Montana’s Glacier National Park is definitely a bucket-list worthy destination for any family. We loved the alpine lakes surrounded by stunning mountain peaks, the availability of hiking trails that were fairly easy for the kids yet incredibly scenic, and the high probability of actually seeing wildlife every day of our visit.

We recommend at least 3 days to visit Glacier National Park, but you wouldn’t be disappointed with more days especially if you are an avid hiker!

Best Time Of Year To Visit Glacier National Park

One of the highlights of Glacier National Park is the Going to the Sun Road, so you want to time your visit for the months when it is free from snow and open to cars. Due to its altitude and Glacier’s penchant for snow, that generally means the Going to the Sun Road at Logan Pass is only open from late June through mid-October. So, your ideal window to visit is a bit limited.

We were fortunate that Glacier's Going to the Sun Road opened just days before our visit on June 30. Overall, it has historically opened in late June but there are some outlier years when it has opened as late as July 13 (hello 2020 and 2022 seasons!) See the National Park Service’s list of historical opening dates for the Going To The Sun Road.

To avoid peak crowds, the best time to visit Glacier National Park is at the end of June or early September. If visiting in July (the park's busiest month) or August, be aware that parking is limited at many of the trailheads so you generally have to arrive between 8:00am - 8:30am to get a parking spot!

See Glacier National Park's Tips For Dealing With Crowds

Glacier National Park Entrance Information

Fees & Passes - Glacier National Park

IMPORTANT! Since 2021, the National Park Service now requires vehicle reservations to drive the Going To The Sun Road during peak summer season. So along with your national park admission fee or park pass, you will need to reserve a 1 day or 3 day vehicle reservation through the NPS website. Spoiler alert- these go quickly! You can reserve your dates 4 month in advance.

What If All the Vehicle Reservations Are Already Sold Out For The Dates When You Are Planning to Visit Glacier National Park?

The vehicle reservations are required from 6am-3pm during peak summer season, so you can arrive to the entrance before 6am (ouch!) or later in the day after 3pm.
If you have booked lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations in Glacier National Park, you can use their reservation to access the portion of the park for which they have a reservation. For instance, if you have booked a boat tour at Many Glacier, you can enter the park at the Many Glacier entrance without a vehicle reservation
You can visit during the shoulder season (mid-September to early October) when vehicle reservations are not required and cross your fingers for a late start to snow season.

Glacier National Park’s Must See Attraction-Driving the Going To The Sun Road and Logan Pass

As mentioned above, driving Glacier National Park’s Going to the Sun Road is a “must do” experience when visiting. This infamous and incredibly scenic 50 mile road connects the park's eastern and western sides, passing numerous waterfalls and climbing to Logan Pass at 6646' elevation and 32 miles from the west entrance.

Logan Pass is where you’ll park to hike the Hidden Lake Overlook and Highline Trail hikes and/or visit the Visitor Center. Parking is difficult as this is one of the most popular spots in the park. The National Park Service website states that the lot is often full by 8am. Their website offers a live webcam of the Logan Pass parking lot if you want to take a look

The road eventually brings you back down to the valley and St. Mary Lake. To drive the entirety of the road without stops would take about 2 hours, but you should plan to stop and hike some trails along the way (see recommended easy hikes below.)

Tip: There are a number of turnouts on the Going To The Sun Road. Don't miss your chance to see a glacier from the Jackson Glacier Overlook. This helpful website lists the best turnouts on the Going to the Sun Road. We particularly enjoyed the spectacular views from the turnoff just after Lick Creek but before the first tunnel (driving east).

Where To Stay When Visiting Glacier National Park

To avoid driving long distances to see everything, it's ideal to arrange lodging in both the western and eastern sides of Glacier National Park. If you can only stay in one side of the park, choose the eastern side for more hiking choices.

Lodging in Glacier National Park’s West Side

On the western side, you can stay in the park’s historic Lake McDonald Lodge to have easy access to the impressive clear water and colorful rocks of Lake McDonald as well as the popular Trail of Cedars/Avalanche Lake hikes.

