Words simply can’t describe the breathtaking beauty that is Glacier National Park. Here is our 8 day itinerary for our Glacier National Park trip, as well as things we would’ve done a little differently. We stayed half of our trip in West Glacier and half of our stay in East Glacier. I highly recommend doing this to cut back on driving times each day.
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8 DAY GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ITINERARY
My family spent over a week in Glacier National Park the first week of August. There is so much to do in Glacier that even after 8 days, we still did not get to do or see it all. We planned our trip about 6 months in advance. We were able to secure road reservations the day they were released, but we still didn’t get reservations for two whole areas of the park.
For more information about required reservations, check out “10 Things To Know Before Booking Your Trip to Glacier National Park”.
Day 1: Whitefish & Columbia Falls
Whitefish, Montana
Our flight got into Kalispell, Montana at 11:30 a.m. We couldn’t get into our vacation rental until 4:00. So, after picking up our car rental at the airport, we headed to the town of Whitefish for a delicious lunch at Piggyback Barbecue.
We drove to Whitefish Lake after lunch and checked out the City Beach part of this beautiful lake. After exploring Whitefish Lake, we still had some time to kill before check-in. We decided to go to the grocery store to stock up on food for the week.
All 7 (YES, 7) of our suitcases were still in the back of our Dodge Durango rental, so the 3 kids and myself ended up having to hold groceries in our lap and under our feet for the short ride to our VRBO. (Just picture a clown car.)
Columbia Falls, Montana
The rental home was in the quaint town of Columbia Falls, less than 10 minutes from Whitefish and Kalispell and about 25 minutes to the entrance of West Glacier.
Our house was almost perfect. The layout, decor and property were all so beautiful and just the vibe we were looking for for our stay in Montana.
I said almost perfect because the master bedroom and bath were on a 3rd floor loft that was not air conditioned and it was 90 degrees outside during our stay. This made for some uncomfortable sleep for really only me, because let’s face it, my husband can sleep anywhere comfortably.
The rest of the house was air conditioned, and the kids loved their cold and comfy spaces. Click here to view our VRBO in West Glacier. After unpacking, we went to dinner at Backslope Brewing in Columbia Falls, which had one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten.
On our way back to our rental house, we stopped at a lookout beside the Flathead River in Columbia Falls.
Flathead River in Columbia Falls
Day 2: Whitewater Rafting and Exploring Lake McDonald-Glacier National Park
Whitewater Rafting on the Flathead River
Our first full day in Glacier kicked off with our very first time white water rafting. We booked this trip through Trip Advisor, “Half-Day Glacier National Park White Water Rafting Adventure” by Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Trips (Great Northern Resort) and they were wonderful!
The rapids were level II & III so nothing too intense, and when there weren’t rapids, it was a scenic float down the middle fork of the Flathead River. Our guide, Tanner was funny, knowledgable and made us feel at ease and comfortable the whole time. He knew so much about the history of the area, felt like we had our own private tour guide, too!
The river runs on the outside of Glacier National Park, so as we floated down the river, GNP was on our right and Bob Marshall National Forest was on the left. It was hot outside, so we took the opportunity to jump in for a swim. The water was frigid but it did feel good to cool off! Highly recommend this rafting tour!
Tip: If it’s your first time and you’re wondering what to wear like we were: My husband and son wore swim trunks and moisture wick shirts. They aren’t fans of swim shirts. My daughters and I wore our regular two piece swimsuits under a pair of swim shorts or bike shorts and a swim shirt over top. We all wore our hiking sandals which were perfect.
Lake McDonald Boat Tour
After our rafting adventure, we drove into Glacier National Park for the first time, on Going To The Sun Road up to Lake McDonald.
We packed lunches every day in our travel cooler, so we had a picnic before our Lake McDonald boat tour with Glacier Park Boat Company. This boat tour was booked in order to get a road reservation into the park for the day.
Honestly, the boat tour of Lake McDonald wasn’t really that exciting (although we did really enjoy other boat tours we did with this same company later in the week).
