Snapshot Planning Your VisitWhen we visited the park This trip was for my husband's 40th birthday. Montana is his favorite place, and we had never been to Northwest Montana, so we decided to head there. We went in August, his birthday month, and we had perfect weather. Dress in layers, because mornings can be cool, but it warms up quickly by afternoon. Layers are also helpful if you are driving different elevations in the park. However, August is also the busiest time for park visitors, so we had to plan our time there very purposefully and precisely to make sure we had time for everything we wanted to see. Because of the crowds and popularity of Glacier in the summer, there is an additional ticketing for entry. Make sure to check recreation.gov for details about gaining access to the different areas of the park.  weather-us.com  Bear Country Things to Consider 1. The first thing to know is, you can only access the whole park in the summer, and it gets busy! Plan ahead of time, and plan early. Reservations for lodging, road passes, tours, and rentals should be done as soon as you decide to travel to Glacier. 2. Going-to-the-Sun Road requires a special ticket, as well as access to Many Glacier or Two Medicine Lake during the busy summer months. You can purchase these tickets at recreation.gov in March or April, depending on when they go on sale. They are $2 a car and good for a 3-day period. They also have a limited amount of tickets available two days prior to your trip, and you will need to be ready to login to your account by 8am to try and get these. They go fast! When we bought our tickets on April 1st, we watched all 750 tickets for our desired day go within 20 minutes of them being available. 3. If you want to avoid purchasing a ticket, or can't get a ticket the other option you have is to book a tour with Glacier Boat Company, a Red Bus tour, have lodging within the desired area of the park, or rent a boat/kayak/canoe. If you have a reservation for anything in the park, you do not need a vehicle ticket for that day. The other option if you do not have a vehicle ticket, is to go before 6am or after 3pm. There is no additional ticket required outside of these times. 4. We spent two and a half days at the park, and could have spent the whole week there. We didn't even make it down to Two Medicine Lake. We got to see everything we wanted for this trip, but there is far more to see of this park and additional time would make this possible. 5. If you want to avoid some of the crowds, East Glacier is far calmer and less people around than West Glacier and Apgar Village. We felt safe because we were in high traffic areas of the park, but if you are out hiking some of the quieter areas, you definitely should look into bear spray!  How to Get There From the West Access to the Lake McDonald area, Park Headquarters, the Apgar Visitor Center, and Going-to-the-Sun-Road is via Highway 2 east to the town of West Glacier (approximately 33 miles from Kalispell). From the East All three east-side entrances can be reached by taking Highway 89 north from Great Falls through the town of Browning (approximately 125 miles) and following signs from there. The St. Mary Entrance is the eastern entry point of Going-to-the-Sun-Road and provides access to the St. Mary Visitor Center. You can also access Two Medicine Lake area, and Many Glacier area from the east. Additional Maps offered by the Park Where to Stay In the Park Apgar Village Lodge Located along the shores of Lake McDonald, about 3 miles from the west entrance of the park, these cabins come in a variety of sizes and amenities. Depending on the size of the cabin it costs between $159-$399 a night. The cabins are tucked away from the main drive of Apgar Village and offer great views of the river or Lake McDonald itself. Book early for these cabins! Motel Lake McDonald Located in Apgar Village this hotel offers a small selection of rooms from single to double beds. To reserve a room it costs between $169-$249 a night. The motel is about 10 miles from the west entrance of the park. Village Inn at Apgar This hotel was built in 1956 on the shores of Lake McDonald, about 2 miles from the west entrance of Glacier. There are smaller units available for rent, but there are also units that can accommodate up to six people. This was a place I tried very hard to get a reservation at and was unable to. The views from the decks of these rooms look breathtaking! The cabins here are rustic and do not have televisions, A/C, or in-room phones. Prices can vary greatly depending on demand, but rooms usually rent between $234-$460 a night. This property is managed through Xanterra, and can be reserved through their website as well as red bus tours or boat tours. Lake McDonald Lodge Located about 10 miles from the west entrance of the park, this Swiss chalet inspired lodge offers 82 guest rooms split between the three-story main lodge, a row of cabins, Snyder Hall and the exquisite Cobb House. Build in 1913, the historic lodge is on the beautiful shores of Lake McDonald with rustic, but comfortable accommodations. Prices can vary greatly depending on demand, but rooms usually rent between $140-$350 a night. This property is managed through Xanterra, and can be reserved through their website as well as red bus tours. Rising Sun Motor Inn Located 6 miles from the east entrance of the park along Going-to-the-Sun Road, this 72-unit property was built in the 1940s with rustic cabins and motor inn rooms. There are no televisions, in-room phones, or A/C in the rooms as was part of the era. The cabins and inn are only a quarter of a mile from St. Mary Lake, there is a restaurant, general store, and gift shop here. Prices can vary greatly depending on demand, but rooms usually rent between $231-$425 a night. This property is managed through Xanterra, and can be reserved through their website as well as red bus tours or boat tours. