3 Days in Scenic Glacier National Park

Visiting Glacier National Park has been on my national park bucket list for as long as I can remember. It was exciting to finally get to the park on our latest family vacation. The location, tucked away in the northwest corner of Montana, provided the opportunity to combine the trip with a visit to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. We spent 3 full days in Glacier, with a good mix of touring by car, hikes, a boat tour, and a few longer hikes thrown in. The park is huge, at over 1 million acres, and advanced planning was time well spent. Keep reading to hear more about our 3-day itinerary in beautiful Glacier National Park. 

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Getting to Glacier National Park

So what is the easiest way to get to Glacier National Park? Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell is conveniently located roughly 30 miles from West Glacier. It is a good choice if you are staying in Columbia Falls like we did or nearby Whitefish. Flights arrived from cities around the country, including Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, and Seattle. Bigger airports like Missoula International Airport or Great Falls International Airport offer options if you want to drive a bit or explore other parts of Montana. Glacier Park International Airport was especially convenient when flights got delayed and we had to pick up our grown kids at 1 a.m.

Keep in mind that the park itself is over 1 million acres. With a vehicle reservation, you can drive from one side of the park to the other, with the route taking over almost 2 hours without stops. As with most parks, reservations for lodges inside the park require advance planning (up to one year in advance). Towns closest to West Glacier like Columbia Falls and Whitefish, offer more flexible options if you are looking to stay outside of the park. It took us about 25 minutes to get to the West Glacier entrance from our rental in Columbia Falls, and we also had a short drive to visit the town of Whitefish. 

For 2024, a vehicle reservation was required between 6 am and 3 pm for Going-to-the-Sun Road between May 24 and September 8 for anyone entering from the west side, or for entering at Many Glacier from July 1 to September 8. Not wanting to risk not getting a next-day reservation, I grabbed reservations when they were first released 120 days out. Our visit was in late August, so it was probably easier than trying to get a reservation during the busier mid-summer. If you don’t have a reservation, you can still park at the Apgar Visitor Center and hop on a shuttle to Logan Pass and beyond. Or take one of the several tours that will transport you to different parts of the park. 

During 2024, vehicle reservations were also required for Many Glacier between July 1 and September 8 (6 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Remember that the vehicle reservation is in addition to the National Park Entrance Pass. I highly recommend an annual pass for multi-days or if you are visiting several parks in a year.  

Our trip was planned so that we could spend 3 full days exploring Glacier National Park before we headed to Canada for the rest of our family vacation. This massive park was sculpted by glacial activity, and as of 2015 the number of remaining glaciers was 26. The park offers tips about where to best see a glacier (many requiring  hiking or binoculars), but don’t expect to see massive glaciers like you would find in Alaska. Driving the Going to the Sun Road is the highlight for auto touring, where spectacular views are around every corner.  

Three days wasn’t enough to see all that the park offers, but we hit many highlights. Now that our family is all adults and experienced hikers, some opted for more hiking and less sightseeing by car, as reflected in this itinerary. This meant we didn’t spend time in the St. Mary Lake area, but we balanced that with time in the Many Glacier area. Our pre-planning allowed us to do much of what was on our list, even if we did split up at times (but never hiking alone). Always do your hiking research to determine the best options, and what you are comfortable with. We started our research with the Moon Best of Glacier, Banff & Jasper: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Parks, which was a helpful guide since we were continuing on to Banff. Make sure you are prepared with bear spray, water, sunscreen, and a basic first-aid kit. 

3-Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

Day 1
Drive Going to the Sun Road | Logan Pass (early to get parking) | Logan Pass Visitor Center Hike to Hidden Lake | Shuttle then hike to St. Mary Falls/Virginia Falls | Overlooks 

Day 2
Red Bus ½ day tour  OR Highline Hike (partial) | Tall Cedars to Avalanche Lake Trail | Overlooks

Day 3
Early departure for East Glacier | Enter at Many Glacier | Boat Tour from Many Glacier Lodge across Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lake
Hike to Lower Grinnell Lake OR Hike to Grinnell Glacier | Dinner at Many Glacier Lodge
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On Day 1 in the park, we left the house around 6:45, hoping to get a parking spot at Logan Pass (allow about 90 minutes to reach the pass from Columbia Falls). It's easy to forget that driving through the park always takes longer than anticipated—taking over an hour to get from the Apgar Visitor Center area to Logan Pass if you don’t stop at any overlooks. When we arrived at 8:30 a.m. (late by most accounts), we were lucky to grab a parking spot from a departing visitor.  As with any national park, always be prepared with a backup plan or knowledge of how the shuttle works in case you are turned away for parking. 

