Can you imagine saying goodbye to your favorite beach cities? Goodbye Miami, goodbye Santa Monica, goodbye New Orleans. Glacier National Park is soon going to be one to add onto the list.
That’s right…if all land ice melted, sea levels would rise 270 feet. The world’s oceans are already rising and glaciers melting are responsible for 21% of the sea levels rising. That would drown out our beach cities and our national parks won’t be so aptly named because their glaciers will have gone extinct.
Before this happens, Glacier National Park has been on the top of my places to see and I finally got to see it. Holy glacier, is it beautiful! I was only able to experience the west side of Glacier, but I would love to go back before 2030 to see the east side before the glaciers melt completely. This Glacier travel guide will give you insight on the best time to visit, my favorite food stops, best places to stay, and my favorite hiking trials.
Getting to Glacier
- Fly into Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell (FCA)
- Make sure to snag a rental car several months in advance, as they go quickly.
- Ubers are not a reliable mode of transport here
When to visit Glacier
The park is open year around, but most visitors arrive after the snowy season between May-September. The peak months are July and August. Keep in mind that if you are visiting during the winter, some roads may be closed including the Going-to-the-sun road and most of the services in the park are also closed.
I went to Glacier during the end of July and it was quite crowded. If you don’t get into the park by 8am, expect to wait in line for over an hour just to get in. This year the park has set a record high for the amount of visitors that have come, meaning that the trailheads also have limited parking. The peak summer months are also prone to fires, so the air quality may not be the best if it is fire season.
Where to Stay
Under Canvas
I wanted to stay as close as possible to the entrance of Glacier National Park and found a luxury camping experience at Under Canvas, only 7 miles from the park entrance. You can read more about my glamping experience here. It was the perfect place to immerse myself in the outdoors, yet without the hassle of pitching a tent.
Lake McDonald Lodge
This lodge is located 10 miles inside the park’s entrance, making it a very convenient option to stay within the park. It is a swiss chalet style lodge located directly on Lake McDonald, the largest lake inside the park. It does book up in advance and reservations go fast!
Cedar Creek Lodge
Located in Columbia Falls, this lodge is a 22 minute drive to the entrance of Glacier National Park. It is one of the more luxury lodges around, offering a fitness room, pool, and spa.
Where to Eat
After a long day of hiking, you are sure to get hungry. This Glacier travel guide wouldn’t be complete without some food recs! Head into Whitefish or Columbia Falls, about 25-35 minutes from the park’s entrance for a cold drink and satisfying food. There are not many other food options other than heading into town.
Bonsai Brewing
This casual outdoor brewery in Whitefish has a nice list of beers to choose from. They also have a small menu if you want to have a bite, mainly sandwiches and burgers. It’s a great casual spot to eat and drink at their picnic tables on the grassy lawn out back.
Craggy Range
This is the perfect lunch stop, located in downtown Whitefish. Their teriyaki steak bowl had me drooling! After you get a bite, stroll the quaint town and pop into a few souvenir shops!
Backslope Brewing
This family friendly brewery restaurant in Columbia Falls has my favorite bites around! Their menu has a variety of options, from bbq pork sandwiches to tofu bowls. They get quite the dinner time rush, but you can order a beer to take outside to drink on one of their many picnic tables while you wait.
Going-to-the-sun Road
Going-to-the-sun road is one of the most scenic drives in the world and a crown jewel of Montana. It is a 50 mile long road connecting the east and west sides of the park and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Here is what you should know before going on this scenic drive.
- You need an Entry Reservation Ticket to enter the road which costs $2. 3/4 of the Entry Reservation Tickets are available up to 60 days in advance and the remaining tickets are released two days in advance
- There are vehicle size restrictions to gain entrance into the park. Make sure your car is no more than 21 feet long, 8 feet wide (including mirrors), and 10 feet high
- If you prefer to take a guided tour instead, you will not need to book separate reservation entrance tickets. A popular guided tour is going on a vintage 1930s red “jammer” bus. You can book your ticket here.
- Plan the timing of your road trip in advance. It takes about 2 hours to go from the start to the end, but you will want to stop along the way at lookout points
- Lake McDonald Lodge is 10 miles into the road and will be a good pit stop if you need any food before the drive up the mountain. There is a to-go food counter on the lodge’s side facing the lake.
- Pack snacks for your drive. There is a 33 mile stretch with no stores to purchase food or water
- Logan Pass is the highest point of this road. It is a great rest stop with restrooms, gift shop, and a scenic overlook to enjoy.
The best hikes in West Glacier
It was tough to choose the top hikes I wanted to see in my short time in Glacier, but these certainly seemed to be the best on the west side of glacier.
For more details on the hikes below, check out my post: Hiking Guide in Glacier National Park.
Trail of the Cedars: Mile marker 16
A one mile boardwalk-like loop trail suitable for those with mobility difficulties
Avalanche Lake: Mile marker 16
Starting from the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, you will find yourself at a clear blue lake 2.5 miles later
St Mary Falls and Virginia Falls
This is an easy 3 mile hike with frequent waterfalls along the way
Highline Trail: Mile marker 32
This long 15 mile hike will leave your legs sore, but your eyes in awe as it takes you along the edge of the mountain!
Hidden Lake: Mile marker 32
The beginning of this climb is all uphill, but you’ll make your way down to a lake that is frequently trafficked by bears
McDonald Creek Trail
This easy 5 mile trail through the forest leads you along a beautiful flowing river
Example 3 day Itinerary
Day 1
-Arrival to hotel/lodge
-Hike McDonald Creek Trail
-Head into Whitefish for a stroll around town and grab dinner
Day 2
-Wake up at sunrise to hike the Highline Trail. Stop at Logan’s Pass Visitor Center at the end of your hike to grab a souvenir at the gift shop
-Head to Columbia Falls (closer than Whitefish) for dinner
*Your hike will take all day, so you won’t want to do much more than eat after your long hiking day
Day 3
-Grab an early breakfast at Lake McDonald Lodge
-Hike Avalanche Lake
-If you have time, take the rest of the day to drive the Going-to-the-sun-road and stop along the way to see the sights
What to pack for Glacier
- You’ll want to stay hydrated if you plan on going on a few day hikes. This backpack can hold a water bladder and still have enough room for your snacks.
- Without my binoculars, I wouldn’t have been able to see the moose up close! These are affordable, yet super compact binoculars to throw in my backpack.
- My Merrell shoes never let me down. I found mine at REI. I advise against walking/hiking sandals if you plan on doing lengthy hikes.
- I was not as wise to pack this, but I saw a few people bring these walkie talkies along which is brilliant since there is absolutely NO service within the park.
- It’s never a bad idea to pack a small first aid kit in your pack. This one is my favorite- it contains 66 pieces and fits in the palm of my hand.
Bear Spray
- You won’t be able to pack this in your luggage, but you will be able to buy it when you arrive in Montana. The airport has them for rent or for sale when you walk right out of the terminal. You can also find them at grocery stores. It is not recommended to hike without one!
I hope this Glacier National Park travel guide helped to prepare you for your trip to this beautiful national park. If you need any other advice, please don’t hesitate to reach out!