The Crown of the Continent — Going-to-the-Sun Road, turquoise lakes, the last glaciers.
Photo: Robert M. Russell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Going-to-the-Sun Road is the headliner, and it earns it: 50 miles of engineering audacity that climbs from the cedar forests of Lake McDonald to 6,646-foot Logan Pass on the Continental Divide, hanging off cliff edges past the Weeping Wall before dropping to St. Mary. It's regularly named one of the great drives on Earth — and you only get to make it for a few months a year.
Glacier is what the Ice Age left behind: knife-edged peaks, hanging valleys, and lakes so vividly turquoise from glacial rock flour they barely look real. The namesake glaciers, though, are vanishing fast. Roughly 150 glaciers filled these mountains around 1850; today only about 25 remain large enough to count — a slow-motion reason to go now.
The east side is where the park gets operatic. Many Glacier — anchored by Swiftcurrent Lake and the lakeside Many Glacier Hotel — sits in an amphitheater of peaks that draws hikers toward Grinnell Glacier and grizzlies into the meadows. This is the heart of the Crown of the Continent, a million acres of wild that connects to Canada's Waterton Lakes across the border.
Fifty miles of cliff-hugging asphalt from Lake McDonald's forests over Logan Pass to the eastern prairie edge — one of the most celebrated mountain drives anywhere, and the spine of any Glacier trip.
Insider tipDrive it in the morning for better light and pullouts. Vehicles over 21 ft long or 8 ft wide are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun.
Plan a trip to this spot →The road's high point at 6,646 feet and the trailhead for Hidden Lake and the Highline. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats wander the parking lot; wildflowers blanket the meadows in July once the snow melts off.
Insider tipThe lot fills by mid-morning. In 2026, parking here is capped at 3 hours (July 1–Sept 7) with a free timestamped permit — arrive early or ride the shuttle.
Plan a trip to this spot →The park's largest lake, ringed by cedar-hemlock forest and famous for its multicolored pebbles glowing red, green, and tan through crystal-clear water. Historic Lake McDonald Lodge sits on the shore.
Insider tipCalm mornings give mirror reflections of the peaks. Walk the shoreline near the lodge to see the colored stones underwater.
Plan a trip to this spot →One of the park's most accessible namesake glaciers — and one of the best day hikes in the country. The trail climbs past two turquoise lakes to a milky glacial pool beneath the shrinking ice.
Insider tipIt's roughly 11 miles round trip; take the Swiftcurrent boat shuttles to cut about 3.5 miles. Carry bear spray — this is grizzly country.
Plan a trip to this spot →A bowl of soaring peaks reflected in Swiftcurrent Lake, with the Swiss-chalet Many Glacier Hotel on the shore. The best wildlife-watching and trailhead density in the park — moose, bears, and waterfalls.
Insider tipThe road in is rough but open; this is the trailhead hub for Grinnell and Iceberg Lake. Lodging here books up far in advance.
Plan a trip to this spot →A boardwalk-and-trail climb from the Logan Pass Visitor Center through wildflower meadows to an overlook above a hidden alpine lake, mountain goats often grazing right beside the path.
Insider tipAbout 2.7 miles round trip. Snow can linger into July — sturdy shoes help, and stay on the boardwalk to protect the fragile meadows.
Plan a trip to this spot →A short alpine summer: snow lingers at Logan Pass into July and the first storms return by late September. The west valleys are milder and wetter; the high country runs roughly 15–20°F colder. Winters are long and cold with deep snow. The Logan Pass figures are estimated — there's no NOAA station at the pass.
Glacier has entrances on both sides of the Continental Divide, connected only by Going-to-the-Sun Road (when it's open) or the long drive around via US-2. Plan which side you're sleeping on.
The busiest entrance — gateway to Lake McDonald, Apgar Village, and the western start of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Closest to Whitefish and the airport.
The eastern terminus of Going-to-the-Sun Road, on the prairie edge with big open views — gateway to St. Mary Lake and the dramatic east-side peaks.
The park's scenic crown — Swiftcurrent Lake, Many Glacier Hotel, and trailheads for Grinnell and Iceberg Lake. A separate drive from GTSR.
The quieter corners — Two Medicine in the southeast for solitude and lakes; Polebridge in the remote North Fork for Bowman Lake and an off-grid feel.
Sleeping inside Glacier means historic lodges that book a year out; the gateway towns and campgrounds give you more flexibility.
Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier Park Lodge (East Glacier), Apgar Village Lodge, and St. Mary Village — grand early-20th-century lodges run by park concessioners.
Booking tipReservations open about 13 months ahead and the marquee rooms (lakeside at Many Glacier especially) vanish fast. Set a reminder for the day booking opens.
West Glacier, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell on the west; St. Mary and East Glacier on the east. Hotels, cabins, and rentals for every budget.
Booking tipWhitefish is the liveliest base with the most lodging and dining, about 30 minutes from the West Entrance. Pick a side and minimize the over-the-pass commute.
Apgar, Fish Creek, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, St. Mary, Rising Sun, and more — a mix of reservable and first-come sites via Recreation.gov.
Booking tipReservable campgrounds release on a rolling window and fill within minutes in summer. Store all food and scented items properly — this is bear country.
Do I need a vehicle reservation in 2026?
No. For 2026, Glacier discontinued the timed-entry vehicle reservation pilot — no vehicle reservations are required anywhere, including Going-to-the-Sun Road and Many Glacier. You still need a park entry pass. (This is a 2026 change from prior years — always re-confirm on nps.gov/glac.)
What's new at Logan Pass and on the shuttle in 2026?
Two changes: parking at Logan Pass is capped at 3 hours per vehicle (July 1–Sept 7) with a free timestamped permit from the lot kiosk, and the free shuttle moves to a ticketed system — reserve a $1 ticket in advance on Recreation.gov. Verify current dates and times on nps.gov/glac.
What does it cost to get in?
The summer vehicle pass is $35, good for 7 days and covering everyone in your car. Motorcycles are $30 and individuals $20; winter rates are lower. An America the Beautiful annual pass also gets you in.
When does Going-to-the-Sun Road actually open?
The full road over Logan Pass usually opens late June to early July — for 2026 it was projected around June 22 — and closes by mid-October. Plowing nearly 40 avalanche paths makes the date weather-dependent every year, so check the live road status before driving the pass.
Are the glaciers really disappearing?
Yes. Around 1850 the park held roughly 150 glaciers; today only about 25 remain large enough to be considered active, and they continue to shrink. Hikes like Grinnell Glacier let you stand at the ice and see the change firsthand.
How do I get there, and how many days?
Glacier Park International (FCA) near Kalispell is about 30 minutes from the West Entrance; Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at West Glacier, East Glacier, and Whitefish. Give it at least 3 days; a week lets you do both sides and the big hikes. Carry bear spray, make noise, and store food properly — bears are everywhere here.
Pick your vehicle, line up the stops on the way in and out, and carry the whole route in your pocket.
