Trip Planning
A First-Time Visitor's Guide to the East Side of Glacier
Most first-time visitors to Glacier National Park base themselves on the west side around West Glacier and Apgar. The east side — Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier — is quieter, more dramatic, and (in our opinion) more rewarding. Here's how to plan an east-side trip.
Getting there
- Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell — closest to the west side; ~2.5 hours to East Glacier Park
- Great Falls International Airport (GTF) — ~3 hours to East Glacier; often cheaper flights
- Amtrak Empire Builder — stops directly in East Glacier Park (May–Sep). The most romantic way to arrive.
Where to base yourself
East Glacier Park Village is the practical home base for the east side. It has lodging, food, gear, the Amtrak station, and is 10 minutes from Two Medicine. Glacier Alpine Lodges offers cabins and lodge rooms; the historic Glacier Park Lodge is also in town.
3-day itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in East Glacier. Coffee at Alpine Start Espresso. Easy hike at Running Eagle Falls + Two Medicine Lake south shore. Dinner in town.
- Day 2: Big day at Two Medicine — rent a kayak in the morning, hike Aster Park Overlook in the afternoon.
- Day 3: Drive to Many Glacier (1h15m). Hike Grinnell Lake or take the boat tour. Return for dinner.
5-day itinerary
Add to the 3-day plan:
- Day 4: Going-to-the-Sun Road day. Drive to St. Mary, cross to Logan Pass, hike a stretch of the Highline Trail or Hidden Lake Overlook. Vehicle reservations may apply — check current season.
- Day 5: Cultural day. Book a guided tour with a local Blackfeet guide — hiking, photography, or cultural focus. Visit the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning.
7-day itinerary
Add to the 5-day plan:
- Day 6: A bigger hike — Dawson Pass or Pitamakan Pass loop in Two Medicine, or the full Highline Trail (point-to-point with a shuttle).
- Day 7: Slow morning. Coffee, packing, optional half-day photography workshop. Travel home.
What to skip if it's your first trip
- Trying to see everything. Glacier is two parks split by the Continental Divide. Pick a side.
- Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road both directions on the same day. You'll be exhausted. Pick a direction or take a shuttle.
- Skipping bear spray. Don't.
One thing every first-timer should know
Distances in and around Glacier are deceiving. The map looks small; the drives are long. Plan one major activity per day and leave time for the unplanned — a wildlife sighting, an extra coffee, a thunderstorm rolling in. The east side rewards a slow pace.