We purchased 5 tickets for the boat tour. If we had to do it over, we would’ve just purchased 1 ticket to be able to get the road reservation and then just skipped it.
Paddle Boarding on Lake McDonald
After the boat tour, we drove to the Apgar side of Lake McDonald where we pumped up the inflatable paddle boards that we rented from Sky Eco Rentals. (We reserved them ahead of time and then just picked them up on the way to White Water Rafting that morning, it was really easy and convenient.)
You can also rent paddle boards and Kayaks at Apgar Glacier Boat Rentals.
Paddle boarding on Lake McDonald was really beautiful. The water is so clear, you can see the colored “fruity pebble” rocks in the water for quite a distance. Swimming in the lake was really refreshing. The water was not cold like the river and it was a perfect way to spend a 90 degree day!
Tips:
In August of 2023 there was road construction on Going To The Sun Road from the west entrance to Lake McDonald. There were some delays due to the construction, allow yourself a little extra time to get to any scheduled tour.
The Lake McDonald boat tour dock is right behind the Lake McDonald Lodge. Definitely take a few minutes to walk through the lodge, the lobby is just beautiful!
Day 3: Avalanche Lake, Going To The Sun Road & Red Rock
This was the first day of our 3 day vehicle reservation for Going To The Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
Hike to Avalanche Lake
Parking at the trail head for Avalanche Lake fills up by 7:30 am, so we had an early start to Day 3. We arrived at the trail head shortly after 7:00 am and there were only a few parking spots left.
The morning temperature was 50 degrees and it rose to 90 by the afternoon. Layering is key when starting out early.
The hike to Avalanche Lake starts off with the Trail of the Cedars, which is a flat boardwalk, but then a half mile in you veer off onto the Avalanche Lake trail.
This was the only trail in Glacier National Park that was through the woods and shaded the entire way. The hike to the lake from the trail head is 2.5 miles and almost all uphill. Hiking poles were helpful on this hike, although it wasn’t really strenuous for any of us.
The lake is absolutely stunning. We sat on the benches at the first beach area and ate breakfast and then walked the rest of the trail to the other side of the lake which was another mile.
The view from the other side of the lake was worth the extra mile. Both views were stunning, but when we arrived at the first beach, the sun was just over the top of the mountain and created a shadow over the backdrop. When we walked to the other side it was a much clearer view.
Avalanche Lake is the best family friendly hike in Glacier National Park. For a detailed guide to Avalanche Lake, check out “Avalanche Lake Hike in Glacier National Park.”
Tips:
Trail of the Cedars is a circle, from the trail head if you go counter clockwise at the beginning , there is a bathroom building on this side of the loop. This was the only bathroom building we saw on any trail in Glacier and if you got an early start and drank coffee on the way, you will be grateful for it!
For the best lighting for viewing the mountains at the lake, going later in the morning/day would probably be better. The lake is in shadows early in the morning. You could take the shuttle from Apgar to the trail head to achieve this, or try your luck with parking.
We wore our swim suits under our clothes and packed hiking sandals and lightweight towels in our backpacks to cool off in the lake. Since it was only in the 60s when we got to the lake so we didn’t end up getting in. Lots of people do, though, especially in the afternoon when it is hot. We did end up using our suits and towels later in the afternoon for cliff jumping and swimming at Red Rock.
Going To The Sun Road
After our hike to Avalanche Lake, we drove Going To The Sun Road up to Logan Pass. I will not be able to accurately describe the beauty and awe inspiring, jaw dropping views along Going To The Sun Road. It is something you have to experience for yourself.
I’m grateful my husband drove, because it is a winding road with some switchbacks. As you climb higher to Logan Pass, you think you have seen the best views but then they keep getting better.
Our plan was to park at Logan Pass and eat our lunches we had packed and check out the Logan Pass Visitor Center. However, when we got to Logan Pass around 12:30 pm, the parking lot was full and they had the parking lot closed. A park ranger was standing at the entrance next to a “LOT FULL” sign, not allowing any cars in. So we drove just down the road past Logan Pass to the Lunch Creek pull off and had our picnic there.
