Highway 2 Scenic Corridor: Glacier’s Southern Boundary Drive
A year-round scenic drive along Glacier's southern boundary spanning 56 miles through granite canyons, offering mountain goats, Continental Divide crossings, and fire-lookout views without requiring a park pass.
Highway 2 runs 56 miles along Glacier's southern boundary from West Glacier to East Glacier Park, staying open year-round unlike Going-to-the-Sun Road. Plan 2 hours end-to-end or a full day if you stop for hiking, rafting, wildlife viewing, and the Goat Lick mountain goat spectacle.
- 56 miles West Glacier to East Glacier Park
- Year-round open, unlike Going-to-the-Sun Road
- 5,213 ft Marias Pass (lowest Continental Divide crossing)
- $35/vehicle park pass only if entering fee areas
West Glacier — Western anchor
Essential start pointThe gateway where Highway 2 meets Going-to-the-Sun Road — stock up on gas, food, and raft bookings here.
- Last full-service stop before the canyon corridor — gas, groceries, and outfitter bookings essential before heading east
- Gateway to Lake McDonald Lodge and Apgar Visitor Center if you have a park pass
- Combine both routes in one day: Highway 2 morning (Marias Pass, Goat Lick), then Going-to-the-Sun Road afternoon (late June through mid-October only)
Middle Fork of the Flathead River — Miles 10–26 east of West Glacier
Scenic highlightThe scenic corridor that hugs Highway 2 — granite walls, dense pines, and Class II–III rapids ideal for guided raft trips.
- Forms the legal southern boundary of Glacier National Park
- Several free pullouts between West Glacier and Essex for raft watching, fishing, and wildlife spotting
- Many outfitters based in West Glacier and Essex run Class II–III half-day and full-day trips; book in advance for peak July–August
- Federally designated Wild and Scenic River with varying difficulty and pricing by outfitter
Goat Lick Overlook — Essex area, ~26 miles east of West Glacier
Best wildlife viewing
One of the most reliable mountain-goat viewing sites in the American West — dozens of goats descend to lick mineral-rich cliff face.
- Short accessible paved path from parking to observation platform with no entrance fee
- Dozens of goats sometimes visible simultaneously in late June and early July — peak season is late May through mid-July
- Goats are most active at dawn and dusk; arriving midday in July you may see only a handful; 6–7 AM or 7 PM visits reward with 30+ animals
- Overlook sits on exposed Roosevelt Fault rock rich in gypsum, kieserite, and sulfates — minerals goats crave
- Dogs must remain leashed at overlook areas along Highway 2
The Izaak Walton Inn sits nearby at Essex — built in 1939 by the Great Northern Railway to house snowplow crews. Today it operates as a year-round lodge popular with railroad enthusiasts, as active BNSF freight trains still rumble past daily. In winter it serves as a cross-country ski hub with groomed tracks connecting to backcountry routes.
Scalplock Lookout Trail — Near Essex, Walton Ranger Station boundary
Best fire-lookout panoramaA strenuous fire-lookout hike with panoramic views across Glacier's southern reaches — no park pass required.
- Historic Scalplock Fire Lookout staffed seasonally by NPS — views extend across Glacier's southern reaches and Bob Marshall Wilderness
- Begins at Walton Ranger Station boundary trailhead directly off Highway 2 near Essex
- First section follows Middle Fork before turning steeply upward through dense forest
- One of the most dramatic vantage points accessible directly from Highway 2 without a park entrance fee
No water sources exist on the trail above the river section — carry 2–3 liters per person. Sun exposure is intense on the open summit ridge, and afternoon thunderstorms build quickly in July and August.
Marias Pass & Continental Divide — ~44 miles east of West Glacier (midpoint)
Historic summit stop
The lowest Continental Divide crossing between Canada and central New Mexico — steeped in exploration and railway history.
