Glacier National Park (U.S.) in Montana, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana combines mountain roads, lakes, and a large hiking network. Start planning with the side of the park you will enter and the roads available during your visit. A summer trip across Going-to-the-Sun Road and an autumn stay near Lake McDonald can involve very different access and services.

Highlights in Glacier

• Going-to-the-Sun Road: the cross-park route connects the Lake McDonald and St. Mary sides through high mountain terrain.
• Lake McDonald area: Apgar and the Avalanche trail area offer a western starting point for short walks and longer hikes.
• Logan Pass: a high-elevation destination that requires attention to road conditions, parking limits, and seasonal transportation.
• Hiking beyond the road: more than 700 miles of trails provide options well beyond a sightseeing drive, but high trails can retain snow into summer.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Mountain weather, bears, and cold water

Carry warm layers, rain protection, drinking water, and a map you can use offline. Do not rely on a phone signal away from the main developed areas. Snow can remain on high trails into late July, and conditions can change during a hike.

Keep at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife. Carry bear spray where you can reach it and learn how to use it before setting out. Travel together and make your presence known. Cold water and slippery rocks are hazards near streams, lakes, and waterfalls; wear a life jacket when boating.

Visit responsibly

Store food securely and give animals room to move. Pets must stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet in permitted developed areas. They cannot join you on park trails or in the backcountry. The snow-free bicycle path between Apgar and West Glacier is an exception. A road closed to vehicles is treated as backcountry for pet access, so it is not an alternative dog-walking route.

Entry, shuttle tickets, and overnight permits

Vehicle reservations are not required anywhere in Glacier in 2026. This does not guarantee a parking space. Logan Pass has a three-hour parking limit under the 2026 access plan.

The reservation-only 2026 Logan Pass shuttle season ended September 7. Do not assume the same arrangements will apply in a later year. Review the park's reservation and permit guidance when planning your travel season.

Most frontcountry campgrounds require advance booking through Recreation.gov, with release windows that vary by campground. Book before entering the park because cell service is unreliable. Overnight wilderness trips require a wilderness camping permit. Lodging reservations and boat inspection or permit requirements are separate from admission.

Maps, entrances, and road access

From the west, U.S. Highway 2 leads to West Glacier and the Lake McDonald side. From the east, U.S. Highway 89 provides access toward St. Mary, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine. St. Mary is the eastern entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road. Use the official park maps to plan around your entrance rather than a general park-center pin.

Vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet, including bumpers, or wider than 8 feet, including mirrors, cannot use the restricted stretch between Avalanche and Rising Sun. Vehicles taller than 10 feet can have difficulty with rock overhangs west of Logan Pass. There is no fuel inside the park. Fill up before entering and have a route around the park ready if the mountain road closes.

Nearby parks

• Whitefish Lake State Park: a road-accessible option at Whitefish Lake on the Whitefish side of the western gateway area.
• Les Mason State Park: another Whitefish-area stop, reached at 150 East Lakeshore Court on the lake's eastern shore.

Choose a walk or a mountain day

For a shorter outing in the Lake McDonald area, consider Trail of the Cedars. NPS identifies it as an accessible trail. Avalanche Lake is a longer choice from the Avalanche picnic area: the listed distance is 2.3 miles each way, or 4.6 miles round trip, with about 500 feet of elevation gain. Check trail closures before committing to either route.

A drive across Going-to-the-Sun Road needs time for stops and a workable parking plan. Keep the Logan Pass time limit in mind if you intend to hike there. An overnight trip lets you explore farther along the trail network, but it requires a permit and preparation for wilderness conditions.

Facilities and accessibility

Apgar is a useful first stop for visitor information. Its visitor-center restrooms remain open year-round, and NPS identifies a bottle-filling station there. Campground water systems and other services can close seasonally. Primitive camping means fewer facilities; bring the supplies you need instead of assuming summer services remain available.

Glacier has frontcountry campgrounds and seasonal lodging. Visitor-center schedules vary in fall, and in-park lodging is not available throughout the year. Parking can fill during busy periods and access to an area can be restricted because of congestion.

Park shuttles are ADA accessible when operating. Trail of the Cedars and Running Eagle Falls are identified as accessible routes, but a route's design does not override a construction closure. Two Medicine access affects the latter. Consult the accessibility information for the specific facilities you plan to use.

About Glacier National Park

People and park history

People have used this landscape for more than 10,000 years. Blackfeet communities are associated with the lands east of the mountains, while Salish and Kootenai communities have longstanding ties to the west. Railway access arrived in 1891. Glacier became a national park in 1910.

Wildlife across different habitats

The park's animals occupy habitats ranging from prairie to glacier-fed streams. Elk, bears, and wolves are part of this landscape; smaller animals and aquatic insects also depend on its varied environments. Watch without approaching or changing an animal's behavior. A roadside sighting is a reason to give wildlife space, not to leave your vehicle in a dangerous position.

Contact Glacier National Park

Call 406-888-7800 or email [email protected] for general park information. The NPS contact page lists 61 Scoyen Circle, West Glacier, MT 59936 for courier deliveries. This administrative address is not a substitute for directions to your chosen entrance.