Glacier National Park (US)
Glacier National Park is the “Crown of the Continent”, a million acres of the northern Rockies in Montana, where knife-edge peaks, hanging valleys, turquoise lakes and the last of the park’s namesake glaciers meet along the Continental Divide. The legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road threads its heart, and grizzlies, mountain goats and bighorn sheep roam a wilderness that feels vast and gloriously intact.
Fast facts
- Established: 1910
- Size: about 1 million acres (4,000 km²) in northwest Montana
- Peaks & water: over 700 lakes beneath glacier-carved peaks
- Going-to-the-Sun Road: a 50-mile (80 km) engineering marvel over Logan Pass
- Peace park: joined with Canada’s Waterton Lakes as a World Heritage Site
- Managed by: National Park Service
The landscape
Ancient rock thrust up and then carved by ice gives Glacier its dramatic profile, horns, aretes and U-shaped valleys cradling cold, clear lakes. Cedar-hemlock forest in the wet west gives way to alpine tundra along the Divide and drier prairie-edge forest in the east. It is superb wildlife country: grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, wolverines and moose.
Best time to go
Summer through early fall is the prime window, when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open (usually late June or July into October), the high trails clear, and wildflowers peak. Snow lingers on the passes into summer and returns in fall. Winter is deep, snowy and quiet, with the high road closed and travel limited to the valleys.
Getting there and around
The park sits in northwest Montana, reached via US-2 with the Going-to-the-Sun Road crossing between West Glacier and St. Mary; Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops at the edge. Timed-entry vehicle reservations apply in the busy season, and a free shuttle runs the Sun Road, but a vehicle is needed to reach and move around the park.
Things to do
Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass, hike the Highline, Grinnell Glacier and Hidden Lake trails, and paddle or cruise Lake McDonald and the Many Glacier lakes. Backpackers link the high country on classic routes, and wildlife-watchers scan the meadows of Many Glacier and Logan Pass for bears and goats.
Staying safe
This is core grizzly country. Carry bear spray, make noise, travel in groups and store food properly. Mountain weather changes fast with cold and storms any month, snow lingers on passes, rivers and waterfalls run cold and powerful, and many trails have steep exposure, so plan carefully and start early.
Know before you go
A park pass and, in the busy season, a timed-entry vehicle reservation are required. Check the current system and book ahead. Backcountry camping needs a permit, and the Sun Road’s opening varies with snow. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current road status, reservations and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
- Coordinates
- 48.6174, -113.8586
- Magnetic declination
- 12.8° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it.
Getting there 12
Park entrances
Ranger stations
On the trail 103
Trailheads
Campgrounds
Hut or shelter
Picnic site
Sights 106
Viewpoints
Waterfalls
Beach
Point of interests
Island
Peaks 30
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
- Best seasons
- Summer, Early fall
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- In northwest Montana via US-2 and the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which crosses the park (seasonal). West Glacier and St. Mary are the main gateways; Amtrak stops nearby.
- Water
- Abundant lakes, rivers and streams; filter or treat all backcountry water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Little to no cell service in much of the park. Carry a map and a satellite messenger.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Contact park rangers; life-threatening emergencies: 911.
- Permits & regulations
- Per-vehicle entry fee (America the Beautiful pass accepted); timed-entry vehicle reservations apply in the busy season, and backcountry camping needs a permit.
- Leave No Trace
- Use bear-proof storage, stay on trails, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.
January
- Below freezing all day
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
- Below-freezing nights
April
- Below-freezing nights
May
June
July
- Day-to-night swing of 30°F (17°C)
August
- Day-to-night swing of 31°F (17°C)
September This month
October
November
- Below-freezing nights
December
- Below freezing all day
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the West Glacier station, 16 miles (25 km) away at 3,148 feet (960 m). Conditions change with elevation: expect it colder higher up.