Whitefish, MT Is A Good Place To Stay When Visiting Glacier National Park’s Western Side

Because national park lodging is generally already booked unless you made reservations about a year in advance, consider staying in the small resort town of Whitefish, Montana. It's a quaint town with plenty of restaurants (loved Jersey Boys Pizzeria) and shops. Spend a day at Whitefish Mountain Resort to hike, bike, zip down the mountain on an alpine slide, or take the zipline adventure course.

From Whitefish, it took 37 minutes to get to Glacier National Park's Apgar Village to explore Lake McDonald. It took one hour to reach the parking lot for the Trail of Cedars/Avalanche Lake.

We stayed at Pine Lodge in Whitefish which was walkable to restaurants and shops, offered a nice pool, and free use of their outdoor gear (kayaks, paddle boards, and bikes). You can paddle around in the Whitefish River from the dock behind the hotel or bike 30 minutes on the paved trail to reach Whitefish Lake.

And much to the delight of our daughters, the hotel offered a complimentary nightly ice cream sundae social. We would definitely stay there again. The rooms were nice (and clean) with high ceilings and an outdoor balcony. A basic breakfast was included in the rate.

You’ll also find plenty of vacation rentals. I would recommend staying near downtown Whitefish if your main goal is visiting Glacier National Park. That way you can walk to restaurants without hopping back into the car again.

Hygge Chalet w/Mountain Views, 10mins to Skiing & Hot Tub. 2 bedroom, excellent location. 10 min to the mountain, 1 min to the lake and beaches, 1 min to downtown. Access to saltwater pool in summer.

Luxe In-Town Modern LARGE Condo, Walk Everywhere, Glacier National Park Avails! 2 bedroom sleeps 4. Brand new and close to everything.

See more VRBO listings in Whitefish, MT or view VRBO listings at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

The cold water of Whitefish Lake located in Whitefish, MT

Lodging Near Glacier National Park’s East Side

For visiting the eastern portion Glacier National Park, we really enjoyed the location of the park's Rising Sun Motor Inn which sits along the Going to the Sun Road just 25 minutes to Logan Pass, 11 minutes to the St. Mary Visitor Center (the best one in the park), and 51 minutes to the Many Glacier area of the park.

The Inn has a pretty decent restaurant on site (offers a kid menu too) and a General Store if you need any basics (snacks, drinks, etc.). It also offers easy access to the Sun Point Nature Trail and the popular trails to Baring Falls, St. Mary Falls, and Virginia Falls.

Rising Sun Motor Inn offers small (emphasis on small here) cabins as well as motel-type rooms which were updated, clean, and surprisingly nice given their outside appearance.

Pro Tip: The motel-type rooms are a bit larger than the cabins.

Motor Inn Room

Rising Sun Cabin Room

I would also recommend staying at the historic Many Glacier Hotel, but good luck getting a reservation as it is very popular both for its designation as a registered historic landmark and its proximity to some of the best hikes in the park like Grinell Lake, Grinell Glacier, and Iceberg Lake.

The nearest towns to Glacier’s east side are St.Mary and Babb, MT. You’ll find a variety of VRBO listings in these towns

Best Easy Hikes in Glacier National Park

All of these family-friendly hikes are less than 5 miles roundtrip with reasonable elevation gain and offer the biggest "wow factor" for your effort. For more hiking options, see “Best Websites You Should Visit” at the end of this blog.

Also, be sure to check the National Park’s trail status webpage before you head as trail closures can occur.

Recommended Hikes Near Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

Trail of the Cedars/Avalanche Lake

You can make this a short 0.7 mile walk along the Trail of Cedars boardwalk (a wheelchair accessible loop) or extend it by continuing to Avalanche Lake (which I recommend). The 4.6 mile roundtrip hike to Avalanche Lake was absolutely gorgeous with its green leafy ferns, old-growth cedar and hemlock trees, and a roaring creek.

