Glacier National Park: 6 Days

Why it is worth itThe largest lake in the park, about 10 miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, carved by glaciers. Its shore is lined with smooth stones in red, green and blue, and the peaks at its head glow at sunset.

Insider tipWalk down to the pebble beach in front of the lodge at sunset, when the peaks at the head of the lake light up.

Why it is worth itA flat boardwalk loop of under a mile through an old forest of western red cedars and hemlocks, some of them hundreds of years old, beside the rushing gorge of Avalanche Creek. It is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Insider tipArrive at Avalanche Creek before 8 AM. The parking area fills early on summer days.

Why it is worth itA glacier-carved lake below tall cliffs streaked with waterfalls, at the end of a gentle forest trail that starts on Trail of the Cedars, about 4.6 miles round trip.

Insider tipBring bear spray, and follow the shore path away from the first beach for fewer people.

Why it is worth itA 50-mile road across the park, finished in 1932, that climbs along cliffs and the Garden Wall to the Continental Divide. It is a National Historic Landmark and one of the great mountain drives in North America.

Insider tipDrive it west to east in the morning, with the sun behind you on the climb, and use the pullouts for photos.

Why it is worth itThe highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road, at 6,646 feet on the Continental Divide. In July and August its meadows fill with wildflowers, and the visitor center is the start of the Hidden Lake trail.

Insider tipParking has a time limit in summer, so do the Hidden Lake walk first and the visitor center after.

Why it is worth itA boardwalk and trail of about 1.4 miles each way from Logan Pass, through alpine meadows to a view over Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are often seen near the trail.

Insider tipSnow can cover the boardwalk into July, so wear shoes with good grip.

Why it is worth itA roadside stop on the east side of Logan Pass, and one of the few places in the park where you can see a glacier from the road, across the valley on Mount Jackson.

Insider tipBring binoculars to see the ice and the crevasses across the valley.

Why it is worth itA waterfall that drops in three steps into a pool of bright blue water, reached by a forest trail of about 0.8 miles each way from its trailhead on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Insider tipKeep going 0.7 miles past the falls to Virginia Falls if you have time and energy.

Why it is worth itA tiny island of trees in St. Mary Lake, with the mountains of the east side rising behind it. The overlook beside the road gives one of the most photographed views in the park, best in early morning light.

Insider tipThe light is best early or late in the day, when the lake is often calm.

Why it is worth itA valley on the east side ringed by steep peaks, often called the heart of the park. The 1915 Many Glacier Hotel sits on Swiftcurrent Lake, and bears, moose and bighorn sheep are often seen on the slopes around it.

Insider tipYour boat tickets are included. Take an early boat for the quietest trail to Grinnell Lake.

Why it is worth itA milky turquoise lake fed by meltwater from Grinnell Glacier, below a waterfall on the cliffs. It is a short, mostly flat walk from the Lake Josephine boat dock.

Insider tipCarry bear spray and make noise on the trail. Bears are often seen in this valley.

Why it is worth itA short, flat walk leads to a waterfall that, in early summer, pours both over the top of the cliff and through a cave in its face, which is why it is also called Trick Falls.

Insider tipGo early in the summer to see the water pour both over the cliff and through the cave.

Why it is worth itA quiet lake in the southeast corner of the park, below the pyramid of Sinopah Mountain. This valley was where most early visitors first saw Glacier, when they came by train.

Insider tipBring a picnic. There are tables near the shore and few people.

Why it is worth itA pullout on Highway 2 above the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, where mountain goats come down to lick minerals from the cliffs, most often from late spring through summer.

Insider tipBring binoculars. The goats are often on the pale cliffs by the river, below the overlook.