Some places grab your soul from the moment you pull off the highway -- Kootenai Falls is exactly…read moreone of them. I rolled through here expecting a nice view, and got full-on nature theatre. The hike isn't brutal -- about half-a-mile from the road to the bridge or viewpoint, with picnic tables and restrooms at the lot. Enough challenge to feel good, not so much that it kills your afternoon. The trail that leads upstream to the main falls is short but dramatic: water rushing over rock terraces, multiple drops, including a 30-foot fall seen from the overlook. Downstream you cross that swinging bridge -- it creaks, it sways above the green Kootenai water, and it gives you a rush just standing there. Accessible but wild feeling: old railroad overpass, rocky descent sections, metal stairs, forest canopy, birds, moss -- all the good stuff. I went there in early summer; the river was high, mist in air, sun breaking through trees. The light hits the falls just right at golden hour -- reflections everywhere, water sparkle, shadows dancing. Ambience is pure Montana: no loud crowds, mostly locals, forest smells, river roar, the rustle of pine needles. Parking isn't fancy, but it's clean; restrooms are basic. Picnic area shaded, with enough space to sit, eat, soak it all in. Final take: 5 stars, no doubt. Probably one of those places I'll revisit again and again just to feel that rushing water, that bridge sway, that "whoa" moment when you turn the corner and see the falls looming. If you're in this part of Montana -- don't pass it by.

Kootenai falls and the suspension bridge are the perfect hike for everyone and I mean everyone!…read moreWhether you are not in the best of shape or you are traveling with kids or you have your dog with you, not only can you do this trail but you will thoroughly enjoy it. This is one of the best experiences I have had during my travels and I recommend it to everyone. We spent hours here enjoying the beauty of nature. The walk is gorgeous, The falls are gorgeous, the suspension bridge is fun and exciting! And when I say anyone can do this, the lady in front of was by herself with two children...she literally had a newborn baby strapped to her and was pushing a stroller for her toddler and they made it over the suspension bridge and all the way back up. The only caveat is that there are some steps which are definitely not dog friendly. They are kind of a twisted metal with spikes that is probably great for traction and melting snow, but would be very difficult on a dog's paw pads, so if you have a dog with you you will have to carry them down some stairs. However, we encountered multiple people with large dogs, so unless that's a problem for you, for some reason you can still do this hike with your large dog. Our dog is small so it was a breeze. Another thing you will see a lot of on this hike is smiling faces. This is a genuinely beautiful place where people are just really happy. I could not recommend this more highly and even if you're not super close, it is worth the drive.

Absolutely stunning property with attentive owner and cute cabins/campers right on the river. Don't…read moremiss this authentic Montana experience.

Stunning property, gorgeous, unique buildings. This whole place has such a beautiful feel, you…read moreleave feeling peaceful and recharged. A must visit! can't wait to get back!

Nice 5.5 mile out and back trail to the lake. Good workout with some elevation. Please note you…read morewill see logging which is a turn off for purist. The trail is smooth without major rocks. The creek is visible on the first section of the trail. If you want a short walk just hike to the overlook.

This is an average trail, 1hr 30 mins two way. View is…read morefantastic. You can also see mountain goats if you are lucky. Beautiful mountain flowers and glacier view.

About 2.5 miles round trip. It's not particularly difficult. The view at the end is incredible. The…read moreparking lot at the Logan pass visitor's center is very very crowded. I've never seen a more jammed up parking lot in my life. Either get there very very early or take a shuttle to avoid frustration. We actually parked in the 30 minute parking and were fine after a hour half. This is after circling the parking lot for 45 minute We saw a bunch of wildlife including Big Horned Sheep on the way.

Trail of the Cedars is a really short and beautiful hike and is wheelchair accessible. There are…read moresigns for Avalanche trail which starts around the midpoint of the Cedars trail. I Highly recommend the Avalanche trail. Its approx 5 miles round trip and takes about 2 hours but that was including picture taking that we did. We completed this ending of May and views of the Lake were gorgeous. The path was easy to follow and the elevation wasnt that tough to hike. We saw deer along the way which was cute! Breath taking views of the lake at the end so worth it and relatively easy hike. There ia even a restroom along the hike about a mile in. Both hikes recommended!

Our group ranged in age from 7-69 and everyone enjoyed this gentle loop which included a gorgeous…read morewaterfall and plenty of picture-worthy scenes. The youngest one among us enjoyed clambering up boulders and throwing walks into the river. If you're looking for a family-friendly hike in Glacier, this is it!

What an awesome mountain! Lots of steep terrain and 4.5 ft of snow at the top of the mountain. Our…read morefamily had a great time. The rental gear was good quality and a good price. Lift tickets are really good value for the experience.

We went to the marina for the 14th annual Woody boat show. There were 50 wooden boats on display in…read morethe marina some as old as the 1920's, all restored and in excellent working condition. It was so cool to see. Some of the owners were there to answer questions and just talk about their boats. But it was a rainy day so most owners were not standing in the rain. We did talk to one owner who said his dad bought his boat to use as a fishing boat in the 1950's. The son, current owner has refinished it and uses it as a pleasure boat today. Impressive display of these old crafts. You had to go through the lodge to get to the marina and it was also impressive. There was plenty of parking and they were shuttling folks on golf carts from the parking lots and on street parking areas. Nice event, cool lodge.

