I've been to the great Kootenai (Pronounced Coo-tah-knee) Falls and Swinging Bridge a few times and…read moreit's amazing every time! Pretty short and easy hike to both. If you're in Northwestern Montana you must come here and then take a trip to nearby Glacier National Park. Right next to where you park at the trailhead to Kootenai Falls, there a little shop that sells treats and wares called "Main Street Perk 2.0 at Kootenai Falls". We got some bottled water and Huckleberry ice cream. Don't miss out on the ice cream!

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.

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.

The Hidden Lake Overlook Trail was my favorite activity that we did on our 2 week trip to Montana…read more The scenery is BEAUTIFUL the WHOLE WAY and not too challenging (a bunch of boardwalk steps at the beginning, but then it levels out with a gradual incline). My 4 year old handled it just fine. In late July there was a bunch of snow on the trail so parts were a little slippery/slower to maneuver through. There were a lot of wildlife to enjoy as well. Ground squirrels, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats (which is the first and only time I've seen mountain goats and are now a new favorite animal). While busy, it was not overwhelmingly so on the trail itself. NOTE: The trailhead is at the Logan Pass parking lot. Shuttle tickets are incredibly difficult to get. I logged on before they were available and within a minute all the tickets were gone with me luckless. I did this 2 months in advance and then the night before. We decided to chance it with the lot. Took us about 40 minutes to get a spot. You are only allowed 3 hours in that lot. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to do this trail comfortably. The rest of the time we used for the restroom and the small visitor center and gift shop. Besides the stress of the parking and tickets (that failed) this was definitely worth the time and effort. Loved it!

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.

Located after driving past Lake MacDonald, this is a nice easy, flat trail to do with kids. You…read morewalk covered almost the whole time in a forest so it never got hot. Lots of trees to enjoy, quiet, a creek/stream (my kids loved this part), a gorge, and some weeping rocks. It is a loop trail. I recommend going right first so the bigger payoffs are towards the end. And there is one restroom on the trail towards the first half of the trail. It is... a trail bathroom so don't have high expectations. Parking can be a challenge, but we lucked out. There are a couple parking areas. Worth your time if you're at Glacier and not hard.

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!

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!

Without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking national parks we've ever visited! Glacier National…read morePark completely exceeded our expectations and gave us some of the most unforgettable experiences. There was something incredible around every corner: Wildlife: We were lucky enough to see grizzly bears, black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, birds, and so much more. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat was truly special. Glaciers & mountain views: Ancient glaciers surrounded by towering peaks, dramatic landscapes, and endless mountain views it honestly felt unreal. Turquoise lakes: The crystal-clear, turquoise waters looked almost too perfect to be real. Every lake felt like a postcard. Boat rides: A peaceful way to take in the beauty of the park, surrounded by glacier-fed waters and stunning mountain scenery. Hiking: Every trail we explored was worth it! Avalanche Lake, Hidden Lake, Running Eagle Falls, and more each one offered something completely different and beautiful. Wildflowers: Colorful wildflowers and bear grass were everywhere, adding even more beauty to an already incredible landscape. Huckleberry ice cream: And of course, you can't visit Glacier without trying huckleberry ice cream! Such a fun and delicious Glacier tradition. From the wildlife and glaciers to the turquoise lakes, scenic drives, hikes, and peaceful boat rides, Glacier National Park truly has it all. We left with so many beautiful memories and a camera roll full of pictures we'll be looking at for a long time. Absolutely unforgettable and 100% worth the trip!

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!!

A GORGEOUS drive that you will not forget. Scenic views, waterfalls, creeks, the occasional animal,…read morehistory, etc. It really is not easy to describe how beautiful this drive is. Lots of pullovers throughout to enjoy little breaks and to take nice photos. Some notable stops were Jackson Glacier, Ladder Creek, Weeping Wall.... There really are a lot of worthwhile stops. Just prepare for the traffic on the road to occasionally move very slowly.

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.