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn Located at the end of the road of Many Glacier, this setting is a hiker's paradise. There are 95 rustic cabins and motor inn rooms, a restaurant, fully stocked camp store and gift shop, and outdoor activities at this picturesque location. Prices can vary greatly depending on demand, but rooms usually rent between $149-$359 a night. This property is managed through Xanterra, and can be reserved through their website as well as red bus tours. Many Glacier Hotel Many Glacier Hotel is in the northeastern part of the park and called "Switzerland of North America." The hotel was built in 1914 on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake, with beautiful views of the mountains in the background. The rooms are rustic to emulate the time it was built, so there is no A/C or televisions in the rooms. Red bus tours, boat cruises, horseback rides, evening ranger programs, and numerous other activities are available here. Prices can vary greatly depending on demand, but rooms usually rent between $258-$509 a night. This property is managed through Xanterra, and can be reserved through their website. Back-Country Chalets There are two backcountry chalets available for rent through the parks. These require hiking to them and have little to no amenities or cell service available. If you decide to stay in a remote chalet, read the websites carefully! There is important and useful information on what to bring, how to get there, and safety measures to follow. Sperry Chalet - $273+ per night Granite Park Chalet - $134+ per night  Our Cabin Outside the Park Paddle Ridge Outfitters We stayed at Paddle Ridge Outfitters our first night in West Glacier. It is located about a mile from the west entrance of the park, and was the perfect place for our family to stay. There is an amazing store on the property for all your fishing and outdoor needs with friendly and helpful staff. Lodging options range from traditional rooms in the lodge ($289-$459) to a variety of cabins (1-room to 3-room) they have on the property ($450-$830). We also loved the outfitters because you can book fishing or rafting experiences through them as well. My husband went fly fishing and said it was a highlight of his trip. St. Mary Village Located just outside the east entrance of Glacier is St. Mary. The village here offers a variety of lodging depending on your group size, ranging from $169-$429 for traditional rooms in the lodge to tiny houses or cabins for larger groups. There is also a shuttle service, dining, and guided tours available. Book early, as this property fills fast. Under Canvas If you are looking for a unique experience close to nature, try glamping at Under Canvas. They have a couple of locations around different national parks, and we haven't tried them, but I want to! Glacier Under Canvas is located about 7 miles from the west entrance of the park. You can rent a basic Safari tent or get really fancy with a glamping tent and amenities. Prices range from $299-$769 depending on the time of year and the size of the tent you rent. There are also guided experiences available through Under Canvas. Glacier International Lodge This lodge is located about 30 minutes from the west entrance in Kalispell, but right outside of the airport. If you are traveling through the Glacier International Airport in Kalispell, this might be a great place to spend a night. A room at the lodge will range from $350-$375 a night. There are so many other accommodations surrounding the park, as well as Airbnb or VRBO rentals available. The links below will take you to tourism websites for each town with information on lodging available there. Camping Apgar Campground This 198-site campground is the largest in the park and located on the westside of the park near Lake McDonald. There is space for RVs and tents here and it costs $23 a night for a reservation May through September. Between October and December, sites are available first-come, first-served. The campground is conveniently located to the amenities of Apgar Village. Two Medicine Campground This 100-site campground is open in the summer and cost $5-$20 per night depending on the type of site you desire. This campground has space for tent and RVs, but there is no wifi in the valley and limited resources or amenities there. Avalanche Campground This popular 87-site campground is located centrally in the park and costs $20 per night for a reservation from July through September. The campground can accommodate tents and up to 50 RVs. Fish Creek Campground This 178-site campground is the second largest in the park, and is located near Lake McDonald. It costs between $8-$23 per night for a reservation here. St. Mary Campground This 148-site campground is located on the east side of the park and is the largest in the area, with access to the village of St. Mary's conveniences. You can reserve a campsite during peak times, May through early August. After that, it is first-come, first served until October. You can use a tent or RV here, and costs between $20-$65 depending on the type of site you want. Many Glacier Campground This 109-site campground is located in the Many Glacier area (east) of the park and has no cell service. The campground is open from June to October for rentals from $10-$23 depending on the type of site reserved. There are some sites for RVs, with portable water. Sprague Creek Campground This 25-site campground is located just off of Going-to-the-Sun Road and has a limit of trailers that are over 21 feet. The campground is open May through September and costs $23 a night for a reservation.  