Glacier National Park in Montana has glaciers, turquoise lakes and a spectacular road across the Continental Divide. The full Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually open from late June to early September.
Good to know
- Reserve vehicle entry for the Going-to-the-Sun Road in summer; check the NPS site for how tickets work this season.
- Carry bear spray and learn how to use it; this is grizzly country.
- Wildfire smoke in August can obscure views; keep plans flexible.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Long glacial lake with colorful pebbles; rent kayaks or take a scenic boat tour.
Small village with shops and a lakeside beach, near the park's west entrance.
Evening ranger programs on Blackfeet and Salish-Kootenai culture and the park's history.
50-mile alpine highway across Logan Pass, with waterfalls and goat sightings.
Vintage open-top Jammer buses with ranger-guides on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Most scenic valley in the park, with a boat shuttle and trail to an alpine lake.
Swiss-chalet lodge dining room above the lake.
Ledge-hugging trail with cliff-edge views and wildflowers, one of the best day hikes in the US.
Quieter southeast corner of the park with a historic boat and easy walks.
Easy-to-moderate 4.5-mile hike through cedar forest to a lake ringed by waterfalls.
Montana mountain town with breweries and a gondola ride in summer.