Glacier National Park: Memorial Day Weekend Itinerary
Glacier in late May: roaring waterfalls, empty trails, and an honest plan.
An honest 3-day plan for Glacier over Memorial Day weekend, when Going-to-the-Sun Road is not fully open yet but the waterfalls are roaring, the crowds are thin, and the wildlife is back.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
12 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Lake McDonald, Many Glacier & Two Medicine · Northwest Montana
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
5 of the stops on these 3 days.
Plan and book your 3 days in Glacier, one step at a time
How 3 days in Glacier split up
A glacier national park memorial day weekend trip is a different park than the one on the postcards. In late May the snowmelt is at full roar, the valleys are green, the crowds have not arrived yet, and the bears and bighorn are back on the lower slopes. The trade-off is the one fact everyone needs to plan around: the high country is still under snow.
Day 1: Lake McDonald, Apgar & Avalanche Lake
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: McDonald Creek, the east side & St. Mary Lake
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: Two Medicine, Running Eagle Falls & Many Glacier
4 stops · Day three
Lake McDonald, Apgar & Avalanche Lake
Start on the west side, the part of the park most reliably open over Memorial Day weekend. From West Glacier, drive into Apgar Village at the foot of Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park, where the colorful pebble beach and the long view up to the still-snowy peaks is one of the great photo stops in the Rockies. If the seasonal boat tour is running, an hour on the water is the easy way to take in the scale of it.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~40 min to West Glacier · fly into FCA · DriveFly into Glacier Park International (FCA) near Kalispell and pick up a rental car. It is about 40 minutes to the West Glacier entrance, or a similar drive from Whitefish. Stock up on food and gas before you head in, and check the Going-to-the-Sun Road status so you know how far the road is plowed.
Lake McDonald & Apgar VillageLargest lake · pebble beach · boat tour · ViewpointStart at Apgar Village at the foot of Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park, where the colorful pebble beach frames a long view up to the still-snowy peaks. If the seasonal boat tour is running over the holiday weekend, an hour on the water is the easy way to take in the scale of the valley.
- Trail of the Cedars + Avalanche Lake
~5.9 mi RT · snowmelt waterfalls · HikeDrive Going-to-the-Sun Road as far as it is plowed, usually to Avalanche in late May, then walk the flat Trail of the Cedars loop and continue to Avalanche Lake (about 5.9 miles round trip when the road is open that far). The lake sits in a bowl fed by a fan of waterfalls that are at their loudest with the spring melt.
- Stay in West Glacier or Whitefish
In-park lodges closed until June · lodgeBase in West Glacier right at the entrance, or in nearby Whitefish for more restaurants and rooms. The in-park lodges, including Lake McDonald Lodge, do not open until early-to-mid June, so outside-the-park lodging is your option over Memorial Day weekend. Book ahead, as the holiday weekend fills the gateway towns.
McDonald Creek, the east side & St. Mary Lake
Spend the morning on the lower stretches of McDonald Creek, where the spring melt turns the river into a series of churning chutes. Stop at the Sacred Dancing Cascade and the McDonald Falls overlook, both short walks off the lower Going-to-the-Sun Road, before the snow line forces you to turn back. This is late May at its best: huge water, green forest, and almost no one around.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Lower McDonald Creek & Sacred Dancing Cascade
Short walks · churning spring melt · ViewpointSpend the morning on the lower stretches of McDonald Creek, where the spring melt turns the river into churning chutes. Stop at the Sacred Dancing Cascade and the McDonald Falls overlook, both short walks off the lower Going-to-the-Sun Road, before the snow line forces you to turn back.
Drive around the south end to St. Mary~2 hr · Logan Pass closed · DriveBecause Logan Pass is closed, you cannot cut across the top of the park. Drive around the south end on US 2 to reach the St. Mary side, roughly a two-hour transfer. This is also your chance to stop at the Goat Lick Overlook on the way for spring mountain goats.
