Best trails in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park in Montana is an immense park spanning over 1 million acres. It is considered the centerpiece of a vast region of protected land between the United States and Canada. The park features over 700 miles of hiking trails and supports various outdoor activities such as biking, boating, fishing, and horseback riding. It is known for its dazzling hikes, backcountry campsites, glaciers, peaks, and lakes. The park is best visited during the summer months between June and September.
Trails in Glacier National Park are always subject to closures due to bear activity. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm For more information about safety while adventuring in bear country, please visit:https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bears.htm
To avoid parking issues during the busy season, consider riding on the park shuttle. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/shuttles.htm
Glacier National Park requires a permit to camp overnight in the wilderness. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry-reservations.htm
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
Beautiful views from high altitude leaving out from Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. The train inspects with other trails and summits in the area.
One of the most unique way to experience glacier national Park is to start with the highline Trail, Traverse and dip into the vast and open Swiftcurrent valley all the way into Manny glacier arrived at the Logan Pass trailhead by 6 AM. Still spots for parking. started the hike at 6:30 - was better lighting. The entire hike was gradual up and down until the chalet. Good multiple animal sightings, including bighorn, sheep, goats deer one hiker saw a grizzly bear from afar. The chalet is located in such a pristine location and every move is worthwhile the photo. However, the camp store does not open until noon for those who needs restocking. I added the Grenell glacier overlook, which is definitely grueling and windy but rewarding. I also decided a hike down to many glacier through the swiftcurrent value pass, the view is so beautiful with all the lakes and glacier view that is not really easily accessible otherwise, but it’s also such a long trail, especially with the construction at the Swiftwater motor inn. the total hike from Highline to chalet is about 8.8+1.6 round-trip to the grenell overlook and then about at least a 9 mile walk back to many glacier so it’s a long day. I got back to the mini glacier hotel at a little over 4 PM with hardly any stop.s
Arrived at Logan pass at 5:45 AM and was 75% or so full. By 6:00-6:10 it was full. Busy trail, but starts off with beautiful views especially as the sun starts to hit the peaks. We saw 2 grizzlies, mountain goat at high elevation, sheep, and marmots. The way up to Grinnel Overlook is a pretty intense climb and slippery in some places from water and rock. The payoff is big. Views of Grinnel and Many Glacier on one side, and West Glacier and Lake McDonald on the other.
Absolutely stunning. One of the most beautiful hikes I’ve done. We took our time and enjoyed the grinnell glacier out look. We parked at logan pass at 5:40am. Lots of spots but gone by 6:15. Our hike was almost 9 hours total. Most of the hike is pretty flat or moderate. Some steep drops from the sides tho. The glacier part was brutal and the fog made the path slick. And the way down to the loop was 4 miles of painful down hill but all so worth it. We saw lots of wildlif
Went 17 miles including the glacier outlook! Hard but so rewarding.
Flush toilets at the Many Glacier Hotel. Pit toilets and the trail. For the most part it was a gently upward sloping trail. A few steps at tomes as well as shale covered trail in spots. Maybe doesn’t quite rate the hard ranking. OTOH it is a long hike. Very fun to see 3 grizzlies frolicking about 500 yards away. Many other amazing views.