5 Days at Glacier National Park Itinerary and Tips
Spend 5 days in Glacier National Park sightseeing, hiking, and exploring with this complete itinerary!
Planning at trip to the Crown of the Continent in Montana can be overwhelming since the park is large and there are multiple areas to visit, many of which have their own entrances.
In the guide below, I’ve taken the guesswork out of your trip to Glacier with suggestions on how to fill your days, what you must do (and what you can skip), and how to best navigate the vastness of this incredible national park.
In just 5 days, you’ll be able to see many of the park’s highlights, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, helpful tours, hiking trails for a variety of skill levels, and much more.
Plus, with a 5 day outlay, you can easily add this itinerary into just about any school break or work vacation days.
Glacier National Park visitors boarding a boat tour on Lake Josephine in Many Glacier
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Visiting Glacier National Park: An Overview
When a place is called “The Crown of the Continent,” you may imagine that the reality of visiting there isn’t able to live up to the hype.
I’m happy to report that not only does Glacier live up to that name—and the hype!—but it often exceeds it. We’ve traveled all over the Mountain West and have visited about half of the national parks so far, and Glacier remains one of my family’s favorites.
The mountains stand proudly and the brilliantly blue lakes shimmer. In the summer, wildflowers cover the meadows and trailsides. You might see a moose, a bighorn sheep, or even a baby bear. It’s a place that feels wild and even a bit magical, and it should absolutely be on everyone’s must visit list!
For a first time visit, here’s what you’ll need to know before diving into my recommended 5 day itinerary.
Where is Glacier National Park?
Glacier National Park is located in northern Montana, and it is close enough to the Canadian border to butt up against the Waterton National Park on the Canadian side.
In fact, the Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park is the first of its kind, and features two national parks from different countries working in tandem. (You’ll still need a passport to get to Waterton).
Glacier National Park is located just east of Kalispell, Montana, and to the west of the Blackfeet Reservation. To the north is Waterton National Park and to the south is Flathead National Forest.
The mountains here are part of the Rockies, though they aren’t as tall as the part of the chain in Colorado. The Rockies are also the same mountain chain that you’ll find in Grand Teton National Park, though the contrast between mountain and plain there is much different than the mountains and valleys in Glacier.
Ultimately, if you’ve been to the Rockies before, I promise, you won’t be going all of this way to see more of the same mountain views. Glacier is unique in its own right, thanks to its many lakes, incredible hikes, and dozens of glaciers.
Views from Going-to-the-Sun Road near Logan Pass
What are the main areas of the park?
Glacier stretches across a million square acres in Montana. This vast park, which is 3 times bigger than Canyonlands National Park in Utah, and about half the size of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, requires some pre-planning when it comes to seeing all of the parts of the park.
This is because there is only one road that stretches across the park, and that’s the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road, which has vehicle size limitations and requires reservations to access it during peak times.
Even more confusingly, several of the main areas of the park cannot be accessed from Going-to-the-Sun Road at all, and require you to take other roads along the edges of the park’s boundaries.
The areas of Glacier National Park are:
Apgar Village and West Glacier. This area of hotels, restaurants, and activities is at the western end of Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is also where you’ll find Apgar Visitors Center to pick up Junior Ranger booklets and maps. It’s also got the easiest Lake McDonald access for paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming.
Logan Pass. This is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road, and it has several trailheads, a souvenir shop, and a ranger information desk. It’s located roughly halfway between Apgar Village and St. Mary.
St. Mary is the eastern terminus of Going-to-the-Sun Road. It has several campgrounds (both within the park’s borders and just outside of it), a gas station, restaurants, and a visitors center.
Two Medicine is a more remote part of the park, and it is not accessible by Going-to-the-Sun Road. Instead, you’ll have to access it via Route 2 through the town of East Glacier.
North Fork is located on the western side of the park above Apgar Village. The section of road between Apgar and Polebridge has both paved and gravel sections and requires a separate vehicle pass. It is not accessible by Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Many Glacier is located in the northeast section of the park and offers up some of the best vewis of glaciers. It’s not accessible by Going-to-the-Sun Road, and visitors should use Highway 89 from St. Mary to get here.