Reaching Avalanche Lake, surrounded by steep cliffs and waterfalls, was simply an added bonus. For us the "journey" of this hike was just as enjoyable as the end destination.

Pro Tip: If you're not up for the entire hike to Avalanche Lake, make sure to at least walk the first 100 yards of it to see the beautiful views of Avalanche Creek.

Rocky Point Scenic Trail

If you were unable to get a parking spot at Trail of Cedars or you are looking for a way to escape the majority of the crowds near Lake McDonald, walk the easy 2.2 roundtrip Rocky Point Scenic trail near Fish Creek Campground. It follows the shoreline of Lake McDonald and offers great views at Rocky Point. Along the way, you can picnic by the shore of Lake McDonald, skip rocks, or wade in the freezing cold water.

See the NPS list of hikes near Lake McDonald.

Apgar Picnic Area

We happened upon this spot accidentally and were pleasantly surprised by the wonderful views of Lake McDonald. You'll find several short spur trails to the water's edge. This would be a good place to drop in a kayak too. If it's not too windy, you can rent a kayak at Glacier Outfitters in Apgar Village to explore Lake McDonald.

Pro Tip: If you decide to bring your own kayak, know that the park requires all watercraft to be inspected to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Lake McDonald- View from the picnic area in Apgar Village

Recommended Hikes Near Logan Pass Glacier National Park

Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

The Hidden Lake Overlook Trail follows a boardwalk behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center to reach an overlook of Hidden Lake at 1.5 miles. This was one of our favorite hikes because of its beautiful vistas and the high probability of seeing mountain goats along the trail.

Pro Tip: Hike 100 yards past the overlook to escape some of the crowds and savor the views. Note: On July 1, much of the trail was still covered in snow making for some slippery and fun walking!

For a more challenging hike, try the popular Highline Trail - A bucket list hike leading from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet. The trail follows the Garden Wall ridge and the continental divide for most of its length. You’ll find spectacular views in all directions. Note that this trail was still closed at the end of June for high snow pack.

Hiking in snow on the Hidden Lake Trail on July 1

Recommended Hikes Near St. Mary Lake

Sun Point Nature Trail to Baring Falls

The Baring Falls hike begins from the Sun Point parking area, located at the end of a short spur road off the Going To The Sun Road. My daughters loved this spot with lots of rocks to scramble up, big views of St. Mary Lake, and it's only a short walk from the parking area. After hanging out, it's just 0.7 mile walk along the Sun Point Nature Trail and St. Mary's shoreline to Baring Falls.

St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls

From Baring Falls, you could continue on the trail 1.9 more miles to reach St. Mary Falls and 0.8 more miles beyond that to Virginia Falls. Or, you can park at the St. Mary Falls trailhead for a 1.2 mile hike to St. Mary Falls with the option of continuing on 0.8 miles to Virginia Falls for a 4 mile roundtrip hike.

Beaver Pond Loop Trail

The Beaver Pond Loop Trail (3.3. miles roundtrip) is a good one to combine with a visit to St. Mary's Visitor Center. Pick up your Junior Ranger Packet, watch a short film on the history of Glacier National Park, and view the exhibits before making your way to the historic 1913 Ranger Station which sits adjacent to the trailhead to Beaver Pond.

Rather than start the trail at the Ranger Station for a clockwise loop, we began the trail at far end of the parking lot at the Red Eagle Lake Trailhead.

After walking just 0.25. miles, we took a spur trail to a pebbled beach along St. Mary Lake. It was 9am in the morning and no one was there (which was an amazing gift given the crowds we'd seen at the more popular trails).

We ended up staying for an hour, skipping rocks and taking in the views, and never even finished the hike! Honestly, one of my favorite memories of our trip.

