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I lived in Glacier National Park for months and spent all that time exploring it, so this is the 5-day itinerary I’d give a friend. Every day is written out below, with one version for non-hikers and one for hikers. You’ll see the west side, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Waterton in Canada and the North Fork.
More Glacier itineraries: 2 days · 3 days · 5 days · 7 days
- Day 1: Lake McDonald and Apgar (hikers add Avalanche Lake)
- Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass, ending in Many Glacier
- Day 3: Non-hikers: Two Medicine and East Glacier. Hikers: Grinnell Glacier.
- Day 4: Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada (bring your passport)
- Day 5: Polebridge and Bowman Lake (hikers can swap in Upper Two Medicine Lake)
- Fly out of: Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell
- You need: A car to get between the west side, the east side and Waterton. There’s no real public transportation around Glacier, and the park shuttle only runs along Going-to-the-Sun Road in summer, so having a car is really the only way to get around, especially if you’re heading up to Waterton. 🚗 Book your rental car here
Before you go: check the season
Before you plan anything, check what time of year you’re coming. If you’re not visiting mid-season, some things may still be closed or snowed in. The ones to watch are Going-to-the-Sun Road (especially Logan Pass), some of the east side hikes around St. Mary, and Many Glacier. In my opinion, early September is the best time to come: you get beautiful fall colors, you usually miss the smoky and rainy stretches, and most things are still open. Here’s my month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Glacier.
Always check the NPS road and trail status page and the current shuttle and parking rules before you go, because Glacier changes things almost every year.
How I check trail conditions: Before every hike, I look the trail up on AllTrails and read the most recent reviews. People comment about whether there’s snow or ice, how the trail is holding up and what they recommend, so I know what to expect before I go.
5-day Glacier itinerary for non-hikers
Day 1: Lake McDonald and Apgar Village
Come in on the west side and spend the day at Lake McDonald. Kayak, paddleboard or swim. Get food at Eddie’s Cafe in Apgar, then go to the gift shop next door for ice cream. End the day by stopping at the pullouts along Lake McDonald as you head toward Going-to-the-Sun Road. Stay on the west side, like Lake McDonald Lodge, and have dinner there.
Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass and Many Glacier
Have breakfast at your hotel, then leave early and head up Going-to-the-Sun Road. If it’s your first time driving it, here’s what Going-to-the-Sun Road is really like to drive, from someone who’s done it about 30 times. At Logan Pass, check out the visitor center and walk the boardwalk toward the Hidden Lake Overlook if you’re up for it. It’s about 2.8 miles round trip with a little elevation, mostly stairs, so it’s not too bad. Or walk a mile or so of the Highline Trail. You’ll probably see animals at Logan Pass, especially mountain goats. Logan Pass parking had a 3-hour limit in 2026, which is plenty for this, but see the parking tips below if you want more time.
Continue down Going-to-the-Sun Road to St. Mary for lunch at the Snowgoose Grille, or grab a sandwich at Curly Bear or food from the grocery store. The Snowgoose Grille is basically open from 6:30am to 10pm in peak season, so it’s a good place to get food if you’re hungry after a hike nearby. You can see all the places to eat at St. Mary here. Then head to Many Glacier, check out Many Glacier Hotel, hang out for a bit and explore the area. Have dinner at the hotel.
Stay at Many Glacier Hotel if you can. St. Mary is usually a little cheaper, and Browning or East Glacier hotels and Airbnbs can be cheaper still.
Day 3: Two Medicine and East Glacier
Head to Two Medicine, about an hour’s drive from St. Mary. It’s like a mini Many Glacier, so check it out and walk around. On the way, stop at Kyiyo Mercantile at Kiowa Junction (the east side sister store of the Polebridge Mercantile, famous for huckleberry bear claws) and grab some food and a bear claw.
There’s a small waterfall called Running Eagle Falls that’s only about 0.3 miles each way. I never ended up seeing it, but a few people have told me it’s very beautiful.
Afterward, take the Looking Glass Road toward East Glacier and enjoy the views (it’s narrow, winding and only open seasonally, so check before you go). In East Glacier, go into Glacier Park Lodge. It’s beautiful, there are a few stores inside, and you can have dinner and stay the night there.
