Glacier National Park: An Illustrated Guide w/ Top 3 Things to Do

I’ll never forget the moment I first drove into Glacier National Park. Rigid, snow-capped mountain peaks, lush meadows full of wildflowers, turquoise water- not much compares to the beauty of this national park. Within the first hour of driving into the park, I saw a wild grizzly bear for the first time in my life. If you haven’t visited Glacier National Park yet already, you should definitely move it to the top of your bucket list.

You could spend months in Glacier National Park exploring all of the different trails and seeing all that this stunning national park has to offer- but most people are only able to visit for a couple of days. In this blog, you’ll find my top three things to do and also some helpful information about visiting the park.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting Glacier National Park

Location:
PO Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936

Phone:
(406) 888-7800

Website:
nps.gov/glac

Size:
1,013,594 Acres

Annual visitors:
2.3 mil

Park Hours:
All day, every day

Entrance Fee:
$25/vehicle, $12/individual (foot, bike, etc)

When to Visit Glacier National Park

Glacier is open 365 days a year but during the long winters, there are many road and facility closures (sometimes during the fall and spring as well). Going to the Sun Road first opens in mid-June and stays open until October. Peak season is July-August. During peak season, weekends can be especially busy so keep this in mind when planning your trip.

Visiting in September and early October is another way to beat crowds.

Entering and Traveling Through

There are four main entrances to Glacier National Park- Many Glacier, Two Medicine, St. Mary & West Glacier. Many Glacier, Two Medicine & St. Mary are located in the east side of the park. West Glacier is located on the west side.

St. Mary and West Glacier are the east and west ends of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Keep in mind that there are size limits to vehicles driving on this road. There are also no trailers allowed.

There is also a free shuttle service that travels along Going-to-the-Sun Road from late June/early July – early September. The shuttle makes several stops and departs every 15-30 minutes.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a popular route for biking, but keep in mind is closed to bike use from 11 AM to 4 PM (June-Labor Day). If you plan on biking this road please keep in mind that winds can be strong and certain sections of the road can be under construction so use extreme caution when biking. Many campgrounds even offer reduced fees for campsites for cyclists without a vehicle. There is no bike rental available at the park.

Safety

Fire: When camping in a new area, always be updated and informed on the fire rules and regulations. Dry weather conditions are closely monitored and fire bans are occasionally put in place.

Wildlife: As with any national park or natural area, it’s important to be educated on the animals that reside there and how to prevent negative interactions with them. Remember that we are in their home. View all wildlife from a distance. Please do not approach, disrupt, or feed any wildlife.

Black bears/grizzlies: If you happen to come across a bear, it’s important to stay calm. If the bear isn’t aware of you, do not surprise them. Speak calmly and firmly to the bear. Don’t make any loud noises or scream. Back away slowly and don’t turn your back or run. If you’re with children, pick them up or hold on to them. You can read the National Park Service’s guide on hiking in bear country here. Storing your food properly is another important aspect of bear safety. Campsites have bear-proof boxes for you to store food and bear-proof garbage cans. In order to prevent bears from seeing humans as a potential source of food, it’s critical to store and dispose of your food responsibly and always follow the bear safety food regulations set by the National Park Service.
Mountain lions: Mountain lions are solitary creatures that rarely attack humans, but should always be considered as potentially dangerous. If you encounter a mountain lion, make direct eye contact and hold your ground or slowly back away without turning your back or running. Do everything you can to appear larger. If you’re with small children or pets, try to pick them up without turning away or bending over.

Overlooks: Make sure to keep children close neer steep edges and overlooks. Some overlooks lack gaurdrails and edges can be dangerous due to weathered rock. Never throw anything over the edge. of an overlook. Even a small stone could be fatal to hikers or climbers below.

Water: Never wade in water other than in specified swimming areas. Even if it looks safe to you, currents can be deceiving.

Altitude: Take the necessary time and precautions to get adjusted to higher altitudes. Drink lots of water and listen to your body.

Glacier Must-Do #1: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road

The exact opening day of this road varies from year-to-year, typically around late June and early July until the sometime in October (usually the third week). Certain portions of the road do remain open all year with access to many hikes and locations. The year that we went, 2018, it happened to open on June 24th.

This scenic route offers stunning landscapes, chances to see wildlife + many incredible photo opportunities.

Glacier Must-Do #2: Paddle in Lake McDonald

It was so calming + tranquil floating on the gentle, turquoise water. Head out in the morning to avoid crowds.

Glacier Must-Do #3: Hike Hidden Lake Overlook

This ended up being one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever taken. The first 30 minutes of hiking was extremely foggy and uphill in the snow. There were a couple of times we considered turning back because it was getting harder and harder to see the trail markers. Then, all of sudden, we emerged out of the fog to one of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

Leave No Trace

Please be respectful of nature and follow the Leave No Trace Principles. It is important to always stay on trails to avoid destroying fragile eco systems. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.