Ultimate Packing List for Glacier National Park

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What do you need to pack for your upcoming trip to Glacier National Park?  Here are the items that we found to be must-haves on our recent trip there:

Hiking Shoes

If you are heading to Glacier National Park, then exploring some trails is probably on your list of things to do.  I am a big fan of Saucony brand trail running shoes.  I find them suitable for most of the hikes we take.  

Water Shoes

Those beautiful stones that you see in the pictures of Glacier National Park are killer on the feet!  So, I recommend packing a pair of water shoes if you are planning on kayaking, paddleboarding, or just walking around in the water.  

Daypack

Whether you are out hiking for the day or riding around on the shuttle seeing the sites, I recommend wearing a daypack!  It’s the perfect way to easily carry your essentials along with you.  My favorite packs are from Osprey.  The Osprey Temptest 20 is our go to for hiking.  It has an internal mesh pocket for storing keys and other small items, the trekking pole attachment allows easy access to your poles, and the ventilated close body fit makes it super comfortable to wear.  

Trekking Poles

When hiking, even on shorter trails, having trekking poles makes navigating the terrain more useful.  

Layers

Make sure you dress in layers before heading out for the day.  Even in August, we found the temperatures to be a bit chilly when starting out in the morning.  

Bear Spray

This is a must have for your trip to Glacier!  Fortunately, we did not come across any grizzlies on our hikes.  You will want to make sure you carry your spray in an easily accessible spot.  We hooked ours to the outside of our pack.

Bear Bells

Most bear attacks occur due to the grizzlies being unexpectedly scared.  The bells help alert animals of your presence.  

Water

As in any type of hiking adventure, make sure you carry plenty of water!  What worked for us, was buying bigger jugs of water (2-3 gallons) and keeping that in the back of our vehicle.  We would fill our hydroflasks before heading out on our hike.

Snacks

Places to grab a bite to eat are limited when you are in Glacier National Park.  We made sure to carry high protein snacks to hold us over throughout the day.

Sunscreen

You will be spending the majority of your times outdoors, so don’t forget to pack the sunscreen!  

Bug Spray

This was a definite must when we hiked the Grinnell Lake trail.  Once we reached the lake, we were thankful to have bug spray along.  

First Aid Kit

We prefer a soft cased kit.  These first aid kits slide easily into your pack without taking up too much room.

We hope that you enjoy your trip to Glacier as much as we did!  Check out posts on Glacier National Park and Going To The Sun Road for more information on this gorgeous national park.