Best trails in Glacier National Park
Top trails
Visitor info
(Winter Rate - $20.00, November 1 to April 30)
This is a per motorcycle entrance fee. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable.
(Winter Rate - $15.00, November 1 to April 30)
This is a per person entrance fee for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, or for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group. The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable.
(Winter Rate - $25.00, November 1 to April 30)
This is an entrance fee for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van). The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. Visitors can enter the park at any time, if the entrance station is not staffed, a self-registration area is available for purchasing a 7-day park pass.
New in 2024, all passes will have one signature line for a single passholder. This pass is valid for one year from the month of entry and admits the purchaser and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or the pass holder and his/her immediate family (spouse, children, parents) when entry is by other means (foot, bicycle) into the park. It is nontransferable, nonrefundable, and does not cover camping fees.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Apgar Visitor Center, Apgar Village, Apgar Nature Center, and St. Mary Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films have closed captions in person and open captions online.
A Braille or large print park brochure is available by request or on the website.
Many ranger-led programs are wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices and ASL interpreters are available by reservation. Please contact the park at least two weeks in advance to make a reservation for interpretation services.
Additional information about accessibility at Glacier National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
All park shuttle buses in the park are wheelchair accessible.
The Apgar Visitor Center, Apgar Village, Apgar Nature Center, and St. Mary Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films have closed captions in person and open captions online.
The following evening performance venues are wheelchair accessible: Apgar Campground Amphitheater, Fish Creek Campground Amphitheater, Many Glacier Hotel and Campground Amphitheater and Auditorium, Lake McDonald Lodge Amphitheater, St. Mary Visitor Center Amphitheater, and Rising Sun Campground Amphitheater.
The Rising Sun Picnic Area and Many Glacier Picnic Area are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms.
There are accessible restrooms or vault toilets at the following trailheads: The Loop, Logan Pass, Grizzly Point, Rising Sun Area, and Goat Lick Overlook.
The Apgar Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (C152 and C122) and restrooms.
The Fish Creek Campground has 8 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (A8, A10, A12, A34, B65, B68, D158, and D160) and restrooms.
The Sprague Creek Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#1) and restrooms.
The Rising Sun Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#7) and restrooms.
The St. Mary Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (C146 and C148) and restrooms.
The Two Medicine Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#20) and restrooms.
The Bowman Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (#3 and #7).
The Kintla Lake Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site (#13).
A Service Animal Briefing is required and can be obtained at the following Wilderness Permit Stations: Apgar Village (Summer and Winter), Many Glacier Ranger Station (Summer), St. Mary Visitor Center (Summer), Hudson Bay District Office (Winter), Two Medicine Ranger Station (Summer), and Park Headquarters Building (Winter).
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Glacier National Park
First hike of radke family national park trip! Glacier national park
I recently enjoyed a hike at Glacier National Park, and it was a truly memorable experience. The trail was easy to moderate, making it accessible yet engaging. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the sight of blooming flowers along the paved trail added an extra touch of charm. One hiccup was the bridge leading to the lake—it wasn't mounted, so we had to carefully cross using the wires. This part was quite nerve-racking, but it added a bit of adventure to the day. Despite that challenge, the hike was delightful, and I’d happily do it again.
Spectacular views on this trail, and a good way to get the Glacier experience without the crowds if you’re willing to put in the miles. Cosley lake area was great for a 1 night trip (I camped at Glenn’s lake). Take more water than you think you need, it gets very hot in the pass and there isn’t too much shade outside of morning or evening. Saw some bear scat but that was it. No bears or other wildlife this time.
Due to the construction at Swiftcurrent, you have to begin from the Many Glacier Hotel. This makes the hike about 13.3 miles round trip if you go up to the tunnel. You can make it all the way to the tunnel, but the tunnel is blocked off by metal doors. The trail is in generally good condition. You begin hitting some snow pitches around 1.5 miles away from the tunnel but they are mostly easy to cross. Once you reach Ptarmigan Lake, the snow fields become a little more difficult because they cover portions of a steep incline leading up to the tunnel. I was able to cross it with just running shoes and Yaktracks but it was admittedly sketchy (I slipped and started sliding down the mountainside but my wife caught my backpack handle and held me up). Overall a great trail!
Amazing hike!! Trailhead is closed so park at the Many Glacier Hotel to start which adds about 2.5 miles to the total distance (12ish miles total). Packed snow for the last half mile and spikes helped but is passable with poles and good shoes.
Fabulous trail that never failed to please. The views of Swiftcurrent Lake, Lake Josephine and Grinnell Lake were beautiful. The multitude of wildflowers were so colorful. The many-hued rocks and rock formations were also quite lovely. Didn’t see a bear but his fresh scat was on the trail. A very curious bighorn ram followed us around some at the upper quarter of the trail. Had to cross one patch of ice. The trail was closed after 3.75 miles due to dangerous conditions, so we never made it to the glacier. But all of what we did see was fabulous. When at the top looking down at Lake Grinnell, we spotted a moose come out of the forest and stand in the lake for several minutes. Be sure to bring big spray. We found the trail to be moderate, not difficult, but I believe the most difficult part is the area that was closed. Lots of sun exposure so wear sunscreen and hat.