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Shared itinerary · Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier in 3 days

Three days in Glacier, west to east: Lake McDonald and the Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake, Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass to Sun Point, then Many Glacier and the Grinnell Lake boat and walk. 13 stops with times and notes. The Sun Road is usually fully open early July through mid October, and Many Glacier has its own entrance and its own reservation in peak season.

From the guide Glacier National Park: Going-to-the-Sun Road and when it opens

Updated

Distance

106 km

Apgar Visitor Center → Grinnell Lake boat and walk

Days

3

Stops

13

Each day of Glacier in 3 days: route, stops and distance
DayRouteStopsDistance
Day 1Apgar Visitor Center to Avalanche Lake532.6 km
Day 2The Loop to Sun Point550.2 km
Day 3Many Glacier Hotel to Grinnell Lake boat and walk323.5 km

Day 1: Apgar Visitor Center to Avalanche Lake

32.6 km

West side warm-up: the big lake and the cedar forest.

  1. 08:30

    Apgar Visitor Center

    Sight

    Going-to-the-Sun Road needs a vehicle reservation in summer, booked on recreation.gov. Sort your day here.

    676 m · 5m drive to next

  2. 09:30

    Lake McDonald

    Park & nature

    Ten miles long and famously clear, with rainbow pebbles in the shallows at Apgar.

    16.7 km · 15m drive to next

  3. 11:00

    Lake McDonald Lodge

    Food & drink

    The 1913 Swiss-style lodge. Lunch, then look at the lake from the stern-wheeler dock.

    10.7 km · 15m drive to next

  4. 13:00

    Trail of the Cedars

    Park & nature

    A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk loop through old growth cedars and the slot of Avalanche Gorge.

    4.6 km · 5m walk to next

  5. 14:30

    Avalanche Lake

    Activity

    4.6 miles round trip to a lake ringed by 2,000 foot walls with ribbon waterfalls. The park’s best effort-to-reward hike.

Day 2: The Loop to Sun Point

50.2 km

Going-to-the-Sun Road, west to east. The road is usually fully open early July through mid October.

  1. 07:30

    The Loop

    Sight

    The road’s one hairpin, with Heavens Peak filling the sky. Last big parking before the pass.

    11.5 km · 25m drive to next

  2. 09:00

    Logan Pass

    Sight

    The Continental Divide at 6,646 feet. The lot fills by mid morning even with reservations, go early or late.

    2.6 km · 10m walk to next

  3. 10:45

    Hidden Lake Overlook

    Activity

    2.8 miles round trip over the alpine boardwalks behind the pass. Mountain goats are near-guaranteed.

    19.2 km · 30m drive to next

  4. 14:30

    Wild Goose Island Lookout

    Sight

    The tiny island in St. Mary Lake from every Glacier postcard, ten steps from the car.

    2.9 km · 10m drive to next

  5. 15:30

    Sun Point

    Park & nature

    A short walk to a bald promontory over the lake, with the peaks that hold the sunrise.

Day 3: Many Glacier Hotel to Grinnell Lake boat and walk

23.5 km

Many Glacier, the park’s grizzly heart. Its own valley, its own entrance, its own reservation in peak season.

  1. 08:00

    Many Glacier Hotel

    Sight

    The great Swiss lodge on Swiftcurrent Lake, with Grinnell Point behind it.

    1.2 km · 15m walk to next

  2. 09:30

    Swiftcurrent Lake Nature Trail

    Activity

    A flat 2.6 mile loop. Scan the slopes of Mount Altyn for bears, this valley holds the park’s densest population.

    336 m · 10m walk to next

  3. 12:00

    Grinnell Lake boat and walk

    Activity

    The historic boats chain across two lakes, then a short walk reaches the milky turquoise of Grinnell Lake. Book the boat ahead.