters of Grinnell Glacier, followed by laying out in the mid-summer sun immediately after!
Finally, the last reason is that the Grinnell Glacier Trail is often an all-day hike, and if you’re lucky enough to hike down the trail in the late afternoon or evening hours, the beautiful fading light that cuts across Grinnell Lake late in the day creates a stunning, sharp contrast of colors unlike anything else in Glacier National Park!
Read My Separate Post: Grinnell Glacier Trail
2. Cracker Lake Trail
Distance: 12.8 miles / 20.6 km
The Cracker Lake Trail is another beautiful, long day hike out of Many Glacier that leads to a glacial-fed, turquoise-blue lake with colors unlike any other across Glacier National Park!
That said, if you’re trying to decide between hiking either the Cracker Lake Trail or the Grinnell Glacier Trail, I don’t know what to tell you. Both lakes really are as blue as they look, and trying to recommend one over the other would be like trying to split hairs!
What I can say is that both are incredibly stunning and almost entirely uphill hikes, but between the two, Cracker Lake is slightly less crowded than Grinnell Glacier, though finding parking is equally challenging at either trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Cracker Lake Trail
3. Many Glacier Hotel
Imagine waking up to this sunrise with a warm cup of coffee in hand!
Yes, this is the view right from the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake outside the Many Glacier Hotel, which, in my opinion, is the best place to stay in Glacier National Park!
On a different note, if you spend a few days in East Glacier, which I highly recommend, you’ll quickly see that there isn’t much in terms of services for visitors outside of the park. This is because the land outside of the park boundary is reservation land, and as a result, there are very limited amenities, including everything from restaurants and lodging to other services.
For this reason, I highly recommend staying inside the park when visiting East Glacier, as this opens up a few—not many, but a few more—options in terms of services, while also eliminating the need to enter the park early each morning to look for parking.
Many Glacier Hotel (Swiftcurrent Lake)
4. Glacier Bike Rentals
In the early season, before Going-to-the-Sun Road has yet to fully open to vehicle traffic, or if you’re simply looking for a great way to access some of the busiest destinations off the road without dealing with traffic and parking, renting bikes or even e-bikes can be one of the best ways to explore West Glacier!
This can include everything from the West Entrance and Lake McDonald to the trailhead for Avalanche Lake and up to Logan Creek, which is where Going-to-the-Sun Road starts to get steep on the way up to Logan Pass.
Either way, renting bikes from one of the local operators in West Glacier is one of the best ways to enjoy Glacier at your own pace—especially before the road fully opens to vehicle traffic around the middle of June!
5. Highline Trail (The Loop)
Distance: 13.3 miles / 21.4 km
The Highline Trail via Logan Pass, now commonly referred to as 'The Loop,' is a one-way hike above Going-to-the-Sun Road that parallels some of the most beautiful sections of the scenic byway, passing countless panoramic viewpoints as it follows a ridge known as 'The Garden Wall' along the Continental Divide, connecting Logan Pass with the Loop Trailhead beneath the historic Granite Park Chalet!
It’s for all these reasons that the Highline Trail is a lot of adventures to different people, as some visitors opt for a shorter out-and-back hike to destinations like Haystack Butte, while others are determined to complete the full hike from Logan Pass to the Loop Trailhead and ride the shuttle back up, which is effectively where the name 'Loop' comes from.
In any case, the Highline Trail is a stunning day hike, and my overall recommendation is to complete the entire one-way hike, as the vast majority of the trail is downhill, apart from the short sections that climb up and over Haystack Butte.
Read My Separate Post: Highline Trail (The Loop)
6. Hidden Lake Trail
Distance: 5.1 miles / 8.2 km
Elevation Change (Overlook to Lake): ~800 ft. / 244 m
The Hidden Lake Trail is a shorter adventure by most standards in Glacier National Park, as many of the best trails within the park easily exceed 10 miles (16.1 km) roundtrip!
However, the Hidden Lake Trail is one of the few exceptions, and it’s one of my favorites in Glacier National Park because many park visitors hike the trail to the Hidden Lake Overlook, but few continue past it and make their way down to the beautiful shoreline along Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain!
Read My Separate Post: Hidden Lake Trail
My Print - Hidden Lake Trail
7. Avalanche Lake Trail
Distance: 4.8 miles / 7.7 km
The Avalanche Lake Trail is an easy day hike on the west side of Logan Pass that leads to a stunning, picturesque lake surrounded by cascading waterfalls from the Sperry Glacier above!
That said, Avalanche Lake is just as beautiful as it is popular, given that it is one of the first and easiest trailheads to reach from West Glacier—not to mention, parking at the trailhead is very limited.
