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When I was trying to decide where to go on a road trip this year Glacier National Park in the Fall was first on my list.

For years I had been dying to go and experience the majestic mountains of Montana for myself. I can confidently say that this was the best decision I made all year! 

In this blog post, I aim to give you a clear idea about what Fall in Glacier National Park is like and how to make the best of it. 

You will find the best times of year to go, places to stay, hikes to do and lakes to visit. I have even included my best photo tips for each location so you can capture your adventures the best you can!

Table of Contents:

1. When Is The Best Time To See Fall Colors In Glacier National Park?

2. How To Get To Glacier National Park

3. Where Should You Stay Near Glacier National Park

4. Where To Eat Near Glacier National Park

5. What To Pack For Glacier National Park In The Fall

6. Things To Do In Glacier National Park In The Fall

7. Best Fall Hikes In Glacier National Park

When is the best time to see fall colors in Glacier National Park?

Glacier National Park In September

September is a gorgeous time in Montana- the colors are beginning to turn, the weather is still good and everything is still accessible as there isn’t any snow just yet. It is also a wonderful time to see wildlife and take photos! 

I personally took my road trip the last week of September, arriving on the 26th and leaving on October 4th. The weather was beautiful and the fall foliage was at its prime.

Many locals told me they thought September was the best time of year to visit– the crowds at Glacier National Park had dissipated but almost all of the hikes and roads were still accessible. If seeing fall foliage is your thing, then I would tend towards the end of September. 

Glacier National Park in October

While I left at the very beginning of October a huge part of me wished that I had stayed. While the weather was getting cooler and Logan Pass in Glacier National Park can possibly became inaccessible due to snow, the larches in the area turned an amazing orange. 

When I was there in September all of the larches were still green, they are the last of the foliage to turn- a week or two after I left I started seeing insane photos of them from my friends I had met in Montana. I was jealous, to say the least. 

So When Should You Go To Glacier National Park?

To make decisions a bit easier I would just weigh what is most important to you!

Do you want more sun, warmer days for hiking, and everything open? Early September will be the best time! 

Do you want to be able to drive the “going to the sun road”, still be able to hike and see lots of fall colors and wildlife? Late September would be best for you! 

Or would you rather see larches turn orange and stay in the lower elevation areas? October is then the best pick!

How To Get to Glacier National Park?

Road Trip to Glacier National Park

If you don’t live too far this will definitely be the easiest option. I drove from Seattle, WA and it was about an 8.5-hour drive- honestly not too bad!

The pros of this are that you get complete freedom of going wherever you like whenever you like. The cons being you may have quite the drive ahead of you. If this drive is too long you have another option…

Fly Into Montana

Your other option is to fly into one of the airports in Montana and then rent a car for the week!

The closest airport is going to be Glacier Park International which is based in Kalispell– 30 miles west of the West Entrance to Glacier National Park.

If you can’t get a flight into Glacier Park International you can also fly into Missoula and rent a car there! Missoula is a super cute city and is only 2.5 hours south of the park.

Where should you stay near Glacier National Park?

Hotels

Wonderstone at Glacier: This hotel was the absolute cutest. It is only 11 miles away from the West Park entrance and is situated close to restaurants in Columbia Falls. 

The Wonderstone at Glacier is considered a boutique hotel- and their design lives up to that name perfectly. Rooms vary from $85 a night in the off-season to $150+ during the summer

Apres Whitefish: Enjoy a beautifully curated boutique hotel just minutes away from Glacier National Park and Whitefish Mountain Resort. With a cozy, yet modern feel this gorgeous hotel is the perfect home away from home.

Good Medicine Lodge: Looking for a cozy b&b? This cute bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beautiful views. With homemade breakfast every day you can choose from suites, rooms and entire house rentals!

Grouse Mountain Lodge: Located just steps away from downtown Whitefish, this cute lodge is the perfect place to cozy up after a long day exploring. Enjoy on-site dining and an outdoor hot tub!

Pine Lodge on Whitefish River: Situated on the Whitefish River, this is the perfect place to start your exploring from! You can enjoy complimentary bike and boat rentals as well as an outdoor fire pit, game room and more.

Reclusive Moose Cabins: Located on an original Glacier park homestead these cozy cabins are exactly the kind of place you home to escape to after a cold night out. Each cabin can sleep up to 5 people! You have access to a full kitchen, front porch and communal fire pit.

North Forty Resort: Looking for a classic log cabin to stay in? Well you have found your place! With 23 individual log cabins available you can find home away from home here in Montana.

Campsites

I only camped for one night while staying in Glacier National Park, at Bowman Lake and it was wonderful.

