Known as the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier National Park is characterized by its untamed mountains, ancient forests, colorful alpine meadows, and glistening turquoise lakes. The breathtaking natural beauty of this glacier-shaped area attracts hikers from around the world. Visitors are required to exercise caution in the park due to its ecological significance and natural beauty. Consequently, it is feasible to safeguard the park. This guide provides comprehensive information to assist you in organizing a safe and enjoyable hike through Glacier National Park. This guide instructs park visitors on the selection of trails that are appropriate for their skill level and navigation.

During the peak season, Glacier National Park reserves all campsites and trails. This implies that the park is experiencing an increase in popularity. Systems are in place to safeguard the park’s fragile resources and visitor numbers. Planning necessitates an understanding of and adherence to park regulations. The park’s health and visitor satisfaction are contingent upon these recommendations.

Planning Your Glacier Adventure: Important Details to Make Your Trip Go Smoothly

Planning ahead is very important for a fun trip to Glacier National Park, especially since the park’s access requirements change with the seasons.

When To Go: Seasons, Road Openings, And How To Deal With Crowds

Glacier National Park is open all year, but the best time to hike is usually from July to September, when the weather is nice and the trails are easy to get to. During these months, trails at higher elevations are usually free of snow, making them the best places to explore.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) is a famous 50-mile scenic road that is the main way to get to many of Glacier’s best trailheads. But it doesn’t fully open until the snow melts, which usually happens no earlier than mid-July and closes again in early to mid-October because of new snow. Parts of the road that are lower down stay open all year. The operational status of the GTSR has a big effect on which parts of the park are open for hiking, which changes travel times and access points for popular trails.

A Look at the Seasons:

• Spring (March to May): This is the time when Glacier is the most peaceful. Even though winter-like weather can last until May, trails at lower elevations usually open up by mid-April. It’s a good time to be alone, see powerful waterfalls fed by melting snow, and ride your bike on the plowed parts of the GTSR before cars are allowed. During this time, visitors should be ready for cold weather and limited services in the park.
• Summer (June to August) is the busiest time of year for the park. The days are longer and there are lots of wildflowers, especially in August. Most hiking trails are clear of snow by the end of July. But this popularity means big crowds, parking lots that fill up quickly, and maybe even limits on who can enter the park to keep it from getting too crowded. The months of July and August are always the busiest. One important thing for visitors to think about is that the GTSR fully opens and the high-elevation trails melt, which usually happens in late July or August, which is when the park is busiest. This gives you a choice: you can have full access to all the trails, but you’ll have to deal with big crowds, or you can look for peace and quiet, but you’ll have to accept limited access to some famous high-altitude areas.
• September to November: Fall is a beautiful time of year when trees and plants start to show bright reds, oranges, and yellows in mid-September. By early October, crowds start to thin out, and animals get more active as they get ready for winter. By October, the GTSR is usually partially or fully closed.
• In the winter (December to February), the park becomes a snowy wilderness where you can snowshoe and ski in relative solitude. Most park services are closed, and many roads are blocked, so you need to be well-prepared and able to take care of yourself.

To make the experience better during the busiest summer months, visitors are advised to start their hikes very early in the morning to get a parking spot and avoid the midday rush, or to use the park’s shuttle bus system. Another option is to plan a trip for mid-to-late June or September, when the weather is nice and there are a lot fewer people.

Fees, Timed Entry, And Permits For Park Access

To get into Glacier National Park, you need a park pass. This is different from any timed entry vehicle reservations you might need. For your convenience, you can buy digital passes online at Recreation.gov.

Glacier National Park Entrance Fees (Valid for 7 Days):

Pass Type	Summer Season(May 1 – Oct 31)	Winter Season(Nov 1 – Apr 30)
Private Vehicle	$35	$25
Motorcycle (per person)	$30	$20
Per Person (foot/bike)	$20	$15

Note: Children under 16 do not require an entrance pass. Glacier National Park operates on a cashless system for payments.

Passes for the Year:

• Annual pass for Glacier National Park: $70, good for one year from the month you buy it.
• America the Beautiful Passes: These passes from different government agencies let you visit all of the National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands for a year. The Annual Pass costs $80, the Senior Annual Pass costs $20 a year, the Senior Lifetime Pass costs $80 a lifetime, the Military Annual Pass is free, the Access Pass is free for people with permanent disabilities, and the Volunteer Pass is free for people who do 500 or more hours of service. You can’t get your money back or give these passes to someone else. You also need a valid photo ID to get in.

