Glacier GOAT Guide: Your Local Glacier National Park Travel Guide
Glacier by the Season
East Glacier: Mid May through Mid November
Bowman Lake: Mid May through November
Lake McDonald (Apgar to Lake McDonald): Lodge open year round
Many Glacier: Mid May through Mid November
Going-to-the-Sun Road: Usually fully open mid–late June through the first of October. The east side of the pass at St. Mary is open mid May through mid November.
No more timed entry: You won’t need to book a specific time slot to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Park pass still required: You still need to pay standard park entrance fees or have a valid pass (like America the Beautiful).
New congestion management: Expect rangers to temporarily close sections of the road when parking lots (like Logan Pass) fill up. Based on my experience, I think Many Glacier will see the most closures (likely mid-afternoon). Polebridge and Two Medicine may also see closures, but probably not as often.
Logan Pass parking limit: 3-hour time limit.
Highline hike plan: If you plan on doing the Highline hike, you’ll need to take the shuttle. It’s free, but requires a reservation.
America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass: $250
Non-Resident Fee: $100 in addition to the Standard Entrance Pass
Insider Tips
Avoid the crowds: Start early — or better yet, in the late afternoon. The sun stays out way later than you may realize. Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the sunset (that’s when the animals are out too!).
Bring snacks: Other than the main areas, there are not places to buy food — so bring snacks and lots of water.
Weather changes fast: No matter the month, bring a long-sleeved shirt and pants or a light coat. Hoodies make great souvenirs. Check webcams to get a better idea of what to expect.
Times are estimates and will vary based on road construction, traffic, and time of day.
Going-to-the-Sun Road (West Glacier to St. Mary): ~2 hrs
West Glacier from Kalispell: ~1 hr
North Fork from Kalispell: ~1.5 hrs
North Fork from West Glacier: ~1 hr
St. Mary from Kalispell via Highway 2: ~2.5 hrs
Car Rental
Kalispell Car Rentals: https://kalispellcarrentals.com/
Avis: https://avis.com/
Budget: https://budget.com/
Whitefish Car Rentals: https://whitefishcarrentals.com/
Where to Eat (Local Favorites)
West Glacier
Paul Bunyan Bar & Grill — best classic old-town Montana atmosphere (live music some evenings). Recommended: burgers + Cobb salad. https://www.paulbunyanbar.com/
Belton Chalet — fancy night out; historic spot outside the west entrance. https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/lodging/belton-chalet/
Polebridge
Northern Lights Saloon — extremely cool old saloon in Polebridge. Check hours. (406) 888-9963
East Glacier / Many Glacier
Summit Mountain Steakhouse — beautiful midpoint to grab food coming or going (views!). (406) 732-4033 • https://summitmtnlodge.com/
Izaak Walton Inn — historic spot between West and East Glacier; watch the trains come and go. https://izaakwaltoninn.com/
Serranos — excellent Mexican food in East Glacier (it’s true). https://www.serranosmexican.com/
Cattle Baron Steakhouse — on the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation; unique + memorable.
Columbia Falls
Mudman Burgers — without question the best burgers in the valley (Columbia Falls + Kalispell). Recommended: huckleberry shake, literally any burger. https://www.mudmanburgers.com/
Gunsight Saloon — old fashioned on tap + great “old west” atmosphere; live music several nights a week. Recommended: steak salad + sweet potato fries. https://www.gunsightsaloon.com/
Three Forks Grille — more upscale; perfect for a nice dinner out. Recommended: pork chop. https://www.threeforksgrille.com/
Backslope Brewery — everything is delicious. Recommended: fried pickles, bistro burger, crispy chicken + rice for kids. https://backslopebrewing.com/
Back Room — fry bread is the best (traditional Native American food; honey butter). Recommended: fry bread, fry bread burger, tator tots. https://www.niteowlbackroom.com/back-room
Surrounding Areas (Whitefish / Kalispell / Lakeside)
Mercantile Steak & KM Bar (Kalispell) — upscale and absolutely worth every penny; best steak in the valley. Recommended: tuna appetizer, beef short ribs, any steak https://www.mercantilesteak.com/
Tamarack Brewing (Lakeside) — amazing beer + great food; outdoor patio; visit Flathead Lake while you’re there. local fish & chips; artichoke dip.
