You will need specific reservations ahead of time if you want to visit Glacier National Park while in Montana. Brian's fabulous cousin Kimberly put together this guide for you!

Glacier National Park

To enter Glacier National Park on the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork you need both a vehicle reservation and a park pass/entrance fee between the hours of 6am and 3pm.

A park pass/entrance fee is needed anytime you enter the park and at any entrance. This can be paid in advance online or in person. There are several options available depending on the length of your stay. You can view those options here under Entrance Pass.

To gain a vehicle reservation you can book a next day vehicle reservation that will be available at 7pm for next day entry starting on May 23, 2024. You can purchase those tickets here as they become available. Advanced vehicle registration are already sold out through August 4th, BUT if you haven’t reserved a vehicle reservation, don’t fret, there are a few options:

1. You can get into the park before 6am or after 3pm without the vehicle reservation.

2. You can get to Apgar Village and access parts of Lake McDonald from the West Entrance without a vehicle reservation. The checkpoint for Going-to-the-Sun road just past Apgar Village you won’t be able to go past between 6am and 3pm.

3. You can get into the park without a vehicle reservation if you have an activity booked (this is the secret sauce to plan your trip ahead of time without the vehicle reservation!). This would mean lodging, camping, boat tour, horseback ride, red bus tour…etc. You can use your reservation (along with your park pass/entrance fee) to get into the park. You must be sure your activity location matches where you enter. For example: you can purchase a Lake McDonald boat tour and get in on the west side of Going to the Sun road, but you can’t use that to enter Many Glacier. Choose an activity near where you want to explore! You only need one activity ticket to get a vehicle in, you do not need an activity ticket for each person in your vehicle. But, if you are looking for activities to do I highly recommend a boat tour or horseback ride! They are a wonderfully unique way to see the park from a historical lens.

4. You do not need a vehicle reservation to enter St. Mary with access to the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, however please plan accordingly if you plan to drive the entire road East to West as you can’t get through the checkpoint on the west side without a vehicle reservation between 6am - 3pm, but you can outside of those times.

5. You do not need a vehicle reservation to enter Two Medicine. Two Medicine is a beautiful part of the park that has many offerings including boat tours, hiking, a general store, and Native America Speaks.

Kim's top recommendations for a day or two visit to Glacier National Park!

1. Looking to enjoy the scenery, but not do too much hiking or diving? Apgar Village is so much fun and filled with little shops and a few restaurants to eat. You can play in the water, rent a kayak or canoe, and do shorter hikes near the lake. (No vehicle reservation required!)

2. Looking for an incredible drive that ends in a delicious huckleberry bear claw, head up the North Fork to Polebridge! (vehicle reservation required).

3. Looking for a variety of activities in one spot, head to Two Medicine. You can enjoy a hike (Trick Falls or Running Eagle Falls is a short hike, but a favorite!), take a swim, go on a boat tour, and enjoy the Native America Speaks. (No reservation required)

4. Looking for a day you don’t have to plan, book a red bus tour! You can book a full day or a half day, make sure you check where the bus tour starts and be at your location on time. Pack snacks and enjoy an already planned day. Book these in advance as they can fill up quickly! (No vehicle reservation required, use your activity reservation to enter).

5. Looking for some fun history - book a boat tour! Ride the historic boats of Glacier National Park and hear about the history of the park. (No vehicle reservation required, use your activity reservation to enter).

6. Looking for a great place to eat! Eddie’s Cafe in Apgar Village and Two Sisters Cafe between St. Mary’s and Many Glacier are favorites!

7. Looking for the best hikes (vehicle reservation required for most options):

-Avalanche Lake : this very popular, shorter hike, is more accessible to people who don’t hike as often. It can be busy. If you are looking for something accessible for those who can’t hike quite as far check out the Trail of the Cedars, which is located at the same trail head.

-Highline Loop : this is for serious hikers, but it is one of the best hikes in the park. You take the 14 mile loop starting at Logan pass, across the garden wall, and then down to the loop. Be prepared to catch a bus back up to your vehicle at Logan Pass.

-Grinnell Glacier or Iceberg Lake : you can’t go wrong with any hike in Many Glacier, but these two are wonderful day hikes. Grinnell Glacier brings you straight to a glacier and gives you a breathtaking view looking back at Many Glacier’s lakes. Iceberg Lake brings you through the backcountry to a lake that, most often, is filled with icebergs.

No matter where you travel in Glacier National Park, be sure that you are carrying bear spray and you know how to use it. You can rent bear spray at various parts of the park.

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