Timed Entry Vehicle Reservations (2025 Pilot Program):

Glacier National Park has a timed entry vehicle reservation system to help with traffic during the busiest times of the year. These reservations are required from

From June 13 to September 28, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. You need to make separate reservations for the

the North Fork area and the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is past Apgar Campground.

Timed Entry Exceptions:

• You don’t need a timed entry reservation to get into the GTSR through the St. Mary Entrance on the east side.
• Without a reservation, visitors can enter reservation areas before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
• People who live in the park and tribal members are not affected.

How to Make a Reservation:

You can only make a reservation online at Recreation.gov, through the Recreation.gov app, or by calling their call center at 877-444-6777. You can’t buy them in the park.

Windows for booking:

Rolling Advanced (120 days): Starting February 13 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, some reservations will be available daily for about four months.

Rolling Next Day: Starting on June 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. Mountain Time, any remaining reservations will be released for entry the next day.

Service Reservations: A confirmed reservation for lodging, camping, transportation, or a business activity within a certain timed entry area (for example, Many Glacier Hotel for Many Glacier access) can serve as proof of entry, so you don’t need to make a separate timed vehicle reservation. Service reservations made east of Logan Pass, on the other hand, cannot be used to get past the Apgar Check Point when going west on GTSR. Please keep in mind that you can’t make service reservations for the North Fork area.

Backcountry Permits:

To camp overnight in Glacier’s backcountry, you need a wilderness permit. From May 1 to October 31, the permit costs $10 and $7 per person per night. From November 1 to April 30, the permit is free. You can reserve some sites ahead of time on Recreation.gov. About 30% of sites are set aside for walk-up permits, which you can get the day before or the day of your trip. If you don’t pick up your reserved permits in person by 4:30 p.m. the day before or the day of the trip, they will be cancelled. A wilderness permit means you don’t have to make a separate reservation for a timed entry vehicle for the whole trip. You don’t need a backcountry permit to stay at Sperry Chalet, though. The Many Glacier Ranger Station’s wilderness permit office is closed for 2025 because of work being done.

A Carefully Chosen List Of The Best Hikes In Glacier National Park

There are many different types of hikes in Glacier National Park, from easy walks to tough climbs in the mountains. The following carefully chosen list shows some of the park’s best trails, grouped by how hard they are.

Easy Hikes:

Beautiful Trails for Everyone These trails have beautiful views that don’t require much effort, making them perfect for families or anyone who wants to see the park’s beauty without too much effort. The phrase “short hikes, big reward” means that these hikes are easy to get to but still have a lot of beautiful scenery. This means that the beauty is worth the effort. But because they are so popular, especially for trails like Avalanche Lake and Hidden Lake Overlook, they can get very crowded. To make the most of your time, you may need to start early or use a shuttle.

Trail of the Cedars (Lake McDonald Area): This loop is made of flat boards that are easy to get to by wheelchair. It goes through an old forest of giant red cedars and western hemlocks. This trail is 1 mile long and takes about 12 minutes to walk. It is peaceful and has views of Avalanche Creek Gorge. It is the place where the Avalanche Lake hike begins.

Avalanche Lake (Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Side): A 5.9-mile roundtrip hike (including the Trail of the Cedars section) that leads to a beautiful lake surrounded by steep cliffs and waterfalls. The trail is moderately hard and goes up 757 feet in elevation. Depending on how fast you go and how long you spend at the lake, it usually takes between 2.5 and 5 hours. You can get to it from May to September.

Hidden Lake Overlook (Logan Pass): This easy 2.8-mile roundtrip hike (or 5.2 miles to the lake) starts at the Logan Pass Visitor Center and goes through alpine meadows that are often full of wildflowers. It also has great views of Hidden Lake and nearby peaks like Bearhat Mountain. The hike to the overlook goes up 460 feet and usually takes between one and one and a half hours. You can often see mountain goats here.

Running Eagle Falls (Two Medicine): A short, easy hike of 0.6 miles round trip to a waterfall that flows through a cave. It only goes up 15 feet, which isn’t much.

Fishercap Lake (Many Glacier): A short and easy 0.5-mile roundtrip hike that only goes up 15 feet. It’s a great place to see moose. The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is where the trail begins.

St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls (St. Mary Valley): A moderate 3.1-mile roundtrip hike (for St. Mary Falls) or 3.6 miles (to include Virginia Falls) with a 525-foot elevation gain. This trail has views of strong, bright blue waterfalls and cascades.

Grinnell Lake (Many Glacier): A simple 3.0-mile hike that goes up 220 feet and ends at a beautiful lake fed by glaciers. You can cut the hike short by taking a boat ride across Lake Josephine and Swiftcurrent Lake.

