hintonthetrail.com – 14 Best Things To Do In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is 1583-square miles of wilderness stretching from Montana up to the Canadian border. With over 700 miles of trails, majestic mountains, beautiful lakes, forests, and glaciers to explore, you’re sure to find something magical and awe-inspiring. We’re going to show you the 14 best things to do in Glacier. This is a national park you must see!
When to go
Glacier National Park is open year-round but there are areas that will be unavailable due to road closures and snow typically from October until May. You need to plan to be self-sufficient as many of the park services are only available in the summer months. This includes the services in the surrounding towns as well. The Going-to-the-Sun Road, a must-see, is heavily hit with snow in the winter so if you plan to drive the whole thing, the best time is summer and fall. It is, however, open to hikers, bikers, skiers, and snowshoers most of the year.
How Much Does It Cost?
Glacier National Park has a $35 entrance fee ($25 winter rate) which is good for 7 days. You can purchase your entrance fee at the gate or online HERE. If you plan to go to more than one park or monument in a year, you should check into the National Park Pass because it can save you money. Click HERE for more information on how to obtain one.
Visitor Centers
Glacier has three main Visitor Centers: Logan’s Pass (Going-to-the-Sun Road), St. Mary’s (eastside), and Apgar (westside). All have restrooms, bookstores, and rangers to assist with any questions you may have about activities and the best things to do in Glacier.
Bear Spray
Glacier National Park has bears! We saw three bears on the same day! Make sure you prepare if you plan to do any hiking or backcountry camping and get your bear spray. You can purchase or rent it at the Visitor Centers or at the stores in Apgar Village. And don’t forget to bring it with you!
Shuttle System
Glacier National Park has an almost free shuttle system that runs from the three Visitor Centers and along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. You can purchase a Ticket-to-Ride for the shuttle on recreation.gov and the cost is $1 per person over 2-years-old. You will have a timed entry which will expire if you don’t use it in time. Click HERE for the most up-to-date information on Glacier’s shuttle system.
Where to Stay
Lodging Information
There are many lodging opportunities so you can see the best things in Glacier. Click the links below to explore lodging around Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park Lodges/Xanterra Parks & Resorts
RV/Camping
Glacier NPS (National Park Service) has 13 campgrounds with over 1,000 campsites. Some take reservations and others are first-come, first-served with prices ranging from $10 to $23 nightly. Check HERE for reservations and more information.
There are also RV parks located outside the park. We really found the West Glacier KOA Resort to be one of our favorite RV parks of all time. It has every amenity you can think of and different types of sites that you are sure to love it too.
14 Best Things To Do In Glacier
Here are the 14 best things to do in Glacier National Park. These are in no particular order as I believe they are all great experiences. You’re sure to find something that sparks your interest!!
1. Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you only have one day to do the best things in Glacier National Park, then you must do the Going-to-the-Sun Road! This 50-mile road was designed specifically to blend in with the beautiful mountain landscape. The drive goes from the west end of the park to the east end (or vice versa) and takes around 2 hours one way if you don’t stop to see the sights along the way. We did the entire drive from West Glacier to St. Mary’s and then continued around the park to Two Medicine and back to our campground. It took us around 7 hours because we made quite a few stops. What an amazing drive. The views of the mountains, glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls will astound you! Check out our video below!
Make sure you check the Glacier NPS website for information as to when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is all the way open. Due to its high elevation at Logan Pass, you may not be able to drive the whole road because it may still have snow. NPS says that it is typically fully open from July through October.
You also may need to get a ticketed entry as it gets really crowded and they’re trying to make sure everyone gets a chance to drive it. Click HERE to find out more information.
If you want a more informative experience on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, follow the audio tour HERE. It gives you more history and detailed tidbits about the different stops along the road.
If you are unable to drive the road, the National Park Service created a video you can watch HERE.
2. Boat tours
One of the best things to do at Glacier National Park is to take a boat tour of one of their many lakes. The boat tours give you the history and interesting stories about the park as well as magnificent views of the lakes and surrounding mountains. Some of the boat tours offer guided hikes in addition. We did the Lake McDonald tour and really found it to be insightful with pristine waters. Make sure you make reservations early though because these tours fill up fast and are seasonal. You can also rent watercraft from boat companies as well.
3. Bus tours
Bus tours are a great way to explore the park while learning a bit about the culture and history. The Glacier National Park Red Bus Tours are ranger-led and the buses are considered to be the oldest fleet of touring vehicles in the world. Check out these tour companies for more information and scheduling options. Take a ride back in history and book your tour today!