Click here to watch my Instagram reel on Going To The Sun Road.
Red Rock
After the picnic at Lunch Creek, we drove Going To The Sun Road back to the West Entrance, stopping at all of the pull-offs along the way. We listened to the Guide Along app (formerly GyPSy Guide) along the way which was very helpful.
Our favorite pull-off was Red Rock. From the parking lot, we could see people cliff jumping and swimming in the teal water, so we grabbed our backpacks with our water shoes and towels and joined the fun. This was a lot of fun and the cold water felt so refreshing on this hot day.
We ended the day cooking dinner back at our house and then watched the sunset at the backyard fire pit.
Day 4: Highline Trail to Haystack Butte
Earlier in the week we had heard from fellow hikers that the Logan Pass parking lot fills by 6:30 am. We did not want to get up at the crack of dawn, so we opted to try the shuttle today.
To access the shuttle, we parked at the Apgar Visitor Center parking lot. We arrived around 10:00 am and only had to wait around 10 minutes for the shuttle. You have to change shuttles at the Avalanche Lake trail head to get on the Logan Pass shuttle from there.
From the west entrance to Logan Pass takes about 1 hour in your car. The shuttle adds another 30 minutes to this but you don’t have to worry about parking.
For more information about the Glacier National Park shuttle system, click here.
Logan Pass
Logan Pass is where the Continental Divide is. It is the highest elevation that you can reach by car in Glacier National Park. Logan Pass is also the best place to see wildlife along Going to the Sun Road!
Once we got to Logan Pass, we walked down to the overlook that is just west of the parking lot. There was a group of Big Horn Sheep grazing right off the side of the road next to the lookout.
The lookout is a large deck with an amazing view, definitely don’t miss this one. We also saw a mountain goat just outside the parking lot at Logan Pass. Logan Pass is the best place to see wildlife along Going to the Sun Road. Check out The Best Places to See Wildlife in Glacier National Park.
Tip: The Logan Pass Visitor Center has bathrooms, a gift shop, park ranger staffed information desk, a water bottle refill station and light snacks for purchase.
Highline Trail
The Highline Trail was amazing!
It is an 11 mile trail if you do the whole hike down to the loop, or you can hike 3 miles in to Haystack Butte and turn around, making it a 6 mile hike round trip. We were not up for an 11 mile hike, so the 3 mile hike to Haystack Butte was perfect for our family.
Highline Trail is a very narrow trail that runs along the edge of the mountain, with steep drop offs on one side and the mountain wall on the other.
The trail begins at what most people say is the scariest part, along the rocky mountain wall with the rubber cables installed for you to hold on to. I am actually afraid of heights, and was nervous about this part.
At the beginning of the hike I actually held on to the cable the whole time and just looked straight ahead. But I became much more comfortable throughout the hike. And by the return trip, I was not holding on as much and was truly enjoying the views.
When planning this trip, this was the one I wasn’t sure I would be able to do because of the heights. I am so glad that I didn’t let my fear make me miss out on this incredible hike because the views were so spectacular!
Close Encounter With Rams
The most incredible part of the Highline Trail hike for us was our encounter with 2 sets of Big Horn Sheep right on the trail.
About 2 miles into the hike, we came upon a ram that was blocking the trail and had actually charged at another group of hikers trying to pass it. We turned around to go back towards the trailhead to avoid that ram and then ran into 2 more rams blocking the trail in the other direction.
There we were, sandwiched between two sets of rams, on this very narrow trail with a drop off on one side and the mountain wall on the other. Knowing they had charged at other hikers, we were very nervous as they approached us on the cliff.
We scrambled back to a rock ledge we had just passed on the side of the mountain, and climbed up it to let them pass. Soon we were joined by the other group of hikers as we anxiously waited for them to pass.
They both galloped past us with such force and beauty, it was an unforgettable experience! I posted the video on Instagram and TikTok and it has gone viral with over 6 million views! Click here to view the video on Instagram.
Check out my blog post “Our Encounter With Rams on a Hike in Glacier National Park: The Story Behind the Video” to see the video.