Logan Pass is home to a visitor center, along with several trailheads, including the popular Hidden Lake Nature Trail (roughly 1.4 miles one way to the overlook, plus another 1.2 miles one way to the lake). We hit the trail to the lake, continuing on after we reached the overlook. My kids hiked down to the lakeshore, while my husband paused with me and took in the view from above, skipping the final descent to the lake. On the way, we saw a herd of bighorn sheep relaxing on the hillside.  Expect lots of steps at the beginning of the trail closer to the Visitor Center, and a descent as you get closer to the lake. 

Stop in one of three visitor centers at Logan Pass. The parking area is also the place to transfer to the East Side shuttles heading towards the St. Mary Visitor Center. At mid-day, we waited about 30 minutes for the shuttle that took us to our next stop at the St. Mary Falls trailhead. From there, it’s a pretty easy hike, at around .8 miles one way, leading to a beautiful rushing waterfall. There were plenty of folks hanging out at the falls, even swimming in the creek below. Others continued on to Virginia Falls, roughly 1.6 miles one-way from the shuttle stop. It was easy to catch the shuttle back to our car at Logan Pass, and enjoy a leisurely drive and the views on the way back to the West Entrance of the park. 

Day 2 started early with arrival in the park at 6:45 a.m.  The plan for the day was to split up for the morning and then come back together around 1. I had previously booked a half-day Red Bus Tour so the rest of my family could enjoy a faster-paced hike on the Highline Trail. They picked up the early hiker shuttle at the Apgar Visitor Center while I headed to Lake McDonald Lodge for the popular Glacier Red Bus tour. 

If you have seen any photos from Glacier National Park, you have probably seen the historic Red Buses. The tours are popular and advanced booking is recommended. Before the tour, I had time to enjoy the rustic lobby at Lake McDonald Lodge and the quiet lake views. 

The morning was sunny with a chill in the air, and I watched the Red Bus drivers carefully roll back the canvas roof as they prepared for the day. With a thick wool blanket on our laps, we departed on our 3-hour ride from Lake McDonald Lodge and headed for Logan Pass. 

Along the way, we made several stops—including the West Tunnel where we got a peek out a “window”—a view of Haystack Creek Falls, and a few pop-ups (when the bus stopped we could stand up and pop our heads out the open roof). The drivers are well-versed about the park, along with historical facts related to the vehicles. You can read a few Fun Facts regarding the history of these iconic vehicles, including that the “fleet of 33 buses in Glacier are widely considered to be the oldest touring fleet of vehicles anywhere in the world.”

Several seasonal tour options are available, departing from both sides of the park. West side choices range from the half-day Western Alpine Tour described above, to the West Side Crown of the Continent 8-9 hour tour, that encompasses the entire Going to the Sun Road, then out of the park and back in the park to the Many Glacier Hotel. Book well in advance for these popular tours. 
 
While I was enjoying a relaxing ride, my family was busy taking in the majestic views from above on the Highline Trail. They hit the trail around 8:30 am and hiked roughly 3 miles out and then back. That’s one way to experience the far-reaching views from the Logan Pass trailhead. The other option is the point-to-point hike from Logan Pass to The Loop (about 11+ miles). The trail is sometimes narrow and often exposed, so wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. The point-to-point hike relies on the free shuttle to get back to where you started. As you drive near Logan Pass, look up to spot hikers high above on the trail!

We had made a plan to meet at the Avalanche Creek shuttle stop around 1 p.m. for an afternoon hike. Luckily, there were no issues, as cell service within the park is spotty to non-existent unless you are in one of the lodges. There is some parking in this area, but no guarantee to get a spot. The Avalanche Creek shuttle stop is also where you can take a short hike through the old-growth forest on the popular Trail of the Cedars boardwalk. Our afternoon was spent hiking to Avalanche Lake (about 4.5 miles roundtrip with a lot of uphill), through the woods, past the rushing creek, and down to a spectacular lake with a mountain backdrop. 

