While planning our trip to Glacier National Park, I knew we wouldn’t be able to see all it had to offer. The place was too big, and our trip was too short. Instead, we focused on things and places one should never miss when in Glacier National Park.
Last updated: June 5, 2024
Top 10 Places One Should Never Miss in Glacier National Park
At 1,583 square miles, Glacier National Park is one of the largest national parks on the West Coast of the U.S.. The irresistible wilderness is nested in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, near the Canadian border.
Every spring and summer, Glacier National Park, an oasis of lush valleys and glacier-capped peaks, entices with some of the most dramatic views in the country. From breathtaking Hidden Lake to Swiss-countryside-like Many Glacier, and picture-perfect Logan Pass, the list of places one can’t miss in Glacier National Park grows proportionally to the number of snow-free days.
With the beginning of the winter season, however, most of these scenic destinations go into hibernation. While Glacier National Park still plays a role of a welcoming host, heavy snowy blankets cover the ground, providing solitude to the places that just a couple of months ago were regarded impossible to miss.
This cycle repeats itself every year. The pleasure of finally being able to explore the most coveted natural landmarks reaches its culmination when the snow melts and alpine sections of Glacier National Park open. People from all over the world flock to Montana. Hiking along more than 700 miles of trails, they make sure not to miss any of the attention-worthy places Glacier National Park has to offer at this time.
READ MORE: The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park
Places We didn’t Want to Miss in Glacier
We were no exception. Saving the trip to Glacier National Park for mid-summer, we hoped to see all the must-visit destinations, hike along several favorite and secluded trails, and explore all those places that were regarded unmissable.
Our dreams indeed came true and all our wishes were granted thanks to the favorable weather and a bit of luck. After venturing to different sections of the park, we agreed that these 10 sites are the places you don’t want to miss during your first visit to Glacier.
Is this list subjective? Absolutely. But once you see any of these natural wonders, you understand why we consider them the places you shouldn’t miss when in Glacier National Park.
TOP 10 PLACES NOT TO MISS IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
1. Going-to-the-Sun Road – One of the Iconic Places Not to Miss in Glacier
Connecting the West Glacier entrance to the St.Mary/East entrance, the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the first places you can’t afford to miss in Glacier.
The panoramic route spans 50 miles of park’s diverse terrain. Alpine lakes and blooming meadows, roaring waterfalls, creek-divided valleys… The Going-to-the-Sun Road has gathered the best views to see and the most charming natural attractions to explore in the park.
The places you don’t want to miss in this section of Glacier include jaw-dropping Logan Pass and alpine Avalanche Lake. Different in many ways, both sites display the natural beauty of the area and deliver more than you can expect.
Hiking in Glacier is another activity you can’t miss. From a short walk along the Trail of the Cedars to a day hike along the Highline Trail, the park provides a scenic environment for hikers of all ages and fitness levels.
If driving and taking in the views is your way of exploring a new place, then roll down your window and admire Glacier’s roadside waterfalls and u-shaped valleys without slowing down for a bit.
2. Avalanche Lake
Pristine forest surrounds an alpine lake. Glacier-fed waterfalls cascade down the mountainside. Welcome to Avalanche Lake, one of the places not to miss in West Glacier.
Starting at the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, the path runs toward Avalanche Gorge, crosses a narrow footbridge, and continues farther into the woods until it comes across the Avalanche Lake Trail junction. Here, the dirt trail forks to the left and for about a mile winds along the right bank of Avalanche Creek.
Once the path displays enough of the natural splendidness of this side of Glacier, it leaves the creek behind and dives deeper into the forest. Not many spectacular places festoon your walk afterwards, hardly ever suggesting that it’s one of the sections of Glacier that you can’t miss.
Disappointment may be hard to hide at some point. But it lasts only until you reach the shores of Avalanche Lake. Embraced by the mountains with the rushing down falls, the place is the epitome of natural brilliance and magnificence.
3. Lake McDonald
Among all the places in West Glacier, Lake McDonald is the easiest not to miss. The largest lake in the park sits in the western corner of the Going-to-the-Sun Road area. Offering a wide range of activities, such as boating, kayaking, and swimming, it’s considered one of the most popular places in Glacier.
The size of the lake surely plays not the last role here. Spanning 10 miles in length, it rewards the visitors with some of iconic as well as secluded spots right near the scenic road.
4. Logan Pass
Can you ever miss the highest peaks, lakes, hanging gardens – all those places in Glacier National Park that require a little bit of effort? Well, you probably can if you are not a particularly active guy or gal.
Yet fear not. You can still comfortably explore alpine meadows and even watch Glacier’s wildlife without any strenuous hikes at Logan Pass. At 6,646 feet, it is the highest point along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Adorned with blooming valleys, scenic overlooks, and even its own visitor center, Logan Pass astounds with its unmatched beauty. Spectacular views open up right behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Walk up and down a raised boardwalk to take in the sights and watch mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and bears pop up farther up in this area.
For those who feel a need to stretch their legs, the Hidden Lake Overlook and Highline Trails are the places not to miss in this elevated area of Glacier National Park. While the first hike feels like a nice walk uphill, the latter spreads for more than 10 miles, requiring a day to complete.
