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The Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park & The Flathead Valley

First off I want to say thanks for being here! I am so excited you’re wanting all the tips and tricks to planning your dream trip to Northwest Montana.

Glacier National Park & The Flathead Valley boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes in the states – but of course I might be a little bias. The area offers endless outdoor adventures, events, unique culinary experiences and family fun activities.

Between Glacier and the surrounding towns of the Flathead Valley you will get a mix of rugged mountain landscapes, more lakes and rivers than you could imagine and the most charming mountain towns.

Generally the best time of year to visit are June-August for summer activities and warmer weather. December-March is a prime time to visit if you’re into snow sports such. Shoulder season is April-May and September-October. These are actually perfect times to visit if you’re wanting less crowds and can deal with cooler temps. Keep in mind it’s called “shoulder season” since some of the popular attractions are closed.

With that said, the guide is focused on the warmer months when more of the area is open and accessible.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your trip to beautiful Northwest Montana! – Kim

Glacier National Park Must-Sees & Things to know

Okay, let’s get down to the nitty gritty! Here are some areas to explore, the best hikes and important information you’ll need when visiting Glacier.

1. Going-To-The-Sun-Road: The GTTSR is one of the most famous roads in the U.S. This 50 mile scenic road winds through some of the most breathtaking landscape Montana has to offer. However, this road is not for everyone. Confident driving skills and respect for wildlife, other drivers and tourist are a must. To view more information about the road and vehicle restrictions please visit the park website here!

2. Logans Pass – Logans Pass is highest point in Glacier reachable by car at 6646ft. It first opened to visitors in July of 1933. There are a few great hikes that can be accessed from the Logans Pass parking lot. I highly recommend hiking to Hidden Lake Over Look!

3. Lake McDonald & Apgar Village – This area of the park is generally the most popular due to it’s proximity to the rest of the towns in the Flathead Valley. This area is known for it’s brightly colors rocks (in the right lighting conditions) and the little village of Apgar which has lodging, a restaurant and some gift shops. PRO TIP: Rocky Point is an easy 2 mile hike with 229ft of elevation gain that goes along the west short of the lake. It is great for those with small children or anyone who is looking for a short hike to fill some time in their schedule.

4. Many Glacier – This area of the park is currently under construction for 2025 & 2026. You can still visit this area but must obtain a shuttle reservation! Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake are two of my favorite areas in the park. Both hikes are strenuous so be sure to do research before heading out on one of those trails.

5. North Fork & Polebridge – This area is a highly overlooked area of the park due to the rugged road it takes to get there. If you take it nice and easy and allow for other cars to pass when necessary, you will be just fine in any vehicle! Once you get to Polebridge stop at the Mercantile and pick up a delicious homemade pastry. The most famous pastry is the Huckleberry Bear Claw and they go quick! Once you get past Polebridge and make your way to Bowman or Kintla Lake you will need a vehicle reservation between 7am – 3pm. If you don’t get one still go in after 3pm, it’s worth it!

IMPORTANT INFOMATION

Bear Safety – You must carry bear spray when in Glacier and know how to use it. Many local stores carry bear spray and there are even a few places in town to rent it. You can also borrow some from The Sharing Shack which is a first come first serve basis. Please review the parks official website here for more information on bear safety.

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON TRAILS IN GLACIER – Please respect the rules of the park. If you have more questions about where pets can go in the park check out their site here! My pup, Summit loves to join me for a paddle on Lake McDonald and also accompanies me on many hikes outside of Glacier in the Flathead National Forest. Check out Stanton Lake for a stunning dog friendly hike near by.

Vehicle Reservations – Please keep in mind that vehicle reservations are required for the GTTSR & North Fork portions of the park from June 13th – September 28th between 7am to 3pm. Check out the parks website here to learn how to obtain your vehicle reservation. If you were not able to get a reservation for the part of the park you’re wanting to access DON’T SWEAT IT. You can still go into the park after 3pm and there will be plenty of daylight left to explore, especially during the summer months.

Personal vehicle access into Many Glacier will be restricted from July 1st-September 21st, 2025. A temporary shuttle service will be provided for hikers wanting to access the area. This temporary hiker shuttle service will be accessed through a ticket purchased here.

Lastly, if you buy bear spray remember that you cannot fly with it home. If you need a place to donate bear spray or any other camping equipment I suggest dropping it off at The Sharing Shack in Columbia Falls or reaching out to me via email and I can pick it up in Apgar to donate it! (Wildsummitphoto@gmail.com)

BEST HIKES IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

To view more specifics of the hike – click on the name of the hike to view the trail on All Trails. Avalanche Lake pictured above.