After a full day in the park, the huckleberry milkshake and ice cream at the Huckleberry Patch hit the spot. It's a great stop if you are staying in Columbia Falls. The Huckleberry Patch is the perfect stop for all things huckleberry, from food items to bath products. 

When planning the trip we decided to spend day 3 in the Many Glacier area. Given the distance to get there (about 2 ½ hours from Columbia Falls whether you drive through or around the park) and the fact that we were continuing to Banff National Park in Canada, we decided to stay on the east side of Glacier after our last day. We hit the road around 5:30 a.m. and took the route around the park (a reservation would have been required to drive through the park). Not long after the sun rose, we saw our first (and only) bear (a mother and two cubs) safely crossing the road as we got closer to East Glacier. Also note that the first part of the road to the picturesque Many Glacier Lodge is gravel and dusty! 

The plan for the day was focused on the hike to Grinnell Glacier. I had reserved the 9 a.m. Many Glacier boat tour that would cut off the first few miles of the hike. The ride in itself was spectacular, with the mountains reflecting off the water of Swiftcurrent Lake. The boat tour requires a transfer to a second boat for the ride on Lake Josephine, with a short hike between the docks. You also get a view of Salamander Glacier, originally a part of Grinnell Glacier.

From the boat dock, the hike to Grinnell Glacier was approximately 7.6 miles, with a 1600-foot elevation gain. It’s considered a strenuous hike that can take between 4-6 hours. While the rest of my family set off towards Grinnell Glacier, I joined another group heading on the shorter, lower Grinnell Lake Hike (about 2 miles round trip from the boat dock). It was a pretty easy hike through the woods that opened up to gorgeous views of lower Grinnell Lake. Check out these two perspectives of how the water looked, with the first photo I took from the lower Grinnell Lake trail, the other taken by my husband which shows the view from above.

Upon returning to Many Glacier Lodge, I had a relaxing few hours enjoying the view while the rest of my family was busy photographing the stunning views of Upper Grinnell Lake upon their arrival!  Here’s what one of my kids had to say about their hikes. 

The Highline Trail and Grinnell Glacier Hike were equally challenging and rewarding! There is a high chance for wildlife sightings with stunning lakes and mountain views.

Our Stay in Columbia Falls

Nearby Columbia Falls was a perfect location for our 4 night stay in the area. The drive to the West Entrance of the park took about 20 minutes, and the location is just about a 10 minute drive to Glacier Park International Airport. We loved our rental, the Avocado Abode, tucked into a neighborhood just a few blocks off of US-2, with its outdoor picnic table, chairs, a hammock, and even bikes! Nearby was MUDMAN Burgers, Backslope Brewing, and the seasonal Thursday night Farmers’ Market. Not far from the house, the downtown area had more restaurants, including North Fork Pizza and the Gunsight Saloon. 

A bit further from the West Glacier entrance is the larger town of Whitefish. There you will find plenty of choices for accommodations, restaurants, and shops. We took the opportunity to enjoy a walk along Whitefish Lake and dinner at the Craggy Range. Try the Huckleberry Mojito and one of their hand-held sandwiches.

Planning Tips & Things to Know Before You Go

*Bear spray is essential for any hiking activity in and around Glacier National Park. Pick some up at a local store, or rent a canister from the shops at the Glacier Park International Airport. Hike in groups and make noise.  Read more from the National Park Service about bear safety in Glacier before you go.
*Don’t underestimate driving times within the park. Between the narrow roads, low speed limits, and constant stopping for the view, it always takes longer than expected. 
*The opening of the entire Going to the Sun Road is dependent on weather, but typically occurs by late June. We visited at the very end of August, and a mid-week snow storm earlier in the week ended up temporarily closing a portion of the road at Logan’s Pass. A week after our visit, heavy rain showers prompted the closing of part of the road due to potential mudslides and rock fall. Have a backup plan. 
*The shuttle bus is a great way to get around the park during the busy summer months. 
*The National Park Service has put together a detailed list of Things to do in Glacier with children. 
*It’s always a good idea to grab a photo or hard copy of the shuttle bus schedule to have on hand. Remember that cell service in most national parks is non-existent. Download the National Park Service app and save the park information for offline use. We do this before any visit to a national park. Just remember to download from your hotel or other place where you have wifi. I also screenshot trail maps ahead of time.