For this reason, I highly recommend hiking the Avalanche Lake Trail first thing in the morning, which can be a great way to leave time open for countless other adventures, like the shorter Hidden Lake Trail up Going-to-the-Sun Road!
Read My Separate Post: Avalanche Lake Trail
8. Lake McDonald Lodge
Just as Many Glacier Hotel is the best place to stay on the east side of Glacier National Park, the historic Lake McDonald Lodge is the best place to stay on the west!
That said, reservations for Lake McDonald Lodge, or any hotel in Glacier National Park, are very competitive, which is why it’s highly recommended that you book your stay as soon as you know your travel dates.
All this to say, staying in the 100+-year-old Lake McDonald Lodge is a great way to slow down and relax in one of the busiest parts of Glacier National Park, while taking in the picturesque alpine lake with mountains painted across the backdrop!
Lake McDonald Lodge
9. St. Mary–Virginia Falls Trail
Distance: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
The Saint Mary–Virginia Falls Trail is a short, easy day hike on the east side of Logan Pass that leads to not one but two beautiful waterfalls and a number of fun local swimming holes once snowmelt has subsided from its peak!
To learn more, I highly recommend reading my separate article, as there is quite a bit to know about each of the most popular places to swim and cliff jump, as well as when and where it is safe to do so.
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 National Park, which is largely why it is much less popular to visit than the west side out of Lake McDonald.
However, what this doesn’t mention is that Two Medicine Lake is widely known and reported by the National Park Service for having high Grizzly activity, given that far fewer visitors explore this entrance compared to other areas of the park.
That said, this private tour out of Whitefish can be a great and safe way to see this often-uncrowded corner of Glacier National Park, while returning to the other side at the end of the day.
11. Jackson Glacier Overlook
The Jackson Glacier Overlook is one of the best places to see and learn about how the landscape and the glaciers across Glacier National Park and the northern Rockies are changing.
I say this because not only do you get to see the beautiful Jackson Glacier off in the distance, but the overlook also has a sign that helps put into perspective how all of the glaciers across the park are shrinking, which is truly something to see when you have a side-by-side comparison between the sign and what’s left of the Jackson Glacier in the distance!
Google Maps Directions: Jackson Glacier Overlook
12. Sun Point
Sun Point is a little-known spot on the cliffs above Saint Mary Lake, on the east side of Logan Pass, that I think is one of the best all-around places to catch sunrise and sunset in Glacier National Park!
I say this because whether you’re watching the first light hit the towering peaks on the east side of the Continental Divide or catching the last few moments of daylight hit the summits of Red Eagle and Mahtotopa Mountain, as in the photo below, Sun Point can be one of the most quiet, relaxing, and overlooked viewpoints by most who visit Glacier National Park!
Google Maps Directions: Sun Point
13. Village Inn at Apgar
A mid-summer day on the shores of Lake McDonald in Apgar Village is about as old pastimes get in Glacier National Park!
Think swimming in the freezing-cold, glacial-fed waters, paddling around in a kayak, or simply laying out in the hot summer sun with stunning peaks lining the far side of the lake!
Either way, Apgar Village is one of the best family-friendly places to stay in Glacier National Park, and the Village Inn at Apgar is at the center of it all!
On a different note, Apgar Village is one of only a few places in Glacier National Park that has reliable cell phone service, given that it’s so close to West Glacier just beyond the park boundary.
Village Inn at Apgar
14. Ice Cream at Eddie’s Cafe
After a long day exploring Glacier National Park, there’s nothing quite like a double scoop of ice cream from Eddie’s Cafe in Apgar Village!
That said, Eddie’s is always a must-stop of mine after completing the Highline Loop Trail, as grabbing some ice cream and walking down to Lake McDonald just before sunset always seems to line up timing-wise, given that it’s almost certain you’ll make it down Going-to-the-Sun Road from Logan Pass late in the day.
Yelp: Eddie’s Cafe
15. Whitewater Rafting in the Park
Whitewater rafting the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with a local guide out of West Glacier is one of the best guided tours in Glacier National Park!
I say this because this scenic whitewater adventure takes you inside Glacier National Park, where your guide will lead you through some of the most beautiful backcountry that most never see, which can be a great option for anyone looking for a fun group adventure to do with family and friends!
16. Apikuni Falls Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Apikuni Falls Trail is a little-known waterfall hike out of Many Glacier that leads to a beautiful, towering, 170-ft. (52 m) multi-tiered waterfall, with the largest drop measuring about 90 ft. (27 m).