Within the actual park, there are 13 campgrounds- these range from reservation only to first come first serve. You can check out these campsites here.

Camping fees vary from $10-$23 per night. 

Car Camping

For most of my trip, my boyfriend and I slept in his car- we love traveling this way and find car camping to be one of the cheapest ways to explore a new area. 

A great area for car camping we found was at Hungry Horse Dam and Reservoir as well as on forest road pull-offs along Highway 2!

Check Out My Montana Wall Art!

Where to Eat Near Glacier National Park

• Polebridge Mercantile & Bakery: Stop here if you want to try the best huckleberry bear claw you have ever had! They also have great breakfast sandwiches and local goods (I left with fresh huckleberry jam, huckleberry lip balm, and an oat milk latte)- 100% worth the stop.
• Montana Coffee Traders– If you are looking for breakfast this is the best spot we found in the Columbia Falls area! The Big Sky- grilled potatoes topped with scrambled eggs, black beans, avocado, and salsa is to die for. They also have tons of different specialty drinks, local kombucha, and healthy snacks.
• Odd Fellow Coffee Shop- Another great spot in Columbia Falls for coffee and somewhere to work! I came here a couple of times on rainy days during my trip to grab an oat milk latte (try yours with honey and sea salt!) and edit pictures!
• Swift Creek Cafe- This breakfast spot in Whitefish is one of the trendier restaurants I went to while in Montana. The interior is adorable and they serve the classic breakfast dishes with a twist. I personally got the seasonal french omelet which came with oyster mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, and goat cheese- yum!

What To Pack For Glacier National Park In The Fall?

Warm Outdoorsy Clothes

When it comes to traveling in the Fall you will want to be prepared for cool mornings and nights and warm afternoons. I like to bring different layers so I can remove or add them as I see needed!

Top Things To Bring:

A Warm Puffy Jacket: This is an essential. A puffy jacket- whether made from down or synthetic material can keep you extra warm during those cold mornings and nights. I personally believe this is a must have when traveling to any wilderness destination.

Hat, Gloves & Socks: To keep yourself warm it is important to focus on your extremities. Your head lets out a lot of heat, as do your hands and feet. Invest in a warm beanie, quality gloves and merino wool socks and you will be much better suited for the outdoors.

Merino Wool Shirts: One of my very favorite pieces of clothing I wear is my mid layer merino wool quarter zip and my short sleeves from Smartwool. Wearing merino wool lets you regulate your temperature better, it stays warm even when wet and its nice and cozy- perfect for the outdoors!

A Fleece: It is important to have multiple layers so you can choose your level of warmth. I always like to bring a fleece to keep me warm- Patagonia and North Face both have wonderful options to choose from.

Rain Jacket: Since weather in the mountains can change in an instant I highly recommend investing in and bringing a nice rain jacket. I personally have the Arcteryx Beta and it never lets me get wet!

Sunglasses: A good pair of polarized sunglasses can make those bright sunny days a little easier on the eyes. Always a good idea to have a pair to grab when you need it!

Hiking Gear

If you are planning on hiking in the park you will want to be prepared with gear that will keep you safe and comfortable.

Top Things To Bring:

Hiking Boots: I believe hiking boots are one of the most important items in your gear closet- having a comfortable fit, good grip and ankle support can help you exponentially while you are hiking.

My personal favorites include the Renegade GTX Mid Boots, Bridger Mid Waterproof Boots and X Ultra Mid Gore boots. Be sure to try them on for yourself though as they fit different people differently.

Hiking Backpack: Having a good day pack is essential to hiking. My personal favorites are the Osprey Daylite Pack and Mira 23 Hydration Pack.

Trekking Poles: If you are planning on doing hikes with a lot of elevation, trekking poles can help your balance on the way up and knees on the way down. I personally use trekking poles on almost every hike. My favs are the Distance Carbon FLZ poles for a super lightweight option and the Trail Trekking poles.

Water Bladder & Bottle: My two favorite ways to bring water with me are with a water bladder and a nalgene. If you are going on a longer hike you can also bring a light weight water filter with you.

Safety Devices: A Satellite Phone, Bear Spray, Medical Kit and Emergency Bivy are all very important to keep you safe if you are heading into the back country.

Headlamp: Being able to see at night is essential. I have a headlamp in my hiking bag at all times, even if I am heading out on a morning hike- you never know what can happen.

Helpful Extras: Hand warmers, blister bandages, and microspikes can all make your hike more comfortable and safe.

Your Camera & Camera Gear! 

24-70 Lens: This is the perfect all-around travel lens, if you could only bring one lens I would recommend this one! This will let you get up-close shots of the mountains and foliage as well as wider shots of the winding roads! 

