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Glacier National Park

4.6 (350 reviews)
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Dale S.

Glacier National Park is absolutely stunning. I saw some of the most beautiful nature and wilderness that I have ever seen here . The landscapes are gorgeous and you will see trees, mountains and lots of waterfalls. This is probably one of the most beautiful national parks I have ever been to. We came very early in the morning because I am aware that this park gets incredibly crowded, as many national parks do . We came so early in fact that the Apgar the visitor center was not yet open so we continued through the park and unfortunately when we arrived at them, both the Logan Pass and St. Mary's Visitor Centers parking areas were completely full and most people including me were driving around and around in circles trying to find a spot. Ultimately, I had to drop my husband off so that he could go inside while I continued circling, so I was not able to do the things that I needed to do. Obviously this park is incredibly popular but I feel like some accommodation should be made so that people who need to stop have access to the facilities they require. Especially when these Parks charge. So much so pervehicle. Even though we arrived before sunrise, there were also lots of trailheads that were packed completely full and we were unable to stop at those as well. Besides the facilities, all of my other disappointments were with the other people here and not to do with the park itself. As I stated, it's incredibly crowded and parking is difficult. There are spots you can pull out to take in views, and we were thoughtful to not linger too long or take up too much space, especially on the more sought after spots. We pulled over at one point to see a waterfall on the side of the road and stayed a few minutes and took some photographs. As we tried to leave we were unable because someone was blocking us in and blocking the road. When that person finally moved, another truck pulled in their spot to the point where I had to honk my horn. They did eventually move up and tried to park in front of us so I was able to get back out onto the road and as we pulled away we saw that they were setting up chairs and a cooler to further block the pull out and apparently have some sort of family picnic. I know we are all keen to see these places and enjoy them before our government sells them off to the highest bidder, so please try your best to be aware of other people around you so that EVERYONE can have a good experience.

Tim T.

This park is AMAZING! Give yourself plenty of time and stop at the turnouts to see some Amazing waterfalls and scenery. Get your timed entry pass early, and try to go as early as possible.

One of my "spirit guides" (I named her Gladys lol). Spotted at hidden lake overlook
Stephanie W.

What an ethereal and stunning place this park is. It's been on my list for the last few years since hearing about it and I finally went June 28-29 in 2025. We took the scenic route to get to the park by flying into Yellowstone Bozeman airport (4 hrs away) and staying the night halfway between Bozeman, MT and the national park. If you do this, the easiest way into the park is actually via the east side entering through the Saint Mary entrance, which is much less busy than the Apgar-West Glacier entrance. You also need a timed entry permit to go into the West Apgar entrance from 7a-5p, but you do not need a res to go in through Saint Mary. We came around 8AM on a Saturday and the line had maybe 6-7 cars? Was only a 10ish minute wait. After that we proceeded along Going to the Sun Road which had just opened about 1.5 weeks prior! We stopped along the road to do Sun Point nature trail (very easy/short, like 1.5 miles round trip) and St. Mary's falls (like 2ish miles round trip). We came to Logan Pass visitor center which was very crowded but didn't stay long, then finished the drive out of the park. Even just driving along the road is a breathtaking experience, the place is STUNNING. Do note the road is narrow though, only 1 lane each way and despite a barrier along the external lane, it can be scary for those with aversion to heights. Additionally, after we left Logan pass it started to rain and at some points was raining pretty hard/visibility was reduced so we had to go really slow, and this cut our hiking short that day because of mud. Nevertheless - when I came back the next day it was crystal clear skies and all gorgeous views; the road was also mostly dry. I did hidden lake trail to the overlook (was closed beyond that point anyhow), and that was STUNNING - saw a bunch of mountain goats and smaller rodents (chipmunks, squirrels, etc). Then I went to the loop trail and hiked out to granite park chalet since the highline was still closed for the season (do be aware: online it told me the highline usually opens when GTTS road opens - that does not seem to be correct. The rangers told me snow had not been been started to be cleared on the high line 1.5 weeks after GTTS road opened when I came, and per the all trails app it is still closed another week later). Anyhow, the loop trail up to glacier junction where it intersections with the highline was very much open and GORGEOUS. Do be aware for both these hikes and other famous ones (eg avalanche lake) parking fills FAST. I came early for hidden lake (arrived at 7am) so got a spot right away, and I got lucky at the loop since someone was pulling out but otherwise there were no spots. I stopped by avalanche on my way home to scope it out, and there wasn't a single spot in all the lots including overflow - plan accordingly, come early if you can! Overall, glacier is hands down one of my favorite (if not my new fav) national parks. The drama of the sweeping mountain peeks with the green meadows and valleys, plus the wildflowers, incredible animal life, and big expansive of blue sky over it all is the pinnacle of nature's bounty. I can't wait to go back and would rec a visit to this park by anyone who loves greenery and the outdoors.

