You Must See Gorgeous Glacier National Park

Run!  Don’t walk!  To book your trip to Glacier National Park.  This is by far the most beautiful place that we have traveled to.  We fell in love with Glacier and can’t wait to go back.  Our wedding photographer made the trip out as well to shoot our engagement photos, which we were super excited about.  We visited in early August which was a perfect time to go.  I wouldn’t recommend visiting any earlier than the end of July.  We were told that there was a late snowstorm that year, so the Going To The Sun Road wasn’t completely dug out until mid-July.  

Getting To Glacier National Park

We flew into Glacier National Park International Airport in Kalispell, MT.  This is the closest airport to the park.  Don’t let the name fool you.  This is a small airport that is easy to navigate.  We rented a car through Turo, which was waiting for us in the parking lot when we arrived.  I highly recommend renting a car through Turo.  It was such a smooth process, and it was a cheaper alternative to renting a car through one of the rental car companies.  

Where To Stay

There are a ton of options for accommodations near Glacier National Park.  If you are wanting to stay at one of the hotels, you will need to book a year in advance.  We chose to stay at an adorable glamping pod near the main entrance to the park.  It was tiny and rustic but gave us the extra comfort amenities of a shower, bed, and kitchenette.  Most of our time was spent out exploring, so we didn’t need a full house.  Just a place to lay our heads and clean up! https://abnb.me/Kzo8fOqGPvb

Hiking

We utilize AllTrails before heading out on our hikes. It is a great way to see the difficulty of hikes and you can grab directions that will take you right to the trailhead.

We hiked several trails while in Glacier.  None of them disappointed!  Our first day we headed to Two Medicine.  While there we hiked Running Eagle Trail, Paradise Point Trail, and Aster Falls Trail.  We then headed to Going To The Sun Road.  There we hiked the Trail of the Cedars and the Highline Trail.  Finally, we headed to the Many Glacier Area where we hiked the Grinnell Lake Trail.  I definitely recommend heading out to any trails that you really want to hike early in the day.  Parking lots fill up fast!  There were a couple of trails we were unable to get to due to not being able to find a place to park. 

Kayaking

Our original plan was to kayak at Two Medicine.  However, it was extremely windy at the lake that day, so we decided to stick to only hiking.  I’m glad that we did because we then ended up kayaking at Lake McDonald.  Lake McDonald offers single kayaks, tandem kayaks, triple kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards.  We were able to reserve our kayaks on the spot, so no need to book in advance.  The view of the colorful rocks and the mountains in the distance are something you do not want to miss!

Where To Eat

The food options within the park aren’t the greatest.  We ate at a place outside of the west entrance and also at Lake McDonald that were both subpar.  We were hesitant to check out any of the restaurants outside of the park due to not knowing if they would be LGBTQ friendly.  There were a couple of great spots in towns nearby.  Sacred Waters Brewing had great food, beers, and entertainment.  They are located in Kalispell.  There is also a winery/cidery place attached.  In Whitefish, we had a fabulous lunch at Casey’s.

What You Need To Bring

• Bear Spray
• Bear Bells
• Bug Spray
• Sunscreen
• Water Bottle
• Day Pack
• Water Shoes if you plan on kayaking or getting in any of the water

Check out this Ultimate Packing List for more information on what to bring on your trip to Glacier!

Other Things To Know

If you plan on going on the Going To The Sun Road, you will need a ticket.  You can obtain a ticket at www.recreation.gov.  You will also need an entrance pass to the park.  Obtaining a ticket for Going To The Sun Road was the most stressful part of the trip!  These tickets typically sell out within minutes.  You have to obtain them 2 days before you plan to travel the road at 8:00 AM MST.  If you are unable to get a ticket, you can still travel the road after 4:00 PM.  

I cannot stress enough that you need to carry bear spray on you while out hiking.  We found out on our flight back home that you cannot bring bear spray on the airplane.  If you are able to, I would suggest mailing a package to where you will be staying, otherwise you will be paying more once you arrive at Glacier.  

If you are wanting to bring souvenirs home, I recommend the shops at Lake McDonald.  They had the widest selection along with decent pricing.  Two Medicine also has a nice gift shop.  The selection just isn’t as large there.  I also recommend taking some time to check out Whitefish.  There are a ton of small shops and restaurants to peruse.  

It takes quite a bit of time to get anywhere while in Glacier due to the speed limits, so make sure that you plan accordingly.  It will take you at least 2 hours driving the Going To The Sun Road.  I definitely suggest planning out your days ahead of time, so that you make sure that you have ample time to visit all of your must-see areas.