Last Updated on: 12th April 2024, 11:36 pm
Constructed over the course of nine years and completed in the 1930s, Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only way to get from one end of Glacier National Park to the other (without leaving park boundaries, at least). But more than just a way to get from point A to point B, the drive offers stunning views of Glacier’s mountain and lakes, while numerous hiking trails branch off of it.
In this guide to Going-to-the-Sun Road, we’ll be covering everything you need to know to prepare yourself for the drive, along with a detailed summary of the journey and its landmarks.
For details on where to stay near Glacier National Park and current park entry fees, be sure to check the end of the guide.
About This Drive
THE BASICS: Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road stretches out to 50 miles, connecting the park’s east and west sides. Its highest point, Logan Pass, rises up to 6,646 feet (2,026 m) above sea level.
If you were to do the full point-to-point drive without stopping, it would probably take you about two hours. But as we’ll cover below, there are plenty of overlooks and hiking trails along the way.
By following the guide below, expect the journey to take you at least several hours. Though you could either shorten or lengthen it based on your interests.
While the road is paved the entire way, there is a vehicle length limit of 21 feet due to all the twists and turns.
Also note that opening dates can vary from year to year. The road is usually only fully open from mid-June or sometimes early July, as the entire road must be plowed. It’s then typically open until late October.
VEHICLE RESERVATIONS: Going-to-the-Sun Road can either be entered from the east or west side of the park. While permits were required from either side during the first few years of the program, as of 2024, vehicle reservations are only necessary when entering from the west.
And while vehicle reservations used to be valid for three consecutive days, they’re now only valid for a single day. Tickets can be purchased here.
Another recent change is that in the past, tickets for the entire summer season would go on sale at once. But at the time of writing, tickets now go on sale one day at a time about four months in advance. While we’ll try to keep this guide updated, be sure to check the NPS website well in advance of your trip to see if they’ve made any new changes to the reservation system.
If you fail to obtain a reservation, it’s possible to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road without one by entering before 6:00 am or after 15:00. And many people do indeed get an early start to bypass the regulations.
You also have a few alternative options if you want to avoid the vehicle reservation system, or if you simply don’t want to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road yourself.
FREE SHUTTLES: A free shuttle runs across the entire road in both directions. But there are separate shuttle lines on the east and west sides, so you’ll need to make a transfer at Logan Pass. (And on the west side, you’ll also have to switch buses at Avalanche Creek.) See the shuttle map here.
There are numerous benefits to the shuttle. As mentioned, you won’t need a vehicle reservation to use it, while taking the shuttle means you won’t have to worry about parking – easily the most stressful part of driving Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The downsides of the shuttle system are that you might have to wait for a while for the next bus, while sometimes they’re so full that you won’t be able to board. Furthermore, you won’t be able to get out at some of the lesser-known overlooks.
With a bit of patience, however, one could certainly visit and hike all the trails featured in the guide below using the free shuttle system. Provided you start early enough, you could then grab one back to wherever you parked.
BUS TOURS: It’s also possible to experience Going-to-the-Sun Road via bus tour. Learn more here.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Guide: From East to West
As mentioned above, Going-to-the-Sun Road can be accessed from either the west or east. While most people probably start their journey from the west, this itinerary begins from the east.
It’s likely that more people will do this drive from east to west in the future, as no vehicle reservations were required in 2024 when entering from the east. But if you are coming from the west, it shouldn’t be too difficult to follow this guide in reverse.
Leaving our accommodation in Babb a little after 6:00, we entered Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east just as the sun was making its ascent in the sky. The journey began in the scenic Two Dog Flats area, which offered great views of St. Mary Lake.
While we’ll be covering a lot of the main overlooks along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, keep in mind that you’ll also be passing by plenty of unnamed turnouts at which you can stop and enjoy the views.
Wild Goose Island Viewpoint
The first major stop of the day is at Wild Goose Island Viewpoint. Often regarded as one of the most iconic scenes of Going-to-the-Sun Road, from the overlook you can the tiny Wild Goose Island which sits in the center of St. Mary Lake.