Upper Two Medicine Lake (Two Medicine): A simple 10-mile roundtrip hike with a 350-foot elevation gain that takes you through beautiful meadows, lakes, and mountains. Taking a shuttle boat across Two Medicine Lake can cut this hike down by a lot.

Moderate Hikes: Broadening Your Horizons

These trails are harder than easy hikes, but most people who are in good shape can still handle them. They also let you see more remote and beautiful scenery.

Iceberg Lake (Many Glacier): A popular 9.7-mile round-trip hike that goes up 1,275 to 1,500 feet and ends at a beautiful turquoise lake that is often covered in icebergs, even in the summer. It should take about 4 to 7 hours to hike. People say that this trail has a good chance of seeing bears.

Lake Josephine Loop (Many Glacier): Getting to Lake Josephine is easy at first, but a full loop or extension of the hike, especially when combined with parts of the Grinnell Glacier Trail, can be considered moderate. The 4.9-mile loop takes about 2 hours and 27 minutes and has amazing views of Mount Gould, Salamander Glacier, and Grinnell Falls.

Redrock Falls (Many Glacier): A 4.2-mile round-trip hike that is easy to moderate and gains 285 feet in elevation. It leads to waterfalls and beautiful views of the lake. It goes by Redrock Lake and Fishercap Lake.

Gunsight Lake (Logan Pass area): A 12.6-mile round-trip hike with 1,500 feet of elevation gain that gives you great views of a subalpine lake and wildflowers. This trail is a good mix between shorter hikes to waterfalls and harder hikes to the top of a mountain.

Tough Hikes: Testing The Adventurous Spirit

Glacier National Park has a number of difficult trails for experienced hikers who want a real workout and amazing views of the mountains. These hikes often have the best views, but they also have more risks because of exposure, quickly changing weather, and encounters with wildlife. So, for safety and fun, it’s very important to plan ahead, which includes getting in shape, having the right gear, and knowing the rules for permits and trail conditions.

Highline Trail (Logan Pass): This is one of the park’s most popular hard trails. It takes you along the Garden Wall and gives you breathtaking views of the Lake McDonald Valley and famous glacially carved landscapes. It takes about 6 to 8 hours to walk the 11.8 miles from Logan Pass to The Loop. The trail goes up 1,950 feet and down 2,300 feet. A popular shorter option is to go 7.2 miles roundtrip to Haystack Pass, which takes 2.5 to 3 hours to get to. The Grinnell Glacier Overlook is a fun side hike that adds 0.8 miles each way and about 900 feet of elevation gain.

Grinnell Glacier (Many Glacier): A classic and very beautiful hard hike that goes up 1,600 feet and back down 10.6 miles. The hike usually takes 7 to 8 hours, but you can cut it down to 7.2 miles by taking a boat across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. It goes to one of the last glaciers left in Glacier National Park, where you can see turquoise lakes and waterfalls.

Siyeh Pass (Logan Pass / Siyeh Bend): This hike is hard and goes up and down 2,090 to 2,270 feet over 8.9 to 10.3 miles. It’s known for its beautiful views, alpine meadows, and wildflowers. You can see four glaciers on this hike: Blackfoot, Jackson, Piegan, and Sexton. It should take about 3.5 to 4 hours to hike to the pass.

Dawson Pass (Two Medicine): An 8.5-mile roundtrip hike that is very hard and gains 2,332 to 2,400 feet of elevation. It leads to a high pass on the Continental Divide with amazing views and a good chance to see bighorn sheep. If you don’t take the boat tour across Two Medicine Lake, you can make the hike longer by 13 miles.

Sperry Chalet (Lake McDonald): A 12.3-mile round-trip hike that is very hard and gains 3,360 feet in elevation. It ends at a historic backcountry chalet where you can stay and eat. The hike from the chalet to Sperry Glacier is an extra 4 miles one way and takes about 3 hours. It goes up 1,500 feet.

Swiftcurrent Pass (Many Glacier): This 14.2-mile round-trip hike is very hard and has a 2,400-foot elevation gain. It has amazing views, alpine meadows, and lakes.

The Ptarmigan Tunnel hike (Many Glacier) is a difficult 10.7-mile round-trip hike that goes up and down 2,300 feet and ends at a unique man-made tunnel through the Ptarmigan Wall. The trail goes by Ptarmigan Lake and has great views.