Day 4: Waterton Lakes National Park
Go to Waterton, Glacier’s sister park in Canada. You do need your passport. The border crossings have different seasons and hours (Chief Mountain is the closest to the east side, but in 2026 it was only open May 15 to September 30), so check that the one you want is open when you plan to cross. From East Glacier, plan on about 2 hours plus the border crossing.
It’s beautiful over there. Drive the Red Rock Parkway and the Akamina Parkway, and you’ll likely see some animals. At some point, maybe as you come into Waterton, stop at the Prince of Wales Hotel for afternoon tea and dessert. You get a great view of the park from there. For dinner or a late lunch there are plenty of options in town, but I personally love the hot dog place, Wieners of Waterton. I’ve had it multiple times and it never disappoints.
Then cross back into the US. You can stay in Many Glacier or St. Mary, but if you’re up for it, I’d drive all the way to the West Glacier area for day 5. It’s a long drive, about 3 hours plus the border, so plan for it.
Day 5: Polebridge and a lake day at Bowman Lake
Drive up to Polebridge, about an hour from West Glacier. Stop at the Polebridge Mercantile for a breakfast sandwich and another bear claw if you want one. Grab snacks too, because you’re ending the trip with a lake day.
Then head to Bowman Lake, about 6 miles up a slow, bumpy dirt road from Polebridge, and enjoy the view. It’s a stunning lake and very relaxing. There’s a spot right by the Polebridge Mercantile that rents paddleboards and kayaks, and I’d highly recommend getting on the water. (Want to go deeper into this corner of the park? Here’s my Bowman Lake to Kintla Lake backpacking guide.)
Afterward, head back to the Mercantile for food or try one of the other spots in Polebridge. Then go to your last night’s stay, either in West Glacier at Lake McDonald Lodge or in Kalispell, where you’re probably flying out.
Good to know: the North Fork area around Polebridge and Bowman Lake is remote. There’s little to no cell service, and vehicles can be turned away when it hits capacity, so go early.
5-day Glacier itinerary for hikers
Day 1: Avalanche Lake and Lake McDonald
Start on the west side and hike Avalanche Lake, the well-known west side hike that everyone does: about 5 to 6 miles round trip with a bit of elevation, and very pretty. Pack a lunch or some snacks. Parking is very limited, so get there early, or wait for someone heading back to their car and ask if you can take their spot. That’s what I always do, and it always works out.
Then go to Lake McDonald to swim, kayak or paddle. Finish the night with dinner at Eddie’s and ice cream from next door (don’t miss it, especially after a hike). Stay at Lake McDonald Lodge.
Day 2: The full Hidden Lake hike from Logan Pass
Eat breakfast at your hotel, pack a lunch and head up Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass. Hike to Hidden Lake itself, not just the overlook. It’s about 5.4 miles round trip and so worth it. Take a swim and eat your sandwich by the lake. You’ll probably see animals, especially mountain goats. The trail past the overlook sometimes closes for bear activity, so check the NPS status page that morning.
After the hike, drive down to St. Mary and grab a snack, because you’ll probably be hungry: the Snowgoose Grille, a sandwich or ice cream at Curly Bear, or something from the grocery store. Then head to Many Glacier for the view and dinner at Many Glacier Hotel, and stay there so you wake up next to the trails.
Where to park at Logan Pass
When I worked here in 2026, Logan Pass had a 3-hour parking limit. That isn’t much time if you want to relax at Hidden Lake, so I always parked at a pullout about a quarter mile east of Logan Pass (toward St. Mary) to avoid the time limit. It fits about 10 to 15 cars, there was no time limit there in 2026, and there’s usually at least one spot open (just know how to parallel park). The coordinates are 48.69725, -113.71096.
If it’s full, there are other spots along the road as you keep driving. This is what I did in 2026. Parking rules at Logan Pass may change in following years, so always follow posted signs and check the NPS site before you go.
How I got Logan Pass shuttle tickets in 2026
I almost never used the shuttle unless it was the most convenient option for a long hike starting at Logan Pass. When I did, here’s exactly what I did:
- The night before, I made sure I was logged into my Recreation.gov account with the shuttle ticket page already loaded.
- At 7 p.m. on the dot, I watched for the next day’s tickets to open and clicked the time slot I wanted. Sometimes my slot was gone immediately, so I picked the next best time for me.
- Tickets cost $1. After you pay, you get a QR code, and they just scan it on your phone screen when you board.
- They said they check national park passes, but nobody ever checked mine. You still need a valid park entrance pass to be in the park, so don’t skip it.
