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Not far from the Canadian border lies Montana’s crown jewel, boasting more than 1 million acres of pristine lakes, thick forest, alpine meadows and ancient mountains. Glacier National Park is well worth a week-long visit, but if you only have time for a weekend, these are the things you should add to your to-do list.
Best Day Hikes
There are over 700 miles of hiking trails inside the park, The Highline Trail being the most famous. Our favourite was the Hidden Lake Trail, a 5.4 mile out-and-back trail that takes about 3 hours to complete. Beginning at the Logan Pass Visitor Center, the trail climbs gently over a raised boardwalk through stunning meadows which are covered in wildflowers in the spring. Look for mountain goats and big horn sheep on your way up, and beware of grizzlies – this is a popular bear area in spring and summer due to all the flowers. At the Hidden Lake Overlook you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Mount Cannon, Fusillade Mountain and Gunsight Mountain. Expect crowds at the observation point, but few people once you begin the 770-foot descent to the lake along the slopes of Clement Mountain. A small stony beach provides a good rest-stop on the lakeshore before the steep journey back.
Another great day hike is Aster Falls, an easy 3.5 mile trail in the east of the park. Beginning at the Two Medicine Store, the trail follows the beautiful Two Medicine Lake before heading into a cool forest of lodgepole and fir. Take the 10-minute detour to Paradise Point, which offers views over the lake and mountains in the distance. After a while the trail reaches a series of beaver ponds, where we were lucky enough to spot a moose. We also passed plenty of fresh scat, so be bear aware on the trail. The remainder of the trail climbs up to Aster Falls, a tumbling leveled waterfall surrounded by forest. Climb to the top of the falls for great views over the forest and valleys, then return the way you came.
Transport Logistics
Glacier is known for its Going-to-the-Sun Road, a treacherous 50-mile drive that crosses the Continental Divide. The road is incredibly narrow in places with sheer drop-offs and minimal barriers, so it’s recommended you use the park’s free shuttle bus service instead of taking a personal vehicle. This will allow you to observe the stunning scenery without looking at the road ahead, plus save you the hassle of trying to find a car park at Logan Pass – which fills up by 9.30 am! If you are planning to drive, there are vehicle size restrictions due to rock overhangs, which are listed on the National Park website. We caught the free shuttle from the Agpar Visitor Center, which took us the 32 miles to Logan Pass Visitor Center. There was already a line of people waiting for the bus at 6.30 a.m. when we arrived, and the drive takes between 45 and 60 minutes, so be sure to arrive early to make the most of your day. However you decide to get there, prepare to be impressed: idyllic valleys, clear rivers and impressive mountains are just some of the sights you will see.
Where to Camp
There are 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park. We stayed at Agpar Campground in the south-west, and Two Medicine Lake Campground, to the east. Agpar is right on the shores of sparkling Lake Macdonald, a truly beautiful lake flanked by mountains and forest. If you’re lucky, you might see a black bear cooling off in the water like we did! The camp features flushing toilets, a few showers and is very close to the stores and visitor center at Agpar Village. You will be camping in thick forest with a fire pit and picnic table. Two Medicine Campground was more open with little shade, offering wide views over the valley and surrounding mountains. We were able to spot a bear traversing the mountainside from our campsite in the evening. Don’t forget to cool off with a scenic dip in Two Medicine Lake!
Wildlife Viewing
Glacier is home to 71 species of mammals, including moose, lynxes, coyote, beavers, wolverines, mountain lions and both grizzly and black bears. Hoping to see bears on your national park adventures? With one of the largest remaining grizzly populations in the lower 48 states, you’ll have a better chance of seeing one in Glacier than most other parks. We saw four bears during our time here, more than any of the other parks we’ve visited. Two of these were spotted while driving, so keep a lookout and drive slowly. As mentioned, moose can be found in the Two Medicine section of the park, where the terrain is more swamp-like. Glacier is also known for its Rocky Mountain mountain goats and bighorn sheep. You’ll have a good chance of seeing at least one of these impressive mammals around the Logan Pass area, especially out hiking. We saw several mountain goats on the Hidden Lake Trail, including some babies. Lastly, there is also a small population of gray wolves present in the park. These majestic animals are notoriously elusive, but ask the rangers where they’ve been spotted most recently and try your luck.
What to Eat
There are several food options within Glacier, and if you’re only going for a weekend visit it may be easier to use them rather than bring your own supplies – with the exception of Logan Pass. There are no food services here (not even in the gift store), so be sure to take snacks. Agpar has a café which is open from breakfast until dinner, and there are also three restaurants at Lake McDonald Lodge. The Many Glacier area has four eateries. There are camp stores at the Agpar, Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, Rising Sun and Two Medicine areas of the park offering basic supplies like sandwiches, coffee, granola bars and ice cream. We can vouch for the great coffee at the Two Medicine camp store!
