How to Spend 2 Days in Glacier National Park (Even If Going-to-the-Sun Road Is Closed)
Let me just say—Glacier National Park 100% lives up to its nickname: The Crown of the Continent.
This place? Unreal. You are consistently hit with views of snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, and, oh yeah… actual bears. 🐻
We explored Glacier in early June, and while Going-to-the-Sun Road was still mostly closed (more on that below), the trip was still totally worth it. This park quickly became one of my favorite places in the States!
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip, plus a few personal tips to help you feel prepared—not caught in knee-deep snow like we were.
✨ Before You Go: What to Know About This Itinerary
Location of Stay: We stayed in Coram which was super close to the west entrance. There are a few places to stay at within the park itself, but it is more expensive. Of course, you can also camp within the park, but that’s a hard pass for me!
Getting There: We flew into Bozeman and road-tripped from Yellowstone to Glacier (highly recommend - you can read my blog post here!) But if you are only going to Glacier, then I recommend flying into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell
Food Items: Stock up at a grocery store on your way in, especially if you're staying somewhere remote. We stayed in an Airbnb and didn’t eat out at all—just prepped meals and packed lots of snacks as we were out all day.
Going-to-the-Sun Road: Only open in summer (usually mid/late June through beginning of Sept). It was still closed when we visited, so we had to drive the loooong way around to get to the east side. Still gorgeous and worth it in my eyes, but just a heads up for planning!
You can keep tabs on the Going-to-the-Sun Road status here
Bear Safety: Be bear aware. We saw multiple bears—one way too close for comfort. Bring bear spray, hike smart, and read up on what to do if you see one.
Hiking Information: Always look up the trail on AllTrails to see current conditions and additional information about the hike so you know what to expect!
Hiking Expectations: Y’all - I love to hike and be outside, but I am not looking to almost die. The hikes that are on this Itinerary are fairly chill and only at times somewhat challenging (and that’s a stretch), so if you are looking for a hard and challenging hikes this ain’t for you, baby.
🌱 My Go-To Vegan Hiking Snacks:
Peanut Butter + Banana Sandwich
PB&J (tried and true)
Uncrustables are great for convenience!
Cuties / Oranges
Pistachios
Trail Mix
Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars
Lenny & Larry’s Cookies
Peanut Butter Stuffed Pretzels (my guilty pleasure)
🎒 Packing Guide
Rain jacket / packable poncho
Comfy hiking boots
Microspikes (even if visiting in the summer!)
Hiking poles (and don’t leave them on the plane like one of our group members did😅)
Refillable water bottle or CamelBak
I used a CamelBak for the hikes, but kept a reusable water bottle in the car filled with water to drink in between stops)
Layers, layers, layers
Overview of Itinerary:
Day One: West Glacier
Lake McDonald Viewpoint
McDonald Falls
Avalanche Lake Hike
Lake McDonald Lodge
Day Two: East Glacier
Swiftcurrent Lake & Many Glacier Area
Wild Goose Island Lookout
Two Medicine Lake
If Going-to-the-Sun Road Is Open...
You're in luck! Add these spots to your list:
Logan Pass: Highest point on the road with alpine meadows, wildflowers, and possible mountain goat sightings.
Hidden Lake Overlook: Short hike with a big reward—panoramic views over a crystal lake and mountains.
St. Mary Lake: Dramatic lake views on the east side, perfect for golden hour photos.
Sun Point Nature Trail: Easy walk with multiple scenic viewpoints along the lake
If you’re lucky enough to do this drive, I’m super jealous because I’ve heard it is the most beautiful drive. I cannot wait to go back and do it!
DAY ONE: West Glacier
Lake McDonald Viewpoint: This iconic view will stop you in your tracks—mirror-like water reflecting snow-capped peaks. It literally looks like it is AI Generated.
📍Helpful Tip: It’s just a roadside pull-off with no big signs, so keep your eyes peeled!
⏱️ Estimated Time: 10–15 mins
McDonald Falls: Cute little waterfall and flowing river—perfect for a quick stretch and some pics!
Parking for this does look more like a little parking lot right off the side of the road. You will then walk down a boarded pathway to the river
🕐 Estimated Time: 10–15 mins
Avalanche Lake Hike: A scenic forest hike with a gorgeous lake at the end surrounded by the mountains with small waterfalls trickling down the cliffs—seriously stunning.
📝Personal Note: Once we made it to the lake, we stopped for some views and chews while we ate snacks!
🕐 Estimated Time: 2–3 hours roundtrip
Lake McDonald Lodge: Even if you’re not staying here, stop in to admire the rustic lobby and grab a coffee or drink and walk down to the docks to take in the view!
🕐 Estimated Time: 30 mins – 1 hour
After only experiencing a little bit of what Glacier has to offer, head back to your accommodations to rest up for another exciting day!
DAY TWO: East Glacier
Swiftcurrent Lake & Many Glacier Area: One of the most stunning areas in the park, with jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, and tons of hiking options.
📝Personal Note: We hit snow. Like, lots of it. And we were totally unprepared. But sliding down snowy hills? 10/10. Made for memories that we will never forget!
Be cautious and bring microspikes, even if you’re going early summer!
🕐 Estimated Time: 2 hours (depending on which trail you do)
On the way out, we saw a Grizzly Bear! You usually know when there is animal activity as a lot of people will be pulled over and a park ranger may be near by. Most of the time you are told to stay in your vehicle and you can still get good pictures from there! Better to be safe than sorry — bears don’t play!
Wild Goose Island Lookout: A tiny island in the middle of St. Mary Lake, framed by towering peaks—super photogenic and easy to access.
This spot is totally postcard-worthy, and a quick pull-off along the road. However, if Going to the Sun Road is still (partly) closed, you may have to park at a parking lot and walk up to see this viewpoint. Still totally worth it!
🕐 Estimated Time: 10 mins
We also saw a brown bear on the way out! She was just chilling on the side of the road eating grass so I was able to great some cool shots from the car!
Two Medicine Lake: A quieter, lesser-known section of the park with peaceful lake views and shorter trails.
📝Personal Note: We planned to do a longer hike... but a Grizzly walked right by us after a photo sesh on the beach 😳 Sooo we decided to go for a shorter hike because we were really nervous the entire time.
Even with the short hike, this area was peaceful and less crowded.
🕐 Estimated Time: 30 mins – 2 hours (depending on which trail you choose)
Heading Out
Now it’s time to leave Glacier (cue tears😭)
If you’re flying out from Bozeman, I would recommend doing a pit stop in Bigfork for some cute shops, food, and Montana small-town charm!
But for now, it’s see you later, Montana! Until next time (cause let’s face it — it’ll be calling you back)! 🫶