Jessica P.

This has been one of my favorite national parks so far. It's so lush and there's waterfall after waterfall. You literally feel like you're in a fairytale. So much great hiking. A handful of lakes are there to relax by as well. I saw multiple weddings happening while there. So beautiful!

Andrea U.

The Glacier National Park was founded in 1910, sees 3.3 million visitors annually and is 1,013,322 acres large. Glacier is called "Crown of the Continent" featuring the most impressive mountain scenery in North America. Since 1932 it's known as the world's first international peace park, Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta offer a contiguous high-country wonderland of rock, ice, water & wood. Glacier is a beloved park in northwestern Montana. It takes its name from the many glaciers & glacial forces that shaped its rugged topography over 2 million years. The park is still home to more than a dozen glaciers, the massive U-shaped valleys and hulking granite peaks carved by long-ago ice flows are impressive. We took a 1936 wood ford jammer vehicle through the park for 2 hours.

Lake McDonald
Ian B.

This is gonna be another one of those reviews where I say, "what can I say that hasn't already has been said". I will start off and remind everyone that these days with the demand you must buy a pass to drive the going to the sun road. Even if you have a park pass you must buy a driving pass in advance (reserve). Epic beauty everywhere. The hiking and backpacking opportunities are endless (unfortunately none with pets). The going to the sun road is something you'll never forget!! There is a lot of back country camping and hiking available. There are also a few different entrances. The main (south) entrance, east entrance (st. Mary), and two west (Camas Creek and Polebridge). My favorite is to come in through Polebridge because it is so remote. Since Glacier NP is one of the busiest parks in the country, the earlier you get there the better. Make sure to check this park off your bucket list, it is absolutely epic!!

Lynn R.

This National park is a must if you are a nature enthusiast. Its vast vistas are stunning and the history of this park is preserved and cherished. The landscape is so fascinating and you truly see beauty everywhere you turn. We saw many glaciers and sadly many have rescinded due to global warming. The park is run efficiently and with love. I am still in awe over the natural beauty this place was. The sun road was a better drive than anticipated and Logan's pass was so cool. Spending almost three days there didn't cover the entire park but we saw quite a bit.

Avalanche trail views
Jessica C.

What a beautiful national park! We came during the July 4th week in 2024. We were not able to get reservations online when it opened a few months prior but were able to get some the night before. If you happen to miss both chances, get to the gate before 6am and you should be able to get in. The park is pristine and lush and the trails are beautiful. We tackled the Avalanche Trail (only going to the first lake, the round trip with spending about 30 minutes admiring the view was about 2 hours). This was one of the easier hikes but the view is still amazing. I can't wait to come back and tackle one of the more strenuous hikes as I think those views would be even more breath taking. The trails do get busy starting around 7am. We drove through the entire park, up to Logan Pass (even in the summer there was a large amount of snow and lots of fog and wind) and through the other end. Every turn of the drive offered beautiful views. GNP may be one of my favorite parks and I am eager to come back and explore more.

Phil Y.

Glacier is a beautiful national park. We went there in early October when the leaves were changing colors. This park had waterfalls, hiking trails, glaciers and lakes. We saw some animals. But, no bears. We only spent half a day here driving up Going to the Sun Road. Restroom were interesting. It seems like the entire park has gone 2023 except for the Apgar visitor center. Several of the restrooms outside of Apgar no longer have male and female restrooms. They only had unisex stall causing long lines at the public restrooms that I passed by. The Apgar restroom didn't have individual unisex stalls. No waiting, unless you are driving from one of the other restrooms deep in the park back to Apgar. Glacier was a great place to visit. If I ditched my wife, I could've easily spent a week here exploring the park. As nice as my experience was, I still like a couple of other national parks more than this one.

Avalanche Lake trail
Kevin B.

