Glacier National Park Map + 3-Day Weekend Hiking Itinerary
Glacier's two marquee hikes in a weekend, from a St. Mary base.
3-day Glacier National Park hiking itinerary from a St. Mary base: the Grinnell Glacier Trail in Many Glacier, the Highline Trail and Hidden Lake Overlook from Logan Pass, and a relaxed final morning on Lake McDonald before you fly out of Glacier Park International Airport.
“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!”
11 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Glacier: every stop pinned in order.
Grinnell Glacier · Highline Trail · Lake McDonald · 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.
Glacier in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 3 days in Glacier, one step at a time
- Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open over Logan Pass for 2026. The park says it typically stays open until the third Monday of October, weather permitting, so an October trip should check the road status the morning of day 2. Source
- The Logan Pass three-hour parking limit and the ticketed Logan Pass shuttle both ended on Labor Day, September 7, 2026. There is no shuttle now, so drive to Logan Pass early for the Highline Trail. Source
How 3 days in Glacier split up
Plan 3 days for Glacier. Key hikes: 3 trails. Elevation gain: 2,600+ ft. Permits: Entry pass. This 3-day Glacier National Park hiking itinerary is built for a long weekend and focuses on the park's most rewarding trails. It pairs two strenuous marquee hikes, the Grinnell Glacier Trail and the Highline Trail, with a shorter viewpoint hike and a relaxed final morning on Lake McDonald.
Day 1: Grinnell Glacier Trail
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Highline Trail & Hidden Lake Overlook
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: Lake McDonald & Departure
3 stops · Day three
Grinnell Glacier Trail
Your Glacier weekend begins with the classic Grinnell Glacier Trail in the Many Glacier valley. This 10.6-mile round trip climbs steadily past Lake Josephine and Grinnell Lake to a turquoise basin below the receding glacier, one of the most iconic hikes in the park. Start early to secure parking and beat the crowds.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Adrian S Pye / CC BY-SA 2.0Drive from~40 min to Many Glacier · car required · DriveBase your logistics in St. Mary on the east side of the park, the closest hub to the Many Glacier trailheads and the east end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Many Glacier is about an hour away by car. For 2026 no vehicle reservation is required, but you still need a park entry pass, and Many Glacier parking fills before dawn in summer.
- Grinnell Glacier Trail
10.6 mi RT · 1,840 ft gain · Strenuous · HikeEmbark on the iconic Grinnell Glacier Trail from near the Many Glacier Hotel. The route climbs steadily past Lake Josephine and Grinnell Lake to a turquoise basin below the receding glacier. Start early to beat the crowds, carry bear spray, and consider the Glacier Park Boat Co. shuttle to trim about 3.4 miles round trip.
See the trail → - Glacier Park Boat Co. shuttle
Optional · Josephine & Swiftcurrent lakes · activityTake the concessioner boat across Swiftcurrent and Lake Josephine to trim roughly 3.4 miles from the Grinnell Glacier round trip. Tickets sell out in summer, so reserve online in advance. It is a scenic add-on either way, with narration and lake views below the Garden Wall.
Operator info → 
Traveler100 at English / CC BY-SA 3.0Overnight in St. MaryClosest town to the eastern trailheads · Many Glacier Hotel if you can get it · lodgeAfter the hike, check into your base. St. Mary has the most options, while the historic Many Glacier Hotel offers a more immersive in-park experience but far fewer rooms. Both put you close to the eastern trailheads and the east end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Book months ahead for summer.
Highline Trail & Hidden Lake Overlook
Day two heads to Logan Pass for the spectacular Highline Trail, cut into the cliffs below the Garden Wall. The opening ledge, protected by a hand cable, drops away dramatically before the trail opens into sweeping views and reliable mountain-goat and bighorn-sheep sightings. Haystack Butte makes a rewarding turnaround.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass~1 hr from St. Mary · scenic · DriveDrive the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road up to Logan Pass, the high point of the road on the Continental Divide. No vehicle reservation is required in 2026, but beginning July 1, 2026 Logan Pass parking is capped at 3 hours, so plan around the ticketed alpine shuttle if you want a full day up high. Arrive very early, as the lot fills fast.
