Montana, United States
Glacier National Park
Give Glacier three days: one for Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass, one for Many Glacier, one around Lake McDonald or Polebridge. This guide pulls together 1 sight, 6 activities and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- December
- Wettest month
- June
1 See · 6 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Glacier to Yellowstone
from our route notes
21°C / 70°F avg high
-6°C / 21°F avg high
about 111 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Glacier National Park
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
1 sight worth building a day around in Apgar.
Photo: David Restivo, National Park Service · Public domainSeeLake McDonald
Glacier's largest lake, famous for colored stones visible through clear water at Apgar.
Tip Calm water and best reflections come at sunrise from Apgar beach.
Do
6 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Lake McDonald Valley, Glacier National Park and Logan Pass. 4 of them are free.
Photo: Michael Hall · GoogleDoTrail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail
Flat boardwalk through old cedars, continuing 2.3 miles to a lake ringed by waterfalls.
Tip Trailhead parking fills by 8 am in summer; use the park shuttle.
Photo: MPSharwood · CC BY-SA 4.0DoGoing-to-the-Sun Road
50-mile alpine road crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.
Tip Fully open roughly late June to mid-October; check NPS for vehicle reservation rules.
Photo: Guang · GoogleDoHidden Lake Overlook Trail
2.7-mile round trip from Logan Pass across meadows to a lake view, often with mountain goats.
Tip Snow lingers into July; the lake-shore section closes at times for bear activity.
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa · CC BY-SA 2.0DoHighline Trail
Ledge trail along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass with huge valley views.
Tip Hike to Granite Park Chalet and descend the Loop; take the shuttle back up.
Photo: Allison Gasparetti · GoogleDoGrinnell Glacier Trail
Steep Many Glacier hike past turquoise lakes to the foot of Grinnell Glacier.
Tip Cut 3.4 miles off with the Glacier Park Boat Co. boats across Swiftcurrent and Josephine lakes.
Photo: James Howard · GoogleDoGlacier Park Boat Company Many Glacier Cruise
Historic wooden boats across Swiftcurrent and Lake Josephine with ranger-led walks.
Tip Reserve ahead; morning departures connect best to hikes.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Glacier National Park across Lake McDonald and Polebridge.
Photo: Winston Dy · GoogleEatRussell's Fireside Dining Room
Lake McDonald Lodge dining room with regional dishes like bison and huckleberry desserts.
Tip Seasonal; reserve dinner and arrive early to see the lodge lobby.
Photo: Noah Von Dauber · GoogleEatPolebridge Mercantile
1914 general store and bakery in the North Fork, known for huckleberry bear claws.
Tip Gravel road to Polebridge is rough; go before noon before pastries sell out.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Glacier National Park in Polebridge.
Photo: The Northern Lights Saloon · GoogleDrinkNorthern Lights Saloon
Log-cabin saloon next to the Mercantile, with a beer garden facing the peaks.
Tip Seasonal: open about late May to September.
How to fit Glacier National Park into a trip
Glacier National Park is stop 1 of 3 on our Glacier to Yellowstone route. Follow it as-is or lift Glacier National Park into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Glacier to Yellowstone
Big skies, geothermal wonders & alpine lakes
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Jun – Sep
- Pace
- moderate
Getting here and onward
- Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park is about 540 km / 336 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Glacier National Park month by month
Average daily highs run from -6°C / 21°F in December to 21°C / 70°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 111 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan-5° / 23°F average high
- Feb-5° / 23°F average high
- Mar-1° / 30°F average high
- Apr4° / 39°F average high
- May11° / 52°F average high
- Jun16° / 60°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul21° / 70°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug21° / 69°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep15° / 59°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct7° / 44°F average high
- Nov-1° / 30°F average high
- Dec-6° / 21°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Glacier National Park weather and the best time to visit →
Near Glacier National Park
2 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.
Glacier National Park questions, answered
How many days do you need in Glacier National Park?
Our route notes suggest 3 days in Glacier National Park. On our Glacier to Yellowstone route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 29 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Glacier National Park best known for?
Give Glacier three days: one for Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass, one for Many Glacier, one around Lake McDonald or Polebridge. Standouts on our list: Lake McDonald (Glacier's largest lake, famous for colored stones visible through clear water at Apgar); Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail (Flat boardwalk through old cedars, continuing 2.3 miles to a lake ringed by waterfalls); Going-to-the-Sun Road (50-mile alpine road crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass).
When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?
Our Glacier to Yellowstone route is best Jun – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (21°C / 70°F), the coolest in December (-6°C / 21°F) and the most rain in June (about 111 mm).
What are the best things to do in Glacier National Park?
Start with Lake McDonald, Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Hidden Lake Overlook Trail and Highline Trail. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 1 sight, 6 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Glacier National Park?
Our picks: Russell's Fireside Dining Room (Lake McDonald); Polebridge Mercantile. Seasonal; reserve dinner and arrive early to see the lodge lobby (Russell's Fireside Dining Room).
What is near Glacier National Park?
The closest destinations in our guides are Banff (about 298 km / 185 mi) and Lake Louise (about 342 km / 212 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Glacier National Park with your crew
Open the Glacier to Yellowstone route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Glacier National Park
More in United States
- Leavenworth 9 places
- Yellowstone 7 places
- Yellowstone National Park 10 places
- Snoqualmie Pass 6 places
- Grand Teton National Park 15 places
- Jackson 9 places
- Seattle 19 places
- Pike Place Market & Waterfront 6 places