Will I need a rental car?
Yes, you will need a rental car or personal vehicle while exploring Glacier National Park.
Other than the free shuttles, which only run during daylight hours in peak season along Going-to-the-Sun Road, there isn’t any other public transportation available in the park. This means that you’ll need a rental car to see Two Medicine, North Fork, and Many Glacier.
Having your own rental car is helpful, too, when driving Going-to-the-Sun Road, as you’ll have more control over when and where you stop, and how long you linger.
You can pick up a rental car at the Kalispell Airport, about 30 minutes from the west entrance of Glacier.
Compare rental car prices at the Kalispell Airport here:
Glacier National Park: 5 Day Itinerary
Below, you’ll find a day-by-day itinerary for a 5 day experience in Glacier National Park. These 5 days include your arrival and departure days, though I’ve included as much as possible on those 2 end days for a robust trip.
If you do find yourself with another day for this trip, I’ve included ways to extend each area of the park with additional activities, dining, and hiking.
I’ve also included suggestions on where to stay each night of the trip using in-park accommodations. If you are planning on bringing a camper to Glacier instead, I have noted relevant campgrounds as well.
Day 1: Arrival and Apgar Village
On your first day in Glacier, you’ll want to get oriented to the park and then explore the adorable Apgar Village area.
Apgar Visitors Center
Start your visit at Apgar visitors center, where you can speak with one of the 3 rangers on duty at the outside ranger stations. You can get suggestions for hikes, discuss logistics, and get maps here. You can also grab a free Junior Ranger booklet while you’re here.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Junior Ranger program, it’s a free program that’s open to kids (and kids at heart) who’d like to learn more about the park.
Children fill out a set number of pages in the booklets and then return it to a ranger on duty. From there, a ranger looked over the work and swears in your child as a Junior Ranger. You’ll get a free badge, too! For more information on the Junior Ranger programs at the NPS sites around the country, check out my national parks for beginners guide.
Apgar Bike Path
The Apgar Bike Path runs from the visitors center to Apgar Village. It’s flat and wide, and excellent for both a quick hike and a bike ride.
This 1-mile point to point path is an easy way to access Apgar Village without having to deal with the extremely limited parking in Apgar Village. There’s much more free parking at Apgar Visitors Center with no time limits.
Even though the path connects two of the busiest areas in the western part of the park, the path is surrounded by beautiful trees, large ferns, and small wildflowers, making it feel much further away from the hustle and bustle than it is.
Apgar Village
At the other end of the multi use/bike path is Apgar Village, where you’ll find shopping and dining in a compact, easily walkable area.
Eddie’s Mercantile and Cafe has a large selection of gifts and a cute restaurant filled with soups, salads, and sandwiches. There’s also an ice cream stand on the exterior of the building if you need a quick snack.
If you’d like your shopping with a side of history, you can make your way to the adorable red and white wooden building about a block away from Eddie’s. This is Schoolhouse Gifts: today, it sells blankets, magnets, home decor, and Glacier-themed shirts, but it once served as the area’s one room school house.
The shop with the largest selection of gifts, hiking gear, snacks, and souvenirs the shop closest to Lake McDonald, The Cedar Tree. You’ll also find a little coffee shop inside (but the service can be slow, so be patient).
There’s also a large public restroom here across the side street from Eddie’s Mercantile and Cafe.
If you’re visiting Glacier National Park with kids, I highly recommend stopping by the Nature Center in Apgar Village, which has kid-friendly tactile and interactive exhibits about the wildlife of the park. There are family-themed ranger programs that take place here, too.
Lake McDonald Watersports
Visitors paddle boarding on Lake McDonald
In Apgar Village, you’re steps away from Lake McDonald, and it would be a shame not to explore it more!
For around $35-40 per board, you can rent a paddle board for 2 hours and paddle on the lake’s calm waters. It’s hard to understand how clear the water is until you’re out on it, looking down 50 or 60 feet and seeing a huge fish below you!
