Things to Do in Glacier National Park: Complete Guide

The single most iconic experience at Glacier—50 miles of mountain highway crossing the Continental Divide at 6,646-foot Logan Pass, with pullouts at waterfalls, glacial lakes, and glacier overlooks.

• Climbs from Lake McDonald on the west to St. Mary Lake on the east, crossing the Continental Divide
• Vehicles over 21 feet long restricted west of Avalanche Creek per NPS guidelines
• No vehicle reservations required, but Logan Pass parking limited to 3 hours starting July 1
• New ticketed shuttle pilot available—tickets online starting May 2, 2026, with $1 processing fee

Glacier's most celebrated trail runs along a cliff face with cable handline assist, through wildflower meadows above treeline with near-constant mountain goat and bighorn sheep sightings.

• Traverses the Garden Wall—a dramatic ridgeline above Going-to-the-Sun Road
• Descends to The Loop trailhead 11.6 miles west
• Cliffside cable section near trailhead is exposed but manageable
• Book the express hikers shuttle (tickets online starting May 2) to avoid Logan Pass parking stress

One of the best accessible glacier hikes in North America—you walk to the edge of Grinnell Glacier and look down into a milky turquoise meltwater lake carved over thousands of years of ice movement.

• Trail starts at Many Glacier Hotel and passes Swiftcurrent Lake, Lake Josephine, and Grinnell Lake
• Take Glacier Park Boat Company shuttle across first two lakes to shorten round trip to ~6 miles
• Grizzly sightings are common on upper slopes—carry bear spray
• Start by 8 a.m. to beat afternoon crowds and catch best light on glacier face

Trail of the Cedars (wheelchair accessible 0.9-mile loop) combined with Avalanche Lake gives families a complete west-side experience—ancient forest and a glacier-carved lake in under 4 miles total.

• Trail of the Cedars winds through grove of western red cedars over 80 feet tall
• Avalanche Lake Trail continues 2 miles through old-growth forest to bowl-shaped lake
• Multiple waterfalls pour off 3,000-foot cliffs—peak flow late June through July
• Trailhead at mile marker 27 on Going-to-the-Sun Road; arrive early or take shuttle from Apgar

Glacier Park Boat Company has operated since 1938 on four lakes—Lake McDonald, St. Mary Lake, Two Medicine Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake—with on-board naturalists and the best mountain reflections in the park.

• Restored wooden boats with on-board naturalists covering park history, wildlife, and geology
• Many Glacier boat shuttle shaves approximately 4 miles off Grinnell Glacier hike round-trip
• Kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and motorboat rentals available at Lake McDonald and Many Glacier
• Tickets sell out weeks in advance—book at glacierparkboats.com once spring schedules open

Glacier's fleet of 1930s White Motor Company 'Jammers'—named for their gear-jamming on steep mountain passes—are living park history with rollback canvas tops for unobstructed mountain views.

• Depart from historic park lodges with multiple Going-to-the-Sun Road routes
• Half-day Sun Road excursions to full-day Crown of the Continent tours available
• All tours include stops at Logan Pass, major viewpoints, and glacier overlooks with ranger-style commentary
• Popular routes sell out by May—book early to secure your seat

Glacier is one of the last ecosystems in the lower 48 states with a complete large mammal assemblage—grizzlies, wolves, wolverines, lynx, and mountain lions—making it the best wildlife viewing destination outside Yellowstone.

• Many Glacier Valley is the park's wildlife hotspot
• Grizzlies frequent slopes above Swiftcurrent Lake; mountain goats congregate at Logan Pass year-round
• Moose favor willow meadows near Two Medicine and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
• Stop at Apgar or St. Mary Visitor Center on arrival—rangers post same-day wildlife hotspot locations

Horseback riding unlocks routes away from foot-traffic bottlenecks—deeper into valleys, above treeline, on trails outfitters have worked since the early 1900s.

• Guided rides depart from corrals near Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier Hotel
• Range from 1-hour scenic rides to half-day alpine treks
• Many Glacier corral offers rides past Swiftcurrent Lake with direct views of Grinnell Point
• Children must meet weight and age minimums set by each outfitter; advance reservations required

Paddle turquoise glacier-fed waters from multiple lake bases—rentals and shuttle options available to extend range on foot.

• Kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and motorboat rentals available at Lake McDonald and Many Glacier
• Lake McDonald shoreline is the most accessible paddle
• Many Glacier boat shuttle allows paddlers to extend range on water
• Water stays glacier-cold year-round—wear appropriate thermal gear

Free ranger programs—evening campfire talks, wildflower walks, glacier geology hikes, and Junior Ranger booklets—fill in the scientific and cultural context behind everything you see.

• Programs run daily July through Labor Day at Apgar, St. Mary, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine
• Offerings include glacier geology hikes, wildflower identification tours, evening star programs, and Junior Ranger activities
• Free booklets at all visitor centers
• Evening campfire programs at Apgar Campground amphitheater are among the best free experiences in any national park

Off-the-beaten-path stargazing at one of the park's highest, clearest points—a chance to see the Milky Way with minimal light pollution.

• One of the highest and clearest points in the park for dark-sky viewing
• Avoid 3-hour parking limit by timing your visit after 6 p.m. or arriving before 7 a.m.
• Bring warm layers—even in summer, Logan Pass nights are cold at 6,646 feet
• Plan around lunar phases and clear weather forecasts for best viewing

Glacier's best-kept secret—equally dramatic as Many Glacier with significantly fewer visitors, boat tours, swimming, and trails ranging from easy to strenuous.

• Located in Glacier's southeast corner off Route 49—equally dramatic as Many Glacier with far fewer visitors
• Two Medicine Lake features historic ranger stations and trails from easy lakeside walks to strenuous backcountry loops
• Glacier Park Boat Company runs tours on Two Medicine Lake
• Two Medicine Campground is one of the park's most scenic settings with 99 sites