After the exciting Highline Trail hike, we took the shuttle back to Apgar Village and ate lunch at Eddie’s Cafe where we had huckleberry cobbler and huckleberry ice cream for dessert. My husband and I really liked their Huckleberry Mojitos, too.
Day 5: Hidden Lake & Canada
Today was the last day of our 3 day vehicle reservation for Going To The Sun Road. It is also the day we checked out of our rental house in West Glacier.
Our plan was to drive up to Logan Pass to do the hike to Hidden Lake. Then drive straight from there on Going To The Sun Road through East Glacier and then finally up to our new vacation rental, just over the Canadian border. Because we were not going to be coming back to West Glacier after the hike, the shuttle was not an option for us on this day.
Hidden Lake Overlook
It was an early morning wake up call for us to get to the Logan Pass parking lot before it filled up. We got to Logan Pass just before 7 am, and there were a few spots remaining.
Our plan was to do the 2.5 mile round trip hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook, as we had heard that the hike from the overlook to the lake was closed due to bear activity. Apparently the salmon are spawning this time of year which brings bears down to the lake. We found out upon arrival that the second half of the trail to the lake had reopened.
It was a cold start to the morning, and it was actually really foggy at Logan Pass. The visibility was so low that we didn’t have much a view on the 1.25 mile hike to the Overlook.
When we reached Hidden Lake Overlook, there was zero visibility. The entire overlook was enveloped in a cloud. An approaching hiker told us the visibility opens up if you continue on the trail, so we did. The visibility on the other side of the overlook was much better and the views were spectacular.
Hike Down To Hidden Lake
After reaching the overlook, we discussed hiking down to the lake, which was another 1.25 miles each way, bringing the total hike to 5 miles round trip. Once we got our eyes on that part of the trail, we realized that it was a steep downhill descent all the way. And you know that means a steep uphill climb on the return trip.
The kids and I had second thoughts. We had not brought our hiking poles as we thought we were only doing the hike to the overlook, which is on a boardwalk the whole way. My husband became our cheerleader and convinced us all to do it anyway, and I will say that it was strenuous, in both directions.
Hiking poles would’ve made a huge difference, I would not recommend going down to the lake without them.
Once we got down to the lake, we had our bear spray out in our hands instead of the side pocket of our backpacks. I also attached a metal whistle to my backpack that jingled as we walked to make any bears aware. Luckily, we never saw any bears.
We ate our picnic lunch down at the lake. The view from the lake was really pretty, but the views from above were superior.
Once we got back up to the Overlook, which was now around 10 am, the fog and clouds had cleared and the view was just gorgeous.
TIP: In our opinion, the strenuous hike down and back to Hidden Lake from the overlook was not worth the view. If we had to do it over, we would do just the 2 mile round trip hike to the overlook. If you do hike down to the lake, bring your hiking poles and bear spray!
Check out my Instagram reel on Hide Lake here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more Glacier National Park content. Click here for a list of What to Pack For Your Trip To Glacier National Park.
Canada
Next, it was time to drive to our new vacation home for the rest of the week, just over the border in Canada.
Our Canadian rental was a guest house on a working cattle ranch. Although this was in Canada, it gave us the total Montana vibes of being on a ranch and we loved the views of the horses and cattle from every room in the house. We also had incredible views of Chief Mountain and beautiful sunsets.
The house was 25 minutes to the entrance of East Glacier. Crossing the border only took 5 minutes, and the border is open from 7 am-11 pm so we had no issues going back and forth.
We even had a hold up one morning on the road as some ranchers on horseback herded cattle across the road, which was fun to watch!
Day 6: Exploring East Glacier
St. Mary Lake Boat Tour
Day 6 started with a morning boat tour of St. Mary Lake. This tour was booked as a way to get the vehicle reservation for Going To The Sun Road, since our 3 day pass expired the day before.
Unlike the Lake McDonald tour, the St. Mary boat tour with Glacier Park Boat Company was really good. The boat took you farther around the lake and the scenery was beautiful. Driving up close to Wild Goose Island was amazing.