You’ll also be able to appreciate it from a different angle from the turnouts further down the road.
Sun Point Trail
The next few main parking lots you’ll encounter are actually all connected via hiking trails. Therefore, it’s best to do some research and decide exactly where and how long you want to hike in advance.
You’ll first encounter the Sun Point Trail, which seems to have the largest parking lot in the eastern half of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The trailhead here is also known as the Three Falls Trailhead, as if you were to hike the entire thing, it would ultimately bring you to three different waterfalls (Baring, St. Mary and Virginia).
Just keep in mind that going all the way to Virginia Falls from here would entail a 6.2-mile roundtrip hike. Therefore, you might want to access Virginia Falls from one of the other trailheads further along the road.
But it’s still worth getting out at the Sun Point Trail to see the Sun Point Viewpoint, which offers another great view of St. Mary Lake. Or, you might consider hiking to Baring Falls and back, a 1.2-mile roundtrip hike.
Sunrift Gorge
A bit further down the road is Sunrift Gorge. While I briefly got out to enjoy the views, I only realized later that from here it’s a quick hike to Baring Falls (0.6 miles roundtrip).
Interestingly, Sunrift Gorge is located at one end of the Siyeh Pass Trail, which is a 10-mile (15.8 km) point-to-point hike. It’s said to take about six hours to complete, while you’d also have to take the shuttle back here after you arrive at Siyeh Bend.
Even if you get an early start, it would probably be very difficult to fit in with everything else featured in this Going-to-the-Sun Road guide.
St. Mary Falls
A bit further west still is the parking lot for St. Mary Falls. This is one of the more difficult parking lots to deal with, and arriving here at around 7:30 am, it was already almost all full. Fortunately, we just managed to find a spot.
If you’re starting from the west, you’ll definitely have trouble finding a spot by the time you arrive. Therefore, you might want to park at the Sun Point Trail mentioned above, and either do the long version of the hike or park and take the shuttle two stops west.
In total, the hike from the St. Mary Falls parking lot took me about 90 minutes roundtrip, and it could be categorized as an easy hike.
From the beginning of the hike, you’ll observe clear evidence of lasting damage from a large 2017 fire.
Before long, you’ll reach St. Marry Falls, at which you’ll find a wooden bridge and platform from which to take in the views.
But that’s not where this hike has to end. Many people keep going until they reach Virginia Falls, which is the more impressive of the two.
Though mostly flat, you will occasionally have to watch out for some slippery parts. And as you make your way deeper into the forest, you’ll eventually encounter the 50-ft-high Virginia Falls, which you can admire from a couple of different vantage points.
While this 3.2-mile roundtrip hike doesn’t provide any views of glacier-sculpted mountains or lakes, it’s still a pleasant hike. And it makes for a nice way to break up the long drive across Going-to-the-Sun Road. From this point on, the road gets considerably windier.
Jackson Glacier Overlook
Continuing west, be sure to stop at the Jackson Glacier Overlook. Glacier National Park is now home to around 26 glaciers, many of which have been shrinking since the end of the Little Ice Age in the 19th century. In fact, there were nearly 100 when the park was first founded.
If you’re interested in adding another hike to this itinerary, a long trail from this viewpoint takes you closer to the glacier. But it has a whopping 2400 ft of elevation gain. Most people, therefore, simply admire the glacier and surrounding mountains before moving on.
Piegan Pass
You will next pass the Piegan Pass (not pictured), which is the trailhead for two long hikes. One is the Siyeh Pass Trail mentioned above, which is a 10-mile (15.8 km) point-to-point hike culminating at Sunrift Gorge. The other is the Piegan Pass Trail itself, which is about the same length.
You probably wouldn’t have time for either of these trails if you’ll be stopping at all the major overlooks along Going-to-the-Sun Road. But you might want to return here if you’re an avid hiker who’s spending multiple days at Glacier.
