The pride of Glacier National Park is undoubtedly its scenic route, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most scenic in the world, which allows you to see glaciers, lush valleys, spectacular mountain peaks, wildlife such as bears, moose or mountain goats, and roaring waterfalls that cascade straight down the mountainside, all from your car.
Driving along this road, stopping every now and then for the usual photo opportunity, is reason enough to visit Montana’s most beautiful national park, and if you consider that you will find access to some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the area along this road, then it’s easy to see how this route has been blessed by luck.
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Useful information
Here is a some useful information to help you organize an itinerary and some interesting fun facts.
Length, altitude, accesses and walking times
The highest point of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is Logan Pass (at 6645 feet altitude). The road is 50 miles long and it is the only road section that crosses the park from east to west.
- If you are coming from the east, you will enter the Saint Mary Visitor Center in the town of Saint Mary.
- From the west, you’ll find the West Entrance in the town of West Glacier and the Apgar Visitor Center in the small village of Apgar on the shores of Lake McDonald.
The low speed limit and the traffic you’re likely to encounter along the road will affect your travel time, so allow at least 2 hours to drive it all the way, but since every scenic overlook is a strong temptation to stop and there are numerous hiking trails along this route, you’re likely to spend most, if not all, of your day there!
The types of cars that can drive along the road
To travel on this road your car must have the following features:
- less than 21 feet long
- less than 8 feet wide
- less than 10 feet high
If you have an RV or another vehicle that exceeds the specified dimensions, you will need to park it near the 2 entrances and make use of the shuttles provided by the park (more on that later).
Going-to-the-Sun-Road Opening Dates and Reservations
Some segments of Going-to-the-Sun Road remain open year-round, however some sections close based on seasonal snowfall. Since it largely depends on weather conditions, there is no set opening and closing date, although usually, Going-to-the-Sun Road opens around late June/early July and closes in mid-October. You can check out the history of opening and closing periods over the years to get your bearings.
In addition, since 2022, to cope with the summer crowding of the park, a reservation system has been introduced to access the Going to the Sun Road. Thus, to enter this road at certain times of the year, an advance reservation is required in addition to the park entrance ticket (or parks pass card). You can find all the details in our article on U.S. parks that require reservations.
How Did Going-to-the-Sun-Road get its name?
The name of the road comes from an old legend about an ancient deity who supposedly taught a native tribe the rudiments of hunting. Based on this belief, a nearby mountain was named Going-to-the-Sun Mountain and the road was named after it.
Driving the Going-to-the-Sun-Road
As you may have guessed, this scenic road is suitable for both lovers of road trips and for those who love to walk mountain trails. But that’s not all, there is also the possibility to travel it entirely, or for a stretch, by shuttle. Let’s take a closer look at all 3 ways.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Best Stops
If you don’t plan on hiking trails or taking long hikes, preferring to visit Glacier Park exclusively by car, your best bet is to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road from top to bottom, stopping at its major viewpoints. Here are the must-see stops listed from west to east (entering the park from Apgar Visitor Center).
- Lake McDonald: Along the first section, you will skirt the eastern shore of the sparkling Lake McDonald, you will have several opportunities to stop and take a picture. You can also enjoy a beautiful view of the lake from the town of Apgar, for example from the small pier.
- McDonald Falls: Stop at the lay-by just after you pass the lake to take a peek at these falls. You can also go down a few steps for a river level viewpoint.
- The Loop: This sharp bend marks the northernmost point of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Here, in addition to a parking lot and the Granite Park Trail trailhead, you’ll get a great panoramic view of the valley.
- Garden Wall (9000 feet) and Weeping Wall: Continuing on your route you’ll pass through the beautiful flower-filled expanse of the Garden Wall, located on the western side of the Continental Divide, and then the Weeping Wall, a section of rock wall where water flows from the edge of the rocks directly onto the road. Even though drains have been installed in the park, it is still possible for your car to get wet (especially if you are driving in the opposite direction). Most of the flow occurs in the spring, during ice melt, but is usually still present throughout the summer.
- Big Bend / Paradise Meadow: just past Weeping Wall you’ll find the turn-off called Big Bend (or also Paradise Meadow), one of the best spots to watch the sunset.
- Logan Pass Visitor Center: here you will find the visitor center with parking spaces and bathrooms, as well as access to 2 very popular trails (see next paragraph). It is also a great place to take some pictures, after all you are on the highest point of the Going-to-the-Sun road and it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.
- Jackson Glacier Overlook: from here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the seventh largest glacier in the park, the Jackson Glacier.
- Sunrift Gorge: even if you promised yourself you would travel this route without walking, it may be worth taking this short trail (0.7 miles round trip, elevation gain 100 feet) to Baring Falls.
- Sun Point Nature Trail: a short walk will take you to a spectacular viewpoint over St. Mary Lake. To reach this viewpoint, turn towards the lake shortly after passing the Sunrift Gorge trailhead.
- Wild Goose Island Lookout: A really impressive view of the island of the same name, the perfect place to test your photographic talents.
Viewpoints map
Recommended trails along the Going-to-the-Sun-Road
Some of the most beautiful trails in the park start along Going-to-the-Sun Road. If you have enough time, I highly recommend supplementing your road-trip visit with at least 1 of these hikes:
- Trail of the Cedars (2-mile round trip, elevation gain 70 feet): this is an easy and pleasant walk through the woods on a wooden boardwalk, overlooking the small gorge of Avalanche Creek. If you wish, you can extend the trail up to Avalanche Lake, making a total of 6.5 miles and 700 feet elevation gain. The trailhead is located just past the Avalanche Creek picnic area, where you can look for parking if you can’t find a spot along the Avalanche Creek trailhead.
- St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail (3-mile round trip, elevation gain 450 feet): this trail will give you the chance to reach 2 beautiful waterfalls that are very popular with park visitors. The entrance is near the western side of St. Mary Lake. There are 2 small parking lots for this trail and they tend to fill up soon.a
- Hidden Lake Trail (5.2-mile round trip, elevation gain 1375 feet): a longer trail that provides beautiful panoramic views of alpine meadows and mountain peaks, as well as spectacular views of Hidden Lake, an alpine lake overlooked by towering mountains. The start is from Logan Pass, which has ample parking.
- Highline Trail (15-mile round trip, 2560 feet of elevation gain): a long and challenging trail that is one of Glacier’s most beloved, leading along the Continental Divide to Granite Park Chalet. You’ll have a chance to see the park’s wildlife, the stunning summit of Mount Gould, and cross the Wall, the wall segment on the trail. The start is from Logan Pass. Granite Park Chalet can also be reached by taking the Granite Park Trail (8-mile round trip, elevation gain 2600 feet), which you take from the Loop parking lot.
Trail map
Going-to-the-Sun-Road by shuttle
Going-to-the-Sun Road can actually be traveled without making even the slightest effort, by taking advantage of the shuttle service provided by the park. Although the service covers the entire scenic route, personally I do not think it is the best way to explore the entire road. It is more suitable as a means to reach a particular starting point of the path, avoiding the annoying problem of parking. To learn more read what we wrote about how to visit Glacier National Park by shuttle.
Where to Stay and how to Plan a Road Trip
For overnight accommodations and all the strategic tips for visiting the rest of the park, please read our guide on how to visit Glacier National Park.
