The Absolute Best Spots for Glacier National Park Photography
No doubt a reason to visit our national parks is to get some amazing pictures, and Glacier National Park photography is the sole reason many visitors come to the northwest corner of Montana. I learned to take photos by traveling to other areas of the world, which made coming back to my hometown and Glacier much sweeter–I had a whole new appreciation of the beauty of the landscapes and how it was perfect for capturing those dynamic shots.
Glacier National Park requires reservations for the 2023 season. To find out more, head to my guide on Glacier National Park reservations so you know how to get them and you’re prepared before you go!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Do you have these items for your trip?”]Flights: I recommend CheapOAir ✈️
Car rental: I recommend Rentalcars.com 🚗
Travel insurance: I recommend SafetyWing 🤒
Accommodations: Places to stay near Glacier National Park 🏨
Activities: Things you have to do 🥾
Your gear: Check out my packing list! 🎒
Recommended RVs: I recommend Outdoorsy 🌲
Skip reservations and planning: Book a tour! 🏔
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Glacier National Park photography spots and tips you’ll want to know for your trip
Don’t forget to add these Glacier National Park photography spots to your Glacier National Park itinerary!
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When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park for photography?
It really depends on your work and what you like to shoot, but I’d recommend either June or late September/early October for taking prime photos of Glacier National Park without the crowds.
In June, there is still snow at the top of Going-to-the-Sun Road, so it is closed to automotive traffic, and only open for foot and bicycle traffic. This offers much more opportunities for shooting wildlife and wildflowers without having to deal with big crowds of tourists or car noise and congestion. However, this also means that some spots off of Going-to-the-Sun road won’t be accessible, and that you’ll have to ride your bike or walk along the road to your destination!
In late September, it’s also a shoulder season, so all those same benefits exist, but with the gorgeous addition of fall colors to your Glacier National Park pictures. The lower elevations in the park see gold, red, and orange hues, which are stunning against the purple and blue backdrop of the mountains.
What gear should I bring with me for Glacier National Park photos?
Photographers should plan for several types of weather when they plan on shooting the park. Because weather can vary so much, being prepared can help to ensure that you get some good photos no matter what time of year you plan on taking pictures. Here are some items you might want to have in your gear bag when you head to Glacier:
- Camera of choice
- Gear bag with rain cover
- Wide angle lens (like Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II)
- Standard lens (like Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L III)
- Any filters you would like
- Extra batteries
- Extra memory cards
Of course, you should bring whatever you think would make for the best photos–even if it’s not on this list.
What should I know about night photography in Glacier National Park?
The park is open 24/7/365, so you can enter the park later in the day and avoid some of the midday hiker traffic. However, whatever time of day you visit, entrance fees are always required, even if the gate isn’t manned at the time.
Always check in with the visitor center or a ranger before locking in your spots for the evening- it’s not uncommon for the park to do maintenance and construction overnight in the summer months. Keep in mind that there is limited to no signal inside the park for you to do research, so have a few spots in mind ahead of time, or be sure of the conditions of your intended spot. It would be a bummer to discover that your ideal spot for the best views in Glacier National Park is full of bright lights and machinery, and to not have a backup!
The best Glacier National Park photography spots
Glacier national park photos are classics for a reason–it’s a beautiful and magical place. Though the glaciers themselves are receding ever faster with the effects of climate change, there are still countless opportunities for taking beautiful pictures of Glacier National Park. Check out our Glacier National Park photography guide below.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
You can drive this historic 50-mile scenic byway from either east to west or west to east, depending on your starting point and ending goal for the day. Many of the best photography spots in Glacier National Park are along this road with areas to pull off and shoot, as well as opportunities for wildlife sightings, so keep your camera at the ready!
If you’re stopping your vehicle to shoot, however, be sure to be mindful of others, and pull your car all the way off the road into a designated turnout. We all get frustrated by traffic jams in national parks, so do your part to avoid creating one!
Lake McDonald
If you’re here reading a photography article, you’ve likely at one point seen the photos of the brightly colored “those must be photoshopped” pebbles of Lake McDonald. Because there was once a glacier here, the water is still too cold for algae or plankton to survive.
This means that the water is crystal clear, and many photographers enjoy the creative opportunities that presents. Lake McDonald offers beautiful, sweeping views any time of day, and you can even rent kayaks nearby to get out on the water for more unique angles and perspectives of this classic spot. Just don’t forget a PFD!
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Grinnell Glacier
While rapidly shrinking, Grinnell Glacier is still a striking scene to behold. The 11-mile hike is strenuous, but there is also a boat ride option (in season) that shaves 3.4 miles off the round trip hike. It’s undeniable that the effort is worth it, however, as it offers the opportunity to behold an iconic glacier photography spot.
If you’re up for a bit of a physical challenge, you’ll have the opportunity to shoot this truly stunning and incomparable natural wonder. While it’s really only feasible to do this hike in the summer months (unless you’re an experienced and properly outfitted winter trekker), you’ll also have many opportunities along the way for shots of Turquoise waters, snow-capped mountains, wildlife, and wildflowers.
Hidden Lake Overlook
Nearby the Logan Pass visitor center, this trail is short (2.7 miles) but packed with stunning views. Hanging gardens along the way is a popular spot to see wildflowers, and the alpine meadows are also home to wildlife. However, this spot, due to its accessibility, can get busy, so sunrise is probably the best time to visit for more solitude- and you can’t beat that morning light!