What We Did Bridge on Boundary Trail Day 1 We spent about three days at Glacier National Park. We did not stay in the park, because I couldn't find reservations at the time I was planning our trip. As things got closer, I checked back and realized that cancellations in the park did happen, but you really had to be vigilant at checking the website regularly to find what you are looking for. We stayed in West Glacier (about a mile from west entrance) our first day, and outside of Browning (about 25 minutes from east entrance) the second day. Our third day, we spent the morning at Glacier, and then headed up to Banff in Canada. The first day we were there, we stayed around the outfitters we stayed at, and West Glacier. West Glacier was pretty busy, but there were more things to do there, without having to go into the park. We had vehicle reservation tickets, so we could have gone anytime into the park, however we avoided the peak hours because the wait at the entrances was a little long. We booked a fishing trip for the husbands on the Middle Fork of Flathead river, which was right out the door from our lodge. We also asked for a good place to go hiking with kids, and it was recommended that we go to The Boundary Trail. This trail was a highlight of our time in Glacier! It was not too busy, maybe four other groups of people were there at the same time, and it was just before the entrance to Glacier National Park - so no waiting in line! The kids loved this hike as well. It is an out-and-back, so you can make it as long or as short as you want. We planned on walking more than we actually did, because the kids loved getting down by the water and skipping rocks. I think they could have skipped rocks until their arms fell off. The water was a stunning blue-green color and up close, crystal clear. It was a great way to begin our time at Glacier, and I would highly recommend this trail if you have young kids and want to avoid some of the crowds in Glacier National Park.  View of trout pond from cabin porch After we spent the afternoon along the Middle Fork, we headed back to our lodge for dinner. There were places to eat around West Glacier, however we decided to make food in the cabin we had rented. There was a full kitchen there, and a trout fishing pond out the front porch. While we cooked, the kids enjoyed trying to flycast and catch trout from the pond. There was also an open field, and it allowed our kids to run around and just be kids. We decided to drive into Glacier National Park after dinner to try and catch a sunset over Lake McDonald. We headed to the Apgar Village area, which was pretty busy with people getting dinner. We walked along the lakeshore for a little bit before we realized how much later the sunset in northern Montana. We ended up heading back to our lodge to put the kids down before the sun officially set, however the views were stunning. There are sunset boat tours on Lake McDonald offered through Glacier Boat Tours. If you have the chance to get on the water in Glacier, I would recommend using this company and making reservations early. Seeing a full sunset on Lake McDonald would definitely be memorable! Day 2 In his element on the Flathead The second day in Glacier was a long day. My husband and our friend set out early with a guide to fly fish on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. This was the only thing my husband wanted for his birthday, so I made sure to find time for it. They said it was beautiful and they had some success with catching a handful of trout. They also said the guides were helpful and knowledgeable of where to fish, how to get around, and what flies to use. We booked the fishing trip through Paddle Ridge Outfitters, which was through the lodge we stayed at. After the guys finished their guided fly fishing trip, we ate some parking lot PB&J lunches, then headed into Glacier National Park. We had seen longer lines for entering the park in the morning, so assumed we would have about a 30 minute wait. However, when we got there, there were only about two cars before us, and we quickly entered the park. We assumed that people tried to get to the park early for different hikes, parking, or making it across this large park. Waiting until after lunch, proved to be the best time for entering the park instead of rushing to get there in the morning and battling all the traffic and crowds. As we always do, we headed right to a visitor center. There are three visitor centers in this park, and the first one we encountered was Apgar Visitor Center. It was very busy here, but the rangers were so helpful and gave us some great suggestions on what hikes to take our rambunctious kids on and how to schedule our time while in the park. We also picked up our junior