How to spend 3 days in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is easily one of the best national parks in the nation. It’s stunning peaks, gorgeous glacier lakes and abundance of wildlife make it a bucket list destination for most visitors!

I was finally able to visit Glacier in August 2024 and was thoroughly impressed! Washington boasts three national parks and arguably some of the best mountains in the country… but Glacier offered something different. The abundance of wildlife sightings that are viewable at this park is incredible. The mountains are a little more dry, which is different than the typically wet PNW. If you’re looking to spend more than three full days in Glacier & your accommodations are booked near West Glacier – this itinerary is for you!

Day One

Start your day hiking Avalanche Lake Trail. As with every spot in Glacier, you’ll want to get there early to grab a parking spot. Avalanche Lake is a relatively easy, family-friendly hike. On the way there you will start pass by the stunning Avalanche Gorge. As you wander through the forest and up to the lake, you’ll notice the trail wraps around the lake. The best view is the initial opening to the lake, but if you want to explore further – I recommend taking this trail to the back of the lake!

Remember you’re hiking in bear country. There’s about one bear per mile in Glacier, so you can expect to see one at any time. While I saw some bear scat, I didn’t end up seeing any bears while hiking. Read up here on how to stay safe while hiking in bear country.

Grab some dinner and head over to Lake MacDonald for sunset views!

Day Two

For the second day, you’ll wake up to catch the sunrise at Apgar village along Lake McDonald. Be sure to stop by Cedar Tree Gift shop and and grab a coffee! There is also a walk up window if you’d rather not go inside (but they have some awesome items inside!). Then – grab some grub at Eddy’s in Apgar Village. Make your way over to the Apgar Visitors Center to get updates on trails and look through more souvenirs.

Next, schedule a tour with Glacier Boat Company on Lake McDonald. This will get you a pass to get into the park without a reservation. You’ll start at the Lake McDonald Lodge and after you can walk along the shore to explore. You’ll finish your day by driving through Going to the Sun Road. There are plenty of stops here – but some of my favorites are:

• Big Bend: Although not a well- labeled stop, you’ll likely notice at this steep turn in the road plenty of vehicles stopped. There’s also a restroom across the road from here. This panorama view point is typically full of flower fields!
• Logan’s Pass Visitors Center: You may have a hard time finding a parking spot here if you’re not there before the sunrise. This is a starting point for two popular hikes and even the parking lot gives you a chance to view the abundant wildlife! Don’t worry, you’ll come here tomorrow too.
• Jackson Glacier Overlook: This is a short and sweet stop to view Jackson Glacier at at distance. This is the most accessible viewpoint of a glacier in the park.
• Wild Goose Overlook: This is a stunning view of St. Mary’s lake. Don’t miss it!

If you didn’t take dinner with you, stop for food near the St. Mary’s entrance. We stopped by the Park Cafe & Grocery for delicious pizza. It’s open seasonally from June – mid September. Just make sure you’ll have enough daylight to get back to West Glacier if you’re not comfortable driving in the dark!

day three

You’ll get an early start for your third day and head over to Logan’s Pass. You’ll want to get into the park before 6am to beat the reservation system. You’ll park at Logan Pass Visitor Center. If you drove through yesterday, you already understand how chaotic it can get. The parking lot fills up well before 8am -so consider getting into the park even sooner than 6am!

This morning you’ll hike to Hidden Lake Overlook. If you’d like a further hike, get down to the lake. This was my favorite hike in the park! It’s accessible for most people and gives you the opportunity to get witness the wildlife in the mountains. There are frequently goats and big horned sheep. Plenty of hikers have also seen grizzlies here, as everywhere – bring your bear spray