- Highline Trail to Haystack Butte
Turnaround hike · Garden Wall ledge · HikeBegin the Highline Trail from Logan Pass. The opening ledge, protected by a hand cable, has real exposure before the trail opens into sweeping views below the Garden Wall. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are common. Haystack Butte is a popular, rewarding turnaround, or continue farther if time and energy allow.
See the trail → - Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
2.7 mi RT · 460 ft gain · Moderate · ViewpointAlso departing from Logan Pass, the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail is a shorter boardwalk-and-dirt path to a stunning viewpoint over Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain. It is a great add-on after the Highline if you have energy, or an easier alternative. It is often snow-covered into July and popular for wildlife and sunset light.
See the trail → 
w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0Overnight in West GlacierShift west over Logan Pass for the FCA flight · lodgeDepending on your Day 3 flight, stay in St. Mary again or drive to West Glacier. West Glacier has more dining and lodging and positions you about 30 minutes from Glacier Park International Airport for an easy departure. Driving from St. Mary to West Glacier over the Going-to-the-Sun Road takes about 2 hours.
Lake McDonald & Departure
On your final day, slow the pace and explore the west side of the park around Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacier, famous for its clear water and colored-pebble shoreline. Drive the western portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, stopping at pull-offs and the historic Lake McDonald Lodge.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Lake McDonald scenic stops
Pull-offs & Lake McDonald Lodge · 1–2 hr · ViewpointSpend your final morning along Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacier, famous for its clear water and colored-pebble shoreline. Stop at pull-offs, visit the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, and take a short shoreline walk. Morning light best shows off the pebbles, so hit the west side before the drive to the airport.
GlacierNPS / CC BY 2.0Apgar Village shoreline walkEasy stroll · shops & boat rentals · activityWrap up with an easy stroll around Apgar Village at the foot of Lake McDonald, with shops, a visitor center, and seasonal boat rentals. It is a relaxed way to soak up the west side before you head out to Glacier Park International Airport.
53moons / CC BY-SA 4.0Drive to Glacier Park Intl (FCA)~30 min from West Glacier · DriveConclude your Glacier hiking weekend by driving to Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) near Kalispell, about 30 minutes from West Glacier. Allow ample time for rental-car return and security; the airport is small but gets busy in peak season.
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 checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link 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
Essential park rules & planning.
No vehicle reservation in 2026
Glacier has dropped its timed-entry vehicle reservation system for 2026, so you can drive in at any time from any entrance. You still need a valid park entry pass ($35 per vehicle for 7 days), and an America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee.
Logan Pass 3-hour parking + shuttle
From July 1 to Labor Day (September 7), 2026, Logan Pass parking is limited to 3 hours; after Labor Day there is no limit and no shuttle. To spend longer in the alpine area of Going-to-the-Sun Road you must book a ticketed shuttle from the west or east entrance; a portion of shuttle tickets releases on a rolling basis starting in early May.
Grizzly country, carry bear spray
Glacier is home to both grizzly and black bears. Always carry bear spray where you can reach it, not buried in your pack, and know how to use it. Make noise on the trail, hike in groups, store food properly, and report bear sightings to a ranger.
Go mid-July to early September
This is the window when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open and high-elevation trails are snow-free. Wildflowers peak in July and August. Expect crowds at peak season, and snow can linger on higher trails well into July.
Where to base and book early
St. Mary and Many Glacier put you closest to the eastern trailheads and Logan Pass; West Glacier is handier for the FCA airport. In-park lodging like the Many Glacier Hotel and Lake McDonald Lodge books months ahead, and campgrounds often fill by early morning.
Getting there needs a car
Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) near Kalispell is about 30 minutes from West Glacier and roughly 2 hours from St. Mary. There is no practical public transit to the eastern trailheads, so plan on a rental car for the whole trip.
Pack water, layers, and a rain shell
The Grinnell Glacier climb and the Highline are long, high, and exposed, with no reliable drinking water on the trail and fast-changing mountain weather. Afternoon storms can build quickly over the Garden Wall, so carry rain and wind layers plus sun protection, start your descent before weather moves in, and bring more water than you think you'll need or a way to treat what you collect.