ranger books and got to work on completing those with the kids. All three visitor centers are on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, so we wanted to make sure we got them completed that day and to the Logan Pass Visitor Center to get their Junior Ranger Badges. We headed first to a ranger program at the Nature Center in Apgar Village. This was a short 10 minute walk on a paved path between the visitor center and the nature center. It was nice to not have to move our cars and try to find parking when there were easy to follow paths here. The ranger program was part of completing the Junior Ranger program, and the kids got to learn about "Amazing Animals." and all their adaptations for surviving in Glacier. They also got to feel pelts, skulls, and interact with different learning centers. Our favorite line from the program, which also taught some of the adults was, "Eyes in front, like to hunt; eyes on the side, like to hide." The next stop in Glacier was at Trail of the Cedars. This was a very popular spot about 35 minutes from Apgar Visitor Center. You drive all along Lake McDonald, and a little beyond. There is a large parking lot here, and even with that, we had to circle around a couple of times to find parking. This trail is about a 1 mile loop and is well maintained, and/or a boardwalk for easy use. The tall trees, unique moss, and river along the trail keep the hike interesting the whole way. We walked this trail in about 25 minutes. At the back-end of the trail, there is an offshoot for Avalanche Lake. This was a hike that I had hoped we could make, however the timing and children proved to be challenging, and prevented us from hiking the additional 2 miles out and back to the lake. When talking with people that completed the hike, they said it was challenging hiking up, but completely worth it once you reach the lake. This is definitely a hike I want to completed on a return trip to Glacier. In an effort to make it to the next visitor center at Logan Pass before they closed, we decided to keep driving on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Shortly after leaving the Trail of the Cedars parking lot, you start climbing the canyon walls. This road was completed almost 100 years ago, and seeing how some of the arches, bridges, and roads on sheer cliffs were constructed was equally inspiring and terrifying. I am terrified of heights, and as a passenger, it felt like I was going to fall off the ledge at any minute. You quickly gain elevation by switchbacking up the mountain side, driving through tunnels, and all along the shelf of the mountain until you reach Logan Pass. I am glad that I was able to drive this road, but after a while, I had to close my eyes. If you do not like heights, mentally prepare yourself for how close to the edge you are for an extended period of time. The views here were endless though and you can see why this road is so famous. I did my best to try to take in the experience, while also taking breaks to close my eyes and try to get my bearings. Although I am in no hurry to drive this road again, I know I would do it to experience more of this park. At the summit of the mountain is Logan Pass. It is beautiful here, and it feels like you are on top of the world. Honestly, the Logan Pass Visitor Center is one of the most beautiful visitor centers we have been to. If you only have time for one of the three, I would recommend Logan Pass. Because it is not easy to access, it may not be a possibility to stop here. One place that we did not stop and hike at was about halfway up the road at The Loop. This is a popular place to get out and walk around, with beautiful views of the valley below. We did not stop here, but continued on to Logan Pass. When we got out of the car here, we noticed a considerable change in the weather from down in the valley. Make sure you pack warmer clothes or layers for here, and something for the strong winds. While we were here, the kids completed their Junior Ranger oath and received a badge. This was park 23 of the 63 National Parks, and we love getting to do this with them at a young age. It was getting close to dinner time, and we knew we had a little drive to get to our cabin we rented from AirBnB for the night. We decided to drive down to the Rising Sun area (right before St. Marys) and see if we could get a quick bite to eat. We found a place near Rising Sun Motor Inn called Two Dog Flats. We were seated within 20 minutes, with floor to ceiling glass walls overlooking St. Mary Lake and the mountains as a backdrop. The food here was great with a wide variety of options to please everyone. We learned that people heading to St. Mary, just outside of the east entrance, usually have long waits with high price tags. This place was just what we needed after a long day of exploring Going-to-the-Sun Road. As we continued our drive out of the park, and back down the mountain, we found beauty along St. Mary Lake. This drive seemed much more gradual than the other side of the summit, so maybe going from east to west would be preferred for those scared of heights, like me. This part of the park also seems much quieter and calmer. If you are looking for some quiet time in nature, I would definitely consider spending more time at one of the east side locations of the park. Day 3 The small and remote cabin We found a small cabin, in the middle of no where, outside of Browning, MT. This was about a 25 