Best trails in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park in Montana is an immense park spanning over 1 million acres. It is considered the centerpiece of a vast region of protected land between the United States and Canada. The park features over 700 miles of hiking trails and supports various outdoor activities such as biking, boating, fishing, and horseback riding. It is known for its dazzling hikes, backcountry campsites, glaciers, peaks, and lakes. The park is best visited during the summer months between June and September.
Trails in Glacier National Park are always subject to closures due to bear activity. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm For more information about safety while adventuring in bear country, please visit:https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bears.htm
To avoid parking issues during the busy season, consider riding on the park shuttle. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/shuttles.htm
Glacier National Park requires a permit to camp overnight in the wilderness. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry-reservations.htm
Top trails
Visitor info
(Winter Rate - $20.00, November 1 to April 30)
This is a per motorcycle entrance fee. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable.
(Winter Rate - $15.00, November 1 to April 30)
This is a per person entrance fee for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, or for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable.
(Winter Rate - $25.00, November 1 to April 30)
This is an entrance fee for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van). The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. Visitors can enter the park at any time, if the entrance station is not staffed, a self-registration area is available for purchasing a 7-day park pass.
New in 2024, all passes will have one signature line for a single passholder. This pass is valid for one year from the month of entry and admits the purchaser and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or the pass holder and his/her immediate family (spouse, children, parents) when entry is by other means (foot, bicycle) into the park. It is nontransferable, nonrefundable, and does not cover camping fees.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Apgar Visitor Center, Apgar Village, Apgar Nature Center, and St. Mary Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films have closed captions in person and open captions online.
A Braille or large print park brochure is available by request or on the website.
Many ranger-led programs are wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices and ASL interpreters are available by reservation. Please contact the park at least two weeks in advance to make a reservation for interpretation services.
Additional information about accessibility at Glacier National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
All park shuttle buses in the park are wheelchair accessible.
The Apgar Visitor Center, Apgar Village, Apgar Nature Center, and St. Mary Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films have closed captions in person and open captions online.
The following evening performance venues are wheelchair accessible: Apgar Campground Amphitheater, Fish Creek Campground Amphitheater, Many Glacier Hotel and Campground Amphitheater and Auditorium, Lake McDonald Lodge Amphitheater, St. Mary Visitor Center Amphitheater, and Rising Sun Campground Amphitheater.
The Rising Sun Picnic Area and Many Glacier Picnic Area are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms.
There are accessible restrooms or vault toilets at the following trailheads: The Loop, Logan Pass, Grizzly Point, Rising Sun Area, and Goat Lick Overlook.
The Apgar Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (C152 and C122) and restrooms.
The Fish Creek Campground has 8 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (A8, A10, A12, A34, B65, B68, D158, and D160) and restrooms.
The Sprague Creek Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#1) and restrooms.
The Rising Sun Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#7) and restrooms.
The St. Mary Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (C146 and C148) and restrooms.
The Two Medicine Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#20) and restrooms.
The Bowman Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (#3 and #7).
The Kintla Lake Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#13).
A Service Animal Briefing is required and can be obtained at the following Wilderness Permit Stations: Apgar Village (Summer and Winter), Many Glacier Ranger Station (Summer), St. Mary Visitor Center (Summer), Hudson Bay District Office (Winter), Two Medicine Ranger Station (Summer), and Park Headquarters Building (Winter).
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Glacier National Park
Most picturesque trail in all of Glacier National Park! Do not be scammed by taking the boat trip for the return. We arrived early and they cannot accommodate all guests on their boat and they also do not do refunds. (+) Grinnell Glacier is magnificent and is a worthy prize after the climb. Icebergs on the lake are absolute delighters (+) First two miles are flat and absolutely beautiful in the early morning (+) Big horn sheep on the route (-) It is an absolute pain to get a shuttle pass for Many Glacier :) (-) Bad experience in the return boat. It is $20 per person for the last two miles. But since their boat cannot accommodate all people, they recommend that you just walk back if you are unable to wait an hour for the next boat. Since we were pressed with time we had to walk back and of course they would not give a refund. If you can do 10miles, we recommend just doing an extra 2miles versus paying $20 and not being sure if the boat can take you. (-) Most of the trail is exposed. Bring sun protection!
Stunning views where you can see why Glacier National Park is called the "crown of the continent"! Great sunny day. Saw marmot, pika, and golden eagle. Biggest challenge can be getting a parking place in Logan Pass parking lot. Enjoy!
The Astor Park trail from Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park. Need to get here by 8:00 AM to get a parking spot.
Twin Falls trail at Glacier National Park. Easy hike to a waterfall at the end of Two Medicine Lake.
Stunning view, the best hike I’ve done so far in Glacier National Park
Just stunning views at the top. Well worth the trip. A very enjoyable hike. It got kind of long at the end but if you want to take the boat, park near the boat launch. Otherwise, it won't save you any effort. We heard a couple have a close encounter with a bear but we didn't see the bear. A moderate to hard hike depending on your fitness level. Get on the reservations site at exactly 7pm to get tickets into Many Glacier.