Things to Do in Glacier National Park: Hikes & Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, and most first-timers don’t realize how much planning Glacier National Park demands before they even get near it. The best things to do in Glacier National Park - driving the road, hiking the Highline, reaching Grinnell Glacier - all now require navigating reservation windows, shuttle ticket releases, and construction closures that shift year to year. What worked in 2024 won’t necessarily work in 2025, and 2026 brings a whole new shuttle system. Here’s what the park really involves, and how to organize your time so you’re not stuck at a checkpoint or scrambling for a ticket that sold out the night before.

Getting to Glacier National Park

Most visitors fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, about 30 miles from the West Glacier entrance - the closest commercial airport to the park. Missoula (MSO) is roughly 150 miles south and a common alternative with more flight options. From Kalispell, take U.S. Highway 2 east to West Glacier; from Missoula, U.S. 93 north to Highway 2 east. If you’re driving from Seattle, budget about 7-8 hours; from Salt Lake City, closer to 9-10 hours. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops at West Glacier and East Glacier Park stations seasonally, which is a legitimate option if you’re not renting a car and plan to rely on park shuttles. There is no public transit from Kalispell to the park entrance - a rental car or shuttle transfer is required.

What You Need to Know Before You Arrive

Every visitor needs a park entrance pass. Depending on when and where you enter in 2025, you may also need a timed-entry vehicle reservation. The National Park Service doesn’t publish a single flat fee covering all pass types, so check the current entrance fee on the NPS Glacier website before budgeting. The pass and reservation are separate - having one does not cover the other.

The reservation system is where most trips go sideways. According to the National Park Service’s November 7, 2024 announcement, the 2025 timed-entry vehicle reservation pilot runs from June 13 to September 28 and applies to the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. (1). One reservation per vehicle is required to travel beyond the Apgar Village checkpoint during those hours. Miss it, and you’re parked until 3 p.m.

The east side is the loophole. Glacier’s official vehicle reservation info notes St. Mary and Two Medicine entrances, plus Apgar Village itself, do not require reservations in 2025. That makes St. Mary the strategic entrance if you want alpine access without wrestling with the Recreation.gov queue.

One more hard limit: between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun, vehicles can’t exceed 21 feet long, 8 feet wide, or 10 feet tall. RVs and vehicles towing trailers are banned on that stretch. The lanes are narrow and the drop-offs are real. This is not a suggestion.

Seasonally, Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully opens in late June and stays open to mid-October. In 2025, it opened June 16 but had temporary closures around June 20-23 due to rain, snow, and mudslide risk. Plan for mid-June through mid-September, with July and August as peak crowd months. Always check current NPS road status before leaving your hotel.

How the 2025 Vehicle Reservation System Works

Reservations are required only on the west side, only between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. The workaround: enter the Apgar checkpoint before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m., and no reservation is checked. Once inside the reservation area, you can stay all day - the timestamp only controls entry, not how long you linger.

Reservations release on Recreation.gov, with next-day windows dropping at 7 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. They sell out quickly on peak weekends. If you can’t get one, the St. Mary entrance is your no-reservation route into the high country from the east - drive west toward Logan Pass and back.

What’s Changing in 2026

The free hop-on shuttle between Apgar, Logan Pass, and St. Mary is not disappearing entirely - but it is changing significantly. The National Park Service’s 2026 summer operations release says the Logan Pass shuttle specifically will run July 1-September 7, 2026 as a ticketed service, and vehicle reservations will be discontinued park-wide - replaced by shuttle tickets and a 3-hour parking limit pilot at Logan Pass. Other shuttle routes in the park are expected to remain free.

Tickets are per person, valid for one day, and available 60 days in advance starting May 2 at 8 a.m. MDT, with a second release the night before at 7 p.m. MDT. They sell only through Recreation.gov or by phone - no on-site sales. If you show up in 2026 expecting to hop on for free, you’ll be driving yourself and racing a 3-hour parking clock.

Things to Do in Glacier National Park: Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road runs about 50 miles from West Glacier to St. Mary, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass at roughly 6,646 feet - one of the highest paved roads in the region. Of all the things to do in Glacier National Park, this drive is nearly everyone’s reason to visit, and it can easily eat your whole day if you don’t plan carefully.

