7-Day Glacier National Park Itinerary
Cross the Continental Divide on foot: seventy miles threading Glacier's wildest passes, peaks, and glaciers July through September.
Glacier crowns Montana's Northern Rockies with sharp peaks, carved U-shaped valleys, and 25 named glaciers retreating visibly year to year. Ancient ice carved the landscape; today hikers cross exposed alpine terrain where weather changes in minutes.
- 1M Acres
- 700+ Miles of trails
- 762 Lakes
- 25 Named glaciers
Day 1: Arrival & Forest Gateway
Stay: Lake McDonald Lodge, a historic 1913 Swiss-chalet-style lodge 10 miles inside the west entrance on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Warm up on a moderate waterfall hike that introduces the park's evergreen character and builds legs for higher passes ahead.
- Enter via the west (Apgar) entrance and head directly to Trail of the Cedars boardwalk (0.9 mi loop, ~49 ft gain) to acclimate, then climb through old-growth forest to Avalanche Lake's turquoise waters and hanging-valley waterfalls.
Day 2: Lake McDonald Scenic Drive & Boat Tour
Stay: Second night at Lake McDonald Lodge. Rest and resupply for the high-elevation days ahead.
Build your baseline understanding of the park's geography and lower-elevation features before ascending to alpine terrain.
- Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road west to east along Lake McDonald's southern shore, stopping at viewpoints and the historic DeSmet boat dock.
- Take a 1.5-hour scenic boat tour across the lake to absorb the scale and reach the far shoreline trails.
Day 3: Logan Pass Alpine Opener
Stay: St. Mary area (Rising Sun Motor Inn or St. Mary Village, 6–15 miles east of Logan Pass). Closer base for your next two alpine days.
Introduce high alpine terrain and test your legs for the Highline Trail tomorrow. Mountain goats, pikas, and 360° views reward every step.
- Drive the full 52-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass Visitor Center.
- Hike the popular Hidden Lake Overlook trail (boardwalk and packed-soil switchbacks) to a clifftop viewpoint overlooking two cirque lakes and Reynolds and Clements peaks.
Day 4: Highline Trail Continental Divide Traverse
Stay: Return to St. Mary area base. Rest legs and refuel for Many Glacier's Grinnell Glacier tomorrow.
Glacier's signature hike threads the Continental Divide with 11.8 miles of unobstructed views and wildlife meadows before a shuttle return.
- Book a $1 Logan Pass shuttle ticket on Recreation.gov (release date: May 2 at 8 a.m.
- MDT).
- Hike the iconic Highline Trail from Logan Pass, skirting Clements and Reynolds peaks along exposed switchbacks and flower-carpeted benches.
- Detour 1.6 miles round-trip to Granite Park Chalet.
- Catch the return shuttle from The Loop back to Logan Pass.
Day 5: Many Glacier Boat & Grinnell Glacier
Stay: Many Glacier Hotel, the park's largest lodge (215 guest rooms). Historic 1914 building on Swiftcurrent Lake; reserve early.
Witness a named glacier up close—one of 25 remaining in the park—and cross two alpine lakes by boat, saving 2.6 miles of trail.
- Drive 1.5 hours east to Many Glacier Hotel.
- Book a Many Glacier boat tour ($41.70 adults) at the hotel dock, riding two boats (Swiftcurrent Lake, then Lake Josephine) to the Grinnell Glacier trailhead.
- Hike 3.7 miles one-way with 2,461 ft gain to the glacier's face and turquoise melt-water lake.
Day 6: Many Glacier Subalpine Trails & Boat Cruises
Stay: Second night at Many Glacier Hotel. Soak in the historic lodge's Swiss Lounge and Ptarmigan Dining Room.
Recover from high-elevation days with lower-commitment trails and stunning boat-based glacier and peak viewing.
- Take another Many Glacier boat tour ($41.70) or hike out-and-back to Grinnell Lake (1.8 mi round-trip, 400 ft gain) to view the glacier-carved lake and surrounding peaks.
- Alternatively, rest at the lodge and explore ranger-led evening programs and the historic building.
Day 7: St. Mary Lakeside & Departure
Stay: Depart from St. Mary area via the east entrance (St. Mary). No overnight stay; drive out after breakfast and hiking.
End with a low-effort, high-reward waterfall hike and leisurely lakeside breakfast before heading home.
- Drive 45 minutes south from Many Glacier to the St. Mary area.
- Hike to St. Mary Falls (1.2 mi one-way, 260 ft elevation loss) for a double waterfall above St. Mary Lake with mountain views.
- Enjoy a café lunch at St. Mary Village before departing the east entrance.
Common Questions
When do shuttle tickets for Logan Pass release, and will they sell out?
Tickets release 60 days in advance on May 2, 2026 at 8 a.m. MDT via Recreation.gov (then daily on a rolling basis). Remaining tickets are available at 7 p.m. MDT the night before (starting June 30). Yes, they sell out fast—reserve immediately for your planned July–September dates. Cost is $1 per ticket.
What if Going-to-the-Sun Road isn't fully open when I arrive?
The road opens between mid-June and early July—NPS does not predict exact dates due to snow conditions. If it's not open, enjoy lower-elevation trails (Avalanche Lake, Trail of the Cedars, Lake McDonald boat tours, Two Medicine area) until the full road opens. July through early September is the safest window.
Do I need to book lodging now, or can I walk in?
Book immediately. All park lodges fill by April for July–August. Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, and St. Mary Village have limited rooms and high demand. Contact glaciernationalparklodges.com or glacierparkcollection.com for current availability.
Are there easier alternatives to the Highline Trail or Grinnell Glacier hike?
Yes. For Highline: hike out-and-back to Haystack Saddle (7.2 mi round-trip, 624 ft gain) without needing a shuttle. For Grinnell: the full trail from Many Glacier trailhead is 10 miles round-trip (1,600 ft gain) without boats, or take the boats and hike shorter extensions instead.
What should I pack for the alpine terrain?
Layers are essential: base layer, fleece or down insulating jacket, rain shell. Bring sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and electrolyte tablets. Trekking poles ease downhill strain. Microspikes may be needed if snow lingers above 7,500 ft in early July. Download offline maps—cell coverage is absent at high elevations.
Sources & Further Reading
- Avalanche Lake Trail — National Park Service
- Trail of the Cedars — National Park Service
- Hidden Lake Trailhead — National Park Service
- Highline Trailhead — National Park Service
- Grinnell Glacier Trailhead — National Park Service
- St. Mary Falls Trail — National Park Service
- Jackson Glacier Overlook — National Park Service
- Visiting Logan Pass in 2026 — National Park Service
- Logan Pass Shuttle Service 2026 — National Park Service
- Hiking the Trails - Glacier National Park — National Park Service
- Lake McDonald Valley — National Park Service
- Many Glacier Hotel — National Park Service
- Lake McDonald Lodge — National Park Service
- Apgar Visitor Center — National Park Service
- Plan Your Visit - Glacier National Park — National Park Service
- Glacier National Park - Official Site — National Park Service
- Glacier National Park Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets - Recreation.gov — Recreation.gov
- Glacier National Park - Camping & Lodging - Recreation.gov — Recreation.gov
- Many Glacier Boat Tours — Glacier Park Boat Company
- Lake McDonald Boat Tours & Rentals — Glacier Park Boat Company
- Stay at Lake McDonald Lodge — Glacier National Park Lodges
- Stay at Many Glacier Hotel — Glacier National Park Lodges
- Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins — Glacier National Park Lodges
- St. Mary Village Lodging — Glacier Park Collection
