Glacier National Park
My favorite waterfall-trail of the cedars (Glacier NP)
Glacier National Park was a park that the entire time that we were there I felt like i was in a dream!
We absolutely love National Parks which made picking Glacier as our next destination very easy. I kept seeing all of these amazing pictures and videos on social media of glacier mountains with Turquoise lakes and I knew we needed to see it.
For our summer vacations we typically start our planning in early january because pricing is usually better for flights. We booked our flights for Kalispell MT and stayed in White Fish which was about a 30 min. drive. We made the decision to go in the summer so we could explore Glacier NP with most of the roads open (during the winter most of the roads are shut down).
Whitefish is a really cool town with fantastic restaurants and shops. They also have a wonderful farmers market every tuesday from 5-7:30 with tons of food trucks and vendors. we also loved this little ice cream shop in downtown Whitefish that we stopped into a couple of times called sweet peaks (this was actually our dinner because we were so tired from being in the park all day hA)!
Another highlight we enjoyed in Whitefish was the Whitefish Mountain Resort. It's a fantastic destination offering a variety of summer activities such as scenic lift rides, zip lines, alpine slides, and bike trails. We had a blast on the alpine slide and later took a scenic lift ride. At the top, you can opt for an enclosed gondola or an open-air chairlift (we chose the latter due to the excellent weather). The views from the summit include Whitefish Lake, The Flathead Valley, Glacier National Park, and the Northern Rockies.
View from the top of scenic lift
On our first day at Glacier National Park, we entered early to avoid the crowds (remember to have a timed entry ticket). Our initial destination was Lake McDonald, a stunning lake with clear water and colorful rocks. Close to the lake, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards. Eddie's Cafe, a lovely restaurant by the water, serves delicious American cuisine like sandwiches, salads, and burgers. Dining outside offers a picturesque view of the lake. If you visit Eddie's, treat yourself to huckleberry wine or ice cream – both are seasonal treats during the summer and absolutely delightful!
Kayaking-Lake McDonald
We ventured out the following day to Many Glacier hotel in Browning MT. It was about at 2.5 hour drive…we were going to take the route where you drive on going to the sun road but talked to a local that suggested we go another route that was less scenic and then drive going to the sun road late afternoon because there would be less traffic and more opportunity to park at Logan’s pass. I truly was Speechless when we arrived at the many glacier hotel. They call the area “the Switzerland of north America.” It is located on the northeast side of glacier national park. The hotel is situated on lake Sherburne with unbelievable views to marvel at. We took the boat ride that takes you from the hotel across Swiftcurrent lake…you will then take another boat across lake Josephine. once they dock at the next spot you can either choose to stay on the boat and head back to the hotel or hike in the area. We decided to hike back to the hotel and the hike did not Disappoint!
View from Many glacier hotel
On our way back, we drove along the Going-to-the-Sun Road (actually drove on it a couple of times due to its stunning views)! Our local friend was right - we easily found parking at Logan Pass around 4pm. Since it was getting late, we chose to hike Hidden Lake, a decision that brought us so much joy as we encountered numerous animals along the way. Just a heads-up, watch out for snowy patches that can be slippery! Starting the hike, we spotted about a dozen bighorn sheep, and reaching the top, we were welcomed by mountain goats, including a mom with her babies! The beauty of Hidden Lake left me speechless - the crystal-clear water against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Don't forget to visit the visitor's center to stamp your national park passport book!
Bighorn Sheep-Hidden Lake Hike
The next couple of days we explored more of Glacier and went white water rafting and also horseback riding! before we went horseback riding we did a couple of hikes. The first hike we did was John’s Lake loop and saw a beautiful waterfall…it was really quiet on the trail that morning and i made sure to have my bear spray out. I am so glad I did because at the end of the hike we saw an adolescent brown bear (i was thinking where is the mama bear)!! luckily it ran off and we didn’t have to use the bear spray (do make sure you always have bear spray on you especially in glacier national park which is known for grizzly bears)!
John’s Lake Loop waterfall
Our family had an unforgettable experience exploring Glacier National Park. I can't stop thinking about the stunning glaciers and the turquoise waters.
For those curious about our Glacier National Park trip plan, check out our custom curated travel templates in PDF format. Additionally, you can collaborate with me to create a personalized itinerary exclusively tailored to your vacation.
Happy Travels!
Mandy