St. Mary Lake · Sun Point & Baring FallsEasy lakeshore · Wild Goose Island view · HikeThe east entrance road opens a short way along St. Mary Lake in late May. Walk out to Sun Point for the classic view down the lake to Wild Goose Island, then continue on the easy trail to Baring Falls. It is a mostly snow-free walk with one of the park's iconic views.
m01229 from USA / CC BY-SA 2.0Stay in St. MaryEast-side base · near Two Medicine & Many Glacier · lodgeSwitch your base to the east side and stay in St. Mary (or East Glacier) so you are close to Two Medicine and Many Glacier for day three. The east side is windier and the weather flips fast in late May, so pack layers, but the early-season quiet here is the whole point.
Two Medicine, Running Eagle Falls & Many Glacier
Start at Two Medicine, the quiet southeast corner of the park that sees a fraction of the crowds. Walk the short trail to Running Eagle Falls (about 0.6 miles round trip), also called Trick Falls because in high water it pours over the top and out of a cave at once, exactly the kind of show late-May snowmelt puts on. Then take in Two Medicine Lake, ringed by snow-dusted peaks, with the boat dock and easy lakeshore strolls.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Running Eagle Falls (Two Medicine)
~0.6 mi RT · easy · double waterfall · HikeStart at Two Medicine, the quiet southeast corner of the park. Walk the short trail to Running Eagle Falls (about 0.6 miles round trip), also called Trick Falls because in high water it pours over the top and out of a cave at the same time, exactly the show late-May snowmelt puts on.
Two Medicine LakeSnow-ringed lake · boat dock · ViewpointTake in Two Medicine Lake, ringed by snow-dusted peaks, with a boat dock and easy lakeshore strolls. It sees a fraction of the crowds of the rest of the park, which makes it one of the best places to feel the early-season quiet.
- Many Glacier · Apikuni Falls & lower Grinnell trails
~2 mi RT · upper trails snowy · HikeFinish at Many Glacier, the heart of the park. The road usually opens by late May, though the hotel does not open until June and the high trails are still buried in snow. Hike to Apikuni Falls (about 2 miles round trip) for a roaring snowmelt cascade, and walk the lower Grinnell-area trails along Swiftcurrent Lake for the big amphitheater of peaks.
- Goat Lick Overlook on US 2
Mountain goats at the mineral cliffs · ViewpointOn your way back toward the west side and the airport, pull off at the Goat Lick Overlook on US 2, where mountain goats come down to the mineral cliffs in spring. It is an easy roadside stop and a reliable spot to end the trip with wildlife.
Book the 2 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Glacier
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Glacier
What we actually learned visiting Glacier in late May.
Check the road status first, every time
Over Memorial Day weekend Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually plowed only to Avalanche on the west side and a short way on the St. Mary side, with Logan Pass still closed. How far it is open changes year to year, so check the official status page before each day and build your plan around the gate.
Late May is about waterfalls and quiet
You are trading the alpine high country for roaring snowmelt waterfalls, green valleys, returning wildlife, and a fraction of the summer crowds. Lean into the lower trails and the falls. The big alpine hikes simply are not in season yet.
Most in-park lodges are still closed
Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, and most concessioner lodging do not open until early-to-mid June. Plan to base outside the park in Whitefish, West Glacier, or Kalispell on the west, or St. Mary or East Glacier on the east.
Carry bear spray and make noise
Spring brings bears down into the green valleys, right where the open lower trails are. Carry bear spray where you can reach it, make noise around blind corners and rushing water, and never hike with earbuds in. Give wildlife plenty of room.
You cannot cut across the top yet
With Logan Pass closed, getting between the west and east sides means driving around the south end of the park on US 2, roughly a two-hour transfer. Plan your days so you are not crossing back and forth, and base on the side you will spend the most time on.
Expect snow on anything high
Trails that climb, like Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, or anything near Logan Pass, are still buried in snow and often unsafe over Memorial Day weekend. Stick to valley and lakeshore trails and short waterfall walks, and pack waterproof boots and layers.