Speed limits are 40 mph on lower sections and 25 mph in alpine stretches. But posted limits aren’t your real travel time. The park suggests at least 2-3 hours one-way, which is optimistic once you factor in traffic, wildlife jams, and construction delays in July and August. Add short walks at Logan Pass, Trail of the Cedars, and a few pullouts, and you’re looking at 4-6 hours end to end. Don’t try to stack a long hike on the same half-day you drive the road - pick one or the other.

Photographers should aim for the edges of the day. Sunrise along Lake McDonald and at Logan Pass delivers the best light and the fewest crowds. Mid-day light is harsher but better for spotting the road’s steep edges. Entering West Glacier before 7 a.m. gives you light traffic, good light, and no reservation check in one move.

If you shuttle the full road out and back on the 2025 free system, budget around 7 hours including transfers. The park calls that a full-day commitment, not an add-on.

Key Stops Along the Route

Ranked by whether they’re worth the detour:

• Lake McDonald - worth prioritizing. The park’s largest lake at about 10 miles long and up to 464 feet deep, with a colorful cobble shoreline near Apgar. Dawn reflections are the reward; short walks leave from the lodge area.
• Logan Pass - the anchor of the whole drive. Continental Divide crossing, visitor center, Hidden Lake Overlook boardwalk, and the Highline trailhead. Parking fills by 7-8 a.m. in peak season, so this stop dictates your morning.
• Avalanche Creek / Trail of the Cedars - worth the stop, roughly 16 miles from West Glacier. It doubles as the Avalanche Lake trailhead, so you get an easy walk or a moderate hike from the same lot.
• Jackson Glacier Overlook - worth it and easy. One of the few places to see an active glacier from the road without hiking, on the east side with no reservation required.
• St. Mary Lake - worth it for afternoon light. Goose Island is the classic foreground shot postcards use.
• The Loop - more functional than scenic. A hairpin turn and the lower Highline trailhead; mostly a shuttle stop unless you’re hiking.

Driving It Without a West-Side Reservation

Enter from St. Mary, drive west toward Logan Pass, then turn back - no reservation needed at any point. The catch: you cannot pass through the Apgar checkpoint eastbound during restricted hours without a reservation, so this only works as a one-direction, out-and-back strategy from the east. It’s not a through-route trick.

The alternative is entering West Glacier before 7 a.m. for a sunrise run up the road with no reservation check. These two approaches - east-side entry or early-bird west-side - are your reliable ways around the reservation wall.

Beginner-Friendly Hikes and Easy Walks

If your time is limited or you’re hiking with kids, Trail of the Cedars paired with Avalanche Lake is the strongest starting point. These trails offer alpine and forest scenery without demanding a full day, and they pair naturally with a drive on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

• Trail of the Cedars - about a 0.9-1.0-mile loop through old-growth cedar and hemlock near Avalanche Creek. It’s flat, mostly boardwalk-surfaced, and wheelchair accessible in sections. One of Glacier’s most family-friendly walks.
• Avalanche Lake - roughly 4.5 miles round trip from the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, with about 500 feet of elevation gain. Rated moderate by NPS, it ends at a cirque lake fed by several waterfalls and is one of the park’s most rewarding short hikes.
• Hidden Lake Overlook - about 2.7 miles round trip from Logan Pass Visitor Center with roughly 460 feet of gain. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are regularly seen near the pass. Snow can linger into July.
• Logan Pass boardwalk area - even 20-30 minutes on the paved paths near the visitor center offers alpine meadow views and regular wildlife sightings. Worth it even if you don’t hike further.

Trail of the Cedars + Avalanche Lake

The trailhead sits at Avalanche Creek, accessible from the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Cedars loop alone is flat, shaded, and fine for all fitness levels. The Avalanche Lake extension adds roughly 3.5 miles and 500 feet of gain, following Avalanche Creek through forest to a lake ringed by cliffs and waterfalls.

Go early. The Avalanche parking lot fills fast in summer. I’ve seen the lot turn cars away well before 9 a.m. on a July weekday.

Hidden Lake Overlook from Logan Pass

You start high here - Logan Pass Visitor Center sits at 6,646 feet, so you skip the climb and go straight to the good part. The trail runs on boardwalk before moving to rockier tread, about 2.7 miles round trip with 460 feet of gain to the overlook. Note the overlook is the destination, not the lake itself; descending to the lake adds significant distance and elevation.

Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are common in the meadows here. The upper section can hold snow into July, so check NPS trail status before you go and bring footwear with grip.

