Unforgettable Glacier National Park Day Trip Itinerary

Glacier National Park in Montana boasts some of the most pristine and dramatic landscapes in the United States. Famed for its 700+ miles of hiking trails and its awe-inspiring alpine vistas, the national park is an example of unspoiled wilderness at its finest.

The park’s untouched landscapes remain authentically wild. They feature glacier-ripped valleys laced with plunging waterfalls and snowcapped pinnacles sheltering glassy turquoise lakes. Grizzly bears and moose roam the park in abundance. In summer, alpine meadows erupt in a blaze of colorful wildflowers.

With more things to do than one could possibly fit into a day trip itinerary, the sprawling national park contains one million acres of Paradise on Earth.

 

DAY TRIP TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Dizzying beauty and jaw-dropping natural vistas make Glacier National Park one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the United States. It is the jewel of Montana and comparable in grandeur to Jasper and Banff—two extraordinary national parks that lie just across the border in Canada.

As with any natural wonder, I would have loved to spend more than one day in Glacier National Park. There are simply too many fantastic hikes, lakes, and panoramic vistas to fit into a limited itinerary.

But I traveled to Glacier on a 33 hour Kalispell layover for work. And so, along with three fellow crew members, I had to construct a day trip itinerary that would make the most of the national park’s highlights in a restricted timeframe.

There is no singular best way to spend a day in Glacier. The park’s must-see hiking trails are too plentiful, and its vistas too many.

That being said, my day trip to Glacier National Park ended up being perfect in just about every way. Over the course of 12 hours, I traveled the length of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and laced up my boots for a hike along one of the park’s most splendid trails.

 

GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD ITINERARY (WEST TO EAST)

Montana’s beloved park is renowned for its historic Going-to-the-Sun Road—a 50 mile ribbon of pavement that connects Glacier’s two main entrances.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is often considered to be one of the America’s best road trip destinations. As it winds around hairpin bends and carves through spectacular U-shaped valleys, it features views of jaw-dropping mountains and aquamarine lakes.

The drive between East and West Glacier takes about 2 hours to complete one-way, without stopping.

Of course, you’re probably not going to drive the 50 mile road without getting out of the car at least a few times. Traversing the park without stopping for photos is about as difficult as fitting all of Glacier’s attractions into a single day trip itinerary.

The places to see along the way are simply too compelling.

 

• LAKE MCDONALD

Lake McDonald is the hub of activity on the west side of the Glacier National Park. The mountain-ringed lake is the park’s largest body of water and a popular launching point for day hikes. The Apgar Visitor Center at the southern end of the lake is a fantastic resource for information on the park’s geology, hiking trails, and noteworthy places to visit.

Nearby, accommodation options include historic chalets, and the grand Lake McDonald Lodge.

 

• WEEPING WALL

The Weeping Wall is a 100 foot long section of cliff that receives a huge amount of runoff during the springtime melt. It is a popular scenic stopping point along Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The weeping cliff is not entirely a natural phenomenon. It was partially created when workers exposed several spring-fed waterways during road construction.  Along the cliff face, water pours over the rock wall and onto the road in a series of cascades.

In early summer, these veins of water swell to torrents.

Unfortunately, I happened to visit the park toward the end of summer, when the water running off the cliff was little more than a trickle.

 

• BIG BEND

Big Bend is one of Going-to-the-Sun Road’s most scenic viewpoints and a top road trip stop in Glacier National Park. The mountain-flanked curve in the road lies between the Weeping Wall and Logan Pass Visitor Center.  It showcases spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and glacier-carved valleys.

Though I only stopped at Big Bend for a quick photo opportunity en-route to East Glacier, I’m told that the area merits a visit at dusk—when indirect light drenches the area in warm golden hues.

 

• LOGAN PASS VISITOR CENTER

Sitting at 6,647 feet in elevation, the Logan Pass Visitors Center is the highest point along Going-to-the-Sun Road.  The park information center is the starting point for some of the most beloved hiking trails in Glacier National Park.

We stopped by the visitor center briefly in order to snap photos, gather information on bear activity, and learn about some of the hikes in the area. The park information center is the launching point for two of Glacier’s most popular hikes: the Highline Trail, and Hidden Lake Trail.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for more than one hike during our Glacier itinerary, so we pressed on toward the park’s eastern entrance and skipped the trails near Logan Pass.

 

• SAINT MARY LAKE

Saint Mary Lake lies on the east side of Glacier National Park, along Going-to-the-Sun Road. It is the second largest lake in the park after Lake McDonald.

As Going-to-the-Sun-Road travels along the flank of Saint Mary Lake, numerous pullouts provide opportunities to admire the wall of jagged mountains that line its shores. On sunny days, the lake’s glassy waters reflect the surrounding scenery in perfect symmetry.

Saint Mary Lake offers a variety of photography and wildlife-viewing opportunities. The lake is home to placid waters, wildflower-strewn shores, a photogenic backdrop, and tiny Goose Island. Its scenic setting makes it one of the most popular Glacier National Park attractions.

 

• MANY GLACIER

Many Glacier is the hub of the national park’s east side. It is the launchpad for trails to Grinnel Glacier and Iceberg Lake.  The 100+ year old historic Many Glacier Lodge presides over the waters of Swiftcurrent Lake. It is the largest and most famous hotel in the park.

The Many Glacier Lodge provides boat tours of Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. Though I skipped the boat tour in favor of hiking to Iceberg Lake, I heard great things about the tours from one of my travel companions.

 

HIKING IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

No trip to Glacier would be complete without setting foot on one of the national park’s epic trails. Montana’s #1 outdoor wonderland is home to more than 700 miles of hiking trails that criss-cross its valleys and mountains.

Due to limited time, I only explored one trail during my Glacier day trip. After much debate, one of my coworkers and I decided to hike to Iceberg Lake. It proved to be a fantastic choice.

If you only have time for one hike in Glacier, choosing the best trail can be overwhelming. Aside from Iceberg Lake, notable day hikes include Hidden Lake Lookout, the Highline Loop, Siyeh Pass, the Ptarmigan Tunnel, and the Grinnel Glacier Trail.

 

• ICEBERG LAKE HIKE

The hike to Iceberg Lake begins behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn‘s parking lot. It follows a 9.3 mile out and back trail that leads to a stunning aquamarine pool at the base of Iceberg Peak.

The dazzling lake lies below a semi-circle of jagged mountains that soar 3,000 ft above its iceberg-studded surface.

It is truly a magical place.

Although the first two-tenths of a mile climb at a fairly steep incline, the trail quickly flattens out to a moderate grade. It traverses thick alpine forest that is a prime habitat for grizzly bears.

After passing through the forest for a few miles, the trail gives way to meadows filled with a variety of wildflowers. From the meadows, panoramic views of Glacier’s serrated mountains extend in all directions.

Past the meadows, the Iceberg Lake trail begins a short climb for roughly a quarter mile. Once at the top of its final ascent, it descends to one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Glacier National Park.

I’m sure that I could have hiked any one of Glacier National Park’s trails and not been disappointed. But I’m happy I chose to hike Iceberg Lake.

I cannot imagine a more spectacular way to cap off an epic Glacier day trip itinerary.

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The million-acre paradise that straddles the continental divide is an absolute dream for hikers, backpackers, photographers, and nature-lovers.

It goes without saying that Glacier National Park is a highlight of the American Rockies. The park’s status as Montana’s premier tourist attraction isn’t even up for debate.

Though spending one day in Glacier National Park did not give me time to explore the area fully, it was more than enough time to convince me of the staggering beauty that lies along the crown of the continent.

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