We rented through Flathead Outdoors, which has a small shed around the back of Eddie’s Cafe just past the ice cream shop. The employees there were quick but thorough and has us out on the lake in no time.
They also offer kayaks and small rafts if you don’t feel that you’re sturdy enough for the paddle boards (but I promise, the boards are very easy to learn!).
A wooden kiosk directly on the lake run by the Glacier Park Boat Company offers small motorboats, canoes, and kayaks for additional ways to get out on the water.
Hiking around Lake McDonald
While the Lake McDonald area near Apgar gets overlooked for other hiking areas around the park, this location is an excellent place to start your hiking journey in Glacier.
If you’re new to hiking in Glacier and want a guide to show you the best spots around Lake McDonald, I recommend this family friendly hiking tour that begins in West Glacier, and offers guided hikes near Apgar and North Fork as well as transportation between the two places.
If you’d like to challenge yourself a bit more, there are several longer hikes in this area. Hiking the Trout Lake trail is a manageable 3.7 mile round trip experience to a lake that few visitors see.
How to extend your time here:
If you have more time in this area, you can head just outside of the park’s west entrance to the historic area of West Glacier, Montana. Here, you’ll find several restaurants, some cute souvenir shops, an ice cream store, and more.
Glacier National Pizza serves up fresh, hot, and unique pies to order. There’s plenty of outdoor seating with umbrellas. Afterwards, challenge your family to a round of putt-putt at Golfing to the Sun Mini Golf, located next to Glacier National Pizza.
Another excellent thing to try in West Glacier is a guided scenic float tour on the Flathead River. This section of the river takes you along the park’s border so you can see the park from a new persepective! While the Flathead River does have some more difficult sections, this river float is easy enough for the entire family to enjoy.
Suggested overnight accommodations:
If you’d like to stay in the park, I have 2 great recommendations in the West Glacier area: Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins and Lake McDonald Lodge.
Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins are incredibly cute and are steps away from the gorgeous Lake McDonald. Many of the cabins are directly on the lake front, and the entire property in the same area as the Glacier National Park Nature Center, retail stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and a small swimming beach.
The lobby of Lake McDonald Lodge
If you’d like to rent a motorboat, kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, those rental offices and outfitters are just out your door here.
Apgar Visitors Center is a short walk along the Apgar Bike/Multi-Use Path, which connects you to the free shuttle system on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The downsides of staying here are the limited parking available in Apgar Village and the fact that your room does not include a vehicle pass for Going-to-the-Sun Road.
My other recommendation is Lake McDonald Lodge, which offers historic lodge rooms as well as a selection of both large and small cabins. There are 2 dining options onsite, a boat tour at the dock out back, and (perhaps best of all) any stay here includes a vehicle pass to Going-to-the-Sun Road for the duration of your stay.
And that means you get to cut out the stress of navigating the vehicle reservation system for your stay, as long you’re not also venturing into the North Fork area of the park.
The downsides of staying here are that there aren’t any water sports rentals nearby, and Lake McDonald Lodge feels more isolated than Apgar Village.
Suggested camping area:
If you can get a camping site inside the park, Apgar Campground is the most conveniently located in this area.
If it’s too busy or you’d like a campground with more amenities outside of the park, I recommend Beargrass Lodging and RV Park in Hungry Horse, Montana.
Located about 15 minutes from West Glacier and Apgar, this cute motel and campground is family run, and has several great things to do for families, including a pool, grilling area, lawn games, board game library, and playground. Plus, it’s within easy walking distance to a grocery store.
Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road
Reservations to access Going-to-the-Sun Road are needed for today. If you’re not sure how to navigate the Glacier National Park reservations system, check out my comprehensive guide!
Going-to-the-Sun Road connects the park going west to east, and it is filled with the most easily accessible alpine views and valley overlooks. For any first time visitor to Glacier, it is a must do.
