Glacier

On This Route

Glacier comes in July, after the North Cascades. That timing is deliberate. Going-to-the-Sun Road usually opens all the way over Logan Pass between late June and mid-July, depending on snow. Check the road status before you commit to the date.

Plan the Day

• Early: Going-to-the-Sun Road east from West Glacier. It’s 50 miles over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 feet), past the Weeping Wall and Lake McDonald. Start by 7 a.m.
• Morning at Logan Pass: Hidden Lake Overlook (about 3 miles round trip, mountain goats likely) or the first stretch of the Highline Trail along the Garden Wall.
• Afternoon: Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake on the west side, back near your base.

Rules for 2026

No vehicle reservation is required in 2026. Instead:

• The Logan Pass shuttle needs a $1 ticket from Recreation.gov for riders age 2 and up, July 1 to September 7.
• Logan Pass parking has a 3-hour limit over the same dates.
• Vehicles longer than 21 feet, wider than 8 feet or taller than 10 feet can’t drive the alpine section of the road.

Glacier is one of 11 parks with a $100 per-person surcharge for visitors who aren’t U.S. residents in 2026.

Where to Stay

West Glacier, at the west entrance, is closest to the road and Lake McDonald. Columbia Falls and Whitefish, 20 to 30 minutes away, have more rooms. In-park lodges such as Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier book up 13 months out.