This is how it worked for me in 2026. The shuttle system may change in 2027 or following years, so always check the NPS shuttle page and Recreation.gov before your trip.
Day 3: Grinnell Glacier
Get breakfast at Many Glacier Hotel and start early on the Grinnell Glacier hike. It’s about 10.6 miles round trip with about 1,600 ft of elevation gain, but it starts out pretty flat (you can shorten it to about 7.2 miles by taking the boat across the lakes). There isn’t much shade, so bring plenty of water and electrolytes, plus food and snacks. You’ll probably see a good amount of wildlife, and the views are beautiful the whole way.
On the way back, jump into the lake. It’s something I wish I’d done. You can even jump into the water at Grinnell Glacier itself, but it’s going to be very, very cold.
After the hike, if you want to try something new, drive to Two Sisters Cafe near Babb. People love their food, especially after a hike. Check what time they open and whether they’re open that day of the week, then get there right as they open, because the waitlist gets long quickly.
Stay at Many Glacier Hotel or St. Mary again tonight so you’re close to the Chief Mountain border crossing for day 4.
Day 4: Crypt Lake or the Akamina Pass, Wall Lake and Forum Lake Loop in Waterton
Head into Canada (bring your passport and check the border crossing’s hours) and do one of these. Both have incredible views, and both are definitely a bit hard.
- Crypt Lake: About 10.6 miles round trip with about 2,200 ft of gain. You take a boat from Waterton townsite to the trailhead with Waterton Shoreline Cruise Co., and the boats only run a few times a day each way, so plan around them. It’s so fun: there’s a ladder, a tunnel you crawl through and a cliff section with a cable. Bring a swimsuit for the lake at the end.
- Akamina Pass, Wall Lake and Forum Lake Loop: An 11.6-mile loop with about 3,440 ft of gain (per AllTrails). You go past Forum Falls to Forum Lake, scramble up to a ridge walk with views for miles, then come down to Wall Lake. It’s one of the most stunning hikes I’ve ever done, especially on a clear day. The rock scramble section is off route with no actual path to follow, and it’s a bit exposed, so I’d recommend having some previous scrambling experience. It’s also very windy at the top, so bring a layer.
After your hike, get hot dogs at Wieners of Waterton, then stay at the Prince of Wales Hotel or drive back to Many Glacier or St. Mary for the night.
Day 5: Upper Two Medicine Lake or a Bowman Lake rest day
If you still have energy, head to Two Medicine (stop at Kyiyo Mercantile at Kiowa Junction for a huckleberry bear claw on the way) and hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake. It’s about 10 miles round trip with incredible views, not too hard but not a walk in the park either. Check the trail status first, because construction closed the North Shore trailhead in 2026.
If you’re tired out (honestly, this might be enough hiking), do a lake day instead: stay in West Glacier the night before, drive about an hour to Polebridge, get food, bear claws and snacks at the Polebridge Mercantile, then relax at Bowman Lake, about 6 miles up a bumpy dirt road. Rent a paddleboard or kayak by the Mercantile, and end with dinner in Polebridge or Kalispell before your flight.
One more thing: carry bear spray on every hike, even short ones, and know how to use it. The NPS bear safety page is worth a read before your trip.
Have more time?
My 7-day Glacier itinerary adds more of Many Glacier and a day in Whitefish. For quieter trails, check out my most underrated hikes in Glacier.
Want to stay nearby instead? Compare places to stay
If you don’t want to stay at the lodges I mentioned (or they’re booked for your dates), there are plenty of hotels, cabins and vacation rentals just outside the park. Use these maps to compare live prices and pick a spot close to where you’ll be exploring each day.
West Glacier and Lake McDonald area
St. Mary and Many Glacier area
East Glacier and Two Medicine area
Waterton Lakes area
5-day Glacier itinerary FAQ
Is 5 days enough for Glacier National Park?
Yes. Five days is the amount I recommend, especially if you hike. It lets you see the west side, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Waterton and the North Fork without rushing.
Do I need a passport for this itinerary?
Yes, for day 4. Waterton is in Canada, so bring your passport (or another accepted border document) and check the border crossing’s season and hours before you go.
How far is Bowman Lake from West Glacier?
Polebridge is about an hour from West Glacier, then it’s about 6 more miles on a rough dirt road to Bowman Lake. Give yourself extra time, and fill up on gas and snacks before you go.
