United States

Glacier National Park

August, before the gold turn.

Season

• January●●●●●Deep snow, the park to the wolves
• February●●●●●Coldest still, ice on Lake McDonald
• March●●●●●Snow at the passes, melt at the lakes
• April●●●●●Bears emerging, low country only
• May●●●●●Waterfalls full, roads still partial
• June●●●●●Going-to-the-Sun opens late month
• July●●●●●All access, smoke a possibility
• August●●●●●Wildflowers high, bears in the berry patches
• September●●●●●Larches turning gold late month
• October●●●●●Going-to-the-Sun closing, first snow back
• November●●●●●Park empties, the wolves take it back
• December●●●●●Deep winter, ice climbing season

Location

Curated places

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Scenic drive · 240 min · ─

The 50-mile road across the park, climbing Logan Pass at 6,646 feet. Open July to mid-September; vehicles over 21 feet barred past Avalanche Creek.

Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

Trail · 150 min · Free

From Logan Pass through the Hanging Gardens to the overlook — three miles round-trip, mountain goats common above the trees.

Highline Trail

Trail · 420 min · Free

An eleven-mile traverse along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass to the Loop. The ledge section sees you through; carry bear spray.

Logan Pass Visitor Center

Ranger station · 30 min · Free

The visitor center on top of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Ranger talks at the half-hour, the Continental Divide just outside.

Many Glacier Hotel

Stay · 720 min · ───

The 1915 Swiss-style lodge on Swiftcurrent Lake. Wood-paneled lobby, balcony rooms over the water; the boat tours leave from the dock outside.

Polebridge Mercantile

Food · 30 min · ─

A 1914 general store at the edge of the North Fork — the huckleberry bear claw is the reason. No pavement to get there; cell signal stops twenty miles back.