Going To The Sun Road is the road going through the middle of Glacier National Park. You cannot miss driving this stretch of road. The views are absolutely stunning! Most of the pictures that you see of Glacier National Park are from somewhere along this road.
Must Knows
This is an extremely narrow road with many twists and turns. Driving it isn’t for the faint of heart. If you don’t feel that anyone in your group would be comfortable driving it, there is the option of booking a spot on the Red Bus Tour. Going To The Sun Road is 50 miles in length and takes approximately 2 hours to drive from one end to the other. There are no gas stations once you get on the road, so make sure you gas up!
It is free to drive on the road, but you will need a vehicle reservation along with your Glacier National Park Entrance ticket. You can get your ticket at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10087086/ticket/10087087 The process to get your vehicle reservation can be very stressful. You have to try to obtain your ticket at exactly 8:00 AM MST. If you log in a couple minutes late, you will most likely not secure one. We created profiles ahead of time to increase our chances of getting our reservation. The reservations are for 3 consecutive days. Reservations aren’t required after 4:00 PM, so if you aren’t able to snag one, no worries you will still be able to take the drive.
Visitor Centers
There are three visitor centers on the Going To The Sun Road with restrooms. The Apgar Visitor Center is at the west entrance. There are a couple of restaurants here, so you can also grab a bite to eat here. Mid route you will find the Logan Pass Visitor Center. I highly recommend making a stop here early in the evening. The parking lot is usually full earlier than that, unless you get there shortly after opening. During the evening we were able to see mountain goats and big horned sheep! At the east entrance is the St. Mary Visitor Center. You will find restrooms and a small shop along with exhibitions about the park.
Our Stops Along the Road
Lake McDonald
Lake McDonald is absolutely gorgeous. This is where you will see the famous colored stones. The mountain views in the background of the lake are to die for. We spent some time here kayaking. If you are looking to kayak or paddleboard, I highly recommend choosing Lake McDonald. You can also go for a dip here if you are willing to brave the cold waters.
After you are done playing on the lake you have several options. You can check out the gift shops. Our favorite gift shop was at Lake McDonald. You can also grab a bite to eat along with an adult beverage. Bike rentals are also available at Lake McDonald in Apgar Village.
Red Rocks
This is the perfect place to stop to check out some beautiful waterfalls. You are able to climb out onto the rocks and swim in the water holes here. But the water is very chilly, so we just enjoyed putting our feet in the water.
Trail of Cedars
Trail of Cedars is a .9 mile loop on a boardwalk path, making it a great hike for all abilities. This trail leads you through the trees to a gorgeous waterfall.
Weeping Wall
You will drive by the Weeping Wall on Going To The Sun Road. It is a section of cliff that has snow melt flowing down it.
Big Bend
This is the perfect spot to watch the sunset! Some of our favorite engagement photos were taken here. You will find Big Bend right before the Logan Pass Visitors Center.
Logan Pass Visitor Center
The parking lot fills up fairly quickly during the day. Because of that, my recommendation is to visit Logan Pass in the evening. The parking lot has emptied out at that time of day. We saw quite a few mountain goats and big horned sheep during that time as well. Highline Trail is located across the road. If you are up for an exhilarating trek, you should hike Highline. The views are amazing! You will be on a narrow rock ledge that runs parallel with the Going To The Sun Road. There is no railing or wall on the side with the steep drop, but there is a rope attached to the mountain that you can hold onto.
Lunch Creek
The perfect place to stop to enjoy your lunch! There are views on both sides of the road with some pretty waterfalls on the side opposite of the pull off area.
There are many other beautiful spots to check out on Going To The Sun Road. Make sure you plan your trip ahead of time! Parking lots fill up fast, therefore you should get to your must see places as soon as the road opens in the morning. Check out my post on Glacier National Park for more tips for your trip to Glacier!
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