Beach on St. Mary Lake from the Beaver Pond Loop Trail

Recommended Hikes in the Many Glacier Area

Swiftcurrent Nature Trail/Grinell Lake Hike & Boat Tour

After visiting Many Glacier Lodge and hopefully enjoying some huckleberry ice cream, you can stretch your legs on the nature trail that encircles Swiftcurrent Lake or take a boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake and adjoining Josephine Lake.

The boat tour takes about 1.5 hours and requires a short 1/4 mile walk to access the second boat of the tour which takes you across Lake Josephine with views of Salamander Glacier. It's a fun informative tour and a pleasant way to see the backcountry of Glacier National Park from the water.

This is also a convenient way to shave miles off your hike to either Grinell Lake (easy) or Grinell Glacier, both of which are accessible by disembarking the boat at the upper boat dock on Josephine Lake.

Grinell Lake Hike is 2.2 miles roundtrip after disembarking the boat. Otherwise, it’s a 6.2 mile roundtrip hike from the Many Glacier Hotel.
Grinell Glacier Hike is 7.5 miles roundtrip after disembarking the boat at Lake Josephine. Otherwise, it’s 12 miles roundtrip from the Many Glacier Hotel

If you decide to hike, the boat operator will you give you a return ticket along with return times to shuttle you back to the Many Glacier Hotel. I recommend reserving the boat tour months in advance to guarantee a spot on the boat. You can also just show up and hope to get a spot from a waiting list (which many did successfully).

A good reason to book ahead is that it might get you into the park if it gets busy, especially during the peak months of July and August. By purchasing a boat tour ahead of time, we were allowed to pass through the park entrance to Many Glacier without the required vehicle reservation. The ranger wished us luck and we were fortunate to find one of the last 3 spaces available.

Note: If you have reservations at Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Inn, you will also be allowed entry into the park and won't be turned away.

Pro Tip: Remember to bring your binoculars to spot wildlife from the boat.

Fishercap Lake

This super short 1/2 mile roundtrip hike offers your best chance to see a moose in the shallow water of Fishercap Lake. We weren't lucky enough to see one on our visit but still enjoyed a relaxing walk to the lake.

More Challenging Hikes

(If your kids are up for it! We will return one day to tackle these...)

Highline Trail (Logan Pass Area)- A bucket list hike leading from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet. The trail follows the Garden Wall ridge and the continental divide for most of its length. You’ll find spectacular views in all directions. Note that this trail was still closed at the end of June for high snow pack.
Grinell Glacier Trail (Many Glacier Area)- This strenuous hike offers outstanding views of emrald blue Grinell Lake and a closeup view of Grinell Glacier. This trail was also closed at the end of June.
Iceberg Lake (Many Glacier Area)- You’ll get plenty of amazing photos at Iceberg Lake. Even in late July, you’ll find ice floating in this alpine lake. It’s also a good hike to see wildlife (bring bear spray!)

General Tips For Your Trip

Buy bear spray
Bring a backpack to carry snacks, maps, and drinks when hiking
Have good sturdy shoes and sandals for the water
Purchase a cooler or pack a soft-sided cooler for picnics
Remember there is no cell service in the park and limited WiFi in national park lodging
Pack for cold temps in the morning and hot temps in the afternoon--layers are key. During the first week of July, we saw lows in the upper 40’s and highs in the low 70’s.
Bring binoculars
Check trail status and road status before starting your day
Make sure your car is fueled and pack a picnic and trail snacks. Food is limited inside the park and gas stations are non-existent. You’ll find dining in Apgar Village, Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Lodge, and Rising Sun Motor Inn.

Best Websites When Planning Your Trip To Glacier National Park

See Montana native Traveling Mel’s website Things To Do In Glacier National Park, Montana for detailed information on all things worthy in Glacier!

Glacier National Park’s Official Website has maps, road and trail status information, live parking lot cams, downloadable maps, newsletters, Junior Ranger packet, and more!

Crazy Family Adventure’s blog Best Hikes in Glacier National Park With Kids has lots of photos of several easy family-friendly hikes.

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