Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Glacier National Park in January
Little changes in Glacier National Park from December: highs stay near 23°F (-5°C), lows near 9°F (-13°C), and about 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow falls.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 43/100, 8th of 12.
- Avg high
- 23°F (-5°C)
- Avg low
- 9°F (-13°C)
- Rain or snow
- 2.6 in (66 mm)
- Humidity
- 95%
- Cloud cover
- 72%
- Daylight
- ~8 h 29 min
- Comfort score
- 43/100 · Tough
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 23°F (-5°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 9°F (-13°C), so expect frost and ice.
About 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow falls in the month, and with temperatures averaging below freezing, much of it may come as snow.
Only about 8 h 29 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around January
January sits mid-table; the best months are July & August.
- Comfort holds steady from December (43 → 43/100).
- Our Glacier to Yellowstone route recommends Jun – Sep, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 9°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Waterproof outer layerabout 2.6 in of rain or snow
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Glacier National Park in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Polebridge Mercantile
1914 general store and bakery in the North Fork, known for huckleberry bear claws.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 23°F.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
50-mile alpine road crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.
Northern Lights Saloon
Log-cabin saloon next to the Mercantile, with a beer garden facing the peaks.
Russell's Fireside Dining Room
Lake McDonald Lodge dining room with regional dishes like bison and huckleberry desserts.
Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail
Flat boardwalk through old cedars, continuing 2.3 miles to a lake ringed by waterfalls.
Nearby in January
- Banff in January~185 mi · highs 23°F, 1.8 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, drier
- Lake Louise in January~212 mi · highs 22°F, 2.7 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Glacier National Park in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Glacier National Park?
It's middling, scoring 43/100. The best months are July & August, at up to 97. Expect highs of 23°F (-5°C) and 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow. Our Glacier to Yellowstone route recommends Jun – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Glacier National Park in January?
Average highs are 23°F (-5°C) and average lows 9°F (-13°C), making it the 2nd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Glacier National Park in January?
Some: about 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 6th-driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 31.6 in (802 mm).
What should I pack for Glacier National Park in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 9°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days), waterproof outer layer (about 2.6 in of rain or snow) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Glacier National Park
Planning Glacier National Park in January?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.