There’s more to say about this scenic drive than I could fit into this itinerary, so please check out my dedicated guide to Going-to-the-Sun Road here to help you determine which overlooks and hikes you’d like to do.
Here’s how to organize your jaunt along Going-to-the-Sun Road in just a day.
Avalanche Lake Trail
Many travel guides will tell you to do Avalanche Lake first thing in order to avoid the crowds, but we’ve found that this area is busy throughout the day. Pack your patience and be ready to circle (and circle and circle) the parking area until a spot comes available.
You’ll want to be up and in the park early, so that you’re finished with this hike around lunch. The 5.9 mile out and back trail takes you to one of those brilliant blue glacier-fed lakes that the park is known for, and it’s the only easily accessible lake of its kind of this side of the park.
From there, you can do the Trail of the Cedars, which share the same trailhead. It’s only a 1 mile loop, but takes you through some beautiful 500-year-old trees.
There are restrooms near the trailhead for Avalanche Lake if you need a quick break. There is also a fresh water pump at the restrooms to top off your bottles.
Then, continue to head west on Going-to-the-Sun Road trail towards the Loop, the road’s only true switchback.
To prepare for driving Going-to-the-Sun Road, I highly recommend that you download the GuideAlong audio tour for Glacier National Park.
These inexpensive, easy to use tours are less than the cost of a souvenier shirt, but are packed with hours of fascinating commentary on the park’s history, geology, wildlife, and important figures.
We love getting these tours when we visit the national parks as they truly enrich our understanding of what we’re seeing. Plus, the tours start and stop automatically as we approach areas of interest, making it engaging and hands-off so we can enjoy the sights.
If we do want to skip a segment or relisten to one, the app makes it super easy to do so. Best of all, after you’ve downloaded the tour to your phone, you don’t need wifi or cell signal, making this an amazing option for places like Glacier that don’t have reliable cell signal.
The Camping Kiddos and I at Paradise Meadow
The Loop to Logan Pass
The section of Going-to-the-Sun road between The Loop and Logan Pass is stunning—which is saying something as this entire road will leave you breathless at every turn.
In this area, you’ll find Paradise Meadow/Big Bend, Bird Woman Falls, the Weeping Wall, and Logan Pass. As you approach Logan Pass, you might get lucky and see the bighorn sheep and mountain goats that like to snack along the sides of the road!
At Logan Pass, park your car and explore the visitors center before you make your way out back to the trailhead to Hidden Lake.
If you’re here early enough in the season, you’ll still see snow on the ground. The snow makes for some fun snowball fights on a warm summer’s day, but it also makes the trail’s many boardwalks very slick.
Going to the overlook and back is just under 3 miles, and the worst of it is from the back of the visitors center up the first major slope.
Beyond Logan Pass
I personally find the section of road from West Glacier to Logan Pass the most breathtaking, but the entire road is worth driving if you have time.
You can push on and do the entire road to St. Mary, but you’ll have a little extra time on Day 5 to explore there. At least go to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the other side of Logan Pass to get an easy view of one of the park’s largest remaining glaciers.
When you’re ready, turn back towards West Glacier, stopping at any overlooks or viewpoints that you missed the first time.
How to extend your time here:
Going-to-the-Sun Road is honestly difficult to do in just a day because there are SO many ways to explore this area.
If you’d rather do a couple of shorter hikes instead of the longer Avalanche Lake Trail—or in addition to it—I’d suggest John’s Lake Loop first thing in the morning. John’s Lake Loop is nearby and takes you on a nearly flat trail to another lake—it isn’t as brilliant blue as Avalanche Lake, but it’s still pretty (and the parking is much easier).
For those less advanced hikers, John’s Lake Loop, the McDonald Creek spur, and Trail of the Cedars would make for a pleasant morning out hiking along this part of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Another excellent thing to do in this part of the park is one of the guided, beginner friendly horseback tours leaving from the Lake McDonald stables. If you’re interested in exploring the park’s backcountry, but aren’t confident enough in your hiking skills to do so, a horseback ride to from Lake McDonald stables to Sperry Chalet is a great way to bridge that gap.