Firebrand Pass (Highway 2 Corridor): This is a tough 10.2-mile round-trip hike that goes up and down 1,950 feet. It has great views and wildflowers along the way. This trail is known for being far away and having few water sources, so each hiker needs to bring at least 2 quarts of water.

Important Safety and Preparation in Glacier
It is very important to plan ahead for a safe and fun hike in Glacier National Park, especially because the weather in the mountains can change quickly and there are many animals that are active.

Essential Preparation and Safety in Glacier

The weather on the Continental Divide, which runs through Glacier National Park, is known for being very unpredictable, with temperatures that can change a lot in a single day. So, layering is very important for clothes

Things to Bring on a Day Trip:

• For hydration, you need two quart-sized water bottles or a hydration system and one quart-sized water bottle.
• For shoes, wear sturdy, comfortable hiking boots or shoes and wool or synthetic hiking socks (not cotton).
• Layers of clothing: a synthetic wicking t-shirt, lightweight hiking shorts or pants that dry quickly, a midweight fleece or wool jacket or sweater, and a lightweight, waterproof, breathable rain jacket with a hood.
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and a sun hat or baseball cap are all good ways to protect your skin from the sun.
• Bug spray: Necessary to keep bugs away.
• Daypack: To hold everything.
• Bear spray (available for sale in the park) is a safety item.
• Map for navigation (provided on guided trips).
• You can rent a camera, binoculars, or trekking poles if you want.
• Extra things to bring on day hikes in June or September:

A fleece or insulated jacket, midweight synthetic long underwear (top and bottom), a warm hat, and gloves.

Things Backpackers Must Have On Overnight Trips:

Services and Amenities at the Park

To have a pleasant visit, you need to know about the park’s services and amenities.

• Visitor Centres: The Apgar Visitor Centre on the west side and the St. Mary Visitor Centre on the east side are two important visitor centres. These centres have bathrooms, parking, Wi-Fi, and sometimes information on how to plan a trip.
• Toilets and Water: During peak season, major campgrounds like Apgar and Two Medicine have bathrooms with flush toilets and running water. These campgrounds and some trailheads, like Grinnell Glacier, also have clean water that you can drink. But some tough trails, like Siyeh Pass and Firebrand Pass, don’t have bathrooms or clean water sources along the way, which makes it even more important to be self-sufficient.
• Food: Some lodges and concessionaires serve food, but visitors should buy food in bigger towns like Columbia Falls and Whitefish before going into the park because it’s harder to find and costs more to buy food there.
• Cell Phone Service and Connectivity: Cell phone service is usually very weak or nonexistent in remote areas and at many lodges in the park. Lodges have pay phones for the public, and some lobby areas may have limited wireless internet that isn’t good for heavy data use. People who come should plan to disconnect and enjoy the natural surroundings.
• Shuttle System: Along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, there is a free, first-come, first-served shuttle system that runs on a fare-free basis from July 1 to Labor Day, with fewer services possibly running until mid-September.
• Westside Service: Shuttles leave every 15 to 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It should take about 90 minutes to get from the Apgar Visitor Centre to Logan Pass.
• Eastside Service: Shuttles leave every 30 to 45 minutes from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It should take about 50 minutes to get from Logan Pass to the St. Mary Visitor Centre.
• Transfers: Riders must change lanes at Logan Pass in order to go along the whole GTSR.

Rules: Shuttles can be used by people in wheelchairs, and most of them have bike racks so riders can load and unload their own bikes. It is illegal to smoke, have pets, or have open alcohol containers. Bear spray needs to be kept safe.

Key stops on the shuttle are the Apgar Visitor Centre (the west side’s main hub), Sprague Creek Campground, and Logan Pass.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Visit:

Photography and Other Activities Glacier National Park has a lot of different outdoor activities and places to take pictures of its stunning beauty.

Best Places to Take Pictures

People know that the park is one of the most photogenic places in the world. Here are some famous places that always make for great photos:

• Lake McDonald: Especially at dawn or dusk, when the clear water and mountain shapes make the colorful rocks stand out.
• The Grinnell Glacier Trail has views of the glacier, turquoise lakes, and mountain goats that will make you say “wow.”
• Logan Pass is the highest point on the GTSR. It has wide views, wildflowers, and animals like mountain goats and bighorn sheep you can see.
• Hidden Lake Overlook: This spot is just a short walk from Logan Pass and has stunning views of Hidden Lake and the peaks nearby.
• Swiftcurrent Lake (Many Glacier): The porch of the Many Glacier Hotel is a great place to take pictures of the sunrise.
• Iceberg Lake is famous for its very clear water and icebergs that float on top of it.
• From sunrise to sunset, St. Mary Lake has beautiful views and is a great place to see wildlife and wildflowers.
• The Trail of the Cedars leads to Avalanche Gorge, which has clear blue water flowing through a lush green gorge.
• Two Medicine Lake is famous for its brightly colored rocks and steep valleys carved by glaciers. It is especially beautiful in the morning.
• Bowman Lake (North Fork) is a quiet, out of the way lake that can only be reached by a rough dirt road. The trip is worth it, though.
• Elizabeth Lake is a beautiful lake that is often a part of multi-day backpacking trips. It is known for being peaceful and good for taking pictures at night.
• Granite Park Chalet has beautiful views and sunsets that will take your breath away.