Glacier: questions before you go
Many Glacier: the questions people ask most.
No. For 2026 Glacier National Park has eliminated its timed-entry vehicle reservation system, so no reservation is required to drive into the park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, or North Fork. You do still need a valid park entry pass ($35 per vehicle for 7 days, or an America the Beautiful pass).
From July 1 to Labor Day (September 7), 2026, parking at Logan Pass is limited to 3 hours, and neither the limit nor the shuttle runs after Labor Day. Visitors who want to spend longer in the alpine area of the Going-to-the-Sun Road need to book a ticketed shuttle from the west or east entrance. A portion of shuttle tickets is released on a rolling basis starting in early May, so plan ahead if you want a full day of hiking from the pass.
The two marquee hikes are strenuous. Grinnell Glacier is 10.6 miles round trip with about 1,840 ft of gain, and the Highline Trail is a long, exposed traverse with a cabled ledge section. Hidden Lake Overlook (2.7 miles, 460 ft) is moderate. You should have good fitness and prior hiking experience for the big days.
Mid-July to early September is best, when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically fully open and most high-elevation trails are snow-free. Wildflowers peak in July and August. Snow can persist on higher trails into July, so always check the NPS trail-status page before you head out.
St. Mary or Many Glacier is ideal, since it gives you the closest access to the Grinnell Glacier trailhead and the eastern end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road for Logan Pass. West Glacier is a good alternative, especially on the last night, because it is only about 30 minutes from Glacier Park International Airport.
Yes. Glacier is home to both grizzly and black bears, and bear spray is a critical safety item on every trail. Carry it somewhere you can reach instantly, not inside your pack, and know how to use it. Make noise as you hike, travel in groups, and store food properly.
Yes. Many hikers walk the Highline as a point-to-point, starting at Logan Pass and descending the Garden Wall spur past Granite Park Chalet to The Loop trailhead lower on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, then catching a shuttle back up to their car. This itinerary keeps it simple as a turnaround at Haystack Butte, but if you want the full traverse, plan your shuttle timing carefully, since the alpine shuttle system changed as of 2026 and seats are limited.
Three days is the minimum for a first visit. That is one day on the Highline Trail from Logan Pass, one on the east side at Many Glacier for Grinnell Glacier, and one for Hidden Lake Overlook, the rest of the Going-to-the-Sun Road and Lake McDonald, which is exactly how this itinerary is laid out. Four to five days lets you add Two Medicine or Iceberg Lake without rushing.
Two days covers the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Hidden Lake Overlook and Lake McDonald, and that is a good trip. What it cannot fit is Many Glacier, which is about two hours by road from the west side with no shortcut across the park. With only two days, stay on one side of the park rather than driving back and forth.
Yes, for a focused visit. This 3-day plan gets you the two marquee day hikes, Grinnell Glacier in Many Glacier and the Highline Trail from Logan Pass, plus the Hidden Lake Overlook, a full drive of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and a relaxed final morning on Lake McDonald. What you will not have time for is anywhere outside the St. Mary to West Glacier corridor, so save areas like Two Medicine and the North Fork for a longer trip.
Skip Two Medicine and the North Fork, home to Bowman and Kintla lakes. Both sit on the far side of the park from St. Mary and Logan Pass, and each needs a half-day of driving just to get there. This itinerary already leaves them out and puts the three days into Many Glacier, Logan Pass, and Lake McDonald instead, which covers Glacier's best-known trails without losing a day to driving to a fourth area.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 3-day route. Same 6 stops.
- 1 night, a campsite near St. Mary
- $30
- 1 night, a campsite near West Glacier
- $30
- Rental car, 3 days
- $285
- Gas, about 139 miles
- $25
- 1 night, a room in St. Mary
- from $280
- 1 night, a room in West Glacier
- from $171
- Rental car, 3 days
- $285
- Gas, about 139 miles
- $25
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
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.
Last checked October 2026
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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.
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