2 Days in Glacier National Park

A realistic two-day plan for Montana's crown jewel, with the family in mind.

By Chris Hayworth, Nestward

Two days in Glacier is enough to see the headline stuff and leave wanting more, which is exactly the right amount of "more" to leave with. The park packs over 700 miles of trails, carved valleys, and that famous road between alpine meadows and turquoise lakes. You won't do it all in 48 hours, so this plan picks the highlights and keeps the driving sane for kids.

Before you go: the one thing that ruins trips here

Glacier's centerpiece is the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile drive over Logan Pass on the Continental Divide. The catch: it doesn't fully open until late June or early July most years, and snow closes it again in fall. If you're visiting outside roughly July through mid-October, check the road status before you build any plan around it.

In peak summer (typically late June through early September), the park runs a vehicle reservation system for the Going-to-the-Sun corridor and Many Glacier. These are timed-entry tickets you book in advance on Recreation.gov, separate from your park entrance fee. Get them the moment they release. Entrance is $35 per vehicle for seven days. Arriving before 7am or after the afternoon cutoff usually sidesteps the reservation window, and early starts beat the crowds anyway.

Day 1: Going-to-the-Sun Road and Lake McDonald

Enter from the west at West Glacier and start with Lake McDonald, the park's largest lake. The colorful pebbles along the shore near Lake McDonald Lodge are a five-minute win with kids, with easy parking and no hiking required. The historic lodge lobby is worth a peek.

• Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road eastbound. Give it real time. This is the experience, not a transfer between things. Pull-outs along the way frame Heavens Peak and waterfalls. The road is narrow and cliff-hugging; vehicles over 21 feet long or 8 feet wide are not allowed, so leave the big RV behind.
• Logan Pass. The high point of the drive and the trailhead for the boardwalk to Hidden Lake Overlook, a moderate climb with a good chance of seeing mountain goats and bighorn sheep. The lot fills by mid-morning; this is exactly why you started early.
• St. Mary Falls. On the east side, a short, kid-friendly hike leads to a double waterfall over layered rock. A solid leg-stretcher before turning back.

If the family still has energy, the Trail of the Cedars near Avalanche is a flat, accessible loop through old-growth forest, the easiest "wow" trail in the park.

Day 2: Many Glacier (or take it slow)

Many Glacier, on the park's east side, is where a lot of people quietly say their favorite scenery lives. Note that it's a 1.5-to-2-hour drive from the west-side towns, so plan to base over here for night one if you can, or treat day two as a longer day.

• Grinnell Lake or Lake Josephine area. Trails fan out from the Many Glacier Hotel along a chain of lakes. You can hike as far as your shortest legs allow and still get the views. A boat tour across Swiftcurrent and Josephine lakes shortens the walk to Grinnell, a good move with younger kids.
• Wildlife watching. This valley is genuinely one of the better places in the lower 48 to spot bears, bighorn sheep, and the occasional moose. Carry bear spray, keep distance, and make noise on trails.

Short on time or energy? Spend day two slow on the west side instead: paddle or swim at Lake McDonald, do a ranger program, and let the Going-to-the-Sun Road be the trip's big swing.

Practical notes for families

• Junior Ranger: Pick up a booklet at any visitor center. It turns a long drive into a scavenger hunt and ends with a badge.
• Weather is moody. Glacier straddles the Divide where Pacific and Arctic air collide. Pack layers and rain shells even in July. It can be sunny at the lake and snowing at Logan Pass.
• Food and gas: Stock up in West Glacier, St. Mary, or Kalispell. In-park dining is limited and lines run long midday.
• Connectivity: Cell service is spotty to nonexistent. Download maps and your reservations before you lose signal at the entrance.