Other Things to Do in the Park Besides Hiking

Even though hiking is the main attraction, Glacier National Park has a lot more to offer:

• Scenic Drives: The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a must-see, and it’s thought to be one of the best drives in the world. It winds through mountains that were shaped by glaciers and has amazing views.
• Looking for Wildlife: The park is a great place to see bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, and more. Often, the best times to see them are early in the morning and late at night.
• You can rent or go on boat tours on a number of lakes. These give you a unique view and often make it easier to get to some trailheads.
• Riding horses is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy and a different way to see the park.
• Rafting: Going on a guided rafting trip down the Flathead River is a fun way to see the waterways in the park.
• Cycling: In the spring, parts of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are plowed and open for cyclists before they can be used by cars.
• A lot of campgrounds are available, both inside the park and in the nearby areas.
• Stargazing: Because the skies are so dark in Glacier National Park, you can see the Milky Way better than anywhere else.

Conclusion: Embracing the “Crown of the Continent”

Glacier National Park’s hiking trails offer a unique chance to appreciate nature’s “Crown of the Continent.” Due to the park’s popularity, which is a testament to its beauty, you must carefully plan your itinerary to enjoy it. The park’s “optimal hiking season” varies because the Going-to-the-Sun Road opens and the high-elevation trails melt. Early summer travelers may not be able to hike some popular high-altitude trails. They must change their plans or focus on lower west-side trails. Due to this dynamic environment, all trails are most accessible in late July and early August, when it’s busiest. The desire for solitude and the desire to experience everything conflict.

Visitors should navigate these conditions by:

• Prepare and adapt: If you plan to visit during peak seasons, book your accommodations and timed entry car in advance. Prepare to adjust your plans based on crowd density, trail conditions, and road opening times.
• Hike early in the morning to find a parking spot and see the trails less crowded. Be ready for crowds. Use the park’s free shuttle along the Going-to-the-Sun Road to reach popular trailheads.
• Carry your usual bear spray, weather-appropriate layers, and water to stay safe. Hiking in bear country requires caution and grouping.
• Follow “Leave No Trace” and reduce your environmental impact to protect the park’s fragile ecosystems. Respect wildlife by not feeding or avoiding them.
• Glacier National Park’s majestic beauty can be fully appreciated and preserved for future generations by learning about its unique features, practicing responsible stewardship, and planning ahead.

Here’s a clean and beautiful list of sources with clickable, nicely formatted links related to Glacier National Park hikes, planning, and resources:

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🌲 Top Resources for Planning Your Glacier National Park Adventure

🏞️ Official Info & Entry Details

• National Park Service – Glacier NP Official Site
• Fees & Passes – Glacier National Park (NPS)
• Going-to-the-Sun Road Reservations – Recreation.gov
• Vehicle Reservations Info – NPS
• Glacier Wilderness Permits – Recreation.gov

🥾 Hiking & Trail Guides

• Hiking in Glacier – HikinginGlacier.com
• Short Hikes with Big Rewards – Glacier Guides
• Strenuous & Challenging Trails – Glacier Guides
• 5 Best Easy Hikes – Dirt In My Shoes
• Cracker Lake Hiking Guide – Exploren Borgen

📸 Best Views & Photo Spots

• 10 Best Photography Spots – Austin Adventures
• 5 Great Photo Spots – Glacier Guides
• Best Views in Glacier – Classic Journeys
• 15 Stunning Views – Cate’s Compass

🧭 Trip Planning & Packing Tips

• How to Plan Your Glacier Trip – Gather and Go Travel
• What to Pack – Glacier Lodges
• Connectivity & Communication – Glacier Lodges
• Hiking Packing List – Glacier Guides

🐻 Safety & Camping

• Wildlife & Bear Safety – GlacierMT
• Wilderness Camping Reservations – NPS
• Have Fun and Stay Safe – NPS