Glacier National Park Lodges Red Bus Tours
4. Rafting
Take a guided rafting tour down the beautiful Flathead River and experience the best of Glacier National Park in a different way. The companies below offer a variety of rafting experiences from white water rafting to scenic floats. There are also overnight, evening dinner floats, and combination packages available.
Glacier Guides and Montana Rafting Company
5. Guided Hiking
Not sure where to hike? Take a guided hike through Glacier. The company below offers day and multiple day trips and includes porter services for your gear. They also have combination tours with hiking, rafting, yoga, and more as well as family-friendly nature walks and adventures. Check it out!
6. Horseback Tours
Back in the day when horses were a common form of transportation, people would get off the train at Glacier National Park depot and spend days or weeks exploring it by horseback. Take a ride through history and experience the best things to do in Glacier with a guided horseback tour from Swan Mountain Outfitters. They offer many different packages so there’s sure to be something that catches your eye.
7. Take a Hike!
Glacier has over 700-miles of hiking trails to choose from. It’s always important to go prepared so make sure you take plenty of water and snacks. Hidden Lake and Hidden Lake Overlook Trails, Highline Trail, and Overland Trails can be accessed from Logan’s Pass. Hidden Lake is a very popular trail that leads to a panoramic view of the mountains and meadows and continues to an overlook of Hidden Lake. Highline Trail is a cliff line trail starting across the street from the Logan’s Pass Visitor Center. The views from the trail are breathtaking as most of the trail follows along parallel to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Overland Trail is an alternative to the busyness of the Hidden Lake Trail. It leads up to a small waterfall and you frequently will come across goats!
From the Avalanche Creek shuttle stop, you can access the Avalanche Lake Trail, Avalanche Trail, and the Trail of Cedars. The Avalanche Lake Trail is a very popular trail through the forest leading to a view of waterfalls and the lake that’s great for swimming or skipping rocks. The Avalanche Trail is a nice, level, family-friendly route that goes through the forest and crosses the Avalanche Lake Trail. The Trail of Cedars is a short trail on a boardwalk through a cedar forest with some of the oldest trees in the park. You can learn about the different types of flora and fauna that make up this beautiful area.
8. Stand on the Contintental Divide at Logan’s Pass
Logan’s Pass is located on the Going-to-the-Sun Road at 6,646 feet elevation. It’s on the Continental Divide and has the most beautiful views. There is a Visitor Center with restrooms and rangers with information on what to do. Many of the more popular trails begin at Logan’s Pass so make sure you get there early to get parking!!
9. Visit Two Medicine Lake
Two Medicine Lake offers many hiking opportunities as well as amazing views of the lakes against the mountains. You can rent water equipment here, take a boat tour, camp, or visit the camp store. You’ll find a lot fewer people here but can still experience the best things to do in Glacier here!
10. Huckleberries
For those that love huckleberries, there are many huckleberry treats to be found in this area. Pie, fudge, syrup, ice cream, and you can even buy them by the pound to use later. We bought some to make huckleberry pancakes. Yummy!
11. Sunset at Lake McDonald
Watching the sunset from the Lake McDonald shores is so amazing. The mountains surrounding the lake provide a beautiful background for the setting sun to peek through. And the reflections and colors on the lake are just magnificent. Stay past sunset and have a great view of the stars above!
12. Explore Many Glacier
Many Glacier is an area full of exciting exploration opportunities. Some of the best things to do in Glacier are here. You’ll find many of the best hikes and views, as well as beautiful boat tours. Try to spend a few days as you will see the awe-inspiring beauty here is not to be missed. There are hotels and camping options so make a reservation today!
13. Check Out Apgar Village
Apgar Village is the area before entering the West Glacier side of the Glacier National Park. It has many little shops, grocery stores, restaurants, a gas station, and mini-golf. You can find huckleberry treats, walking sticks, clothing, and grab a bite to eat before entering the park.
14. Stargazing from pretty much anywhere in the park
Stargazing is a popular thing to do in Glacier National Park because the sky is so clear and big. With no large cities nearby, you can see more stars because the sky is darker. And with so many spots high in the mountains, there isn’t a whole lot to block your view of the sky. You can find out more about ranger-led astronomy programs HERE or at the Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers.
Visit Glacier Now!
Glacier National Park is loaded with the best things to do. Make a plan to visit today and see the beauty of it!
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