Mackenzie River Pizza Co — great for larger groups; amazing salads; unique pizza; try the “Mac Lovin” dessert (hot cookie + ice cream). Recommended: house salad dressing; “Mac Lovin”. https://www.mackenzieriverpizza.com/
Moose’s Saloon — locals go here for pizza; get peanuts at the bar while you wait. Go-to order: sausage, jalapeño, sauerkraut. (Yes—add sauerkraut to any pizza.) Recommended: spinach salad. https://moosessaloon.com/
Breakfast
Montana Coffee Traders — breakfast, lunch, or coffee; also great for souvenirs (local craftsmen). Columbia Falls + Whitefish. Recommended: Big Sky scramble. https://www.coffeetraders.com/
Buffalo Cafe (Whitefish) — delicious and unique breakfast; great spot to park and window shop. Recommended: huckleberry pancakes.
Echo Lake Cafe (Bigfork) — this is where locals go for breakfast; expect a weekend wait (nice lawn to wait). Recommended: breakfast burrito.
Honorable Mentions
Loula’s — Whitefish
Uptown Hearth — Columbia Falls
Sykes — Kalispell
Farmers Markets
Columbia Falls Community Market — Thursday nights all summer; food trucks, beer/spirits, live music in the barn; downtown Columbia Falls. https://www.cfcommunitymarket.com/
Whitefish Farmers Market (Depot Park) — known for art + souvenirs from local craftsmen. Don’t miss the huckleberry bear claw from the Polebridge Bakery stand. https://whitefishfarmersmarket.org/
Bigfork Farmers Market — set above the river, next to downtown; beer garden + stage for live music. https://www.bigforkfarmersmarket.com/
West Glacier Farmers Market — June through August in the West Glacier Camp Store parking lot on Friday afternoons (check website for details). https://www.facebook.com/glacierfarmersmarket/
Kalispell Farmers Market — fresh produce, flowers, local artistry, excellent food; Flathead Valley Community College parking lot. https://kalispellfarmersmarket.org/
Market Days & Times
Whitefish Farmers Market: Tuesdays 5–7
Columbia Falls Market: Thursdays 5–8:30
West Glacier Market: Fridays 3–6
Bigfork Market: Monday 5–7:30
Kalispell Market: Saturday 9–12:30
Summer Attractions
Best Summer Hikes
Hidden Lake Overlook (Logan Pass) — 2.8 mi
Highline Trail (Logan Pass) — 11 mi
Iceberg Lake (Many Glacier) — 9.6 mi
Pitamakan–Dawson Loop (Two Medicine) — 17.9 mi
Ptarmigan Tunnel (Many Glacier) — 10.5 mi
Siyeh Pass (Logan Pass) — 10 mi
Scenic Point (Two Medicine) — 8 mi
Boat Rides / Rentals in the Park
The big lakes in the park offer scenic boat tours and rentals — get reservations early: glacierparkboats.com
Whitewater Rafting
See the park from the water of the rivers that border Glacier! Options for all ages and skill levels. https://glacierraftco.com/
Going-to-the-Sun Road
No summer trip is complete without a drive on Going-to-the-Sun Road. (Info and any reservation system details may change year to year.)
Red Jammer Tour
The Red Buses are quintessential Glacier — ride Going-to-the-Sun in 1930s style with a knowledgeable guide. Reservations sell out quickly: https://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours
Huckleberry Picking
July and August are huckleberry picking months. They’re expensive to buy, but not difficult to find and identify. Hungry Horse Reservoir and Blacktail Mountain are great options.
Cherry Picking
The end of July and beginning of August is cherry season. Many local orchards allow u-pick, or you can buy from roadside stands. Hockaday Orchards is where I always take the kids — check their website for availability.
Whitefish Mountain Resort
So many fun things to do at the resort: hiking, ziplining, mountain biking, alpine slide, scenic lift rides (amazing views of the Flathead Valley). https://skiwhitefish.com/
Downtown Whitefish
Local shops and restaurants for any taste. Check out the train depot for local history and enjoy the city beach on Whitefish Lake.