100-400 lens (or longer!) : If you are most excited about the prospect of seeing wildlife this is the best lens for you! This long of a lens allows you to get up close and personal shots of the moose or bears you see on your drives.

70-200 lens: My personal favorite lens! This lens is perfect for getting some crazy scale shots of your friends or barns with the mountains compressed behind them or amazing mountain layers. It can also be used for wildlife when they are close enough! I’ve got some wonderful shots just from this lens.

Tripod: For super stable shots- especially when shooting wildlife, astro or long exposures a tripod or mono pod can help to stabilize your camera so you get crisp shots.

ND Filter: The amount of beautiful lakes in Glacier National Park is actually kind of crazy. They are beautiful to photograph but sometimes the wind can pick up and create some choppy water. When this happened I was super happy I had my tripod and ND filter to create some long exposures that smoothed out the water and simplified the scene. 

Polarizer Filter: If you’re trying to get a shot of those famous colorful rocks, make sure you bring a polarizing filter! The filter will cut the glare off of the water so that you can easily photograph the rocks underneath!

Cleaning Gear: I always make sure to have a lens cloth and senor swabs ready when I am out on location. In dusty areas your camera can get dirty and you want to be able to quickly handle it!

Camera Clip: While hiking I like to use the capture clip to hang my camera on the strap of my backpack. 

Camera Bag: If you are carrying a lot of gear a nice, padded and comfortable camera bag is essential. I love the Wandrd Backpack! 

Glacier National Parks Pass

If you want to get into the park- this one is a must!

For a week’s entrance in a private vehicle, it is $35. If you travel to many of the national parks a better deal would be to buy the annual National Parks pass for $80! You can easily buy this at any of the park entrances. 

Road Trip Essentials

There are a few things that will make a road trip extra comfortable.

My Road trip Favs:

Insulated Mug: I love having a warm coffee or tea each morning, this one is perfect!

Camp Stove or Backpacking Stove: Having the ability to make tea, lunch or dinner while on the road is one of my favorite things! Pick a backpacking stove for a small version or level up with a cute camp stove!

Hammock: Give yourself the ability to just hangout and relax in this double nest hammock!

Lantern: Having access to light is essential! I personally love this inflatable lantern or this pro lantern!

Compressible Pillow: Car ride naps anyone?! Bring along a pillow to stay comfy.

Camp Chair: Collapse these cute little chairs and hangout under the stars or watch the sunset!

Down Booties: Stay warm with camp slippers.

Things to Do In Glacier National Park in the Fall

Drive The Going to The Sun Road

This is the classic Glacier National Park must! You really can’t miss it, if you enter the West Entrance- you end up right on it!

In the Fall this road is even more stunning. In the first 20 minutes of the drive, you go through beautiful orange trees alongside a rushing river.

Glancing up you can see steep rocky cliffs ending in beautiful peaks high above you. 

As you drive farther you will begin winding your way up towards Logan Pass- the highest point on the road.

Take your time driving as the road begins to narrow and the drop-offs become steeper and steeper.

I can promise you that more than once you will want to pull off to take a longer look at some of the views- luckily the park has many pull-offs on either side of the road for just that!

Photo Tip: Sunset is the best time to shoot the Going to The Sun Road! The mountain peaks light up and you can get some amazing light rays. The best pull-off spots for photos are about a mile below Logan’s Pass.

Picnic At Lake Mcdonald

Lake Mcdonald is the first lake you will see when you enter from the West Park entrance.

This lake is gorgeous and huge!! Glacier Park Boat Campany has boat rides you can take on this lake until September 26th. Sadly, I missed the cut-off for this but would have gladly paid for the tour as the lake is absolutely massive!

Photo Tip: This is also the spot of those famous rocks- so bring your wide-angle lens and polarizing filter and take some photos!

Watch The Sunrise At Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake is quite possibly the most beautiful lake in Glacier National Park (although that’s a difficult claim to make given how many of them there are!) This lake while still inside the park, is about an hour’s drive from the West Entrance of the park.

It is a wonderful place to camp (you can get first come first serve campsites!) and shoot sunrise! 

I shot both sunrise and sunset here and it was stunning. Since this is a drive-up spot you can easily bring all the gear you need for that perfect shot! 

Photo Tip: This is another spot for colorful rocks! Whip out your 16-35mm lens (or 24mm) and polarizing filter and get that classic shot! OR if you want to try something a bit different set up your tripod and throw on an ND filter for a long exposure- it makes the lake look so glassy and dreamy! 

Food Tip: After shooting sunrise head out to Polebridge Bakery and Mercantile and grab a huckleberry bear claw! 

