Glacier National park
MY FAVORITE NATIONAL PARK
I’ve been to A LOT of National Parks around the US now, and Glacier is by far my favorite. I’m really not sure how I haven’t heard more about it. Well thankfully for you, I’ve now been and have lots of tips for you! If you want to see all of the big animals in the US, you really only need to go to Glacier. The diversity of the terrain is incredible and therefore has something for every age and hiking ability.
WHERE TO VISIT
Here is a map that I put together of all of the places that Google and other bloggers said were enjoyable. Since everyones' taste is different, I wanted to give you options.
Below were my favorite locations and what we did in each place.
TOP PLACES TO HIKE AND SEE
The FREE mobile app All Trails is the best for finding hiking destinations. This link below will show you the top hikes in the area.
going-to-the-sun road
Don’t drive it… take the shuttle! Because whoever is driving won’t be able to enjoy it near as much as the rest of the group. If you start at one of the ends of the park, you’ll be able to take the FREE shuttle all of the way through the park on a white mini bus. I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to drive our 23’ truck through the park, and I’m glad we didn’t.
grinell glacier trail
This trail is one of the hardest but most rewarding I’ve ever taken. We saw a moose, mountain goats, big horn sheep, a glacier blue lake, and ended at a glacier. Check on AllTrails to make sure you’re up for the hike.
hidden lake overlook
This trail isn’t easy either but it’s pretty short. You hike to the overlook which is gorgeous, but then you can hike all of the way down to the lake if you choose. We opted not to because it started to rain when we got there. I also like seeing vistas more than being in the freezing water.
GRIZZLY SIGHTING
If you enter the park on the Northwest entrance by Babb, you get to the better hiking spots. This area has limited parking so get there EARLY (7-8am) ! There was a 3 hour wait when we went at 2pm. On this road is where we saw a black beer and a grizzly! So even if you aren’t hiking up there, drive the route because you never know what you’ll see.
AVALANCHE LAKE
I’m convinced this lake is severely photoshopped in most Pinterest pins. It is beautiful, but not as breathtaking as the other pictures. Thankfully the hike is pretty short and not strenuous. It’s a nice beginning hike to the park.
virginia falls
How had I never seen this waterfall before on Pinterest?! It’s stunning and really not a very difficult hike. You get to see 3 waterfalls along the route, and Virginia Falls is the pinnacle at the very end.
WHAT NOT TO FORGET
Binoculars - get a really good magnification that are lightweight for wildlife
Bear spray - they’re all over the park so be prepared
Water filled backpack - you will need extra water at these altitudes
Rain jacket - You’re high enough in the mountains that you never know when a pop up shower will occur
Waterproof hiking boots - wear them in before you try hiking for 5-8 hours a day
Hat for the mornings - even if it’s supposed to be warm, the mornings won’t be
Snacks - don’t go on a long hike without packing food or at least a few granola bars
Swimsuit - The water is freezing because it’s all glacier runoff, but if you’re daring enough at least pack one
WEATHER
Check the weather because the range for different seasons is insane!
ADVICE
Try not to get gas in St. Mary because it is over a dollar more per gallon than anywhere else
Yes, you NEED bear spray on most of these hikes
Stretch and be prepared for these hikes
Stop and look up while hiking. You’ll be hiking on rocky terrain, but stop every once and a while and take in the views
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Where to stay or camp?
We have a camper, and the camping around Glacier NP isn’t too expensive. I wouldn’t even try boon-docking in that area unless you have a small rig. Either way, I’d try to stay on the EAST side of the park. You’ll be much closer to the best trailheads. We started out on the WEST side of the park for a night and were disappointed with the options. If you have the money, the lodges are beautiful, but they book up almost a YEAR in advance so good luck!
GRINELL OR HIGHLINE?
These two trails are considered the absolute best in the park. We chose the Grinell Glacier Trail because we didn’t have time to do both. I heard the Highline trail is gorgeous because you walk on the ridge of a mountain and can see for miles. I was very happy with our decision, but I wish we had a few more days to do both.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED?
At a minimum, you’ll want 6-7 days in the park so you have time to recover and hike the best places. We will definitely be going back to hike the Highline Trail and Iceberg Lake. If you are wanting to see Iceberg Lake, make sure there are icebergs there. With global warming, there weren’t when we went.