Logan Pass
Before long, you’ll reach Logan Pass, the most central and also the highest point of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Logan Pass has its own Visitor Center, while if you’re taking the shuttle, this is also where you’d have to transfer between the East Side and West Side lines.
Other than that, Logan Pass is not really a destination in its own right, though it does serve as the base for two major hikes: the Highline Trail and the Hidden Lake Trail. Neither hike, however, will be featured in this Going-to-the-Sun Road guide. But why?
The reason is simple: finding parking here is nearly impossible.
In years past, it was common for the Logan Pass parking lot to fill up by around 8:00. But the implementation of the vehicle reservation system has actually made the problem worse. Since people can enter Going-to-the-Sun Road without a reservation before 6:00, the lot now typically fills up by around that time.
So you’ll either have to wake up extremely early to find parking here (skipping all the other landmarks along the way), or take the first shuttle. The Highline Trail is definitely worth doing, so plan on coming back to this area on another day. Learn more in our dedicated Highline Trail guide.
Haystack Creek
Past Logan Pass, you’ll find yourself going downhill. And you’ll soon pass one of the most scenic areas of the entire drive. Nearby a landmark called Haystack Creek, you’ll find plenty of turnouts to stop and enjoy the stunning mountain views. And they’ve even recently installed public toilets!
As for Haystack Creek itself, it’s a small waterfall flowing down cascading rocks, with a small path taking visitors higher up for a closer look. Also be sure to turn around for stunning views of the valley.
Back in your car, you’ll pass by the incredible Weeping Wall, which is actually the result of Going-to-the-Sun Road’s construction. When the water level is high, be prepared for the wall to douse your car!
Nearby, also be sure to stop at the Bird Woman Falls Overlook.
You’ll soon pass a major switchback known as The Loop. While we won’t be stopping here today, make a mental note of the area if you plan on hiking the Highline Trail later on in your trip. As mentioned above, the trail begins from Logan Pass, but it ends at The Loop.
(You wouldn’t want to start the hike at The Loop for reasons you can read about in our guide.)
Along McDonald Creek
You’ll eventually reach the bottom level of Going-to-the-Sun Road which runs parallel to McDonald Creek. And you’ll encounter various viewpoints from which to admire it.
Frankly speaking, once at the bottom/western portion of the road, the views become a lot less breathtaking, though the scenery is still quite pretty to look at.
Red Rock Point
Further ahead, you can stop at Red Rock Point. The falls here can be conveniently viewed from a wooden viewing platform, so no need for a long hike.
Trail of the Cedars / Avalanche Lake
The Trail of the Cedars loop trail is easily one of the most popular hiking trails along Going-to-the-Sun Road, and perhaps Glacier as a whole. That’s probably in part due to how easy it is.
The trail is largely comprised of wooden boardwalks and it’s even wheelchair accessible.
Frankly speaking, the Trail of the Cedars on its own isn’t anything too magnificent, especially considering how difficult it is to find parking here. The real reason to make the effort, however, is for the Avalanche Lake Trail, which branches off from the Trail of the Cedars loop.
If you’ve entered Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east, it will already be late morning or afternoon by the time you arrive here. And the only way to find a parking spot would be through sheer luck. (Even if you come from the west you might have a hard time).
If you can’t find parking, drive to the Lake McDonald Lodge, park there, and then take the free shuttle one stop east to the Avalance Creek stop. While a bit annoying, you don’t want to miss the Avalanche Lake hike.
The full Avalanche Lake hike, which includes the entire Trail of the Cedars loop, is 5.9 miles (9.5 km) long. Expect it to take you around 2-2.5 hours.
The hike to the lake is largely an uneventful walk through a thick forest. But once you reach Avalanche Lake, you’ll surely be glad you came.
Avalanche Lake is not only remarkable for its colors, but due to the fact that you can see multiple waterfalls flowing into it from the mountains above. It looks like a scene straight out of a postcard or calendar.
A lot of people come here to swim. And as this is the last major stop on this Going-to-the-Sun Road guide, feel free to linger as long as you like.