The car-free upper road is a late-May bonus
Once crews plow the upper Going-to-the-Sun Road but before it opens to cars, the stretch above the Avalanche vehicle gate is often open to cyclists and walkers only. It is a rare chance to ride or stroll toward Logan Pass with no traffic, and one of the reasons to visit in late May at all. The exact open sections and any temporary closures for avalanche work can change day to day, so check the park status page the morning you plan to go.
Everything you will actually want to know.
3 days in Glacier national park: the questions people ask most.
For most visitors, 3 to 5 days is the sweet spot, with a strong core of 3 days. Three days is enough to cover the west side (Lake McDonald, Apgar, and Avalanche when the road is open that far), the east side along St. Mary Lake, and the quieter Two Medicine and Many Glacier valleys, which is exactly how this itinerary is built. With 4 or 5 days you can slow the pace, add a boat tour, and fit in extra waterfall walks. In late May, remember that Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually not fully open, so a longer stay does not unlock the high alpine hikes yet.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 2 nights, sites along the route
2 × $22$44
- 2 nights, rooms along the route
from $131 a nightfrom $262
Yulia, ExplorOFF founder★★★★★5.0 from 20+ guided tripsGoogleAirbnbFrom$2,2202 people, 2 nights- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide
- Airport pickup, every drive, all the gear
- Weather turns, they rewrite the day
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Booking Glacier
Everything below is booked with the operators direct. We earn a commission on some of them, which is what keeps the itineraries free to read.
Top rated near Glacier
Half Day Whitewater Rafting Trip4.9 on Viator · 1,951 reviews
Half Day Scenic Float on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River4.9 on Viator · 817 reviews
Half-Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure4.9 on Viator · 578 reviewsYou might also love these
More itineraries and hiking guides across the parks.
Grand Teton Day Hikes
The best day hikes under the Teton range, from Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon and the alpine lakes.
Banff National Park
Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the best of the Canadian Rockies just over the border from Glacier.
National Park Road Trip
String the great western parks together into one long road trip, with routes, stops, and timing.
What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
What other travelers are saying
Be the first to leave a tip or question for the next traveler.
Was this helpful?
One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
Denali Road LotteryDenali NP · AKActivityReservationfair odds
El Tovar HotelGrand Canyon South Rim · ArizonaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Grand Canyon BackcountryGrand Canyon NP · ArizonaBackcountryReservationfair odds
Grand Canyon raftingColorado River · ArizonaActivityLotterybrutal odds
Havasu FallsHavasu Canyon · ArizonaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Phantom RanchGrand Canyon NP · ArizonaLodgeLotterybrutal odds
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Lost Coast TrailKing Range NCA · CaliforniaBackcountryReservationtough odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds- The Ahwahnee, YosemiteYosemite NP · CaliforniaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Conundrum Hot SpringsMaroon Bells-Snowmass · ColoradoBackcountryOpens Feb 15brutal odds
Kalalau TrailNa Pali Coast SWP · HIBackcountryReservationbrutal odds
Glacier NP BackcountryGlacier NP · MontanaBackcountryLotterytough odds
Lake McDonald LodgeGlacier NP · MontanaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Many Glacier HotelGlacier NP · MontanaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Sperry & Granite Park ChaletsGlacier NP · MontanaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Crater Lake LodgeCrater Lake NP · ORLodgeReservationbrutal odds
LeConte LodgeGreat Smoky Mountains NP · TNLodgeOpens Oct 1brutal odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The Narrows Through-HikeZion NP · UtahBackcountryReservationtough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds- Zion LodgeZion Canyon · UtahLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
Paradise InnMount Rainier NP · WashingtonLodgeReservationbrutal odds
The EnchantmentsAlpine Lakes Wilderness · WashingtonBackcountryOpens Feb 15brutal odds- Wonderland TrailMount Rainier NP · WashingtonBackcountryLotterybrutal odds
- Cougar Rock CampgroundWashington · WashingtonBackcountryOpens Jan 15tough odds
Old Faithful InnYellowstone NP · WYLodgeReservationbrutal odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”