It's hard to put into words the amount of beauty that is contained within this park. My wife and I were lucky to be able to come here late last July and it was truly one of the best places we've ever visited. We stayed at a fantastic B&B in Columbia Falls and it was an easy drive from there to the park (only about 20 minutes). We spent 2 days in the park as we were on a road trip and we didn't have vehicle reservations for the first morning, so we decided to drive along the southern edge of the park and then up the eastern edge to enter at the St. Mary's area. This was very fun and the whole drive was very scenic, so I definitely recommend that if you miss out on reservations. The advantage was that we were driving back to our hotel when we got to the Going to the Sun Road, so it was a nice way to make sure we still had time to find a place for dinner after the park. St. Mary is a beautiful area and it's so very picturesque. We did a short hike to Virginia Falls and that was very fun, though it's mostly exposed, so make sure you have good sun protection on a hot summer day. We loved being able to see all the gorgeous sites along the Going to the Sun road and it's truly a drive that you have to experience once in your life. We also had the good fortune to find a parking spot near the Avalanche Lake Trail (very, very popular, so make sure you're here early) and this was one of our favorite hikes that we've ever done; the spectacular view of Avalanche Lake is truly worth the 5-6 mile roundtrip hike. We realized later that we could have spent our entire vacation exploring Glacier National Park and it's 100% a place that we will visit again in the future. It's just the best!

The entrance.
T G.

Government shutdown! I am giving this review based on two female employees I will now call thug1 and thug2. I arrived on a Wednesday night october 1, 2025. coming back from a 2 week stay in Canada I hadn't paid too much attention to the US government BS. I see posters stating closed. Other people walking around wondering their hours. Nothing stating hours of operation. Yelp states it's open. So I got my camp site outside the park and arrived the next day at 10am October 2. CLOSED! Huh! Other people walking around asking the same question. Then I saw Thug1 and Thug2 walking with items that clearly indicated they worked there. I politely called out "excuse me, do you work here?" The thugs did not even stop and rudely commented "not right now" . I stood there thinking well maybe they haven't clocked in. I said well I hope you have a better day that you are having right now. They stopped and started yelling rude comments at me and I said well just want to know when it opens and I turned my back. They kept yelling at me. I think if other people weren't around they may have approach me in a threatening way. Thugs and bullies. People were stopped in their tracks aghast at the thugs. One man interjected a comment to them and they spoke with him. He came over and asked me if I was okay and told me that they told him the place was shutdown. My thoughts then why are they at work? Just annoying government employees. All they had to do was stop and take a minute to explain and I would have felt bad for them! But I can't feel bad for these thugs. Then it was verified they were on the clock because they were taking things out of a government truck. I hope if a manager reads this they get written up. (god forbid its not the thugs) the pictures are of thug 1

Thuy Dan T.

Such a beautiful and well maintained park! It's quite large and can take a couple hours to get from one side to another depending on the number of people visiting. The span is so vast that on one side you'll have sunny weather and on the opposite side will be snowy and rainy. You have to get there early for the popular, longer hikes like the Highline Trail, you have to get to as early as possible to snag a spot. Outside of the parking lots, there no side road parking since the roads are narrow enough so you may have to park at a different trailhead and walk over. Plenty of hikes from easy one to gorgeous overlooks or lakes to more strenuous ones 10+ miles. Lots of wildlife around as well! Our initial trail of Highline stopped at a halt because a bear was on the mountain edge and rocks were falling down. We also got deer and mountain goats! A deer actually stopped right on the trail in front of us. We read a lot of blogs and reviews leading up to it, with the importance of bear spray and packing for various climates of weather, sunscreen, extra food and water, etc. so be prepared! You could spend at least 2-3 days here minimum and still not see everything. We loved it and can't wait to be back!

Jodine P.

My friend and I spent three days exploring the park and we had a great time!! We went mid-September and we had amazing weather. It was chilly in the morning but then warm in the afternoon. It was sunny every day. It was just beginning to turn to fall colors which was so pretty. The ONLY thing that was hard is there isn't anywhere to fill up your water on trails. So make sure you pack enough for the long hikes. We did 16 miles one day and I ran out of water. We did see a grizzly bear on one of the hikes. Which was a little scary. Later that day we saw a brown bear on the road and some mountain goats. So that was an eventful day!

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Ask the Community - Glacier National Park

Is this Worth 3 hour drive?

Absolutely!!!! I drove from Ohio just to get here (22 hours.) It's tied for my favorite National Park- the views are stunning! However I went in August. If you go in summer it's totally worth it. But in winter, the options for activities will be… Read more

How are the glaciers doing? Still shrinking? Curious if there is an update on how much longer they will remain in the park named for them? Thank you

As I understand the glaciers are continuing to shrink. There are at least 35 named glaciers in Glacier National Park (U.S.). At the end of the Little Ice Age about 1850, the area containing the national park had 150 glaciers. There are 25 active… Read more

We are planning our trip For next summer... we are not campers. Don't need posh hotels but looking for great places to stay in or close to the park. Suggestions?

Lake McDonald Lodge. Rustic and pretty and right on lake McDonald. Many tour buses pick up from there if you don't want to drive. On strict time schedule so if possible I recommend driving into the park yourself and going straight your own pace.