TIP: Parking is an ongoing issue at Logan Pass in the summer. Arrive early to claim your spot or you risk missing this place altogether. Once the parking lot is full, rangers may turn away all other visitors.
5. Waterfalls You Can’t Miss When in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is home to nearly 200 waterfalls, both named and unnamed. Streaming down the mountain sides along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, hiding in the woods a short (or a long) walk away from the roads, these falls are indispensable parts of the park.
Each section of Glacier has its own stars. The most coveted waterfalls in the Going-to-the-Sun Road area are St. Mary Falls, Virginia Falls, and Barring Falls. In Many Glacier, Apikuni Falls steals the show. Running Eagle Falls and Appistoki Falls are the two places you can’t miss in the Two Medicine region, an overlooked section of Glacier National Park.
6. St. Mary Lake
Back to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This time, to its eastern side, where St. Mary Lake lies. Similar to Lake McDonald, the second-largest lake in Glacier is not one of the places you can easily miss.
Stretching for almost 10 miles, St. Mary Lake parallels the scenic drive. A myriad of easy pull-offs dot its shore, offering ample vistas of the lake and its surroundings. Occasionally, wildlife approaches the shore, stopping the lucky visitors in their tracks.
Although the aquamarine lake is an attraction on its own, its tiny Wild Goose Island has long been included in the list of Glacier’s iconic places you can’t afford to miss. The photogenic spot sits near the eastern shore of St. Mary Lake. It became even more alluring after it was featured in the opening scene of the movie “The Shining”.
7. Many Glacier
Home to mesmerizing alpine lakes, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls, Many Glacier is one of the favorite sections of Glacier National Park. No need to stress out that the Many Glacier Valley, a place that reminds you of the hillsides of Switzerland, is one of a few places you should never miss in Glacier.
Whether you are into day hikes or a relaxing vacation by a picturesque lake, Many Glacier is the right place to be. Famous for the Swiss-style Many Glacier Hotel, the area houses a plethora of natural attractions you can’t find anywhere else in the park. Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake are some of them.
TIP: One thing you do want to miss in Many Glacier is being turned away at its entrance. Similar to Logan Pass, rangers can close the area once the parking lots are full. So be an early bird and do not miss some of the most resplendent places in Glacier National Park.
Need to Know: As of the summer season of 2024, Many Glacier along with the Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork require a vehicle reservation.
8. Grinnell Glacier Trail
A crown jewel of Many Glacier, the Grinnell Glacier Trail is a long, 10.6-mile, round-trip hike that starts at the Many Glacier Hotel or Grinnell Glacier trailhead. Passing by a few emerald-green lakes and roaring waterfalls, it’s one of the most beautiful trails packed with places you can’t miss when visiting Many Glacier.
The hike is strenuous, though. Elevation gain is 1,600 feet. Yet none of these matters when you sit by a waterfall near the glacier, looking down at epic Grinnell Lake.
TIP: From time to time, mountain goats and bears join you for the view. So be extra vigilant and pay close attention to your surroundings.
9. Two Medicine – One of the Lesser-Known Places You Shouldn’t Miss in Glacier
Many visitors of Glacier National Park stick only to the most popular places and willingly or unwillingly miss many hidden gems. Once the most popular section of the park, Two Medicine surely feels it the most.
Nestled in the southeastern corner of Glacier, this region is off of the popular route. Those who make it all the way to Two Medicine, however, are thrilled to find a breathtaking kingdom of scenic lakes, majestic mountains, and cascading waterfalls.
10. Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada, is technically not one of the places you shouldn’t miss while exploring Glacier National Park. Yet as part of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, it’s the next place to add to your list of the places not to miss in and near Glacier National Park.
Regarded as a quieter version of Montana’s popular national park, Waterton Lakes is yet to surprise you with its own scenic landscapes. Start with a guided boat tour on Waterton Lake and then hike to alpine lakes and meadows and gigantic mountains.
TIP: If you’re not in a rush to get back to Glacier, road-trip to Banff National Park, one of top places not to miss in Canada.
READ MORE: U.S. and Canada’s National Parks: How to Visit?
Things to Know before Visiting Iconic Places You Can’t Miss in Glacier National Park
Hours of Operation
Glacier National Park is open 365 days a year. Due to heavy snow and frequent avalanches, though, many roads within Glacier are closed from late September through mid-June. This automatically makes you miss some of Glacier National Park’s favorite places, such as Logan Pass, when visiting the area during the winter or shoulder seasons.
Glacier National Park Entrance Fees
Entrance fee is $35 per car. The ticket is valid for seven consecutive days. Annual passes and national passes, such as the America the Beautiful pass, are also available.
Be Bear Aware
Glacier National Park has the largest concentration of black and grizzly bears. The wild animals roam freely in the park and should not be approached, fed, or otherwise disturbed.
READ MORE: How to Protect Yourself from Bears in the Wild: Tips and Myths
Plan to Spend at Least 3-4 Days in Glacier National Park
If you don’t want to miss any of the places we’ve outlined above, plan to stay in Glacier National Park for at least 3 days. The place is huge. The number of natural landmarks you can’t afford to miss grows exponentially to the amount of time you spend in the park.
