11 Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park

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Want to know what you shouldn’t miss when it comes to things to do in Glacier National Park?

Having grown up by Glacier, I’ve had plenty of time to explore the park and take my time enjoying everything it has to offer. Since Daniel and I also make the effort to visit every year, we get to see and experience a new area or trail all the time–but if you have a limited amount of time there, then it can be tough to narrow down what you want to see or do.

Top that all off with a reservation system, and you might have to forgo certain activities because you are unable to get tickets for that area or activity. This can make planning a whole lot more challenging–especially when you want to get a good overview of what the park has to offer.

This article covers my absolute favorite things to do in the park, as well as some can’t-miss attractions. However, I have frontloaded it with the activities I think should have higher priority so you make sure to do these first before experiencing the others later on in the list. To be honest, you can’t really go wrong with any of these, though!

In summary: This guide covers which things to do in Glacier you need to add to your list and some basic information on each so you can make a decision on what appeals to you.

Quick tip: Not sure which order to do these in? Check out my Glacier National Park itinerary for a day-by-day plan of what to see when!

1. Going-to-the-Sun Road

If you only have the opportunity to do one thing when you are in Glacier National Park, it’s going to be Going-to-the-Sun Road. Not only is it the main thoroughfare through the park and the starting place for many of the best hikes, but it also provides some of the best views. It’s often the main reason why so many people choose to come to Glacier in the first place.

Reservations are required to drive the road in 2024, and you will need to get them on recreation.gov website either 120 days in advance or the day before if you plan on driving this road between the hours of 6:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Along the way, there are numerous stops where you are going to want to pull off for some incredible views or to take on a trail, and this is absolutely a highlight if you are a photographer–amateur or pro.

2. Lake McDonald

Not only is Lake McDonald a can’t-miss attraction, but it’s hard to miss it since it is located in the center of the park and serves as a great base for many of the activities you can enjoy, including boat tours and the Lake McDonald Lodge. Because it is huge (the largest lake in Glacier), you can enjoy it from multiple access points, and bringing your own kayak or boat is allowed, as well.

You can also start several trails from here, including the hike to Sperry Chalet, Johns Lake Loop, and the Mount Brown Lookout for examples. It’s one of my favorite spots to take a picnic lunch and stick my feet in the cool water after a long day of exploration.

Quick tip: Remember that booking a boat tour serves as your reservation for the park for that day!

3. Take a hike

Glacier was originally seen as a hiker’s park, and with over 700 miles of trails, you’re missing out if you aren’t planning on pulling on your hiking boots and trying out just one of them. Even if you aren’t used to hitting the trail, there are options for beginners as well as hardcore adventurers, so no matter what your skill level is, you can find an option that works for you.

Some of my recommended hikes for beginners include: the Trail of the Cedars, the Hidden Lake Overlook hike, the Red Rock Falls hike in Many Glacier, and Apikuni Falls.

Some more intermediate hikes that I would argue should be on your list are: the Avalanche Lake hike, the Highline Trail (hike however much you want), and the Iceberg Lake hike.

Here are the hikes I would recommend for more advanced hikers: Grinnell Glacier hike, Sperry Chalet, and Cracker Lake.

4. Logan Pass

It’s the highest point of the park and the start of many of the best hikes in Glacier. You need to take Going-to-the-Sun Road in order to reach it either from the east or west side, and getting parking there is a complete nightmare, but you would be missing out if you don’t have the opportunity to head to the Continental Divide and explore.

One solution to this is to using the Glacier National Park shuttle, since it will drop you off right at the Logan Pass parking lot. You can also catch it without a reservation this year from Apgar Village, so it’s a win-win!

Also make sure you pop into the Logan Pass Visitor Center. There’s some great information for kids and rangers are always present to give you the lowdown on the park. It’s also a great place to grab souvenirs for friends and family back home.

5. Explore Many Glacier

While every part of Glacier is beautiful, to me, the Many Glacier area has some of the most incredible scenery and the most fantastic hikes in the park. While it takes some effort to get over there from the west side if that’s where you’re staying, if you have a few days to explore the entirety of the park, then Many Glacier should be on your itinerary.

