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.
Guides
Trail reviews for Glacier National Park
Did the hike on 7/11/25. Watch tracked it at 12.2 miles from Many Glacier Hotel (only place you can start from) with the construction. Absolutely beautiful the whole time. Lake at the end was stunning, we did jump in but the water is frigid (obviously... its filled with icebergs). We had no problems with bugs. Saw a grizzly, a moose and several deer. Definitely recommend!
Amazing views at Grinnell glacier overlook, do not miss it, worth the climb after that it's all downhill to the Loop trailhead, so take care of your knees.
Fantastic full day hike in Glacier without the crowds. Recommend starting at the Siyeh Bend on the GTTSR and finishing by St Mary's lake as the ascent is more gradu this way until the last mile. We saw a grizzly sow and 2 cubs just before the final 1 mile of switchbacks thru skree. Paid us no mind as she ambled parallel to the trail across the saddle below the last climb. The descent is a bit longer but equally beautiful although different....rocky trail through low vegetation and abundant wildflowers. Highlights as you switchback your way down were a stunning waterfall, groves of unique looking burned tree skeletons, a deep canyon with rushing water, towering cliffs, and the majestic peaks of the St. Mary's area. We waited approx 15 mins for a Glacier shuttle to pick us up and carry us back up to our car at Siyeh Bend. If you don't mind the 10 mile distance, this is a fantastic full day hike to enjoy the best of GNP!!
Amazing hike. Weather and trail conditions perfect (on 7/11/25). Fully open, no issues. Went one way from Logan Pass, then followed the Granite Park trail down. Completed the spur trail to Grinnell Glacier Overlook as well. That section was the hardest of the hike by far. Significant elevation gain over a short distance (while hiking close to the edge at the top). Absolutely worth the trip up though.
We pulled into West Glacier around 6:30am and the Avalanche lot was already full, but we found a spot about a half mile up GTS road. Great trail, spectacular view as you first see Avalanche Lake!
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Frequently asked questions
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Suitability
Points of interest
- Baring Falls
- St. Mary Falls
- Scenic Point
- Huckleberry Mountain
- Swiftcurrent Creek
- Lower Virginia Falls
- Appistoki Falls
- Grinnell Lake
- Scalplock Mountain
- Grinnell Glacier Overlook
- Running Eagle Falls
- Redrock Falls
- Elk Mountain
- Kintla Lake
- Rocky Point
- Mount Siyeh
- Mount Oberlin
- Great Northern Railway Buildings
- Head Kintla Lake
- Bowman Lake