The Highline Trail: Glacier’s Signature Ridge Walk

The Highline Trail runs about 11.8 miles one-way from Logan Pass to The Loop, with a net descent of roughly 2,500-2,800 feet. The NPS rates it as a strenuous full-day hike. This is the hike most visitors want and the one most likely to go wrong without planning - it’s an exposed ridge traverse with sustained views across the park’s alpine core.

The first section is what people ask about. Within the first mile from Logan Pass, the trail follows a narrow ledge above Going-to-the-Sun Road with a fixed cable handline. It’s not technical, but the exposure is real, and the NPS warns it’s not recommended for anyone with a severe fear of heights.

Early season is another trap. Glacier’s trail reports stress the Highline often stays snow-covered and closed for days or weeks after the road opens, especially in June and early July. Check daily trail status and carry traction devices if conditions warrant.

Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and grizzly bears are regularly seen along this route. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. On any Glacier trail, that’s non-negotiable - and the Highline is no exception.

Logistics for Hiking Highline One-Way

The classic route starts at Logan Pass and ends at The Loop, the lower trailhead on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Because it’s point-to-point, you need a way back to your car: a two-car shuttle, a ride, or the NPS shuttle.

For the 2026 season, the free hop-on shuttle is gone: the Logan Pass shuttle is ticketed, reservation-only through Recreation.gov, and runs July 1 through September 7, 2026, so coordinate your ticket timing before you start. Per the NPS 2026 shuttle schedule, the last westbound shuttle leaves Logan Pass at 7:30 p.m. (stopping at The Loop, Lake McDonald Lodge, and Apgar) and the last eastbound at 8:00 p.m. (stopping at Rising Sun and St. Mary). There is no other transportation back to your car if you miss it, so don’t plan around the final departure.

Plan 6-8 hours for the full traverse. Start early to beat afternoon thunderstorms and make sure you catch the last shuttle. Missing it at The Loop means a very long, steep walk back up.

Shortening the Hike

You don’t have to do all 11.8 miles to get the payoff. Turning around at Haystack Butte gives you about a 5-mile round trip from Logan Pass with the best ridge views. Granite Park Chalet, about 7.6 miles from Logan Pass, is a natural turnaround for a longer out-and-back without committing to the full traverse.

Granite Park Chalet offers basic meals and overnight stays, but reservations fill up well in advance. Don’t count on walking up.

Many Glacier: Best Hikes and How to Get There in 2025

Many Glacier is the northeastern section of the park, reached via a spur road from Babb, Montana off U.S. Highway 89. It has no direct road connection to Going-to-the-Sun Road, so it’s a separate drive you have to plan for. This is where Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake live, along with the highest chances of seeing grizzlies and moose. It’s also the hardest part of the park to access in 2025.

Distances shown for five Glacier National Park hikes: Highline Trail 11.8 miles one-way; Iceberg Lake Trail 9.6 miles round trip; Avalanche Lake 4.5 miles round trip; Hidden Lake Overlook 2.7 miles round trip; Trail of the Cedars 0.9-1.0-mile loop.

Here’s the restriction, and it’s a big one. A January 30, 2025 report in the Bonners Ferry Herald, summarizing NPS info, explains that due to construction, access to Many Glacier Valley is severely restricted in summer 2025. A temporary hiker shuttle with tickets sold exclusively via Recreation.gov operates, and general vehicle access is limited to those with qualifying reservations or permits. Between July 1 and September 21, 2025, you cannot drive in without one of these: a Day Hiker Shuttle ticket, a wilderness permit, a commercial activity reservation, or a lodging reservation at Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.

The shuttle tickets are the sticking point. Glacier’s construction updates call them “extremely limited,” and every member of your party - including kids - needs an individual ticket. Tickets release 7 days in advance at 8 a.m. MDT and again the night before at 7 p.m. MDT.

Outside that window - before July 1 or after September 21 - standard vehicle access applies with just an entrance pass. If your schedule is flexible, late September is the cleanest way to visit Many Glacier without the ticket lottery.

One safety note: NPS flags heavy grizzly activity and regular moose sightings here. Carry bear spray, hike in groups, and keep at least 100 yards from bears and 25 yards from other large mammals.

Grinnell Glacier Trail

About 7.5-11 miles round trip depending on whether you use the boat assist across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, which cuts about 3 miles each way. Elevation gain is roughly 1,600-2,000 feet - a full-day commitment either way. The trail passes turquoise, glacier-fed Grinnell Lake before climbing to the glacier itself, one of the few accessible glaciers remaining in the park. Best mid-July through September once snow clears. Boat tours run through the Many Glacier Hotel concessioner and book up in advance.

