Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park was established in 1910 as the 8th U.S. national park. Known as the “Crown of the Continent,” this area feeds waterways that flow into the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay. Glacier alone covers over a million acres and is packed with stunning mountain scenery, 762 lakes (many unnamed), waterfalls, and 26 named glaciers—though sadly, all of them are shrinking.

Even though it’s only fully open for part of the year, Glacier still ranks as the 10th most visited national park, drawing around 3 million people annually. And honestly, with all there is to see, planning your trip can be the hardest part!

Glacier at a glance

$35 per vehicle for 7 days. Or FREE with the America the Beautiful Pass.

Timed entry vehicle reservations are required for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork from 7 am to 3 pm.

Glacier National Park is very remote so getting here is difficult. The closest airport is Glacier Park International Airport (45 min) in Kalispell, Montana, but is a very small airport and the flight options are minimal and expensive. Instead you could fly into Missoula International Airport (2.5 hours) or Spokane International Airport (4.5 hours).

The most popular times to visit the park are July–September. This is when the trails tend to be clear of snow, fully accessible, and full of wildflowers, but the most crowded. We recommend September as the best time to visit while having slightly lower crowds!

Different Areas of the Park

There are a handful of different regions that make up Glacier National Park, each with incredible hikes and views. On the west side you have Lake McDonald, plus Logan Pass, the highest elevation you can reach in the park by car, which you get to by driving the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. St. Mary lies at the eastern end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road and is the gateway into that region of the park from the east side.

Many Glacier and Two Medicine are also located on the east side of Glacier and home to some of the most beautiful hikes and views in the park. While the North Fork area is located in the northwest of the park up a bumpy, dusty unpaved road. It’s much more remote and home to the tiny community of Polebridge.