Choosing the best time to visit Glacier National Park, ways to get around, and seasonal activities.
Last updated: June 1, 2024
When Should You Visit Glacier: Favorite Activities for Each Season
With winter lasting a good part of the year and prolonged road closures throughout the area, Glacier National Park can be easily classified as a seasonal park.
Steep mountains and narrow alpine valleys – excellent conditions for frequent avalanches – are accessible or partially accessible most of the year. Summers, the best time to visit Glacier National Park and see all of its gurgling waterfalls, aquamarine lakes, mountain meadows dotted with seasonal flowers, and abundant wildlife, are short.
Yet unlike Yellowstone National Park that lies mostly in Wyoming and slips ever so slightly into neighboring Montana and Idaho, Glacier National Park welcomes outdoor lovers all year round. The number of places to explore and activities to do in the park, however, vary drastically from season to season.
Let’s see how the region changes throughout the year and find the best time to visit Glacier National Park for you.
The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park: Mid-June through Mid-September
It’s worth repeating, you can travel to Glacier National Park all year round. Northwestern Montana remains open 365 days a year except for unplowed roads. The best time to visit Glacier National Park, however, is mid- or late June through mid-September. During this time, all roads are open and visitors can travel between the main sections of Glacier National Park unrestricted.
Who can visit Glacier National Park during this time?
Pretty much everybody: first-time travelers, returning outdoor adventurers, families with kids… With plenty of things to do and almost every hiking trail open, you’re here for your most unforgettable summer experiences.
On the downside, the majority of Montana’s enthusiasts visit Glacier National Park and explore its epic photo locations, enjoy sweeping vistas and natural wonders during the summer season. As a result, the park is the busiest. In fact, more than 1 million visitors flock to Glacier National Park between June through August.
What to Expect
Expect big crowds, shortage of rental cars and accommodation, and increase in prices on pretty much everything.
The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park: Late September through October
Fewer travelers visit Glacier National Park when the days get colder and the park’s roads begin to close. Following the partial closure and a rapid decline in the number of visitors, some lodges and stores cease their operations after Labor Day weekend.
What to Expect
If you travel to Glacier National Park in the fall, plan on staying outside the park. On the bright note, with fewer people around, parking is hardly an issue again. Moreover, accommodation rates drop in response to the decrease in visitation.
What to Do in Glacier in Fall
Yet don’t assume that the fall strips the park of its raw splendor. Visit Glacier National Park in October to feast your eyes on brilliant foliage displays. Many alpine trails, including those at high elevation along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, are closed by now. Yet the remaining open hikes still take you to the glorious vistas.
TIP: Plan your trip to Glacier National Park at this time of the year more thoroughly. Have plan B, C, and maybe even D as frequent rains meddle in your initial Glacier itinerary regularly.
The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park: November through April
From the end of fall though mid-spring, Glacier National Park rests. Snowy blanket envelopes its sweeping hills and mountain and buries the once well-trodden trails. Many roads take a break as well, keeping their unplowed blankets until warmer days. The temperatures often stay well below freezing, scaring away the majority of the warmth-loving visitors.
What to Expect
Those who visit Glacier National Park during this time can rely only on personal vehicles to get around. Free shuttles and visitor centers cease their operations for the entire season. All of the park’s lodges are closed as well. It’s recommended to visit towns and communities outside Glacier National Park and look for the places to stay there.
The slowest season of the year, however, has its own beauty. The winter wonderland suits Glacier, making it look magical and slightly bewildering. Cold-resistant travelers can’t wish for a better time to visit Glacier National Park.
What to Do
The most popular areas finally enjoy their much-coveted solitude and tranquility. Apart from it, winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing, take over hiking, boating, and bicycling.
The Best Time to Visit Glacier Glacier National Park: May through Mid-June
Glacier National Park slowly resumes its operations and opens its scenic roads and trails at the turn of the season. The shuttles begin to travel within the park, yet their services are still limited. Many roads are still closed, as even at the beginning of the summer, snowy storms can occur.
What to Expect
More nature enthusiasts visit Glacier National Park now. Their numbers, however, remain low. Consequently, many hotels nearby can still please budget travelers. The favorite Going-to-the-Sun Road is not fully opened yet.
What to Do
This time of the year, Glacier National Park attracts mostly bicyclists. Whitewater rafting is the second popular activity.
Read More
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