Can you take dogs into park?

No, dogs are not allowed.

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Review Highlights - Glacier National Park

Throw on a Glacier National Park playlist on Spotify and drive literally into the clouds on Going to the Sun Road.

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Glacier Raft Company - Waiting for the trip

Glacier Raft Company

4.8(204 reviews)
0.5 mi

We were up for site seeing, not adventure, so we chose the scenic float. It was fabulous…read more You meet at their offices and get your life vest. They bus you to the start of the journey. You can paddle if you want but not required. There were 4 boats in our group. We floated down the Flathead Middle Fork River. The current keeps you moving so while you are floating, you are making decent time down the river. A few mild rapids make it fun. The guides were wonderful. They worked so well as a team and their camaraderie was fun to watch. Ella was the lead person and she was the guide of our boat. She told us interesting facts and answered tons of questions from us. I felt like we were in the adult boat because it was all older couples and not kids which was awesome. They give you a chance to jump in if you'd like. Our boat passed on getting wet, but the others had kids and family members that made the cold plunge. Eagles and Osprey were the wild life we saw. oh and lots of fish. This was a great experience. Highly recommend it.

Wonderful experience all around! The staff was so nice and knowledgeable. We had Aaron S as our…read moreguide in a raft of 10, including Aaron. He provided us clear and strong direction every step of the way, ensuring we were safe but also had the FUNNEST experience. I came into the experience very nervous since I can't swim, but his preparedness, rafting skills, and clear direction helped me trust him throughout the full process. 10000% recommend!!!

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Glacier Raft Company
Glacier Raft Company - Before the White Water Rafting.

Before the White Water Rafting.

Glacier Raft Company

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Glacier Guides and Montana Raft - Scenic float bus

Glacier Guides and Montana Raft

4.8(139 reviews)
5.1 mi

Perfect rafting trip!!!! So affordable ($80 adult & $60 kids) but really fun and safe. Econ was our…read moreguide and he knew the river like the back of his hand. Check in was easy & very clearly explained, transport to the launch site was fun and we all had a blast. We went in mid-August but it sounds like early summer and spring is when the river is really flowing when the snowcap is melting. Would HIGHLY recommend!

For 30 years, I have dreamed of floating down the Flathead river along the legendary snow-capped…read moremountain peaks of Glacier National Park. Over the years, I have looked at dozens (OK, hundreds) of photos of the wet, smiling faces of the boaters splashing and paddling through the whitewater rapids. They always look so happy and excited! Oh, how I wanted to be "that guy" in the photo. In 2024, I decided I had waited long enough and pulled the trigger. With a gentle nudge from my best friend, I booked a 2-day whitewater rafting adventure with Glacier Guides and Montana Raft. It was time- and it was now my turn! We made our way north in June, 2025 crossing through 8 states and into Montana. A day before we arrived at the Glacier Guide office, I received a call from our rafting guide, Zack. He sounded as excited as we were and walked us through the itinerary and what we could expect when we arrived. Very professional! The day had come! When we arrived at the Glacier Guide Office, we were greeted by our guides, Zack and Abby who are absolute Rock Stars and clearly love what they do. They made sure we had all the recommended gear and helped us re-pack our gear into waterproof bags for our Rocky Mountain adventure. We met the others assigned to our boat and got fitted for wet suits, life jackets and helmets. Within an hour, we loaded into our bus and headed north- 2 big, blue rafts in tow. The first day was spent easing down the Flathead River along the banks of Glacier National Park. The views were just beautiful. Our guide on the first day was Abby, who was as funny as she was skilled at navigating the Class II river. Zack floated ahead of us in the "gear boat" which carried all our tents, food and camping gear. We stopped for lunch around noon which gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs and get to know the other members of our party. Bald eagles were observed every so often, as were momma ducks with their babies close by. Everyone was on the lookout for grizzly bears that are common in Glacier, but unfortunately none were seen on our trip. After lunch, we continued down the river for several hours until Zack found a good spot to call "home" for the night. We had a few hours before nightfall and spent our time making camp, hanging wet clothes and enjoying some of the most beautiful mountain views in the world. We helped the guides unload the gear boat before enjoying grilled steak and salmon for dinner. The food was fantastic, as was the fellowship! After dinner, we sat around a little campfire and relaxed with our new friends. Tired from a long day on the water, we all headed to our tents around 10:00 PM. 6:00 AM, daylight and the smell of coffee and bacon stirred us from our tents. With the sounds of the river flowing below, we eased into the new day with a great breakfast before we broke camp, donned our protective gear and loaded our raft. We changed captains and Zack guided us down the river after a safety brief, Abby navigated the "gear boat" a safe distance behind. Another glorious Montana day on the river. The closer we got to the entrance of Glacier Park, the more dramatic the views and more challenging the whitewater became. Zack expertly and safely navigated the Class III rapids, all while we paddled like crazy when the order "All forward!" was given. The last stretch of water had 8 named rapids like "Bone Crusher," "Pinball" and "The Big Squeeze." All of us got drenched to the bone and wouldn't have it any other way. It was the Montana trip of a lifetime and everything I hoped it would be. As our 2-day, overnight adventure came to an end, our guides "high-fived" us and thanked us for joining them. I was sad to leave, I cannot lie. Zack and Abby with Glacier Guides knocked it out of the park- true professionals and an absolute pleasure to be around. I will never forget my Rocky Mountain adventure and am so grateful for the staff of Glacier Guides that helped make a dream come true. I can confidently recommend Glacier Guides to anyone. ~David T. Leuba