Nice friendly staff. Kayaks and canoes available to use until 9pm. I think one hour you get plenty…read moreof exercise. The views are beautiful. Make sure to wear big spray due to mosquitos. Wear your sunscreen there is no shade. Great spot to canoe or kayak!

We were able to hike the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead through Many Glacier on the last day it was…read moreopen for the season (9/19/21) but unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side. It was a constant mist/rain the entire hike and then getting into Grinnell Glacier it was snowing! We arrived at the parking lot by 7AM and there were already 10 cars parked and we started the hike around 7:30. By the time we got back, around 1PM, the lot was full but the rain started coming down more so people were leaving. It's about a 10-11 mile hike RT. During the summer, you can opt to pay to take a boat across Lake Josephine to shorten the hike, but that was the easiest part. The part of the hike where you walk above Lake Josephine is probably the most picturesque - so gorgeous but a little foggy. When you finally get to the Glacier you're greeted with the bluest water bend and snow covered mountains. For this hike, the way back is easier and we were happy about that because we were cold and starting to feel miserable. Would love to do this hike again with better weather but it was still a beautiful one to do! We drove Going-to-the-Sun road and round the Rising Sun Boat Deck parking lot (which was empty during this time) and it was the perfect spot for a nap.

My friends and I hiked to Grinnell Overlook via the Granite park trail. The whole trail was out and…read moreback and a total of about 11.4 miles with around 3500 ft of elevation. Not gonna lie, the last stretch (the Garden Wall) was pretty rough as the trail was very narrow and incredibly rocky, and the wind was constantly screaming and whipping your face (definitely bring a windbreaker and protect your hats!!!). But despite the difficulty for us average hikers and the sad state of our feet afterwards, my friends and I absolutely loved the experience. It wasn't just about the view at the top for us. The entire trail was stunning and since we hiked late September, the red and golden foliage all around us made us feel like we were in another world. We saw various wildlife as well - mostly deer and chipmunks!

Where to start?! This has been a bucket list item for some time and not sure why I ever waited…read more If this is on your list GO NOW it does not disappoint!! Solo visit so easy to get up early and beat the crowds through Going to the Sun Road and Logan Pass parking drama. Perks: wildlife still out and about, easy parking to be had along the road and all lots, not a lot of crowds for optimum photo catching. Cooler on those hot days! Cons: no services open or available so have to have everything you need planned out until things open (normally 8 or 9 o'clock). I will have to venture back to grab a stamp for my NPS passport. I could spend a year here and still be excited to go and see more or hike another trail. It is a beautiful and pristine park to respectfully enjoy. I used the general store at Rising Sun mid morning to grab a few gift and snack items as well as refill water (bottle filler inside or purchase drinks of choice). Has just about anything you need there for purchase along with bathroom and showers. I can't speak for the park service visitor centers at Apgar nor Logan Pass as I didn't use as they were not open when I entered (save restroom at Logan). Logan Pass has free parking for 3 hours if you can get a spot. You do have to use the kiosk to out in plate data which provides time stamp and place on dash. Of note, there is a lot of places where you are driving by sheer cliffs with falling rock hazards with tight areas. Be mindful of the speed limits when reducing to 25 as they are normally around these tight areas or people congested areas. Also be courteous, there are plenty of pull off areas if you prefer to go slow, pull off and let others proceed smartly. Whether you are a hiker for the trails or a boater to grab one of the rentals to take out on the lake there is plenty to do here. Items book well in advance so book early and come enjoy one amazing National Park!!

Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The scenery is unreal,…read moreespecially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. For the best experience, definitely get there early and allow plenty of extra time for activities if you're staying outside the park, as traffic can become heavy, especially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. If you're new to the park, I also recommend booking one of the Red Bus Tours. It was a great way to experience the park without the stress of driving or parking, and the guide was very knowledgeable. The Apgar Visitor Center staff were also very helpful and gave great recommendations and information for navigating the park. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and somewhere I would absolutely visit again.

You'd be hard pressed to say anything about GTSR aside from "unmatched views of beautiful meadows,…read moremassive mountains, gorgeous valleys, and the occasional waterfall." The road is only open 3-4 months out of the year in summer once the snow has been cleared and it can become closed again if it snows late in the season (that happened this year in 2025), so bear that in mind when planning your trip. That said, it is absolutely worth at least one trip in everyone's life as far as I'm concerned to make the drive along this famous road. It is absolutely stunning, every lookout point is an incredible photo op, and even the visitor centers are in the most stunning, picturesque locations so even if you can't hike any tough trails, you can see some absolutely incredible parts of this park without even leaving the car (although would strongly recommend getting out for hikes if you are physically able - you miss a lot of other grandeur if you don't ). If very afraid of heights be aware the road is kinda narrow and the drop offs can look kinda steep. But there are barriers all along the road, rest assured about that. Overall - this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful drives and parks I've ever been in, period. STRONGLY rec a visit.

Definitely a highlight of any trip to Glacier National Park. The cool thing is you can do it…read moreseveral times and it will likely yield different views each time. We did it three times over 4 days and saw different things each time. Between 7am to 3pm you must have a timed entry reservation. The parking spots fill up fast so you might need to go several times just so you can head to where you want to go first thing. Then hit less popular areas after. Or don't drive and take the shuttles.