Fishing
You don’t need a fishing license to fish in the national parks. For a true adventure, hire a guide (Wild River Adventures, Glacier Guides, Great Northern Resort, Glacier Anglers). Tips/info: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/fishing.htm
Horseback Riding
A great way to see the park while preserving the peace and quiet of nature. Reservations with Swan Mountain Outfitters: https://www.swanmountainglacier.com/
For Kiddos
Big Sky Waterslides — 10 water slides, huge whirlpool, kids pool. Open most days starting in June (check website). http://www.bigskywp.com/
Glacier Highline — for kids over age 6: obstacle courses, zipline courses, and whitewater rafting. https://www.glacierhighline.com/
The Amazing Fun Center (Coram) — maze, bumper boats, go carts, mini golf. Open daily during summer. http://amazingfuncenter.com/
Mini-Golf (West Glacier Village) — 18 holes with Glacier trivia; kids under 5 play free; bonus hole-in-one = free huckleberry sundae. https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/glacier-national-park/west-glacier/golfing-to-the-sun-mini-golf/
Best Kids Hikes
Avalanche Lake (West Glacier) — 4 mi
St. Marys Falls (Logan Pass) — 1.7 mi
Running Eagle Falls (Two Medicine area) — 1 mi
Aster Falls / Aster Park (Two Medicine area) — 1.1 mi
Red Rock Lake and Falls (Many Glacier area) — 4.2 mi
Beaver Pond Loop (St. Mary area) — 3.6 mi
Traveling with Dogs
The Rules
Pets are allowed in developed areas such as: in your cars while driving park roads, front country campgrounds, picnic areas, along roads when you are stopped, in parking areas, and in boats on lakes where motorized watercraft are permitted.
Pets are not permitted on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, in the backcountry, or in any building.
Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle.
When the bike path between Apgar and West Glacier is free of snow, dogs are allowed on leash.
When roads are closed to vehicle traffic, they are considered a backcountry trail and dogs are not allowed.
Hiking Outside of Glacier (With Your Dog)
Hit one of the national forests with your pooch — Flathead, Kootenai, and Lewis and Clark National Forests are all close. Trails in national forests are pet friendly. Hungry Horse Reservoir in Flathead National Forest is especially beautiful and less busy than Glacier.
Lake Five — Heading to Glacier on Highway 2, a nice little lake. Great spot to launch a boat or take a dip; great for the whole family.
Whitefish City Beach — Concessions available (including Sweet Peaks ice cream), sandy beach, picnic tables, designated swim area. Summer rentals: kayaks + SUPs.
Flathead Lake — Largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Volunteer Park in Lakeside is great for picnics + swimming. Flathead offers shops for boat/kayak/SUP rental. Wayfarers in Bigfork is a local favorite — hike left of the dock for awesome lake views from the cliffs.
Lake McDonald — Classic Montana swim with a breathtaking mountain backdrop and picturesque dock to launch off.
Lion Lake — Just outside Hungry Horse on the road to the dam. Small gem, water stays warm.
Rodeo Schedule
Brash Rodeo Winter Series (Majestic Valley Arena, Columbia Falls, MT)
Jan 30–31 @ 7pm
Feb 13–14 @ 7pm
Feb 27–28 @ 7pm
Mar 13–14 @ 7pm
Mar 27–28 @ 7pm
Brash Rodeo Summer Series (Blue Moon Arena, Columbia Falls, MT)
May 23 @ 6pm
May 28 @ 7pm
Jun 4 @ 7pm
Jun 11 @ 7pm
Jun 18 @ 7pm
Jun 25 @ 7pm
Jul 2 @ 7pm
Jul 9 @ 7pm
Jul 16 @ 7pm
Montana High School Rodeo Association Finals (Majestic Valley Arena, Columbia Falls, MT)
Jun 8–13 https://www.mhsra.org/
Bigfork Montana Rodeo
Jul 5–8 https://bigforkrodeo.com/
Eureka Rodeo (Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Eureka, MT)
Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo (Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell, MT)
Fair dates: Aug 11–16 Rodeo dates: Aug 13 @ 7:30pm; Aug 14 @ 7:30pm
Fall Attractions
Best Fall Hikes
Bullhead Lake (Many Glacier) — 7 mi
Apikuni Falls (Many Glacier) — 2 mi
Pitamakan Pass (Two Medicine) — 17.4 mi
Firebrand Pass (Two Medicine) — 10.2 mi
Beaver Pond Loop (St. Mary Entrance) — 3.6 mi
Forest and Fire Nature Trail (Apgar) — 1.1 mi
Polebridge Mercantile
Through the last Sunday in October, the Merc is open on the northwest side of the park. The North Fork drive is the best for fall colors, and the bakery at the end is worth every mile (huckleberry bear claws are a must-try). https://polebridgemerc.com/
Montana is a great place to see the aurora borealis. The best place is wherever there’s no light! They aren’t visible every night — use a northern lights alert app or check: https://spaceweather.com/
Wildlife Viewing
Best tip ever: go in the evening when the crowds are gone! You will see mountain goats and Bighorn rams at the Logan Pass Parking lot almost guaranteed
Grizzly Bears: Logan Pass, Hidden Lake, St. Mary Lake, Many Glacier Road/trails (common)
Black Bears: Avalanche Lake Trail, St. Mary Lake, Many Glacier Road/trails (common)
Moose: Lake McDonald, St. Mary Lake, Swiftcurrent Lake, Lake Josephine, Fishercap Lake, Two Medicine Lake (common)
Bighorn Sheep: Logan Pass, Hidden Lake, Iceberg Lake, Grinnell Glacier (very common)
Mountain Goats: Logan Pass, Hidden Lake, Iceberg Lake, Grinnell Glacier (very common)
Winter Attractions
Best Winter Hiking
Lake McDonald: Road plowed to the lodge; spectacular views; wonderful winter walk.
