Spend 5 Unforgettable Days in Glacier National Park
Nothing screams the good ole outdoors quite like Montana and the next item on my bucket list is Glacier National Park. Jess visited the park back in 2019 but had the audacity to go without me so I have yet to experience the beauty this park has to offer, since I wasn’t able to go, I’m putting together my 5 day itinerary for my future trip and hopefully give you some inspiration!
First lets talk travel, I assume the easiest way for most people to get to Glacier National Park is by flying and renting a car at the airport. The closest airports to the park are Glacier Park International(FCA) in Kalispell, MT which is about 30 miles from the West entrance and Great Falls International (GTF) about 150 miles from the East entrance. Depending on where you live and which airport is closest to you, there may or may not be a direct flight to FCA, but don’t stress there are many airports that have connecting flights including Denver, Salt Lake City and some people will even fly into Spokane and Seattle International Airport and drive from there! No matter what airport you decide to fly into, I recommend always checking Skyscanner to compare the prices of flights and hotels.
Okay so we got to Montana, awesome, now let’s look at the best places to stay. There is no shortage of places to stay so you will have many options to choose from but after doing some digging here are some of the best options I found and would consider:
The above options are more of the traditional hotel vibe, if you want something a bit unique check out these:
Travel…check, lodging… check, now finally the fun part of planning how to spend our time at Glacier National Park! So normally when I develop a plan of action I have at least one main objective to achieve each day, here’s what my list would be:
Day 1 - Hiking to Grinnell Glacier
Sadly this natural beauty is quickly melting and projected to be completely gone by 2030, making it that much more of a priority to visit while at the park. This hike is roughly 11 miles, has 2,200 feet of elevation gain and takes between 6-7 hours to complete and based on reviews I’ve read it is considered strenuous. It seems like there are two options when beginning the hike, starting at the official trailhead next to the Many Glacier Ranger Station or you can take a boat on Swiftcurrent Lake to Lake Josephine.
Day 2 - Lake McDonald
This is the largest lake in the park located near the West entrance and visitors can camp and take boat tours! There are 3 campgrounds on the lake, Apgar, Fish Creek and Sprague Creek campground, from what I’ve read (and expected) these campgrounds fill up extremely fast and reservations should be made as far in advance as possible. Personally, I enjoy camping but am looking forward to the boat tours and kayaking more so I found where to schedule tours and kayak rentals here.
Day 3 - Hiking to Hidden Lake
While researching activities in the park I stumbled upon Hidden Lake and the pictures looked out of this world so this hike was immediately added to the itinerary. Starting at Logan Pass Visitor Center and traveling roughly 5 miles and gaining about 1,300 feet of elevation, hikers take between 2 to 3 hours to complete this stunning trip. I’ve read some hikers will do the first mile and a half to reach the Hidden Lake Overlook and turn back, but I’d prefer to keep going!
Day 4 - Wild Goose Island Overlook
From what I’ve gathered, this one requires little effort but yet offers an amazing reward, so perhaps a perfect place to bring young children or for those who want fantastic views without all of the huffing and puffing of a long strenuous hike. There is a parking lot, which I assume can fill up quickly, and then a short walk to the outlook where you’ll have breathtaking views of Saint Mary’s Lake, me personally, I would go in the evening around sunset to catch that goldish cotton candy color sky!
Day 5 - Going to the Sun Road
Last but definitely not least, as this is one of the most popular attractions in the park, is driving Going to the Sun Road. Many consider this drive the most beautiful drive in the entire country and based on the pictures I can see why! It starts at the Apgar Visitor Center near the West Entrance and travels up to Logan Pass taking about 2 hours to complete, depending on the number of stops of course. Just a disclaimer, I’ve read that there are restrictions on the type of vehicles allowed on the road, vehicles longer than 21 feet or taller than 10 feet are prohibited.
Final Tips -
The best time to visit the park is during the summer, between late June and early October since the park is fully accessible opposed to the winter when many of the park’s main attractions are closed due to severe weather and snow. Assuming you’ll be doing a lot of hiking and spending time outdoors, remember to pack plenty of water and sunscreen, it sounds simple but you’d be surprised how many people forget the basics! Lastly, be mindful of your surroundings, specifically on the lookout for wild animals such as bears, moose and mountain lions, remember to use caution and respect their space, a selfie or Instagram story is never worth putting you or others in danger! Keep calm and hike on!