We were excited to learn that the tour stopped and let us off at Baring Falls to explore for about 20 minutes, as we had planned to hike there later in the day. One less place we had to walk to!
After the boat tour ended, we drove to Rising Sun picnic area to eat lunch. Then we hopped on the shuttle at Rising Sun to take us to the St. Mary Falls hike.
East Glacier was absolutely beautiful. While there is more to do along Going to the Sun Road in West Glacier, there was such a beauty found on the east side.
Hike to St. Mary Falls & Virginia Falls
We hiked to St. Mary Falls, and then continued on to Virginia Falls, stopping at a few smaller waterfalls along the way. This was a fairly easy hike, 3 miles round trip. Hiking poles were helpful although out of all the hikes we did, this would would be the one where they were less necessary.
A large section of this area was burned up in the 2015 Reynolds Fire, which was started by people camping without a permit. It was sad to see all of the dead trees, but the white and black trees were such a contrast to the blue water and pink and coral wild flowers that it looked like a painting. It was actually very pretty in a sad way.
Day 7: Grinnell Glacier & Many Glacier
Many Glacier Boat Shuttle Reservations
Many Glacier is not on Going To The Sun Road, it is an entirely different part of Glacier National Park in East Glacier. You need a vehicle reservation to get into this part of the park, and it is only a 1 day reservation.
Many Glacier is where you will find the hike to Grinnell Glacier. Grinnell Glacier was our favorite thing of the whole trip, and a MUST DO hike.
We booked the Many Glacier boat shuttle with Glacier Park Boat Company, not only for the vehicle reservation it gave us, but to shorten the hike. This boat shuttle cuts off 4 miles from what would be an 11 mile hike.
It is important to get tickets to either the 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00 am shuttle. After 9:00, the next scheduled shuttle does not leave until 11:00 am. The problem with the 11:00 am shuttle is that the last return shuttle leaves at 5:30 pm, which does not give you a lot of time to get to the glacier and back down before the last shuttle.
Check out 10 Things To Know Before Booking A Trip To Glacier National Park for information on road reservations and the Many Glacier boat shuttles.
Boat Shuttle Tips:
I purchased our boat shuttle tickets 5 months in advance and all of the morning shuttles were sold out. Unfortunately, I had to get our reservations on the 11:00 am shuttle.
We knew we would be cutting it close with time if we waited for the 11:00 am shuttle, so we decided to go ahead and hike the 2 miles around the lake on the way to the glacier. Then we would take the boat shuttle on the way back, making for an almost 9 mile hike verses a 7 mile hike had we taken both shuttles.
Boat Shuttle Tip: If you end up with an 11:00 am boat shuttle or later, go to the boat dock as early as 8 am to get on the waiting list for the 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00 shuttle. I wish we would have known this. We got there at 8:30 am to start our hike and found out we could get on the waiting list for the 9:00 shuttle.
My family would have made it on the boat, but there was one party of 17 people in front of us on the list and they all made it on. If we had gotten on the 8 or 8:30 waiting list, we definitely would have made it.
Having the boat shuttle is really a necessity for anyone not wanting to do an 11 or 9 mile hike. The boat shuttle takes you across two different lakes. Shuttle one takes you across Swiftcurrent Lake, the you get off and walk a quarter mile to the second boat shuttle dock. The second boat shuttle takes you across Lake Josephine, cutting 2 miles off of the hike one way, 4 miles roundtrip.
Reservation Tip: Make your boat shuttle reservations well in advance, the morning shuttles were sold out when we booked 5 months out.
Starting the Hike To Grinnell Glacier
We got to the parking lot at 8:30 am and there was plenty of parking, so no need to get up at the crack of dawn for this one. The trail head (and shuttle boat dock) for the Grinnell Glacier hike is behind the Many Glacier Hotel.
It was cold at 8:30 am, only 48 degrees! By the time we reached the top it was in the sweltering 90s, so needless to say we shed layers throughout the day. Dressing in layers is key for the hike to Grinnell Glacier.