If you have more time, I would suggest taking a tour of some sort to get your bearings on the park.
If you’d prefer a boat tour, you can hop on the one of Lake McDonald that leaves from the dock directly behind Lake McDonald Lodge. This one lasts about an hour.
Another great option is the Jammer bus tours, which take up to 12 visitors at a time in the historic red buses that have been used here since the 1930s. There are a variety of tour lengths and focuses, but I suggest the 2.5 hour tour that runs from Apgar Visitors Center to Logan Pass and back.
While you won’t have time on the Jammer bus tours to get out and explore at the overlooks, you will be able to get a great overview of the road.
Suggested overnight accommodations:
You’ll want to continue your stay at either Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins or at Lake McDonald Lodge. (For pros and cons of each, see accommodations notes on Day 1.) This is your final night here before you move to another part of the park, so begin to pack up to make moving easier tomorrow morning.
Suggested camping area:
You’ll want to continue your stay either at Apgar Campground within Glacier’s park boundaries or at the family-owned and operated Beargrass Lodging and RV Park in nearby Hungry Horse.
Pack what you can tonight to make your transition to another area of the park tomorrow easier.
Day 3: Route 2 and Two Medicine
For your next day in Glacier, you’re leaving West Glacier and heading over to the other side of the park, though on a route that most people overlook in this area.
While Going-to-the-Sun Road is the popular way to get from the west side of the park to the east (or vice versa), in taking that route, you’re bypassing the gorgeous Route 2 from West Glacier to Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier via Nyack, Essex, and Blacktail.
As you travel from west to east, you’ll have Glacier on your left and the Flathead National Forest on your right, and miles of tranquil driving ahead of you.
Even though it is a little longer than Going-to-the-Sun Road in mileage, driving Route 2 takes about the same time as it would to drive thanks to the wide, smoothly paved roads here. While Going-to-the-Sun Road has you up in the clouds, Route 2 most traverses the valleys surrounding Glacier National Park.
Plus, for those who are pulling travel trailers or RVs, this route is perfect for any size rig, unlike Going-to-the-Sun Road which has a strict 21’ length limit.
Goat Lick
If you need a place to stretch your legs on Route 2, Goat Lick is a quick on and off area with a short hike. You might get to see the many mountain goats who travel miles to get here; they’re drawn to the salt and mineral content in the walls of the cliffs here, which they eagerly lick. (Thus, the name!)
You will see a sign for Goat Lick before the turn-off if you’d like to stop.
As you approach the town of East Glacier Park, you’ll find 2 large metal sculptures at the Blackfeet Sculpture Park. This free exhibit is open to anyone who’d like to take a moment here. You’ll also find information on the Blackfeet Reservation, which borders Route 2 and Glacier here.
My son enjoys a piece of fry bread at The Burger Box
The Burger Box
If you want to stop for lunch, there is a tiny food trailer called The Burger Box at the corner of US Route 2 and Montana Route 49. It’s bright pink and purple, so you can’t miss it.
Here, you can get authentic—and massive—pieces of fry bread, a staple of many tribes in the Mountain West and Southwest. We were introduced to fry bread while exploring Monument Valley on the border of Utah and Arizona, and, since then, we look for places serving it when we’re out west.
The plain pieces of fry bread at the Burger Box are served with honey, or you can get giant burgers sandwiched between two pieces of it.
The only other menu item is a fry bread taco, which is piled high with seasoned meat, lettuce, tomatoes, pico de gallo, and sour cream. We’ve tried everything on the menu here, and it’s local comfort food at its finest.
Glacier Park Lodge
The impressively large tree trunk supports inside the Glacier Park Lodge
Once you’re full, continue on Route 40 to the beautiful Glacier Park Lodge, which is known for its supports made from solid tree trunks.
Even if you aren’t staying here, it’s worth stopping in to marvel at the engineering feat that is the lobby!
There are public bathrooms and a large gift shop if you want to linger here for a bit. If you’re still hungry, you can find a small coffee shop in the lobby, too.
