Where is Glacier National Park?

Glacier National Park is located in Montana, in the northwestern portion of the United States.

How do I get to Glacier National Park?

If you travel from other states or from overseas, the park conveniently has its own airport — Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), located in Kalispell, MT. Just a handful of cities in the US have direct flights to FCA (Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver and Phoenix, to name a few), but park visitors can still easily reach the airport from other major cities with a layover or two. The airport is expanding its range of direct flights as the park's popularity continues to grow.If a road trip is more your vibe, Glacier NP is about a 10-hour drive from both Seattle and Portland, 4 hours from Spokane, and 3 hours from Calgary, AB.For the most scenic route to the park, you can hop aboard Amtrak's Empire Builder train that travels from Chicago to Seattle, stopping in East Glacier, West Glacier and Whitefish.

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?

The best time to visit Glacier National Park to experience the widest array of activities is between July and September. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically fully open by early to mid-July, and most of the hiking trails will be accessible and snow-free. Wildflowers bloom in August, giving the mountainsides a vibrant wash of color.

What to pack for a trip to Glacier National Park

If you plan on hiking in Glacier, you'll need a sturdy pair of well-fitting hiking boots, a mixture of waterproof layers, a water bottle or bladder and a camera. The area has an abundance of refreshing lakes, so if you plan on taking a dip, add a swimsuit and a pair of sandals to your packing list.Before embarking on an active outdoor adventure, make sure to read the Essential Trip Information section of your itinerary for a better idea of what's provided and what you'll need to bring.

What kind of wildlife is in Glacier National Park?

Glacier's diverse ecosystem is home to dozens of species, but the most popular animals to spot are bighorn sheep, mountain goats and moose. Glacier also has one of the largest populations of grizzly bears in the contiguous United States, so be sure to brush up on bear safety before hitting the trails. It's always good practice to stay alert, keep bear spray handy and secure your food and garbage.

Are Intrepid trips accessible for travellers with disabilities?

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Best Glacier National Park Tours & Holidays 2024/2025

Welcome to the Crown of the Continent

Perched high on the border of northwestern Montana and Canada, with a dramatic landscape carved and shaped by the Ice Age, Glacier National Park is nothing short of majestic. Living up to its royal nickname, the park boasts an impressive amount of jewel-toned lakes, jagged, towering mountains, shimmering waterfalls and, of course, glaciers. Exploration in the park is seemingly endless, and from the hair-raising Going-to-the-Sun Road to the 1,100 km of hiking trails to the valleys teeming with free-roaming wildlife, it's an outdoor lover's bucket list just waiting to be ticked. What are you waiting for?

Our Glacier National Park trips

Real Canadian Rockies

Glacier National Park highlights

Autumn view of Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park Montana, United States, on a sunny day

Drive the Going to the Sun Road

        Known as one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the US National Parks system, the Going-to-the-Sun Road takes you into the heart of Glacier. The 53-mile route travels over the Continental Divide, with a stop at Logan Pass, the highest drivable point in the park. Jaw-dropping views, waterfalls and wildlife will be on full display, so look out for mountain goats, bighorn sheep and even the occasional grizzly bear.
      

Best of Montana

Great American West

Historic Red Jammer bus driving past lush forest in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Let someone else take the wheel

        If the idea of driving on steep cliffs makes your palms sweat, leave the hard work to the pros and hop on a Red Bus Tour. The historic Red Jammers have been navigating Glacier since the 1930s, and the guides are seasoned park veterans (read: they know these roads like the back of their hands). This fleet of historic buses are some of the oldest touring vehicles in the world, and their roll-back tops are perfect for getting full 360° views.
      

One of the crystal blue lakes at Glacier National Park in Montana USA on a cloudy day,

Learn about Glacier's glaciers

        The awe-inspiring landscape of Glacier National Park was carved by ice thousands of years ago, and today, 25 active glaciers still remain in the park. Unfortunately, the effects of climate change are plentiful within the park, and the glaciers are rapidly shrinking. The NPS is putting forth the effort to reduce its contribution to climate change, but you can always do your part by staying on established trails, carrying a refillable water bottle and, as always, leaving no trace.
      

Best of Montana

Canadian Rockies

Real Canadian Rockies

Hiker looking at the mountains in Glacier National Park, Montana, on a clear sunny day

Hike at your own pace

        Glacier has over 700 miles of hiking trails within the park, so whether you're an expert trekker or an outdoor newbie, there will be a trail for you. More popular routes include the easygoing Trail of the Cedars and the moderate Iceberg Lake Trail, which can end with a chilly plunge into the pale blue iceberg-dotted waters if you're daring enough. Experienced hikers might want to conquer the challenging Grinnell Glacier Trail to get up close to the park's most famous glacier.
      

Great American West

Best of Montana

Glacier National Park tour reviews

4.7 out of 5 based on 113 reviews submitted.

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Real Canada

Amy · Traveled September 2024

This trip enables you to see a lot of amazing places in a short period of time. Our tour guide Mikael was enthusiastic and created a fun atmosphere for us and made sure we got to enjoy every moment

Review submitted 15 Sep 2024

Great American West

Gregory · Traveled August 2024

Our Great American West tour was well-planned and gave us a wonderful opportunity to learn about and experience the national and state parks in a way we never would have been able to otherwise. The included experiences were great at enhancing our knowledge of U.S. history, native cultures and wildlife.

Review submitted 02 Sep 2024

Real Canada

Miranda · Traveled August 2024

Had an amazing time in Canada! Went to lots of national parks and did rafting, hiking, swimming and bob-sleighing. Itinerary was very fun and made lots of good memories. I'm not the most enthusiastic camper but I really enjoyed my time on this trip.

Review submitted 23 Aug 2024

Real Canada

Selin · Traveled August 2024

I was very satisfied with the overall trip. I also very much liked that I had all the information about the tour and what to pack beforehand. I also very much liked our tour guide, Carl, who was a local and knew the whole area very well. He was also flexible, funny, had great knowledge, was a good cook, and was very responsible with the food kitty as well. I really enjoyed the whole trip and can only recommend!

Review submitted 29 Aug 2024

Canadian Rockies

Kevin · Traveled August 2024

During this trip you get two weeks of highlights and you can choose very often between different activities and hikes which is nice when you're in a group. Mikaël the tour leader did everything he could to turn this trip in a huge success and to offer extra possibilities to the program.

Review submitted 01 Sep 2024