Be sure to pack snacks or lunch and plenty of water. We each had a 40 oz water bottle and a disposable 16 oz water bottle for refill. Hiking poles are a must on this hike, trust me, you don’t want to go without them!
You will also want to pack sunscreen and bug spray. There is almost no shade on this hike, so you will want to be prepared.
Check out What to Pack For Your Trip To Glacier National Park and my Amazon storefront for more must-have items for your hike!
Grinnell Lake and Grinnell Glacier
The hike to the Grinnell Glacier is uphill the entire way, which sounds tough, but it’s not that bad with hiking poles. Plus, the scenery was so unbelievable that we were stopping every couple minutes to take photos or just take it all in.
We also stopped about halfway up on a flat rock overlooking the indescribable neon blue Grinnell Lake to eat our picnic lunch.
Shortly after lunch, we came upon a huge bull moose only about 20 yards off of the trail. As we kept climbing the views just got better and better. Words and pictures do not do this scenery justice.
The grand finale is when you arrive at the beautiful Grinnell Glacier. This is truly a bucket list hike!
The Return
On the return shuttle, going across Lake Josephine, we saw another moose bathing in the water. Our shuttle driver stopped near it so we could all get a good view.
Tip: Pay attention to the boat shuttle return times on your ticket. The shuttles are first come, first serve and only come every hour. There will be a line of people waiting and not everyone will make it on, so you don’t want to be in the back of the line. We were lucky and didn’t have to wait.
After making it back to the boat dock, we went inside the Many Glacier Hotel to eat an early dinner at the Ptarmigan Restaurant. The Many Glacier Hotel is so pretty on the inside, the decor is Swiss Alps and has all the feels of a Swiss chalet.
Tip: The Many Glacier hotel books up over a year in advance!
For more detailed information about hiking Grinnell Glacier, check out Hike to Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park.
Fishercap Lake
After dinner, we drove a half mile down the road to Fishercap Lake which is known to be a great place for moose sightings in the evening. When we arrived to the lake, we were happy to see a bull moose grazing in the water.
The beach surrounding the lake was full of people, some in chairs they brought, other standing, just mesmerized by the moose. Everyone was silent as not to disturb it, the only sounds you could hear were the crunching on the rocky sand when newcomers arrived. There was such a feeling of reverence amongst everyone, it was truly beautiful.
As we were leaving Many Glacier, we saw a mama grizzly bear and her 2 cubs along the river. The road was above the river, so they were a good distance below us. We pulled over and took some zoomed in pictures of them.
As we left, we kept talking about what an incredible day this was. We saw 3 moose, 3 grizzly bears, the most majestic and indescribable color glacial water and breathtaking waterfalls and mountains. Wish we had a second day to explore the other areas of Many Glacier, but we did not have road reservations for another day.
Tip: To get to the lake from the parking lot, take the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail until you see the trail junction where there is a tree curved like an S. Make a left at the curved tree and the lake will be just a few yards ahead. It is only a quarter mile from the parking lot to the lake.
Day 8: Waterton Lakes, Canada
For our last full day, we explored the Canadian side of Glacier National Park, which is called Waterton Lakes. This was only about 40 minutes from our rental home.
Our first stop in Waterton Lakes was the Prince of Wales Hotel, which is the most photographed hotel in the world. We then ate lunch in the quaint downtown area of Waterton that has a lot of restaurants and shops.
After lunch, we drove the scenic Akamina Parkway about 10 miles to the parking lot for Cameron Lake. The Akamina Parkway was pretty, but due to a recent wildfire, all of the trees had been burned up. Cameron Lake has kayak and boat rentals and swimming areas.
The next day we drove the 2 hours back to Kalispell Airport (this time on the highway instead of Going To The Sun Road) for our flight back home. Two days later I drove 5 hours to drop my oldest off for her second year of college. So grateful to have gotten to spend so much time together as a family just before she went back to school.
Things we wish we had been able to do:
- Bowman Lake and the town of Polebridge
- Iceberg Lake
- Two Medicine Area
- Cracker Lake
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