Eventually, though, you’ll have to walk back the way you came, and then complete the second half of the Trail of the Cedars. Assuming you took the shuttle, walk back to the shuttle stop and make it back to your car.
Lake McDonald / Apgar Village
The western part of Glacier National Park is home to Lake McDonald, the park’s largest lake. You’ll get a sense of how huge it is as you drive alongside it at the end of your journey. And at the far end, you’ll reach Apgar Village.
While clearly an artificial village built for tourism, at Apgar you’ll find a plethora of restaurants and gift shops. And it also provides easy access to Lake McDonald for those who are into kayaking or water sports.
Note that if you’re entering from the west and you failed to obtain a vehicle reservation, it’s at Apgar that you’ll park before hopping on the shuttle.
Most visitors will want to spend time on both the east and west sides of the park. So when finished with driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road, you’ll likely be checking into your new accommodation.
Then again, provided you have enough time, there’d be nothing wrong with driving it twice!
Additional Info
When it comes to choosing accommodation at or near Glacier National Park, you have the choice of staying on the west side of the park or on the east side.
Given the park’s geography, it would be wise to spend some time on both sides of the park throughout the duration of your trip. The east side provides access to the Many Glacier District, the Two Medicine district, the Canadian border (to visit Waterton Lakes), and of course, the east entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
I stayed in the small town of Babb, which is just a thirty-minute drive from Many Glacier. I stayed at the Glacier Elkhorn Cabins and Campground which I’d highly recommend. Accommodation throughout Montana is surprisingly expensive, and that’s especially true of places near the park. With that in mind, Elkhorn is a great value.
While the bathroom was shared, it was a short walk from my cabin. There’s also an on-site restaurant, while the owners can provide great information about the area. As the name suggests, you can also camp here if a cabin is beyond your budget.
Elsewhere on the east side of Glacier is the town of St. Mary. It’s about 30 minutes from the Many Glacier Hotel and it’s also situated near the east entrance to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Other than St. Mary Village and Duck Lake Lodge, however, there don’t seem to be too many places that are bookable online.
Of course, you can also stay within Many Glacier itself, either at the iconic Many Glacier Hotel or at the smaller Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.
After camping for four nights at Yellowstone, I wasn’t in the mood to do so here, but the area is also home to the Many Glacier Campground. It’s just next to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and you can make bookings here.
When staying on Glacier’s western side, one possibility is to stay in the park, either at Apgar or Lake McDonald Lodge. But park accommodation doesn’t come cheap.
The nearest town outside of park boundaries is West Glacier. Lodges like Paddle Ridge are quite popular, while the Belton Chalet is a bit more affordable.
The largest town near the park is Kalispell, which is also home to the nearest airport: Glacier Park International Airport. Kalispell is just about 45 minutes from Glacier’s West Entrance. In Kalispell, My Place Hotel and Super 8 are highly-rated and cheaper than their competitors.
Whitefish is another popular option, as it’s home to the nearest Amtrak station. You’ll find both rental apartments, such as Montana Style Downtown Condo, as well as hotels like the Best Western.
During my stay on Glacier’s west side, I stayed in the town of Columbia Falls. It was close enough to reach the Apgar early in the morning to catch the first shuttle of the day in order to hike the Highline Trail. In Columbia Falls, one of the better deals is Meadow Lake Resort & Condos.
There are also numerous other small towns along Highway 2 that you can choose from. Just be sure to calculate the driving distance to the park before confirming your booking.
As we’ll cover in our detailed Glacier planning guide, regardless of where you stay, you’ll want to make your reservations at least several months in advance.
At the time of writing, Glacier National Park costs $35 per vehicle to enter (learn more here).
US National Parks parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, they’ll charge you for an individual pass which costs $20, while those on motorcycles will be charged $30.
(*Note: These are just the fees for the park entrance passes, which on their own do NOT grant you access to certain areas like Many Glacier or North Fork. Learn more about vehicle reservations in our dedicated Glacier planning guide.)
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Southwest alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.