Iceberg Lake Trail

About 9.6 miles round trip with 1,200-1,500 feet of gain - slightly easier than Grinnell but still a solid full day. It ends at a cirque lake that holds floating ice well into August, so the name fits. The trail crosses open meadows with good wildlife visibility, meaning bear activity is common. It starts from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn trailhead and has the same 2025 access restrictions as other Many Glacier hikes.

Planning Your Many Glacier Day

Book lodging at Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Motor Inn first if you can. This doubles as your access authorization and is the most reliable approach. If you’re not staying overnight, book a commercial boat tour or grab a Day Hiker Shuttle ticket the moment it releases, seven days out at 8 a.m. MDT.

Build your hiking plans around your access method, not the other way around. Deciding to hike Grinnell and then hoping for a ticket is backwards. Even with access secured, arrive early - the parking is limited and trails fill by mid-morning.

Wildlife Viewing, Scenic Overlooks, and Non-Hiking Activities

Not everyone comes to hike ten miles. Glacier offers plenty for visitors who want to watch, ride, or paddle instead.

Wildlife viewing near Logan Pass is the easiest high-value experience - mountain goats and bighorn sheep are commonly seen in the meadows and along the road, often visible from the parking area or short boardwalks, especially at dawn and dusk. Many Glacier is the place for grizzlies and moose. Wherever you go, keep your distance and carry bear spray.

Boat tours are the strongest low-effort option. Glacier National Park Lodges, the official concessioner, runs tours on Lake McDonald, Swiftcurrent Lake, and Lake Josephine, usually multiple times daily in summer, booked through the concessioner. They work well for families and anyone with limited mobility. The Swiftcurrent and Josephine tours also serve as the Grinnell Glacier boat assist.

Red Bus tours are the convenience play. The historic 1930s open-top “jammer” buses run guided, narrated trips along Going-to-the-Sun Road, letting you take in the drive without dealing with parking or mountain driving. For first-timers who want context and zero logistics stress, they’re hard to beat.

Stargazing is genuinely good here. Glacier sits in a region with very low light pollution. The NPS points to St. Mary and Two Medicine as among the better spots for night-sky viewing - no permit needed, just clear skies and timing.

Lake McDonald rewards visitors who never lace up boots. The colorful cobble shoreline near Apgar and Lake McDonald Lodge is a draw on its own, and you can rent canoes or kayaks locally. Swimming is possible if you don’t mind cold water.

For families, combining Trail of the Cedars, Hidden Lake Overlook, a boat tour, and a Red Bus tour covers a full trip without a single long hike. Add wildlife viewing from the Many Glacier Hotel area - low effort, high reward - and kids stay engaged.

Practical Tips for Timing Your Visit

July and August deliver the best trail conditions and full road access, but you pay for it in crowds. Logan Pass parking fills by 7-8 a.m., Avalanche Creek congests by mid-morning, and reservation competition peaks. If you visit in peak season, an early start is not optional.

June is a gamble on the high country. Going-to-the-Sun Road may not fully open to Logan Pass until mid-to-late month, and Highline and Grinnell often stay snow-covered or closed. Lower trails like Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake open earlier, and wildflowers start late June. Plan around lower elevations.

May is not the trip described here. Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed above Avalanche Creek, and most alpine experiences aren’t accessible. If your goal is the road and high hikes, skip May.

September is the quiet winner. Crowds thin noticeably after Labor Day, trail conditions are often ideal, and fall color begins. The trade-off is reduced shuttle frequency and some facilities starting to close. After September 21, Many Glacier reopens to standard vehicle access.

The single best tip: enter before 7 a.m. That move skips the west-side reservation requirement, gets you the best light, coolest temperatures, and emptiest trails all at once. Nothing else comes close.

Afternoon thunderstorms are common at elevation in July and August, so start hikes early and carry a waterproof layer. Logan Pass can be cold and windy even when West Glacier is warm. I’ve stood at Logan Pass in a fleece and wind shell in August while the valley below was in shirtsleeves.