Swiftcurrent Lake
Great for sunrises and sunsets, Swiftcurrent Lake is an easily accessible spot to score some great shots of Mount Wilbur and nearby peaks. Because so much of the shoreline is accessible, it’s a great spot to hang for a while and shoot as the light changes over the mountains (maybe even with a picnic!). Like Lake McDonald, the water is very cold, so it’s not a great spot for swimming, but the historic Many Glacier Hotel and touring boats make for great foreground subjects.
Bowman Lake
The third largest lake in the park, Bowman lake is a mile wide and eight miles long, and sits at the end of a six-mile unpaved road from Polebridge, MT. It’s worth stopping in the small town for lunch or snacks, and bringing them with you to the lake. There are hiking trails around the lake, and ample opportunities to find your own space from which to enjoy the water and views. This is a popular spot for recreational visitors and wedding photographers alike, so you might not have the seclusion of other areas in the park unless you’re willing to trek around a little bit.
Two Medicine Lake
A great spot for playing with foreground elements against a mountain backdrop, Two Medicine Lake features dramatic peaks and photo opportunities right off of the road. The mountains are especially impressive at sunset and sunrise, and on a still, clear, day, you can capture some striking alpenglow on the mountains of your Glacier National Park pics.
Avalanche Gorge and Lake
If you’ve already checked out Lake McDonald and you’re looking for another great spot nearby, this hike is worth it! Lower Avalanche Gorge becomes visible right around a half mile from the trailhead, channeling glacial melt downstream. Along the trail you’ll see some true old growth red cedar and hemlocks, magic in itself!
The trail gets its name from the many avalanches that have occurred in the basin, and you’re likely to see many downed trees along the way. The lake is beautiful (as there’s not a single ugly lake in Glacier National Park), and the entire journey is only 4.5 miles round trip, well worth it for all the variations of scenery.
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary Lake has tall, majestic mountains on three sides, almost surrounding the park’s second largest lake. It’s close to the east entrance of the park and Going-to-the-Sun Road, so it’s worth grouping together for one day out and about. The banks are teeming with wildflowers in the summer, and many species of animals call this area home. It is, however, a popular area, so be aware that you may have some competition for parking!
Running Eagle Falls
The falls, whose namesake was a Native woman who showed bravery and good medicine in battle, are also known as Trick Falls (due to the water appearing to come from the middle of a rock during times of low flow). Running Eagle Falls is close to Two Medicine Lake, and can be combined with that excursion.
A short and easy trek, this trail is also paved and handicap accessible for those with limited mobility. While there is a small pool at the base of the falls, the water is quite cold! Be sure to bring neoprene socks or waders if you intend to step onto the rocks in the middle of the stream or enter the water for your shot.
Wild Goose Island
While in the St. Mary Lake area, be sure to score a shot at one of the best photo spots in Glacier National Park. Wild goose island is tiny in comparison to the peaks surrounding St. Mary Lake, and is often photographed to emphasize the vastness of the area. Consider breaking away from the herd a little, and finding a unique perspective for this classic shot. Sunrise is considered the best time to shoot here–but that’s no secret, and most photographers arrive before 5 am.
Baring Falls
Another short hike off of Going-to-the-Sun Road, Baring Falls is less than a mile from the trailhead. While not the tallest (about 25 feet) or most unique waterfall in the park, it’s easy access still makes it worth it (and let’s face it- when is a waterfall hike ever not worth it?)
Ouzel birds are often found along the creek, and their dipping, diving, and water-loving activities offer great opportunities for unique wildlife action shots.
Saint Mary Falls and Virginia Falls
From the same parking area as Baring Falls, you can trek a little further (but still under two miles round trip) and see these two falls as well. Saint Mary falls is a three-tier waterfall (even though in pictures it appears to be two!), and Virginia Falls is taller, with cascading shelves beneath it offering interesting paths for the water to flow.
Shooting all of these falls in one day will definitely add variety to your collection of Glacier National Park pics, and creates the challenge of finding unique ways to capture similar features.
Lunch Creek
The best spot to photograph Lunch Creek is off of Going-to-the-Sun Road by Logan Pass, situated with Pollock Mountain behind the creek to the north. If you’re willing to hike up the creekbank a little bit, there are other creative angles to be captured. Wildflowers and wildlife abound in this area since it is, in fact, a popular lunch spot- and some animals have learned to look for food here!
Additionally, as this is right off a hairpin turn in the road, you’ll have the opportunity to appreciate the artistry in the construction of the road.
Any time of day offers good views, though some times are likely to be busier than others, given the moniker!
Fishercap Lake
Known as a hotspot for moose and deer, it’s worth it to post up for a little bit and wait for a sighting! It’s a short, flat, trek, suitable for all hiking skill levels, and because of the wildlife activity, make sure you bring your bear spray and also know how to use it! Who knows? This could be the place you shoot that amazing Glacier National Park photo of a bull moose or black bear to hang on your wall.
Have you made it to any of these spots for Glacier National Park photography? Let me know in the comments!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”National park essentials”]You’ll need to enter: National parks pass 🎟️
Document your trip: National parks journal ✏️
Wear your national parks love: National parks shirts 👕
Recommended guidebook: My Pocket Guide to Glacier National Park 📔
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