The best spots in Glacier National Park in 3 days
There are 3 main areas in Glacier.
Lake McDonald
Avalanche Lake Hike, Trail of Cedars,
Sacred Dancing Cascades,
Paddleboarding, Sunrises
Going to the Sun Road
Highline Trail Hike,
Hidden Lake Overlook Hike,
Big Bend Viewpoint,
Logan Pass Visitors Center
Many Glacier
Grinnell Lake and Glacier Hike,
Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine,
Iceberg Lake
Day 1 - Going-to-the-Sun Road Day
You need to get a Going-to-the-Sun Road Reservation months in advance but they do open up some slots the night before and there is normally room.
Get up early and drive to Logan Pass visitors center. It can get crowded so you can park along the road near Lunch Creek or at the next shuttle stop down.
There are three hiking options in this area:
1 - Highline Trail hike - Park at Loop Parking and take shuttle. 12-miles from Logan Pass Visitors center where the trail starts to The Loop - is mostly downhill. 1,532 ft 6 hrs one-way trail. There is a 1 mile off-shoot to Grinnell Glacier Overlook (views of Lake McDonald Valley and Many Glacier Valley).
2 – Hidden Lake 5.1mi, 1,338ft 3hrs or just first part to Hidden Lake Overlook 2.7mi 551ft 1.5 hrs
3 – Hidden Lake overlook and part of Highline trail
We chose option three and loved it. The hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook is beautiful. After we drove down to the Snowgoose grill at St Mary’s Village and had super yummy meal. Then in the late afternoon we hiked a few miles of the Highline trail, then turned back. We also spent time stopping at some viewpoints along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in-between driving.
Going to the Sun Road Stops – Technically the road goes all the way through the park but the busiest section is from the Loop to the Logan Pass Visitors Center. Drive through first then hit the sights on the way back (going west) so its less busy. Some of the stops aren’t marked very well, but basically if we saw something cool, we stopped to look and take a picture. I would definitely stop at the Big Bend turnout, it has a great view. Walk down into the wildflowers and get a picture of the valley. Other than that there isn’t a must see.
Bird Woman Falls Overlook
Big Bend or Paradise Meadow - Weeping Wall Falls just before
West Tunnel
Jackson Glacier Overlook - too far to really see
Going to Sun Mountain
Day 2 - Many Glaciers Day
Hike Grinnel Glacier Trail – 10 miles, 2,047ft, 5 hrs. You can take a boat shuttle across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine to cut the hike, now 7.6 miles. This was my favorite hike! Great views, waterfalls, a glacier and a glacier lake with floating icebergs! Plus we saw a ton of wildlife, rams, mountain goats, two grizzly cubs and a black bear.
Or hike to Iceberg Lake – 9.6 miles, 1,459 ft 4.25 hrs.
If you are staying in West Glacier or coming from that entrance it takes about 2 hours to drive to the Many Glacier area. If you are an early riser watch the sunrise from the porch of Many Glacier Hotel looking out over Swiftcurrent Lake.
On the way back stop and see Wild Good island Lookout and Sun point lookout on St Mary Lake. Some scenes from The Shining were filmed there.
Day 3 - Lake McDonald Day
Hike Avalanche Lake via the trail of cedars loop which is 5 miles or just walk the 1 mile Trail of Cedars. This was the micro hike that takes you into the beautiful forests of Glacier to notice the plants and smells as opposed to the other hikes macro grandiose views.
Here are some options for the rest of the day:
Hike St. mary/Virginia Falls – hike and cliff jump 3 miles 452 ft
Visit Sacred Dancing Cascades - a series of waterfalls and rapids along McDonald Creek, and are quite beautiful.
Hit any stops on the Going to the Sun Road you feel like you missed.
Paddleboard or kayak on Lake McDonald – rent at glacier park boat company at Apgar Village day use area.
To cool of visit the Red Rocks Swimming Hole.
Where to stay
Glacier National Park is 1,500 sq. miles, so its huge! I
would definitely stay in the park if possible.
We stayed at the Apgar Village in a cabin and it was awesome.
Staying in Many Glaciers or St. Mary would also be great because you would be going against traffic on the Going-to-the-sun-road.
The Prince of Wales Lodge and the Glacier Park Lodge look amazing, but a little far from everything you want to do.
In-park lodges can be found on two websites:
Inside Park
West Glacier/Lake McDonald Area
East/Many Glacier Area:
Many Glacier Hotel inside the park in Many Glacier
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins inside the park in Many Glacier
Rising Sun Motor Inn inside the park near St. Mary
St. Mary Village in St. Mary
The Cottages at Glacier in St. Mary
More Secluded
Glacier Park Lodge - $359/night, southeast of park
Prince of Wales Lodge - $450/night, northwest of park
Outside Park
Belton Chalet in West Glacier $290/night
West Glacier Cabins and RV Park - $469/night
Paddle Ridge formerly Glacier Outdoor Center - $499/night
Great Northern Resort in West Glacier $350 lodge, $460 cabins
Cedar Creek Lodge in Columbia Falls
Meadow Lake Resort & Condos in Columbia Falls
North Forty Resort in Columbia Falls
Glacier Basecamp Lodge in Columbia Falls
Grouse Mountain Lodge - $349/night in Whitefish
Things to do Outside the Park
Glacier Anglers and Outfitters - fishing lessons and trips
Glacier Raft Co. day raft trips or multi-day
Rodeo in Columbia Falls
Whiteifsh farmers market with live music, whitefish lodge restaurant
Kalispell – great downtown with restaurants
Food
Try the sandwiches and ice cream at Eddies Cafe & Gifts – Apgar Village
West Glacier Mercantile - phenomenal huckleberry ice cream, right outside of the west entrance.
West Glacier has a Mexican food truck called Wandering Gringo.
Try the Huckleberry pie at Freda’s in West Glacier, expensive but delicious.
Eat lunch or dinner at the Snowgoose grill at St Mary’s Village.
The Chocolate Pot was devine.
For a gourmet dinner try the Ptarmigan Dining Room in the Many Glacier Hotel.
Try Two Sisters Cafe in-between St. Mary and Many Glacier.
Polebridge Mercantile is far up north by Bowman Lake but famous for their Huckleberry Bear Claws.