Polebridge to Bowman Lake — 12 mi
Going-to-the-Sun Road — as far as you want!
Belton Bridge — many hikes across the bridge
Covey Meadow Loop (Polebridge area) — 3 mi
Fish Creek Bike Trail (West Glacier) — 1.9 mi
Snowmobiling
Excellent areas to snowmobile — check trail info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/flathead/recreation/wintersports/?recid=66162&actid=92
Rentals: https://www.glaciersnowmobile.com/
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Allowed along the lower part of Going-to-the-Sun Road beginning at Lake McDonald Lodge. Skiing from Polebridge to Bowman Lake is well worth the views. Rentals at Sportsman Ski Haus. Trail info PDF: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/xc-ski-2016.pdf
Dogsledding
December–March: Dogsled Adventures Montana (20 miles north of Whitefish). Call 1-406-881-2275.
Base Camp Bigfork — guided dog sledding tours and learn to mush your own team.
Cross-Country Skiing
Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, MT) — lifts typically 9am–4pm; night skiing Fri & Sat 4–8:30pm • https://skiwhitefish.com/
Great Northern Powder Guides (Whitefish, MT) — open 7 days/week (contact for tickets)
Glacier Nordic Center (Whitefish Lake Golf Course) — trails open 24/7 • https://visitmt.com/listing/glacier-nordic-center-11061
Meadow Lake Nordic Trails (Meadow Lake Golf Course, Columbia Falls)
Round Meadow Cross-Country Ski Area • https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/recreation/round-meadow-cross-country-ski-area-nordic
Big Mountain Nordic Trails (Lower Haskill)
Blacktail Nordic Ski Trails
Bigfork Community Nordic Center
Spring Attractions
Best Spring Hikes
Avalanche Lake (West Glacier) — 4 mi
Apgar Lookout (West Glacier) — 7.1 mi
St. Mary / Virginia Falls (St. Mary) — 3 mi
Red Eagle Trail (East Glacier) — 8 mi
Red Rock Falls (Many Glacier) — 4.2 mi
Josephine Lake (Many Glacier) — 6 mi
Avalanche Lake
As snow melts, Going-to-the-Sun Road opens to Avalanche Gorge. Trail of the Cedars is great for small children, and the waterfall is worth seeing. The hike to the lake is only 2 miles each way.
Biking Going-to-the-Sun Road
As snow melts, Going-to-the-Sun Road opens to bikers and hikers starting at Avalanche. Challenging but worth it. Check current road conditions for closures. Bike rentals:
https://glacierguides.com
https://www.goglacieroutfitters.com/
https://thepedalcompanyatglacier.com/
East Glacier
The east side is beautiful in spring. Two Medicine road opens in late spring with gorgeous low-elevation hikes. St. Mary is always beautiful, and you can also bike Going-to-the-Sun Highway from that entrance.
Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard
Scenic boat tours and rentals — reserve early: glacierparkboats.com
Hungry Horse Reservoir
The dam is one of the largest arch dams in the US. The lake is gorgeous and offers boating and fishing, and the surrounding mountains have beautiful, quiet hiking trails.
Through the last Sunday in October, the Merc is open on the northwest side of the park. The North Fork drive is the best for fall colors, and the bakery at the end is worth every mile (huckleberry bear claws are a must-try).
