Glacier National Park
Montana
One word I’d use to describe Glacier National Park is “awe-inspiring.” This park is located in northwest Montana and expands into Canada on its northern end.
Imagine wildflowers blooming across a jagged, mountainous landscape, or hiking through a dense wooded forest and coming across a hidden crystal lake, or ascending a mountain to find a patch of snow in the shade…even in August! Glacier National Park offers all these views and more. It’s a truly unforgettable experience for all those who visit. Read on for more tips and tricks on what to do during your time in the park.
Glacier National Park Stats
When to visit
Below is a chart outlining the average number of visitors and temperatures for each month in Glacier National Park as of 2023.
Plants and Animals at Glacier National Park
The national park service tracks each animal species sighting in the park. The data below is a summary of the NPS Species database, updated in 2024.
Road to the Sun
The “Going-to-the-Sun” road is the only road that runs all the way through Glacier National Park from East to West and offers spectacular views as it winds through the Rockies. This road is an engineering marvel, 50 miles wide and literally carved into the side of a mountain for several miles, and is surrounded by alpine lakes, lush pine tree forests and fields of wildflowers.
As you will notice as an emerging theme for Glacier National Park, this road is very popular in the summer. You’ll need to purchase a timed entry if entering from the west side or North Fork between June 13 through September 28 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. In addition, a pass must be purchased to enter the park. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov.
There’s also a free shuttle available along Going-to-the-Sun Road on a first-come, first-served basis. Summer shuttle service begins July 1 and continues through Labor Day.
Best hikes in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park offers literally hundreds and hundreds of miles of trails to choose from. Backcountry campsites fill up fast and this is a very popular park, so I’d recommend booking your accommodations as soon as they open up. Even then, you might have to go with your second choice of an itinerary, depending on the campsites you can secure. Below are just a few of the most popular hikes to consider adding to your itinerary.
For the most part, the best time for these hikes is between June and September, after the snow and ice melts on the trails.
Grinnell Glacier
The 10.6 mile out-and-back hike to Grinnell Glacier is very popular, but also not for the faint of heart. This hike takes the average person 5 to 7 hours to complete.
To start, the Grinnell Glacier trailhead is located on Continental Divide Trail. There’s a small parking lot at the trailhead, so get there early to ensure a spot. From here, you can take a ferry across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine and shave 3.4 miles off your hike, or you can hike around the lake. From the other side of Lake Josephine, it’s a steady, uphill walk to Grinnell Glacier. This hike is stunning, offering views from the lake from up above. On a sunny day, you won’t run out of pictures to take. From the top of your ascension is a view of Grinnell Glacier.
Avalanche Lake
This beautiful lake offers a nice resting spot for those embarking on a scenic day hike. This destination is 2.5 miles one way from the Going-to-the-Sun road, and was formed from melting glaciers, making the water crisp and clear. Parking for the Avalanche Lake Trail is located at the joint trailhead with the Trail of the Cedars.
For the first 0.4 miles, the Avalanche Lake Trail follows the Trail of the Cedars, then splits off onto its own trail. Follow the Avalanche Trail to the end to reach the lake. The hike gains a bit of elevation but is still considered an easy/moderate trek.
Highline Trail
This nearly 15 mile hike is challenging, taking on average 7 hours to complete. This trail is also accessible from the sun road, and there is an offshoot from the trail to the Grinnell Glacier outlook, in case you’re feeling ambitious and want to try both hikes in one day!
There are many ways to do this hike, all of which offer stunning views and a high likelihood of seeing bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and other wildlife. Make sure your pack includes bear spray and other necessary items for a full-day hike, including water, a first aid kit, and navigation (map and a compass).
Hidden Lake Overview
This hike is only 2.7 miles roundtrip for the overview, but can be extended if you actually want to hike around Hidden Lake. This trail takes you up and over Hidden Lake Pass to Hidden Lake Overlook. This trail is very popular, offering stunning views of open grasslands and mountains along the hike. Should you choose, you can continue down the Hidden Lake Trail to the lakeshore and continue your hike another 6 miles round trip around the lake, an easy, flat hike.
Ptarmigan Tunnel
Last but certainly not least, explore the Ptarmigan Tunnel. Ptarmigan Tunnel is a roughly 250-foot long tunnel through the mountains at Red Gap. The tunnel was built in the 1930s by the CCC and connects the Many Glacier area with the Belly River Valley. This tunnel is only open mid-July through late September due to less reliable conditions in the park the rest of the year.
The hike that allows visitors to go through this tunnel is a 10.6 mile round trip hike and takes most hikers around 5.5 hours to complete. This hike takes visitors up a steep climb from the forest to the tunnel, and also includes Ptarmigan Lake on the way! The view from the other end of the tunnel is spectacular, allowing hikers to see for many miles around on a clear day.
Bonus: Hike into Waterton Lakes
Fun fact about Glacier National Park: It butts right up to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada! This is also a beautiful park and you can hike right in from the trail, just make sure you have your updated passport when you need to get back into the U.S.
Waterton Lakes is accessible from the U.S. by backcountry hike and from Canada by boat. There are many stunning hikes to explore within the park, and it is usually far less crowded than Glacier. Take some time to explore the lands our northern neighbor has to offer!
What to bring to Glacier National Park
Bringing the right gear is essential to explore the park safely and responsibly. Check out these packs other hikers brought to explore Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park Camping
Glacier National Park has over 1,000 campsites of all kinds: Some backcountry sites, some campgrounds that are first-come, first-served and some campgrounds that allow reservations months in advance. You can book a reservation through recreation.gov and it’s recommended to do this well in advance of your trip, as cell service within the park is unreliable to purchase reservations once you arrive.
Should you choose to hike in the backcountry, you will need to apply for a wilderness camping permit in advance. You’ll need to submit an itinerary with your application to secure your ideal campsite. You may enter the lottery in an attempt to submit your ideal wilderness camping itinerary earlier than other hikers for approval, or you may wait until the general access period to attempt to secure a campsite. Learn more and apply for a permit at recreation.gov.
The History of Glacier National Park
The lands of Glacier National Park are part of the history and culture of the Blackfeet, Salish, Pend d'Oreille, and Kootenai tribes. Fur trappers began settling the parks in the early 1800s.
Glacier National Park was made a Forest Preserve in 1900, but was open to mining and homesteading. Ten years later, concerned activists sought to make Glacier a National Park for added protections, including the end of mining and homesteading there. In 1910, President Taft signed the bill establishing Glacier as the country’s 10th national park.
Other Resources:
If you’re planning a trip to Glacier National Park, check out the additional resources below for help.
