Established in 1910 under President William Taft, Glacier became America’s 10th national park. The park preserves glacier -covered peaks, pristine alpine lakes, beautiful valleys, and diverse wildlife. Not surprisingly, it became designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1995. Even though I have been to Glacier many times, I am always in awe of the scenery. You will be too! Here are my recommendations for 8 amazing things to do in Glacier National Park.
8 Amazing Things to Do in Glacier National Park
You need multiple days to truly explore Glacier National Park. Although I am only going to focus on sites between West Glacier and St. Mary Visitor Centers, the Two Medicine and Many Glacier areas are definitely worth exploring. However, if you’re pressed for time, drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road and you will see what the Crown of the Continent has to offer.
1. Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Obviously, the most important thing to do in Glacier National Park is to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. In addition to the amazing views, the road itself is an engineering marvel. Constructed in 1932, the road is perched on a side of a mountain as it climbs the Continental Divide. Let me tell you, driving it is not for the faint of heart. If you enter the park at West Glacier, you will first drive along beautiful Lake McDonald and then the lovely McDonald Creek. There are several pullovers, so stop as frequently as you’d like. Eventually, the road will start to ascend towards Logan Pass and the Continental Divide. You will drive through 2 tunnels on both sides of Logan Pass, multiple cascading waterfalls, and splendid mountain peaks. Eventually, the road will take you past the spectacular Saint Mary Lake and out of the park by Saint Mary Visitor Center on the east side. There are lots of trails along the road, plenty of viewpoints, and a lot of visitors. Start as early as you can for best opportunities for solitude and parking.
2. Admire the amazing meadows at Logan Pass
Logan Pass is undoubtedly the most popular spot in the park. At 6,646 feet, it’s the highest point in the park and the Continental Divide runs through it. The views from behind the Visitor Center are spectacular. If you’re here in the summer, you’re going to be in awe of the amazing meadows dotted by red, purple, and yellow flowers. This area also showcases a lovely view of my two favorite mountains in the park – Raynolds Mountain and Clements Mountain. Logan Pass is usually frequented by mountain goats and occasionally by bighorn sheep, so it’s not unlikely that you will see some amazing wildlife. Parking can be challenging here, so arrive early to guarantee a spot.
3. Hike the Garden Wall Trail
Originating at Logan Pass, the Garden Wall Trail offers stunning vistas of the western side of the Continental Divide, lush valleys below, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The park may have renamed the trail now to the Highline Trail but if you’ve been coming to the park, you’ll know it as the Garden Trail. The trail will take you to Granite Park Chalet but if you don’t want to hike all the way there (strenuous 7.6 miles each way), you should at least hike for about a mile to the beautiful views of the valley and mountains above. It’s a well-traveled trail, so you’ll have company. The first mile and a half you’ll be hiking along a four-foot ledge, so be aware of the exposure. We’ve always seen mountain goats along this trail, so have your camera ready!
4. Hike to the Sun Point Overlook for stunning views of St. Mary Lake
If you want to see Saint Mary Lake in all its beauty, stop at the Sun Point parking lot and hike 0.1 mile to the overlook. You will not be disappointed! From the same trailhead, you can also hike to 3 different waterfalls. We took the 0.6 mile-long trail to Baring Falls and absolutely loved it. The views of the mountains, the lake, and the blossoming fireweed were gorgeous. The waterfalls were quite impressive as well. Certainly a lovely hike!
5. Take a picture at an iconic spot - Wild Goose Island Viewpoint
One of the amazing things to do in Glacier National Park is to stop at this viewpoint. A tiny dot on Saint Mary Lake, Wild Goose Island surrounded by the heart of the Rocky Mountains creates a picture perfect scenery. Stop at the small parking and look west for best views.
6. Splash in Saint Mary Lake at Rising Sun
The lake is truly beautiful, and on a hot day, it is definitely relaxing to take a dip in the lake. It’s actually not as cold as you may think it would be. We last visited the park during the Covid 19 pandemic and the boat dock at Rising Sun was removed. This created somewhat more of a beach area for people to swim or splash in the water. Definitely stop here.
7. See what's left of the Jackson Glacier
Both beautiful and sad, you will see whatever is left of the remaining Jackson Glacier. A solemn plaque indicates that the park is losing its namesake as the time goes by. Take your time to see how much of the glacier has disappeared over the years. I honestly wonder if Glacier National Park will have any glaciers left in a 100 years…
8. Relax at Lake McDonald
Our favorite spot for a swim and relaxing time on the beach was at Fish Creek. The warm turquoise water of the lake and the beautiful scenery make it a lovely spot to start or finish a day at Glacier National Park. Enjoy!
Want more amazing things to do at Glacier National Park?
If you crave for more amazing things to do in Glacier National Park head to Many Glacier and Two Medicine area. At this moment (summer/ fall of 2020) the entrances to those sections of the park are closed but once they reopen, they’re definitely worth visiting.