Running Eagle Falls
The two-tiered Running Eagle Falls
This short hike is a perfect intro to this area of the park, and, unlike many of the waterfalls along Going-to-the-Sun Road, you probably won’t see too many people here. (Plus, the parking is usually a breeze.)
Running Eagle Falls is actually 2 waterfalls in one, making it one of the most interesting waterfall hikes I’ve been on lately.
Plus, there is a little stream crossing for your kids to splash around in, a side spur interpretive nature loop, and a riverbed filled with those colorful rocks that Lake McDonald over on the other side of the park is known for.
Two Medicine Boat Tour
Another must do in Two Medicine is the guided boat tour and hike of Two Medicine Lake.
The boat tours across Glacier are run by the family-owned Glacier Boat Company, which has been partnering with the park since the 1930s. This makes it the longest running concessionaire in any US national park!
The tours leave from the boat dock across the parking lot from the Two Medicine General Store.
You’ll learn about the lake and this area of the park from your captain as you make the 30 minute crossing to the opposite end of this long, skinny lake.
The Camping Kiddos at Twin Falls
At the other end, your captain will dock, and anyone who’d like to do a guided hike to Twin Falls can follow the captain—now a hiking guide!—on the 2 mile round trip. Anyone who’d prefer to cruise the lake again can remain on the boat, and the new captain, now waiting on the dock with a previous hiking tour, will complete the return tour.
Don’t worry if you opt for the hike. The boat returns at regular intervals to pick up hikers.
How to extend your time here:
There are several hiking trails in Two Medicine that intersect or overlap with the Twin Falls trail. In fact, you can do a longer version of the Twin Falls hike by skipping the boat tour and hiking from the boat dock around the lake. (I really like the boat tour, though, since you learn so much from the commentary!)
From the West Two Medicine boat dock, you can continue past Twin Falls to Upper Two Medicine Lake, or take a side trail to No Name Lake.
Suggested overnight accommodations:
After your boat tour and hike are over at Two Medicine, it’s back into the car for the 50 minute drive north to St. Mary, where you’ll stay for the next 2 nights. I think it’s worth it to push on to St. Mary even if you’re tired, so that you don’t have to pack and repack for each remaining night of your trip.
Instead of driving all over the eastern side of Glacier National Park, I’d recommend setting up a base in St. Mary.
The Rising Sun Motor Inn is located inside of the national park 6 miles beyond the St. Mary entrance on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Those room can book quickly, so an excellent alternative outside of the park gates is the St. Mary Village hotel, which has gorgeous views of the lake and shops and restaurants next door.
You can find a glamping experience at the cabins at the St. Mary East Glacier KOA a mile or so outside of the St. Mary park entrance.
Suggested camping area:
Inside the park boundaries is the St. Mary campground, which is ideal for those who are able to boondock effectively. There are no electric or water hookups in this campground, but there are flush toilets and potable water.
If you’d like more amenities, the St. Mary East Glacier KOA is 2.6 miles away from the park campground and has large pads for Class A rigs, a pool and hot tub, camp store, and ice cream and coffee bar.
Day 4: Many Glacier
This morning, you’ll drive the 26 miles from St. Mary north to the Many Glacier entrance of the park. This area isn’t accessible from Going-to-the-Sun Road, so you’ll make your way along Route 89 to this remote area of Glacier.
NOTE: There is a major construction project going on here through end of 2025, so parking will be extremely limited compared to usual.
It’s easy to see why people call this area “the Switzerland of North America”!
In Many Glacier, you’ll find the chalet-inspired Many Glacier Hotel, which sits on the banks of Swiftcurrent Lake. This hotel was built in 1914 by a railroad company who wanted to capitalize on the new tourism business in the West; the railroad didn’t end up staying, but the hotel has remained a part of the park ever since.
At the Many Glacier Hotel, you can sit by the fire and look out over the lake, or grab a coffee from Heidi’s Snack Shop, or browse for a souvenir in the gift shop on the lower level.