EASY HIKES

Trail of the Cedars – A wheelchair and stroller accessible boardwalk with lush mossy paths, and ancient cedar trees along a beautiful stream. (Accessed on GTTSR)
Apgar Bike Path – A DOG FRIENDLY paved path that goes from Apgar all the way to West Glacier.
Aster Falls – This is located in Two Medicine in East Glacier. This is a 2.6 mile hike with 213ft of elevation gain and is generally isolated.
Running Eagle Falls – This is also located in the Two Medicine area. This partially paved trail is extremely easy even for the youngest of kiddos and those who might have trouble walking. This is a .07 mile trail with 29ft of elevation gain.

MODERATE HIKES

Hidden Lake – This hike is located right at Logans pass. It is the perfect hike to see sweeping mountain, alpine lake views with a high chance of seeing some local wildlife. If you’re not feeling up for the full hike I suggest at least making it to Hidden Lake Overlook.
Avalanche Lake Trail – Avalanche Lake is easily one of the most popular hikes in the park! With it’s accessibility from West Glacier and the stunning alpine lake view you can see why.
St. Marys and Virginia Falls – This is a nice hike that leads to a few stunning waterfalls. The trail is very exposed to sun to take caution on warmer summer days!

HARD HIKES

Iceberg Lake Trail – Iceberg Lake is one of my favorite hikes in the park! Keep in mind the vehicle restrictions for the Many Glacier area and do your research before heading that way!
Grinnell Glacier Trail – Another one of my favorite hikes in the park! This is also located in the Many Glacier area.
Scenic Point – This trail offers sweeping views of the Two Medicine Valley and is a leg burner!

STRENUOUS HIKES – RECOMMENDED FOR ADVANCES HIKERS ONLY

The Garden Wall via The Highline Trail – In my opinion this has to be one of the toughest day hikes in the park.
Pitamakan – Dawson Loop – One of my favorite day hikes in the park!
Sperry Chalet – This hike leads to Sperry Chalet, one of the original chalet locations in Glacier. If you’re lucky enough to score a reservation you can make it an overnight trip and stay at the chalet! You can get more information on reservation here.

Pictured: Heavens Peak (Center) from The Highline Trail

THINGS TO DO THE FLATHEAD VALLEY

THE FLATHEAD VALLEY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER! FROM SHOPPING, BREWERIES AND HIKES, YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO ON YOUR VACATION. HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO SEE OR DO IN THE VALLEY!

WHITEFISH

Walk and shop in Downtown Whitefish
Catch their chairlift up to the top of Big Mountain and get view of Glacier and the entire Flathead Valley
Whitefish Lake – Relax and catch some rays
Whitefish Trail System – Great for hiking or mountain biking

BIG FORK

Downtown Big Fork with shops, restaurants and galleries
Access to The Swan river range and lakes (lots of hiking!)
FlatheadLake – Rent a boat and enjoy a day out on the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48
Flathead Cherries – Find a roadside stand and try some flathead cherries

KALISPELL

Lone Pine & Herron State Park
Downtown Kalispell, breweries, shops and more
Northwest Montana History Museum
Brash Rodeo Summer Series – Featuring bull riding, barrel racing, and more

BEST HIKES IN THE FLATHEAD VALLEY

DON’T HAVE TIME TO GO INTO GLACIER BUT STILL WANT TO HIKE? CHECK OUT OF THESE POPULAR TRAILS IN THE VALLEY!

Lone Pine State Park – Easy & dog friendly – There are a few different trails so choose from
Jewel Basin Trail – Moderate – Stunning mountain views and alpine lakes
Cyclone Lookout Trail – Moderate with view of Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park.
Stanton Lake Trail – Moderate & dog friendly – Amazing views of Glacier from the back of the lake
Danny On Memorial Trail – Hard – Whitefish Mountain Resort

Views of Bowman Lake in Glacier from Cyclone Lookout Trail

BEST ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

Horseback Riding –
- Swan Mountain Outfitters Glacier (West Glacier)
- Sacred Trails Guides & Outfitters (East Glacier)

Boat & Paddle Rentals
- Glacier Outfitters (Apgar Village)
- Glacier Wake (Whitefish Lake)

River Floats & Rafting
- Wild River Adventures (West Glacier)
- Glacier Raft Co ( West Glacier)

ATV/UTV Rentals & Tours
- Glacier Ridge Runners (Hungry Horse)
- Glacier Jeep Rentals (Columbia Falls)

Bikes & Other Outdoor Rental Equipment
- Flathead Outdoors (Apgar Village)

Guided Fly Fishing Trips
- Montana Fishing Guides
- Larrys Fly & Supply

WHERE TO EAT