National Park
Glacier National Park
- West
- 9 hikes
- 16 places to see
- 1 current alert
Current alerts
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Closure
Going-to-the-Sun Road Seasonal Closure
Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the season at Avalanche Creek on the west side of the park. On the east side, the closure is located at Rising Sun. Travel on open sections of the road may change at any time due to winter weather conditions. Visitors should check road conditions before their arri…
From the National Park Service, as of October 30, 2026, 5:15 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.
About Glacier
A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking a landscape steeped in human culture. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- West
- State
- Montana
- Designation
- National Park
- Entrance fee
- $35, private vehicle
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 16
- Articles
- 14
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Glacier.
Entrance fees
- $35 Private Vehicle (Winter Rate - $25.00, November 1 to April 30) This is an entrance fee for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van). The pass is good for seven days and is non-transferable. Visitors can enter the park at any time, if…
- $20 Per Person
- $30 Motorcycle
- $100 Nonresident
Passes
- $70 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Glacier National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. An entrance fee is required, even when entrance stations are not staffed. Instructions are available at each entrance for self-payment.
Weather and when to go
Glacier's weather is highly variable and can be extreme. Expect warm, sunny summer days but be ready for any type of conditions. In the winter, temperatures can fall well below freezing and typically the park receives considerable amounts of snow. Glacier's geography, straddling the Continental Divide, sets the stage for clashes of two very different climates. Warm, wet Pacific air moves in from the west, and cold, dry Arctic air flows from the northeast. They meet at the Divide.
Getting there
Glacier National Park is located in the northwest corner of Montana along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. By car you can access Glacier via Highway 2, which runs along the southern boundary of the park. You can reach the east side of the park via Highway 89. The nearest airports are in Kalispell and Great Falls, Montana.
- Gateway towns
- West Glacier, MT · Whitefish, MT · St. Mary, MT
- Nearest airports
- Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) · Missoula International Airport (MSO)
Contact the park
- Address
- 64 Grinnell Drive, Glacier National Park Headquarters, West Glacier, MT 59936
- Phone
- (406) 888-7800
- Official site
- nps.gov/glac
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Glacier
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Where to stay for Glacier
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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West Glacier, MT Closest
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Whitefish, MT
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St. Mary, MT
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Glacier
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Beavers
The North American beaver is the second largest rodent in the world behind the Capybara of South America. Found throughout the U.S. and Canada, these semiaquatic ecosystem enginee…
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Wolverines
A mid-sized carnivore in the weasel family, the wolverine is active throughout the year in cold, snowy environments to which it is well-adapted. Wolverines are rarely seen and inh…
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Mountain Goats
The mountain goat is one of the park's most inconic creatures. It is the only living member of its genus and is more closely related to caprines (the chamois of Europe and the gor…
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Listen to Glacier's Podcast
Rangers recommend Glacier's podcast, Headwaters: a podcast about how Glacier is connected to everything else!
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Red Foxes
Red foxes are found throughout the northern hemisphere. In Glacier, they are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from open grasslands to dense forests. Most abundant in riparian…
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Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep live in a variety of habitats throughout the year. During the summer, they can be found in meadows, fellfields, and on mid-elevation slopes bordered by cliffs and le…
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Gray Wolves
The subspecies of gray wolves (Canis lupus) found in Glacier is called the northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf (C. l. irremotus). There are three color variants: gray, white, and bl…
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Elk
Glacier provides a summer range for a significant number of elk, while most winter at lower elevations outside the park. The subspecies occuring in Glacier is the Rocky Mountain e…
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Deer
Two types of deer are commonly seen thorughout Glacier: the northwestern white-tailed deer (O. v. ochrourus) and the Rocky Mountain mule deer (O. h. hemionus). Both will flee when…
Places to see
Viewpoints
Campgrounds in Glacier
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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Kintla Lake Campground
Kintla Lake Campground is Glacier National Park's most remote frontcountry and car camping campground. It is located in the uppermost northwest section of the…
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Logging Creek Campground
The Logging Creek Campground is one of the smaller campgrounds in Glacier and is located on the west side of the park, south of Polebridge. Access is via the I…
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Quartz Creek Campground
Quartz Creek Campground is the smallest campground in Glacier National Park and remains in primitive status all season. It is located on the west side of the p…
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Rising Sun Campground
Rising Sun Campground is located just west of St. Mary and halfway along St. Mary Lake. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with…
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Many Glacier Campground
The campground at Many Glacier is one of the most popular campgrounds in Glacier National Park. The campground is situated within trees for tent and RV campers…
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Sprague Creek Campground
Sprague Creek is a small campground located on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald, just off Going-to-the-Sun Road. Towed units (vehicle plus unit) and RVs ex…
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St. Mary Campground
St. Mary Campground is the largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park and is open year-round. Activities such as interpretive programs, book…
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Avalanche Campground
Avalanche Campground is located in one of the most popular sections of Glacier National Park west of the Continental Divide. The campground accommodates tent a…
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Apgar Campground
Apgar Campground is the largest campground in the park. It is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with shade and some privacy. Evening sunsets o…
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Bowman Lake Campground
Bowman Lake Campground is located in the North Fork area of Glacier National Park approximately 32.5 miles from the west entrance and 30 miles from the Canadia…
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Fish Creek Campground
Fish Creek is the second largest campground in the park and is one of the campgrounds in the park that takes reservations. Sites within the campground are surr…
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Two Medicine Campground
Two Medicine is approximately 13 miles from East Glacier. Sites within the campground at are generally shaded by trees, and offer some privacy from other campe…
Reading about Glacier
What to pack for Glacier
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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