What Most Guides Get Wrong About Glacier

The standard advice is to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road and hike the Highline. That’s not wrong, but it creates a blind spot: most guides treat the road and the trails as interchangeable, as if opening day for one means opening day for the other. It doesn’t. The road can be fully open to Logan Pass while the Highline is still buried under several feet of snow and closed by NPS trail crews. Checking road status and assuming trail status is the single most common planning error, and it’s the one most likely to strand you at a trailhead with no backup plan. The other thing guides underplay is the east side. St. Mary, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier (access restrictions aside) offer scenery and solitude that the west-side crowds never see - and in 2025, St. Mary is your no-reservation route into the high country.

Common Mistakes That Derail Glacier Trips

The park punishes assumptions. These are the pitfalls that turn a planned trip into a scramble:

• Arriving at West Glacier between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. without a timed-entry reservation. The NPS is clear: visitors who reach the Apgar checkpoint in that window without a reservation won’t be allowed up the road. This is the most common and avoidable mistake.
• Assuming Many Glacier is drivable in summer 2025. Show up July through September without a qualifying reservation, permit, or Day Hiker Shuttle ticket and you’ll be turned away at the closure point. Sort your access before you drive out to Babb.
• Trying to drive a large RV or trailer between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun. Vehicles over 21 feet long, 8 feet wide, or 10 feet tall are prohibited on that stretch. It’s illegal and genuinely hazardous on the tight curves and cliff edges.
• Stacking multiple long hikes onto one day. Highline plus Grinnell in a single day isn’t realistic for most visitors, and underestimating Going-to-the-Sun Road drive time makes it worse. Pick one big thing per day.
• Expecting alpine trails to be clear just because the road is open. The Highline can stay snow-covered and closed for weeks after the road opens. Road and trail status are not the same.
• Not checking NPS conditions the morning of. Road and trail status change daily for weather, rockfall, bear activity, and fire. Check the night before and again the morning of - not a week-old blog post.
• Treating the 2026 Logan Pass shuttle as free hop-on. That specific route is ticketed only, with no on-site sales. Other park shuttles remain free, but the Logan Pass run requires a Recreation.gov ticket. Assuming otherwise leaves you driving and racing a 3-hour parking clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2025?

Only for the west side. Entering via Apgar checkpoint between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. June 13-September 28 requires a timed-entry vehicle reservation. St. Mary entrance has no reservation requirement.

How long does it take to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road?

The road is about 50 miles one-way. Budget 2-3 hours minimum with photo stops; 4-6 hours if adding short walks. Full out-and-back shuttle trip takes around 7 hours.

What's the best hike in Glacier National Park for first-timers?

Trail of the Cedars plus Avalanche Lake (about 4.5 miles, about 500 ft gain) is the top first-timer hike. Hidden Lake Overlook (about 2.7 miles) from Logan Pass is also excellent and easier.

Can I visit Many Glacier without a reservation in 2025?

No during July 1-September 21, 2025. You need a Day Hiker Shuttle ticket, wilderness permit, commercial activity reservation, or lodging reservation to drive in.

When does Going-to-the-Sun Road open each year?

Typically late June to early July depending on snowpack. In 2025 it opened June 16. Heavy snow years can delay opening until mid-July. Lower sections open earlier.

Is the Highline Trail suitable for beginners?

No. It has exposed ridge sections and a fixed-cable ledge near the start. Not recommended for those with severe fear of heights. The first mile offers dramatic views and can be a turnaround.

What are bicycle restrictions on Going-to-the-Sun Road?

From June 13 to September 28, bicycles are prohibited eastbound Apgar to Logan Pass 12 p.m.-6 p.m., and westbound Logan Pass to Apgar 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Ride outside these windows.

The One Thing to Do Before Anything Else

Glacier in 2025 and 2026 has a lot of moving parts: west-side reservation windows, shuttle ticket releases at 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., Many Glacier access restrictions that turn cars away, and trail conditions that shift week to week regardless of whether the road is open. The visitors who have the best trips aren’t the ones with loose plans - they’re the ones who check NPS road and trail status the morning of, enter before 7 a.m. whenever possible, and build their hiking plans around their access method instead of assuming everything will be open.

Before you book flights or lock in a hotel, do three things: bookmark the NPS Glacier road and trail conditions page, set a Recreation.gov alert for your travel dates, and treat the reservation and shuttle system as part of your plan rather than something to sort out on arrival. Match your entrance strategy - St. Mary or a pre-7 a.m. west-side run - to the hikes you actually want to do. Get that right and the rest of the park takes care of itself.