minute drive from St. Mary, but would be perfect if you planned to spend time in Two Medicine. We wanted something where we could all stay together, and this turned out to be perfect. We watched the stars with almost zero light pollution, and even saw the beginning of a meteor shower. It was quiet and secluded with other areas to hike in the area. Our host explained that there were often wildlife spotted in the field in front of the house, and in the morning we were blessed with a female moose grazing the field. It was a great way to begin our third and final day in Glacier. We got up early on our last day in Glacier and drove up to the Many Glacier area of the park for a boat tour with Glacier Park Boat Company. We picked this tour from the list they have available because it was a different area of the park (and the tour granted us access), it actually was two boat rides on two lakes, and there was a short hike between the two to break up all the sitting for the kids. We booked our trip in March, and our trip wasn't until August. This may have been a little early, however, there was a long que of people waiting on standby to see if they could get a spot on the boats. So reservations would be a great idea before you show up. The link below will take you to the only boat company in the park that offers a variety of tours, not just the Many Glacier tour. We LOVED the Many Glacier area, and if we returned, we would look into staying here. The lodge is absolutely stunning and the architect wanted people to feel like they were in a Little Switzerland. We definitely think this feeling was accomplished. The boat tour consisted of some history of the area, background on how the boats made it to the lake, geology of the area, animals in the area, and a short ride across Swiftcurrent Lake. You then have about a quarter of a mile hike (10 minutes) to Lake Josephine. There is some up hill walking here, but it is a paved trail and easy to walk. After you reach Lake Josephine, you board another boat and get a ride across it to the docking area on the other side. From here you have a couple of options. 1. Stay on the boat and return immediately. 2. Get off the boat and hike about 2 miles back to the Many Glacier Lodge where you began. 3. Get off the boat, collect a return ticket, hike the area, and get on a return ride later in the day. We decided to return right away because we wanted to hike some other areas and had a short time frame. Our friends decided to hike the two miles back and met us at the next hike. This tour is really well done, and the company does a great job accommodating all travelers'needs. I would book another tour with them when we return to Glacier some day.  Fishercap Lake After the boat tour, we had time for one more hike before heading up to Banff in Canada (about a 4.5 hour drive). We headed towards Redrock Falls Trail, at the end of the road by the campground in Many Glacier. There are many trails here and plenty of opportunities for hiking. The ranger from the Apgar Visitor Center had recommended this hike to us because there had been frequent sightings of moose and grizzly bear along the lake shores here. We did not get to see any wildlife, however we were hiking during the middle of the day. When talking with others in the area, they had seen five moose in the morning at the Fishercap Lake along the hiking trail. This trail is about 3.5 miles out-and-back, so you can hike as far as you want and turn around if making it to the end is not possible. We hiked about a mile before we turned around and headed back. It was a beautiful area, and a place I definitely want more time to explore. There are also lodging, camping, and restaurants available here. There is no cell service, so plan accordingly if you spend time here. One trail that we did not do, but I would recommend is Grinnell Glacier. If you begin at the trail head, it is about a 10 mile hike out and back. Our tour guide said you need to prepare for this hike because you are exposed to the elements, so plan ahead. Recommended items for this hike are hats, extra water, and layers of clothes because the weather can change quickly. If you have a reservation for the boat tour, you can get off the boat and hike up to the Grinnell Glacier at the end of Lake Josephine. It is about five miles to hike there and back from the back dock of the tour. Both hikes are very popular, and preparedness will help you have a successful experience. Where this fit in our Road Trip Our time in Glacier was the first part of our road trip. We spent our first three days around or in Glacier National Park. We could have spent so much more time here! We found a direct flight on Sun Country into Kalispell, rented a car there, and drove everywhere else. The airport is called Glacier International Airport, and is about 30 minutes from the park. We started on the West part of the park and worked our way east. After our time in Glacier, we headed to Canada to explore Banff, Jasper, and Yoho. NPS App and All Trails Maps I highly recommend using the National Park Service (NPS) App, as well as the All Trails App for hiking. There is limited service in the park, so planning ahead is helpful. These two apps allow you to download sights, maps, and trails so that you can access information anywhere. The NPS app also links to the full National Parks Website, with a plethora of information.
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