Between Swiftcurrent Lake, the Grinnell Glacier hike, and the fabulous Many Glacier Hotel, you can spend several days here and not see everything. I’ve made it over there countless times and I still haven’t even come close to seeing it all. However, you can get the main idea in one day too!

Quick tip: If you want to stay at the Many Glacier Hotel but it’s all booked up, then check back often on their website for cancelations–something might open up!

6. Visit Two Medicine

It took me a while to get to Two Medicine, mostly because I felt like I would be underwhelmed after spending so much time in Many Glacier. I was so wrong! While compact, Two Medicine is a gem–great hikes like Appistoki Falls and Upper Two Medicine Lake, opportunities to see wildlife like moose and bear, and fewer crowds.

It’s also family-and-retiree-friendly since it is easy to get around and many of the hikes are perfect for a stroll with payoffs like waterfalls and lakes. Daniel and I saw a bull moose in the distance and a black bear near the side of the road turning onto Two Medicine Road. Plenty of adventure, but in a manageable area.

7. Check out the North Fork

Perhaps the most remote area of the park, the North Fork is ideal for those really looking to get off the beaten path and to explore some of Glacier’s most rugged terrain. It’s a favorite for backcountry adventurers, but it also has something to offer foodies, as well.

If you’ve ever been craving a huckleberry pastry (who hasn’t?), then you’re going to want to hit up the Polebridge Mercantile for the area’s famous “bear claws.” Think a cinnamon roll with that tangy-but-sweet huckleberry taste.

Once you have devoured your claw, make sure to stroll along Bowman Lake or take on the tough Bowman Lake to Numa Ridge hike to see a working fire tower.

8. Chase some waterfalls

Glacier has over 200 waterfalls, so there are plenty to chase after! In fact, I think some of the best hikes in the park are centered around the many falls you can enjoy. Even if you don’t feel like donning your boots, you can still see a number of them in a short walk or even right off the side of the road.

My top picks? St. Mary and Virginia Falls are both super impressive falls along Going-to-the-Sun, and Red Rock Falls is a top choice for beginning hikers in Many Glacier.

9. Enjoy some ice cream at Apgar Village

My favorite thing to do after a long day of exploring the park? Heading to Eddie’s and grabbing a scoop of huckleberry ice cream. My grandmother would come all the way to the park to have some on the shores of Lake McDonald versus getting ice cream in town, and there’s something about the scenic backdrop that makes it all the more tasty.

This also gives you an opportunity to explore Apgar. From this spot, you can rent a canoe or kayak (dogs allowed!), pick up your backcountry permits if you’re walking up or you have them reserved, and grab some gifts from local artisans in the shops.

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10. Cross the border to Waterton

Waterton and Glacier is the first International Peace Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means that you can actually cross the border within Glacier, so make sure to bring your passport if you plan on doing so. You’ll either need to take a boat or hike to get there, so it’s no small undertaking! However, you can also enter by crossing the border outside the parks and head back in.

You’re definitely going to notice a difference between the two parks! Waterton has the famous Prince of Wales Hotel where you can have afternoon tea, if you would like. Overall, it feels a little less rugged to me, but that’s kind of nice after dealing with some of the chaos of Glacier.

11. Explore the backcountry

While you can see a lot of the park while enjoying the frontcountry, where you truly get a sense of how wild Glacier actually is is when you journey through its more remote areas. I try to get into the backcountry at least once a year, and with some incredible options for backpacking like Gunsight Pass and Dawson Pass, as well as the Granite Park and Sperry Chalets, if you are an avid outdoorsperson it doesn’t get better than this.

If you have never backpacked before or don’t want to navigate the challenges of Glacier’s backcountry permitting system, Glacier Guides offers tours that take the hassle out of planning your adventure.

Conclusion

While there are many other things to do in the park including white water rafting, horseback riding, and more, these are the things that I would definitely add to my list while exploring the park. If you can’t get to all of them, that’s okay–it just means that you will have to come back in the future!

I hope this has helped you decide what you want to do in the park. If you have any questions at all, feel free to let me know or reach out via social media!

Have any questions about what to do in Glacier? Let me know in the comments!