NorahSimply put, one day in Glacier is not nearly enough time. This park is massive, and there is so much to do and see. As someone who spent ten days in Glacier this past summer, I am going to do my best to give you the TOP recommendations on activities, hikes, and must dos. This itinerary will include a mix of driving and hiking activities to help give you a wide variety of inspiration.
I also have a complete guide to Glacier, as well as recommendations for the best hikes!
Note: You will get the most out of your one day at Glacier by packing a lunch to eat en route. There are very few resources available once in the park, and if you want to maximize your time at Glacier, pack food to eat along the route.
One more note: I will start this Glacier itinerary in the town of West Glacier, given that the town is right by a large campsite and is closer to bigger towns like Kalispell and Whitefish. If you are starting from the Saint Mary entrance, complete this route in reverse. It should still be epic!
Morning
You will hopefully arrive to the entrance station as early as you can, given the fact that most people in this park are up before the sun, and you want to avoid crowds during your one day. After entering the park, you will be greeted very quickly by the Apgar Campground. Unless you need a bite to eat or a quick refuel, I would not spend too much time here. This Glacier itinerary focuses on maximizing time spent in the whole park, so you will not stop too long
Photo opp: There is a beautiful view of Lake McDonald from the visitor center. If you are interested in seeing the famous colored rocks, take a quick stop here for pictures.
After your brief stop, keep driving along the Going to the Sun Road, but feel free to stop at any point along the road for a view of Lake McDonald. The road goes right along the whole seven mile coast of the lake, and there are several beautiful pullovers.
If you feel adventurous, I would recommend completing the Avalanche Lake hike. The whole hike is about four miles round trip, and can be combined with the nearby Trail of the Cedars for a longer hike. If you do not want to hike that much early in the morning, stick with the Trail of the Cedars. It is less than a mile along a beautiful boardwalk.
After your hike, continue along the Going to the Sun Road. At this point you will start to gain elevation, and will be able to see some seriously beautiful views. My recommendation: stop at every viewpoint along the way! As you rise up into the alpine tundra, the jagged mountains and towering landscapes start to feel otherworldly. At this point in the Glacier itinerary, you will have officially driven to the highest point along the Going to the Sun Road!
Afternoon
Once you get to the Logans Pass visitor center, you have a couple options. I would recommend stopping at the small visitor center to read up about the different features of the landscape.
Logans Pass is also the highest point along the Going to the Sun Road, so the views are also absolutely stunning.
There are also several beautiful hikes that start out from Logans Pass. Hidden Lake starts from the back of the visitor center, and is a stunning hike with an endpoint view of a lake where grizzlies frequently visit. The hike itself is around two miles and is very straightforward.
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, then I would recommend also adding on several miles of the Highline Trail. This trail leaves from the Logans Pass visitor center as well, and is one of the more adventurous and ambitious trails in the park. With only one day in Glacier, I would recommend only hiking one or two miles.
After spending ample time at the top of the park, this Glacier itinerary then has you head down along the East side of the park. As you go, stop along the various lookouts.
Evening
Your official day in Glacier ends at the Saint Mary’s visitor center, which I highly recommend stopping and enjoying. There are several different resources available in the visitor center that make for a very informative visit. At the Eastern side of the park, I would recommend stopping and eating before you continue on your adventures!
If you have two days:
With an extra day in the park, I would recommend exploring another area. Glacier National Park has many different sections, and I would recommend the Many Glacier region for wildlife, the Two Medicine region for solitude, and the North Fork region for remote adventures.
One final note: Glacier is a very popular park, and it is a very crowded park as well. During your day in the park, you might occasionally run into issues with parking. If you want to avoid the stress all together, then I would recommend taking the shuttle bus, which has stops at all the major points I listed and is convenient and easy to navigate.
Adventure on!