That said, I like the Apikuni Falls Trail because it is one of the least-visited trails in one of the busiest parts of Glacier National Park, making it one of my favorite adventures to escape the crowds that, for obvious reasons, hike the Grinnell Glacier Trail and the Cracker Lake Trail over the hike to Apikuni Falls.
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
The Iceberg Lake Trail is a beautiful, not-too-challenging day hike on the east side of the park, and it’s generally seen as the easiest of the three most popular trails out of Many Glacier, specifically the Grinnell Glacier Trail, the Cracker Lake Trail, and the Iceberg Lake Trail, considering both distance and elevation gain.
On a different note, the last time I hiked the Iceberg Lake Trail, I had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a Canadian Lynx, which I encourage you to read all about in my separate post linked below!
Read My Separate Post: Iceberg Lake Trail
18. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins
The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins is a quiet, beautiful little place to stay in Many Glacier that can be a much more affordable option than the Many Glacier Hotel, just down the road!
What I also personally like is that the beautiful cabins are located right next to a number of popular trailheads, including Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier, and they are only 1.0 mile (1.6 km) away from the Many Glacier Hotel and the trailhead for Cracker Lake down the road.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins
19. Johns Lake Loop Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Johns Lake Loop Trail is an easy and relatively flat loop day hike on the west side of Glacier National Park that I see as a great alternative to some of the busier nearby adventures, like Avalanche Lake!
That said, the last time I visited, Going-to-the-Sun Road was under construction, and as a result, the Johns Lake Trail was not fully open, which is why my separate article is not fully complete.
Read My Separate Post: Johns Lake Loop Trail
20. Private Winter Glacier Tour
Contrary to popular belief, Glacier National Park is not fully closed in the winter, which can be seen on the live park road map below.
Instead, the National Park Service follows a very consistent plan to maintain access to the lowest elevations of the front country off Going-to-the-Sun Road, which typically means plowing the road to the "Mile-and-a-Half" gate past the Lake McDonald Lodge west of Logan Pass and the first 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the St. Mary entrance to a winter closure gate.
This is usually all that is open until around late April or early May.
That said, visitors can go hiking, snowshoeing, and even cross-country skiing during the winter off-season, or if you don’t have the gear, you can simply book through one of the local guides out of West Glacier using the links below.
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 country, 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!
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
The Bear Creek Overlook Trail in western Montana is one of my all-time favorite trails! I would even go as far as to say that the Bear Creek Overlook Trail, located a short drive south of Missoula, is the best day hike outside of Glacier National Park!
Therefore, I’m not kidding when I say: go out of your way to hike the Bear Creek Overlook Trail—and know that it really isn’t all that big of a stretch if you’re already flying into Missoula or Bozeman when planning a trip to Glacier National Park.
Read My Separate Post: Bear Creek Overlook Trail
2. Black Rifle Coffee Company (Kalispell, MT)
Black Rifle Coffee Company is a renowned nationwide coffee brand known for its true American values and support of first responders and our nation’s military.
That said, they have only a handful of brick-and-mortar coffee shops around the country, but of the few, one is located right in Kalispell, just outside of Glacier National Park!
All this is to say that, as someone who wore the uniform myself, it’s hard not to love and support this amazing veteran-owned company! 🇺🇸 ☕ 🤘🏼
3. Yellowstone National Park
In this part of the country, Glacier National Park is most often combined with a roadtrip across Montana to visit both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The drive from the Apgar Visitor Center just outside of West Glacier to the North Entrance south of Gardiner, MT, is roughly 6 hours and 30 minutes, which really isn’t all that bad considering most people make stops in Missoula and Bozeman along the way.
That said, Yellowstone National Park is a very big National Park that can feel overwhelming when visiting for the first time.
I say this because there truly is so much to see and do beyond the most iconic stops, like Old Faithful. This is why, I highly recommend reading my separate article linked below, as I have been fortunate to visit many times over many years, which is why I’m confident my local insights—including places to see wildlife, trails, food, camping, and so much more—are truly the best recommendations you will find!
Read My Separate Post: Yellowstone National Park
4. Grand Teton National Park
One certainly can’t talk about Yellowstone National Park without highlighting Grand Teton National Park just a few miles to the south, as the two really go hand in hand!
As for Grand Teton, the National Park and Jackson, Wyoming, are often more enjoyed by the more adventurous types of visitors, as the rugged Teton Range truly is a playground—from the easiest of trails, like the Jenny Lake Loop Trail, to popular off-trail adventures, like the hike up to Delta Lake.
In either case, I have also visited Grand Teton National Park many times over many years, as I have Glacier, which is why I highly recommend checking out my separate post for the best insider secrets and information before visiting!