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Glacier Guides and Montana Raft - Bone crusher and just a blast!

Bone crusher and just a blast!

Glacier Guides and Montana Raft
Glacier Guides and Montana Raft - Nature walk van

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Nature walk van

Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls - Sacred Dancing Cascades viewed from a wooden bridge

Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls

5.0(1 review)
1.8 mi

Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls is a magical West Glacier waterfall. You can access this waterfall…read moreeasily from a footbridge spanning McDonald Creek. Even though there were more rapids and cascades further upstream of this falls, I wanted to check out why the local Native-Americans revere this particular waterfall. Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls is accessible to the eyes from the road. Looking up from the Red Tour Bus, you can gaze up the mountain and see several streaming walls of water. After pulling off the road into a large parking lot, it is a quick walk to the footbridge over the Creek, and after a hike, you will be close enough to where a great view of the cascade can be found, For the local indigenous peoples, this Sacred Waterfall is a spiritual holy place. The mists that rise from the base of the waterfall are thought to connect heaven and earth. They are also thought to be a conduit of our earthly prayers to the Great Creator and where the First Man & First Woman were created by the Moon Transformer. A local tribe member once explained the importance of the Falls by saying the waterfall is a symbol to them of "the cycle of water which renews us for it is the cycle of life." The Sacred Falls is a glorious thing to experience. When you get closer up, seeing the smooth layers of rock scrubbed down by years of powerful water tumbling over it is thrilling. Sacred Dancing Cascade Fall makes you realize the incredible force of water and why the Indians are right to revere such a place as this.

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Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls - Easy access to Sacred Dancing Cascades

Easy access to Sacred Dancing Cascades

Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls
Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls

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Grinnell Glacier

Grinnell Glacier

4.8(9 reviews)
0.6 mi

We were able to hike the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead through Many Glacier on the last day it was…read moreopen for the season (9/19/21) but unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side. It was a constant mist/rain the entire hike and then getting into Grinnell Glacier it was snowing! We arrived at the parking lot by 7AM and there were already 10 cars parked and we started the hike around 7:30. By the time we got back, around 1PM, the lot was full but the rain started coming down more so people were leaving. It's about a 10-11 mile hike RT. During the summer, you can opt to pay to take a boat across Lake Josephine to shorten the hike, but that was the easiest part. The part of the hike where you walk above Lake Josephine is probably the most picturesque - so gorgeous but a little foggy. When you finally get to the Glacier you're greeted with the bluest water bend and snow covered mountains. For this hike, the way back is easier and we were happy about that because we were cold and starting to feel miserable. Would love to do this hike again with better weather but it was still a beautiful one to do! We drove Going-to-the-Sun road and round the Rising Sun Boat Deck parking lot (which was empty during this time) and it was the perfect spot for a nap.

My friends and I hiked to Grinnell Overlook via the Granite park trail. The whole trail was out and…read moreback and a total of about 11.4 miles with around 3500 ft of elevation. Not gonna lie, the last stretch (the Garden Wall) was pretty rough as the trail was very narrow and incredibly rocky, and the wind was constantly screaming and whipping your face (definitely bring a windbreaker and protect your hats!!!). But despite the difficulty for us average hikers and the sad state of our feet afterwards, my friends and I absolutely loved the experience. It wasn't just about the view at the top for us. The entire trail was stunning and since we hiked late September, the red and golden foliage all around us made us feel like we were in another world. We saw various wildlife as well - mostly deer and chipmunks!

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Grinnell Glacier
Grinnell Glacier
Grinnell Glacier

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Glacier National Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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