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Accessibility
A full listing of accessible facilities and programs is available by mail or at park visitor centers and entrance stations. The Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers are fully accessible. The Trail of the Cedars is a wheelchair accessible nature trail through a mature cedar/hemlock forest.
Basic Recommendations
I recommend that you pick an area of the park and then go to that area and make a day of it. Go and see all that is in the area and enjoy it. You spend more quality time and learn and see more than you could ever imagine.
Created in 1910, Glacier National Park provides over one million acres of habitat and protection for a wonderful variety of wildlife and wildflowers. Historic lodges preserve the ambience of nineteenth century travel for twentieth century visitors.
Biking
Wheeled vehicles are restricted to established roadways, bike routes or parking areas and are not allowed on trails.
See the Biking for more information
Boating
Glacier National Park offers a variety of boating experiences. Boat launching ramps are available on Bowman and McDonald Lakes on the west side, and St. Mary and Two Medicine Lakes on the east side of the park.
Canoes or rafts can be carried to many smaller waters. White water canoeing, kayaking, or rafting can be enjoyed on the Flathead River which forms the south and west boundary of Glacier.
See Boating for more information.
Camping
Ten campgrounds provide just under 1000 sites. Most campgrounds are operated on a "first come first serve" basis.
See the Camping Page for more information.
Fishing
For Fishing Information and regulations, see the Fishing Pages for more information.
Food and Supplies
Groceries and gifts are available at: Eddie's Campstore, The Cedar Tree, Schoolhouse Gifts, and the Montana House of Gifts at Apgar, Lake McDonald Lodge Gift Shop and Lake McDonald Campstore, Many Glacier Hotel Gift Shop and Swiftcurrent Campstore in the Many Glacier valley Rising Sun Campstore and the Two Medicine Campstore.
Food service is available at: Eddie's Restaurant and the Cedar Tree Deli in Apgar, Cedar Dining Room and Russell's Trails End Family Restaurant at Lake McDonald, Ptarmigan Dining Room at the Many Glacier Hotel and the Italian Garden Ristorante at Swiftcurrent in the Many Glacier valley and the Two Dog Flats Mesquite Grill at Rising Sun. Surrounding communities also offer a complete range of food service.
Hiking
Hiking opportunities abound in Glacier National Park. Over 700 miles of trails invite visitors to get out of the car and experience Glacier close-up. See the Hiking Page for more information.
Lodging
Park lodging fills early in the year. Plan on making your reservations as soon as possible. They start taking reservations in September for the next year. If you did not make advance reservations, don't give up, call and see what is open in the park. You may have to spend a few days in different areas but you just have to take what you can get. Reservations can be made a year or more in advance.
See the Lodging Page for more information.
Pet Information
Visitors with pets should be aware that pets are not allowed on any park trails. Pets must be on a leash or caged at all times. Kennels are available in neighboring communities
Programs and Activities
Park Rangers conduct naturalist activities at St. Mary, Apgar, Logan Pass, Many Glacier, Goat Haunt, and Two Medicine. Activities include evening slide programs, guided hikes, boat tours, junior ranger programs, and all day hikes. Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai tribal members present special campfire talks on native life and culture at locations throughout the park. The St. Mary Visitor Center hosts weekly native dance troupes during July and August.
See the Calendar Page for more information.
Reservations and Permits
Lodges fill up quickly. Reservations are strongly advised.
No reservations are accepted for park drive-in campgrounds.
In order to camp in the backcountry, a free permit is required. The permit is a means to manage the backcountry sites to avoid confusing and overcrowding. You can pick up a permit at Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers or Many Glacier Ranger Station. Normally between 01 May and 19 Nov, permits can be obtained no more than 24 hours in advance.
For Campground information, Click Here.
Any photography for commercial purposes requires a permit.
Roads
For visitors who wish to drive through the park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is an experience to remember. Bisecting the heart of Glacier, this 50 mile long road follows the shores of the park's two largest lakes and hugs the cliffs below the Continental Divide as it traverses Logan Pass. Numerous scenic turnouts and wayside exhibits allow travelers to stop and enjoy the park at their own pace.
See the Sights Guide for restrictions and more road information.
Skiing Guide
Enjoy Glacier’s winter landscape but, take into account your skiing ability, and check with rangers for local weather and snow conditions. Severe weather, lack of snow, winter rains, or melting conditions can quickly alter the difficulty of any winter trip. Ice is common on roads and on heavily skied trails. Plan to break trail on less popular routes. The Middle and North Forks of the Flathead River present major barriers to travel on the west side of the park. Skiing on frozen lakes is dangerous and not recommended. Skiers, snowshoers, and hikers are asked to maintain separate tracks.
For more information see the Skiing Guide.
Visitor Centers and Exhibits
Park Rangers at the Apgar, Logan Pass, and St. Mary Visitor Centers and the Many Glacier Ranger Station are on duty throughout the summer months to answer questions and provide information.
The Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers provide gateway orientation for park visitors. Both have large relief maps of the park and exhibits relating to the geologic history and biological diversity found throughout the park. The St. Mary Visitor Center has an introductory slide program that is shown throughout the day.
The Logan Pass Visitor Center houses a new alpine ecology exhibit installed in 1993. Displays enlighten park visitors to conditions encountered by plants and animals in the one third of Glacier that is above treeline.
Staff at the Many Glacier Ranger Station provide visitors with hiking and trail information as well as general information about the park.
At all four locations the Glacier Natural History Association operates bookstores which carry a wide variety of publications and maps designed to make your visit more enjoyable and informative.
Wayside Exhibits along most park roads highlight specific features of interest to the park visitor.
See the Calendar Page for more information.
Visitor Centers
Apgar Visitor Center
Open: Mid-May to mid-Dec
Located: Apgar Village
Hours:
Logan Pass Visitor Center
Open: Mid-Jun to mid-Sep
Location: Summit of Going-to-the-Sun Road
Hours:
Saint Mary Visitor Center
Open: Mid-May to mid-Oct
Located: East Entrance
Weather
Glacier's weather is as varied as its landscape. In the valleys daytime temperatures can exceed 90 degrees F. Up slope, in areas above treeline, it is frequently 10 to 15 degrees cooler. Strong winds predominate on the east side of the park. Overnight lows throughout the park can drop to near 20 degrees F, and snow can fall anytime. In August of 1992, a foot of snow fell on the northeastern corner of Glacier.
Prepare for a variety of weather conditions and pack accordingly. You may start the day in a T-shirt and shorts and need a parka by evening. Dress in layers.
Summer rainfall averages around two to three inches per month
See the Weather Page for current weather info, forecasts and much more.
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