There’s also a public restroom near the snack shop if you’re planning on doing hiking or a boat tour in this area.
Jammer Tour
If you wanted to take a tour in one of the iconic red Jammer buses earlier in the trip, but couldn’t work it into your schedule, this is another opportunity!
There are several tours offered from the Many Glacier starting point, including partial tours of Going-to-the-Sun, an east side guided tour, and a full circuit of the park. You don’t have time for the longer tours today, but one of the 2-3 hour tours would be manageable in this itinerary.
Boat Tour to Lake Josephine
The other option you have for a tour today is a boat tour to Lake Josephine. Between this and a Jammer tour on the east side of Glacier, I’d recommend the boat tour because it gets you into the park more fully than riding in a bus.
The Many Glacier boat tour, like all of the ones at Glacier, is run by the Glacier Park Boat Company. Unlike the others the company offers, the Many Glacier tour includes 2 hikes and 2 boat journeys!
You depart from Many Glacier Hotel and cross Swiftcurrent Lake. Then, you’ll do a short but fairly steep 0.8 mile hike to your second boat, which takes you the length of Lake Josephine.
At the far end of Lake Josephine, you can stay on the boat and make your return trip immediately, or you can choose to do some hiking in this area before turning back.
There’s a great, easy hike to Grinnell Lake, which is one of those brilliantly blue glacial lakes. Along the way, you’ll pass the turnoff to Hidden Falls, which is an easy spur trail to add on.
Or, you can take on the more advanced and longer Grinnell Glacier hike. Both share the same trailhead near the boat dock; just follow the small brown wood signs to the desired trail when the trail forks.
A deer we saw near the trail to Grinnell Lake
Keep an eye out for moose, bears, elk, and deer which frequent these trails during the summer months when the place explodes with greenery, berries, and wildflowers.
Beyond Many Glacier
Once you’re done with Many Glacier, you can return to the St. Mary area.
If you’re up for more adventuring, you can head into the park via the eastern end of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
10 miles into the park on Going-to-the-Sun Road are a couple of short hikes on the shores of St. Mary Lake. Baring Falls is accessible via the eastern end of the Siyeh Pass trail, and this short 0.6 mile trail leads to a short but pretty waterfall that flows into the nearby lake.
Sun Point Nature Trail is 9.6 miles from the St. Mary entrance into the park, and it is a very easy trail that ends with beautiful views of the lake.
How to extend your time here:
Swiftcurrent Lake is calm enough for visitors to easily boat around it. You can do an hourly rental of kayaks, canoes, or row boats at the dock that also services the boat tours to Lake Josephine.
Look for the small white kiosk at the back of Many Glacier Hotel.
Suggested overnight accommodations:
Stay at your selection of hotels in the St. Mary area near the east entrance to the park. My recommendations are The Rising Sun Motor Inn inside of the park, the St. Mary Village hotel just beyond the park’s exit, and the cabins at the St. Mary East Glacier KOA if you’d like to glamp.
Suggested camping area:
Complete your second night at either the St. Mary Campground inside the park or the St. Mary/East Glacier KOA Holiday outside of the gates.
Day 5: St. Mary Area and Departure
Depending on when you need to depart this area, you may have a few hours or nearly all day.
If you’re short on time in Day 5 before you leave, I’d recommend doing the 2 short hikes from Day 4 if you weren’t able to complete them then.
My entire family at Jackson Glacier Overlook
If you already did those in Day 4 and still want a short activity, drive to Jackson Glacier Overlook on Going-to-the-Sun Road from St. Mary, which is the final section of the road that you haven’t seen yet!
As you make your way back to St. Mary, stop at the St. Mary Falls Trail, which is a fairly easy 2 mile round trip hike. You’ll find a rushing, 35-feet-tall waterfall here that has a natural swimming hole at the base. (I wouldn’t let very young kids do this as it requires a jump off of a small cliff, but older kids will love it.)
Don’t forget to stop at the Wild Goose Island Overlook as you head out of the park to your next destination! This tiny island is home to just a few trees and shrubs, which have managed to cling to the rocky island despite the lake’s powerful winds.
