If the 10 million acres of peaks, rivers, and lakes spanning northern Montana and southwestern Canada is the Crown of the Continent, then Glacier National Park is that crown’s sparkliest jewel. Hugging the Continental Divide and encompassing 1,583 square miles of remote glacial lakes, rose-tinged mountains, and trout-filled rivers, Glacier is epic in the truest sense of the word. The ecosystems of the park remain relatively undisturbed, home to the same plants and animals that have been here for centuries—grizzly bears, mountain goats, wolverines, and wolves among them—and tribes like the Blackfeet, Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka maintain deep ties to their ancestral lands. Travelers can hike into the backcountry, cruise lofty heights on Going-to-the-Sun Road, and lounge by a sapphire lake, making a visit as wild, or as refined, as desired. No matter how you choose to spend your time in Glacier, the park is sure to treat you like royalty.
Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan
Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who focuses on climate solutions, environment, the outdoors, travel, and parenting. Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, she now makes her home in Missoula, Montana. Elisabeth holds a Master’s degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she earned the prestigious McCormick Scholar designation and the Harrington Memorial Award. Her most ambitious trip to date was taking two kids under five on a two-week jaunt around England and Ireland (nobody slept much, but it was worth it).
Of the dozens of national parks I’ve visited, Glacier is my favorite. My husband and I got engaged in a tent alongside Gunsight Lake, and we’ve watched our kids go from exploring Logan Pass while riding in a baby carrier to confidently hiking Avalanche Lake under their own power (mostly). We make the trip up there at least once a year to sleep under the stars, canoe the lakes, and count how many mountain goats we can see. Over the years, we’ve found our favorite nooks and crannies. Below, I share them all, in this guide to Glacier National Park.
What’s new in 2025
The Swiftcurrent area at Many Glacier will be under construction for road and water system repairs until spring 2026. Visitors can still access the area, but only those with Many Glacier Hotel or activity reservations will be allowed to park there from July through September. Everyone else must park along the entrance road and ride a shuttle into the heart of Many Glacier ($2 reservation required; book at recreation.gov).
How to get there
If you’re flying in, the quickest access to Glacier is via Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, a 40-minute drive to West Glacier via U.S. Highway 2. Another option is to fly in through Great Falls on the east side or Missoula on the west, both about 2.5 hours away. Amtrak’s Empire Builder line between Chicago and Seattle/Portland also stops near both major entrances, though you’ll need to catch a ride on the east side or west side concessionaire shuttles to reach the park itself.
The best time to visit
Glacier’s alpine topography spans valleys at 3,000 feet to summits over 10,000 feet, so the weather can vary dramatically from place to place and even hour to hour. But generally, July through September bring the warmest, driest conditions. That’s the time for snow-free roads and trails, high-elevation wildflowers, active wildlife, and hotels and restaurants running full swing. Naturally, that’s also the most crowded time to visit, and depending on the fire season, can be smoky. June sees fewer people and the longest days—light lingers past 10 p.m.—though the weather can be iffy. Visitation plunges in October, and fall’s golden larches and cooler temperatures can make for a dreamy time in the park. Essentially, Glacier is in winter mode from about late October to May. That’s a wonderful season for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trips, but expect bitterly cold weather.
