Visiting Glacier National Park - The Shadrian Chronicles

Glacier National Park is a stunning park with trails and activities for all ages. The national park is known for the glaciers that once covered the mountains though today only a few remain. Even though the majority of the namesake of the park is gone, the sheer beauty of the snowy mountains and alpine forests are worth the visit. Check out our guide below to exploring Glacier National Park!

Looking out at Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park.

When to go?

The park is open year round, however portions of the park are not accessible starting as early as mid September and lasting through mid June. The majority of the parks visitors visit between late May and early August, so if you can, shoot for late August through mid-September for limited crowds.

From winter through early July, some hikes are not accessible due to heavy snow and ice. It is best to always check with a ranger or park staff before heading off on hikes that have high elevations.

A ram in the snow on the mountains in July.

Be aware the summit of Going-to-the-Sun Road may be closed as late as mid July, depending on how long it takes for the ice and snow to melt away. The rest of the main roads are accessible most of the late spring through early fall months.

How do you get to the park?

The park is located int the far northwest portion of Montana, far from any major city. The good news however, is that there is an airport in Kalispell, only about an hour southwest of the park entrance. The airport is small, so expect to arrive in a small plane. Other airports include Spokane (4-5 hours), Helena (3.5 hours), and Great Falls (2.5 hours).

You can rent a car from any of the airport locations, but if you plant to travel during peak season (June to early August), book well in advance. To get to the park as well as the area outside of the main portion fo the park, we highly recommend you have a car.

During the peak season, parking is difficult, if not near impossible at high volume trail areas. The park runs a shuttle service from St. Mary’s visitor center on the east side to Apgar Visitors Center on the west side along Going-to-the-Sun Road, with numerous stops along the way at trailheads, visitors centers, and campgrounds.

Outside of peak season, you should be able to find parking throughout the park easily.

Views from the end of the Avalanche Lake trail.

Where to stay in and around the park?

We recommend two specific locations within Glacier National Park, the Lake McDonald Lodge and Rising Sun Motor Inn. These two locations offer the easiest access for using the park’s shuttle as well as activities within walking distance of the lodging. We highly recommend you book a room nearly a year in advance if you plan to visit during peak season. You can book at room at either location here.

Lake McDonald Lodge is an historic lodge dating back to 1913. The lodge is located right on the edge of Lake McDonald, which offers boating, fishing, horseback riding, and numerous trails to explore. Every room in the lodge has its own bathroom, however there are no tvs, elevators, or air conditioning. There are also cabins available for rent at the lodge. The lodge also offers a few eating locations and a park shop for your hiking and camping needs.

The Rising Sun Motor Inn is located on the east side of the park, near St. Mary Lake. The inn is primarily made up of a number of individual cabins; however there are are also some rooms in the original historic inn. There are a few trails accessible from the location as well as boating and fishing from the lake.

For those looking for a more traditional camping experience, there are a number of campsites available. Campsites are available through the national park site here. During bear mating season, certain campgrounds may be closed.

Recommended Hikes in the Park

There are numerous hiking options throughout the park. Below is a list of hikes we recommend based on our experiences. Regardless of when you visit, always check with a park ranger or staff regarding the hikes you plan to do. Bears and moose are very common in the park, therefore bear spray is HIGHLY recommended.

Views on the hike to Hidden Lake Overlook

Highline Loop – The hike is number one on almost any blog about Glacier Nation Park. If you take the portion from Logan Pass to the Loop entrance, the hike is relatively easy and downhill the entire time. The hike is roughly 12 miles one way. Be aware, mountain goats and rams are common along the hike, so give them their distance.
Trail of the Cedars – The hike is a very simple 0.7 mile loop trail through towering cedar trees. The trail is highly accessible for anyone, including those in wheelchairs and strollers.
Avalanche Lake – Starting from the trail of the cedars, this is a mostly easy, partially moderate hike with a few hills. The majority of the hike is along the Avalanche Creek which offers some great views all on its own. The lake at the end of the trail offers stunning vistas and mountains in the background. The total distance is roughly 3.8 miles roundtrip from Trail of the Cedars.
Hidden Lake Overlook – This was one of our favorite hikes. A large portion of the trail is on a wooden boardwalk to protect the delicate flora that inhabit the area. Though during our trip in July, the trail was almost entirely under snow still, the hike was still easy to moderate. Panoramic views of the mountains and valleys below wait at the end of the trail. The total distance is roughly 2.8 miles.
Grinnell Glacier – This hike is highly dependent on the snow levels, so check with a ranger before setting off. The hike is about 10 miles round trip and should be considered strenuous. Wildlife sightings are common along the trail, so bear spray is highly recommended.
Cobalt Lake – This was one of the first hikes we did as we arrived into Glacier National Park. The hike is roughly 11.6 miles round trip, however you can take a boat tour across the lake to cut out about a mile of the hike. The trail is very strenuous with snow common along the trail.

Other Activities

There are a number of other activities available in the park, including horseback riding, fishing, boating, and star gazing. Horseback riding along trails is very popular. You can usually book the day of the activity at one of the many options.

There are also a number of ranger led hikes and programs throughout the seasons, so check out the ranger stations and visitors centers to check out those options.