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Glacier National Park
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Glacier National Park

Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Crown of the Continent

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3 daysIdeal stay₹16,170From / night₹4,760Food / day₹11,410Entry

Ice-carved peaks, turquoise lakes and mountain goats in north-west Montana, on the Canadian border. Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the park for 80 km over Logan Pass (2,026 m) and opens end to end only in summer (on 22 June in 2026); its alpine section closes on the third Monday of October, or earlier with snow. From Logan Pass the Highline Trail and the Hidden Lake Overlook walk among wildflowers and goats; Lake McDonald, the Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake are on the west side, Many Glacier's lakes and the Grinnell Glacier trail on the east. No vehicle reservations in 2026, but non-US residents pay the US$100 surcharge, and Logan Pass's car park fills early (a ticketed park shuttle runs from July). This is grizzly country: carry bear spray. Stay in the park lodges (summer only) or at West Glacier, Columbia Falls or Whitefish; the Amtrak Empire Builder stops at West Glacier, and Glacier Park International Airport at Kalispell is 40 minutes away. Yellowstone is a long day's drive south (7-8 hours).

Highlights

  • Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass
  • Highline Trail from Logan Pass
  • Hidden Lake Overlook and its mountain goats
  • Avalanche Lake by the Trail of the Cedars
  • Lake McDonald's coloured pebbles at Apgar
  • Many Glacier's lakes and the Grinnell Glacier trail
  • A historic red bus tour
  • St. Mary Lake and Wild Goose Island

Things to do

  • Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan PassJul–SepMorning · 4h
  • Hidden Lake Overlook trail from Logan PassJul–SepAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Highline Trail to Haystack Butte and backJul–SepMorning · 4h 30m
  • Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche LakeAfternoon · 3h
  • Lake McDonald at Apgar at sunsetEvening · 1h 30m
  • Many Glacier: Swiftcurrent Lake and the Grinnell Lake trailMorning · 5h
  • Historic red bus tourAfternoon · 3h 30m
  • St. Mary Lake and the Wild Goose Island viewpointAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • Whitefish town and lake eveningEvening · 2h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Glacier National Parkvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Glacier National Parkvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: July – mid-September

Heads up

Fire Season in the West

Wildfires in the West peak in late summer; smoke can hide the views for days and fires can close roads and trails. Check the park's alerts page and the local fire restrictions (campfire bans are common).

Worth knowing

Going-to-the-Sun Road May Not Be Open Yet

In June the road over Logan Pass is often still being cleared of snow: in 2026 it opened end to end on 22 June, and in some years not until July. The valleys at Lake McDonald, Two Medicine and Many Glacier open earlier. Check the road status on nps.gov/glac before you plan the crossing.

Heads up

Logan Pass Fills Early

No vehicle reservations are needed in 2026, but Logan Pass's car park (3-hour limit) fills early on summer mornings; the park's ticketed shuttle, from July, is the other way up. Start at dawn, and carry bear spray on every trail.