Take A Boat Ride At Two Medicine Lake

I actually didn’t know this lake even existed until a couple of locals told me about it. It is about an hour’s drive from the west entrance of the park so I would actually recommend taking highway 2 and entering back in through the east entrance. 

If you want to camp near here there is a large campground- called Two Medicine Campground that provides a perfect spot to spend the night. 

If you are early enough in the season Glacier Boat company also runs boat tours here!

Photo Tip: Try taking a panorama here! If you take a handful of vertical photos and then stitch them in photoshop you will be able to capture all of the mountains! I came here at sunrise and the mountains lit up beautifully. 

Explore The Town Of Whitefish, Montana

If you have ever wanted to try on cowboy boots, shop for big belt buckles, or grab a new flannel & beanie for your collection then Whitefish is the town for you. 

Grab a coffee at one of the many cute local coffee shops and meander around town. I’m positive you will have a lovely afternoon sneaking into all of the different art galleries, trying on cowboy hats, and eating some amazing food. 

Food Tip: If your looking for breakfast the Swift Creek Cafe is a super cute and trendy restaurant to stop at! 

Take A Fall Drive Along The Flathead River

While driving to Bowman Lake I couldn’t help but notice that the drive itself was absolutely stunning. Take the North Fork Rd along the Flathead river over to Polebridge- trust me, you will see the most beautiful fall colors around! In October this is also a great place to head for larches!! 

Take Photos On The Fall Roads

About 20 minutes into driving on the going to the sun road you will start to see the most amazing foliage! There are a good amount of pull-offs so when you see a beautiful road it is easy to jump out and start taking pictures! Be careful as this road is really busy- I recommend looking for a spot where there arent many turns so you can see for ways and get out of the way of the cars.

Best Fall Hikes In Glacier National Park

Hike The Highline Trail

Quite possibly the most popular hike in the park, the Highline trail starts off at Logan Pass and follows above the Going to the Sun Road. This trail is beautiful and it can be as long as you want to make it! 

It is 13.5 miles in length from one end to the other- many people (myself included) decide to cut it short. A popular stopping point is Haystack, making it about 7 miles out and back. You can also go farther and hit the Granite Park Chalet or head to the Glacier Overlook! 

If you do want to through-hike the whole trail there is a free shuttle that drives hikers back up to their cars on Logan Pass. 

Click the link here to get more in-depth information on the trail.

Photo Tip: Go at sunset! You will get a beautiful glow on all of the mountain peaks. Your 70-200 lens can come in handy here to get those compressed shots. You can also bring your tripod at night and take long exposures of the car trails going by! 

Hike to the Summit of Mt. Oberlin

This was my favorite hike that we did during my time at Glacier National Park. Since it isn’t an official trail it is perfect for those who are looking to get off the beaten path and experience a bit more adventure. 
This hike/scramble starts at Logan Pass and heads out right next to the visitor center. Be sure to research the route well as it becomes a bit hard to read towards the end. I personally bought a climbing in Glacier book: linked here and that really helped me make sure I was going in the correct direction.

Click the link here to learn more in-depth information on this trail.

Photo Tip: Go at sunset to experience stunning light! Also, a great place for blue hour shots if you have an external light source like a headlamp or lantern.

Hike Hidden Lake Overlook

This was the hike I was the most excited about when I decided I wanted to go to Glacier National Park in the Fall. The mountain is different than any other I have seen before! 

This hike is a quick and easy 2.7 miles round trip with little elevation gain. You start at the west side of Logan Pass visitor center and follow a lovely paved path to a boardwalk. While the trail down to the lake was closed for grizzlies when I was there, the overlook provides a stunning spot to take photos! 

Photo Tip: The overlook isn’t the only great spot for photos here! The boardwalk can make for an amazing spot for portraits and looking back on Logans Pass provides a stunning view.

Hike In Many Glacier

While I didn’t get to experience Many Glacier due to the area being shut down for construction, I have heard from many people it is the best thing you can do in Glacier! I already have plans to come back and check these off my list. 

Here is a list of the “must-dos” in Many Glacier: 

• Take a boat tour on Lake Josephine- or go for a swim! 
• Hike to Grinnel Glacier + Grinnel Lake
• Hike to Iceberg Lake
• Watch the sunrise at Swiftcurrent Lake
• Hike through the Ptarmigan Tunnel 

Conclusion

While I never would have suspected it, Glacier National Park in the Fall is the perfect USA road trip. It has everything you could ask for amazing fall drives, wonderful hikes, wildlife sightings, fall foliage to die for, and the cutest little towns to stop at. 

I hope you got some inspiration and information for your next Fall road trip 🙂 Have fun out there!

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