Read My Separate Post: Grand Teton National Park
5. Casa Mexico (Kalispell, MT)
Casa Mexico in Kalispell, just outside of Glacier National Park, was once recommended to me by a few local residents, and needless to say, it didn’t disappoint!
That said, even on week nights, I’ve always seen Casa Mexico packed when I’ve stopped in on a Montana roadtrip, which hopefully says more than I can say!
Yelp: Casa Mexico
6. Rising Sun Pizza (St. Mary)
Since a lot of the locations on this list highlight the beauty of East Glacier, I think it’s important to talk about some of the few dining options that you have when looking for good food outside the park.
Of these limited options, Rising Sun Pizza is always a good, reliable choice outside of East Glacier—not to mention that the leftovers can make a great hiking snack the next day on the trail!
Yelp: Rising Sun Pizza
7. Park Café & Grocery (St. Mary)
Once again, there aren’t many places to get food in St. Mary on the east side of Glacier National Park, but Park Café is easily one of the best!
I say this because their amazing milkshakes hit just right after a long day on the trails in Many Glacier, but what’s perhaps even more important is that Park Cafe & Grocery is one of the only locations on the east side of Glacier with reliable Wi-Fi!
While this may not seem that important when reading this at home, trying to do anything on your phone—like checking the weather or sending a photo to family and friends—can be a real challenge on the reservation, depending on your carrier.
Yelp: Park Café & Grocery
8. Loula’s Cafe (Whitefish, MT)
Located right in Whitefish, just a few miles west of West Glacier, Loula’s Cafe is the best—and my favorite—place to grab breakfast on the west side of Logan Pass!
Now, it’s worth noting that my bad photo surely doesn’t do justice, but believe me, this small-town local diner in downtown Whitefish is worth going out of the way for!
Yelp: Loula’s Cafe
9. The Beaten Path Trail
Distance: 26.0 miles / 41.8 km
Glacier National Park is renowned for its backcountry camping, but no adventure outside of the park may be as beautiful or as pristine as The Beaten Path in the Beartooth Mountain Range north of Yellowstone!
Personally, I have only hiked about the first 8.0 miles (12.9 km) of The Beaten Path to Rainbow Lake before had to unfortunately turn around without completing the full trail.
This is why the article linked below is far from complete, but I have every intention of hiking the full trail and updating this article later in 2026!
Regardless, it only took a few miles of hiking for the Beartooth Mountains to instantly become my favorite mountain range across the Mountain West, which is why The Beaten Path is my number-one recommendation if you’re looking for a beautiful backpacking trip outside of the park—not to mention, no competitive overnight permits are required, which certainly cannot be said about backcountry sites in Glacier National Park!
Read My Separate Post: The Beaten Path Trail
My Print - Rainbow Lake
10. Beartooth Highway
Soaring to an elevation of 10,947 ft. (3,337 m) at Beartooth Pass, the Beartooth Highway is easily one the best and most beautiful scenic drives on the planet, especially if you have the opportunity to hike around the pass at golden hour!
That said, the Beartooth Highway is rarely a convenient drive, whether coming to or from Yellowstone, but I can confidently say that it’s absolutely worth the detour, regardless of the time it adds to your drive!
Google Maps Directions: Beartooth Highway
3 Things to Know Before Visiting Glacier National Park
1. Enter Glacier National Park early to find parking.
Regardless of whether there is an advanced vehicle reservation system or not, parking has always been very competitive and very challenging at trailheads across Glacier National Park.
I’m not kidding when I say that the Logan Pass parking lot often fills up just minutes after sunrise and remains highly competitive throughout the entire day.
This is why, if you want to visit any of the park’s busiest trails, such as Logan Pass or those in Many Glacier, you need to drive into the park before sunrise for the best, hassle-free experience when it comes to finding parking.
2. Trails in Glacier National Park are very long.
Across all sides of Glacier National Park, trails often exceed the 10.0-mile (16.1 km) mark, which really translates to spending a lot of time outside!
This is why I highly recommend coming properly prepared with good sun protection—especially considering how much easier it is to burn at these higher elevations above the treeline.
3. Buy bear spray before visiting Glacier National Park.
When hiking in Grizzly country, having bear spray is not a suggestion—it’s a requirement!
That said, buying bear spray ahead of visiting Glacier National Park is the cheapest and most practical way to go because renting bear spray from one of the concessioners in or around the park is a bit of a scam.
I say this because if you’re planning more than a three-day trip to Glacier and the greater area, then buying bear spray makes much more financial sense than renting.
If you are flying in, know that bear spray cannot be taken on board in your carry-on or checked luggage, but what I recommend instead is shipping bear spray to a nearby Amazon Locker ahead of your arrival at the airport.