- Summit parking includes bronze statue of John Frank Stevens and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
- Meriwether Lewis named the nearby Marias River after his cousin Maria Wood during the 1805 Corps of Discovery expedition
- Great Northern Railway first charted the route in December 1889; initial train ran in 1893; BNSF freight trains still pass daily
- No park pass required — summit lies within Lewis and Clark National Forest, outside Glacier's fee boundary
- Meadows around the pass bloom with beargrass and wildflowers in July; elk and deer commonly seen at dawn and dusk
- Temperature is 10–15°F cooler than West Glacier even in summer — bring a layer
East Glacier Park & Two Medicine Valley — Eastern terminus (~56 miles from West Glacier)
Best for solitude & lakes
The quiet eastern entry point with uncrowded lakes, waterfalls, and 30+ trail miles — a fraction of Going-to-the-Sun Road crowds.
- East Glacier Park village offers lodging, dining, historic Glacier Park Lodge (built 1913 by Great Northern Railway from Douglas fir), gas, groceries, and Amtrak station
- Two Medicine Valley reached by Highway 49 north (~4 miles), then Two Medicine Road (8 miles, paved) — glacier-carved valley with deep turquoise lakes and waterfalls
- Permit-queue free compared to Going-to-the-Sun Road — no permit requirement for day hiking in 2026
- Popular trails include Upper Two Medicine Lake (9.4 mi round-trip, gentle with modest elevation gain) and Running Eagle Falls (under 1 mi, accessible to all fitness levels)
- Glacier Park Boats operates guided lake tours from late spring through early fall
- Two Medicine Road typically open late May through mid-October; snow closes it mid-October to mid-May
Practical Tips & Road Logistics — Highway-wide
Trip essentialsEverything you need to drive Highway 2 smoothly — gas, cell service, vehicle size rules, and passes that work.
- Gas: Fill up in West Glacier or East Glacier — no gas stations in Essex or along the 56-mile corridor
- Cell service: Spotty through canyon sections between West Glacier and Essex — download offline maps before departing
- RVs & trailers: Highway 2 has no vehicle length or width restrictions and is the recommended alternate when RVs are excluded from Going-to-the-Sun Road during peak season (vehicles over 21 ft restricted on certain GTTS sections)
- America the Beautiful Pass ($80 annual) covers the $35/vehicle entry at Two Medicine and West Glacier entrances — available at any park entrance or store.usgs.gov
- Winter driving: Highway 2 is maintained and plowed year-round, unlike Going-to-the-Sun Road (closed October through late June). Check 511.mt.gov for current conditions; mountain snowstorms possible at any time
Common Questions
Do I need a Glacier National Park pass to drive Highway 2?
No. Highway 2 is a public US highway running outside the Glacier National Park fee boundary for most of its length. You only pay the $35/vehicle entrance fee if you enter a designated fee area — such as the Two Medicine entrance or the West Glacier park entrance. Marias Pass, Goat Lick Overlook, and all river pullouts along the highway are free.
When is the best time to see mountain goats at Goat Lick Overlook?
Late May through mid-July is peak season, with dozens of goats sometimes visible simultaneously in late June and early July. Mountain goats are crepuscular — most active at dawn and dusk — so plan your visit for early morning or evening rather than midday. The overlook is free and directly accessible from Highway 2, about 2 miles southeast of the Walton Ranger Station.
Is Highway 2 open in winter?
Yes. Highway 2 is maintained and plowed year-round. It is one of the few open routes into the Glacier region when Going-to-the-Sun Road closes (typically October through late June). Winter driving requires caution — mountain snowstorms are possible at any time and Marias Pass can be icy. Check current conditions at 511.mt.gov before traveling in winter months.
How do I book a raft trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River?
Several outfitters based in West Glacier and Essex offer half-day and full-day guided raft trips on the Middle Fork. The most popular section runs from Essex to West Glacier with Class II–III rapids. Book in advance for peak season (July–August). The Middle Fork is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River, and trip lengths, difficulty, and pricing vary by outfitter.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Park Service — Glacier National Park (directions, fees, conditions) — NPS
- NPS — Mountain goat information — NPS
- NPS — Entry fees — NPS
- NPS — Going-to-the-Sun Road seasonal schedule — NPS
- Montana FWP — Fishing regulations and Wild and Scenic River designation — Montana FWP
- America the Beautiful Pass — USGS
