Highway 2 Scenic Corridor: Glacier’s Southern Boundary Drive
Highway 2 runs 56 miles along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park, connecting West Glacier to East Glacier Park village through granite canyons, dense wilderness, and one of the lowest Continental Divide crossings in North America. Unlike the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road — which closes to vehicles October through late spring — Highway 2 stays open year-round, making it a critical alternate route and a stunning destination drive in its own right.
Plan about 2 hours end-to-end at a 40–50 mph speed limit, but a full day if you stop for hiking, rafting, wildlife viewing, or the mountain goat spectacle at Goat Lick Overlook. Entrance to the park is not required to drive Highway 2 itself, though stops inside the park boundary cost $35 per vehicle (7-day pass) per NPS.gov.
- Highway 2 spans 56 miles from West Glacier to East Glacier Park along Glacier’s southern boundary — open year-round, unlike Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Goat Lick Overlook near Essex is free to visit; best mountain goat viewing runs late May through mid-July, dawn and dusk.
- Marias Pass at 5,213 ft is the lowest Continental Divide crossing between Canada and central New Mexico — no park pass required to stop here.
- The Middle Fork of the Flathead River runs alongside the highway and offers Class II–III whitewater rafting from Essex to West Glacier.
- Scalplock Lookout Trail (3.2 miles one-way, 3,000 ft gain) starts from the Walton Ranger Station on Highway 2 with panoramic fire-lookout views.
- Two Medicine Valley — just north of East Glacier via Hwy 49 — is the quieter, less-crowded eastern entry point to the park.
- Park entrance fee: $35/vehicle, $30/motorcycle, $20/hiker or cyclist (7-day pass). Non-U.S. residents pay an additional $100 per person age 16+.
Route Overview & When to Drive
Highway 2 (US Route 2) traces the southern border of Glacier National Park through the Lewis Range for 56 miles, from West Glacier (elevation 3,154 ft) over Marias Pass (5,213 ft) to East Glacier Park village. The route follows the Middle Fork of the Flathead River through granite canyon country before climbing to the Continental Divide and descending into the Two Medicine foothills.
Because it never enters the interior of the park, Highway 2 stays plowed and passable year-round — a major advantage in shoulder and winter months when Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed. That said, driving conditions between November and March require winter tires, and mountain passes can receive snow at any time.
| Season | Road Conditions | Best Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| May–July | Clear; occasional late-spring snow at pass | Goat Lick peak season (dozens of goats), wildflowers at Marias Pass |
| August–September | Excellent; warm and dry | Full hiking access, rafting, fall foliage begins in September |
| October–November | Good with rain/frost; mountain snow possible | Elk rut, fall color, far fewer crowds |
| December–April | Passable with winter tires; some closures at pass | Izaak Walton Inn cross-country skiing, wolf and moose sightings |
Starting at West Glacier
West Glacier sits at the junction of Highway 2 and the Going-to-the-Sun Road entrance, making it the natural western anchor for this drive. The small community holds gas stations, grocery options, gear shops, and multiple raft-trip outfitters — stock up here before heading east, since services thin out quickly once you enter the canyon corridor.
If you have a park pass, West Glacier is also your gateway to Lake McDonald Lodge, the Apgar Visitor Center, and the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road when it is open to vehicles (typically late June through mid-October, per NPS.gov). Drivers combining both routes in one day can tackle Highway 2 in the morning — stopping at Marias Pass and Goat Lick — then return via Going-to-the-Sun Road in the afternoon.
Middle Fork of the Flathead River
From West Glacier eastward, Highway 2 rarely strays far from the banks of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, which forms the legal southern boundary of the park. The river flows from deep inside the Great Bear Wilderness before joining Highway 2 near Essex, collecting additional tributaries until it merges with the North Fork near West Glacier to form the main Flathead River.
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