If you have a longer time today before your departure, you can do the Virginia Falls Trail, which overlaps considerably with the St. Mary Falls Trail. The Virginia Falls Trail takes you past St. Mary Falls and ends at Virginia Falls, for an approximately 3.5 mile round trip experience.
As you leave the park for the final time, be sure to stop at the Glacier National Park entrance sign near the St. Mary visitors center. I think the views behind this sign are far more dramatic than the ones near West Glacier on the other side of the park.
If Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are your next stop, check out these great guides!
Tips for Visiting Glacier for a Week
Bring layers of clothing rather than bulky pieces.
When you’re visiting Glacier during peak season, the weather can be all over the place. And if you’re visiting during the winter, it’s going to be cold outside but warm inside the lodges.
Because of these temperature fluctuations, you’ll want to adjust your clothing easily by adding or taking away thin layers.
When visiting Glacier in the summer, we packed shorts and wool t-shirts, as well as thin long sleeved shirts, a pair of long hiking pants, and a lightweight sweater or sweatshirt. I also packed my beloved hiking dress (more on my decision to go hiking in a dress here!) and a pair of leggings.
Stock up on wool base layers, which, contrary to popular belief, are neither overly hot or itchy, in both short and long sleeved versions. See a lightweight long sleeved women’s wool base layer here, and a short sleeved wool t-shirt here.
Know that Going-to-the-Sun Road might not be open.
Because of the massive amount of snow that the alpine region of Going-to-the-Sun Road gets every year, the scenic highway doesn’t open until the end of June or even into the first week of July!
If you’re visiting before the road is open fully, you’ll only be able to access both Apgar Village and St. Mary by taking Route 2 around.
However, the areas that are open in the spring are exclusive to bikers, making this an incredible time to explore Going-to-the-Sun Road in a unique way. Taking a self-guided biking tour of Going-to-the-Sun Road is an excellent way to explore the parts of this itinerary that are open before the snow is plowed through.
There are several parking pain points.
The area of the park between West Glacier and Logan Pass are the busiest with crowds really showing up from early July to early September.
Apgar Village has very little parking, so avoid bringing your vehicle here at all costs. Instead, park at the nearby Apgar Visitors Center and walk over via the Apgar Multi-Use Path. Parking can still be a challenge at Apgar Visitors Center, but the lot is larger and people seem to move in and out regularly.
Another place to watch for parking is at Avalanche Creek, which is where you’ll find the trailheads for Avalanche Lake Trail and Trail of the Cedars. There is very, very limited parking here for the number of people who want to visit these hiking trails, so pack that patience and be willing to circle for a while.
The overlooks between Apgar and Logan Pass aren’t usually super crowded, since people move through quickly. However, the parking at The Loop can be tricky as people leave their cars here to do full day (or overnight) hikes on the many long trails here.
Logan Pass has a large parking area, but it stays busy. Circle the parking area slowly and a spot is sure to open up fairly quickly.
Be wildlife aware.
When the park is busy with visitors in the summer, it’s also prime time for the wildlife to move around.
So, it’s not if you see wildlife, but when you see them!
Look out for moose, grizzly bears, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and elk as you move through the park. This is their home, after all, so you want to make sure they have the right of way and remain comfortable despite you being there.
It’s a good idea to talk loudly while on trails or have a bell on your pack. We sing or call out to the bears—anything to let them know where you are. You do not want to surprise a bear or moose when turning a corner on a trail!
Also, carry bear spray. Most bears do not want to be near you any more than you want to be near them, and will move on as soon as they hear or spot you.
However, you’ll occasionally get a grumpy mama bear who thinks you’re too close to her babies, and she may charge at you. Again, this is usually her bluffing to scare you out of her territory, but it’s always good to be prepared.
Rent or purchase bear spray for your time in Glacier and keep it hooked onto the straps of your backpack (and not inside your pack). If you need to know how to use it, ask a ranger; they also always carry spray and will be happy to walk you through the particulars.
