Notes

Day 1: Going-To-The-Sun Road / Two Medicine (Reservation Required)

You will need a reservation to enter portions of Going-To-The-Sun Road. If you cannot secure a reservation, enter before 6:00 AM or check availability the night before via the National Park Service reservation page.
Start from the West Glacier entrance and drive to Logan Pass parking lot early (lots fill up in summer by 7:30am).
Hike Hidden Lake Overlook Trail (2.8 miles round trip) — boardwalk most of the way. Wildlife sightings common: grizzly bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots.
Drive to St. Mary Falls Trail / Virginia Falls (3.3 miles round trip if you continue to Virginia Falls). Trail is moderate with uphill return sections. Keep alert for wildlife; moose have been spotted from the parking lot.
Drive to the end of Going-To-The-Sun Road to take the National Park sign photo.
Picnic lunch at Rising Sun Picnic Area.
Drive Two Medicine Road: stop at Running Eagle Falls (short flat walk) and Appistoki Falls.
Two Medicine General Store (try huckleberry candies and drinks).
Hike to Paradise Point (1.6 miles round trip) from the Two Medicine parking area.
Take Aster Park Trail to Aster Falls (less than 2.5 miles round trip). Look for moose and beavers in marshy areas.
Return to your accommodation (4 nights) and enjoy dinner at your Airbnb.

Day 2: North Fork Road (Reservation Required)

This remote road requires a reservation; availability is limited. Follow the same reservation process as Going-To-The-Sun Road. Entrance to the road is at Polebridge.
Drive to Hidden Meadows Trailhead (2.7 miles) — open meadow trail, possible bear sightings.
Drive south to the road end/campground (restroom available), then turn back north, leave the park to go to Polebridge Mercantile for the famous huckleberry bear claw.
Return to the park and head north for a picnic lunch at Bowman Lake Picnic Area; optional swim in the cold glacial lake (be warned—very cold).
Continue north to Kintla Lake and explore short trails such as sections of the Boulder Pass area.
Dinner and cider at Big Mountain Ciderworks in Kalispell before returning to your accommodation.

Day 3: Many Glacier & Waterton (Canada - Passport or Enhanced ID Required)

Follow reservation instructions for Many Glacier area.
Drive US-2 to 89 south of the park to Many Glacier Road.
Hike Apikuni Falls Trail (1.8 miles) to a waterfall.
Visit Swiftcurrent Motor Inn camp-store for snacks/ice cream.
Hike Red Rock Falls (3.6 miles) for a series of waterfalls and detour to Fishercap Lake for moose viewing—excellent moose habitat (we saw several!).
Picnic lunch at Swiftcurrent Picnic Area.
Drive to Waterton (Canada). Purchase wildlife cruise tickets at Waterton Shoreline Cruise Co. (local vendor, book day of for preferred time).
Optional short hike in Waterton town (Bears Hump is popular — steep but short with great views).
Recommend the 6:30 PM wildlife cruise for dusk activity; after the cruise, drive Red Rock Parkway to Blackiston Valley Trail for bear spotting.
Head back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight. Keep in mind the chief mountain highway entrance at the border is not open all night. Check for its closing time.

Day 4: Highline Trail (Going-To-The-Sun Road Reservation Required)

Return to Logan Pass early and hike the Highline Trail (approx. 12 miles). Plan shuttle or pickup at trail end—check shuttle hours in advance.
Bring water, snacks, lunch, and bear spray. Trail is mostly flat but long—carry essentials.
Trail highlights: potential sightings of wolverine, pikas, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and marmots.
You begin the hike on a trail that runs parallel to the side of the mountain, overlooking the road. At times, there are small water trickles that may be slippery, and for a little bit there is actually a chain railing to hold.
Once you get about half way you will reach a little chalet and store with overpriced drinks and goods if you need to replenish. We stopped at one of these picnic tables for lunch. There are bathrooms here (pit toilets) and the only ones of the hike.
After lunch we walked some more, making it to an area where we saw some kids picking berries and eating them….….. huckleberries!
Continue hiking down the trial and back to the shuttle stop.
After the Highline, continue along Going-To-The-Sun Road stopping at scenic lookouts.
Hike the Trail of the Cedars boardwalk loop (optionally to Avalanche Lake) and watch sunset at Lake McDonald.
Return to your accommodation for the night.

Day 5: Options & Departure

Option 1: Drive to Hungry Horse Dam and Powerplant; road becomes dirt through Flathead National Forest—wildlife and huckleberry foraging opportunities. Proceed only if comfortable.
Option 2: Visit Goat Lick (goat salt lick) on US-2 south of the park—watch wild goats gather for the mineral salts. Then hike some of the Walton Trail.
Visit Apgar for shops, lunch, and huckleberry ice cream before returning to the airport.

Glacier National Park

Passports and PTO