Currently, in the summer of 2023, you need a vehicle reservation to drive on Going to the Sun Road. The park service has this in place to prevent overcrowding. We had a vehicle reservation because our lodging was on Going to the Sun Road. You can also get a vehicle reservation if you have a boat tour or horseback riding reservation. Another option is to enter the park before 6 a.m. or after 4 p.m. without a vehicle reservation, but why miss such a big part of the day if you can’t get out of bed early! Note: This vehicle reservation does not cover the park entrance fee. We recommend getting an $80 Annual National Park pass and explore all year long.
Hot Tip! Get the GuideAlong app and download the Glacier National Park tour. It will guide you all along the parkway, point out interesting stops and give you the history of the road. Well worth the $12.99.
There are vehicle length restrictions on the road and frankly, I wouldn’t want to drive anything larger than a standard SUV on the road with all of its twists and turns and tight corners! The road is 50 miles and takes 2-5 hours depending on the number of stops. We spent much of the day on the road getting out for hikes and stopping at viewpoints along the way.
You can drive the Going to the Sun Road in either direction, but we started from West Glacier. Don’t forget to stop and take your picture at the welcome sign!
Apgar Visitor Center could be your first stop, they had a good gift store to get your stickers and patches. Next up, stop at Lake McDonald Lodge if you aren’t already staying there. There is a good little market if you need to pick up lunch supplies. Check out the lobby and maybe even do a little paddle on the lake with Glacier Park Boat Company while you are there.
Then just up the road make a quick stop at McDonald Falls. There are a number of parking spaces and if you are as lucky as we were you’ll catch a horseback ride heading across the bridge.
If you didn’t do Avalanche Trail the previous day, now would be a great time to do the hike, maybe even enjoy your lunch at the lake.
At mile 32 make an attempt to stop at Logan Pass Visitor center. We couldn’t find parking on our first try but had better luck on the way back. Logan pass has good bathrooms and another chance to get souvenirs. I’d recommend doing the 3 mile roundtrip hike to Hidden Lake. It’s a very popular hike that leaves from the visitor center. It’s mostly paved or boardwalk for the first half. We were told that this was a great spot to catch a glimpse of the mountain goats in the park, but they stayed hidden during our trip.
A little farther on the road and you’ll find a quick pullout to get a good view of the Jackson Glacier. It’s a good time to make note of the changes in the glacier over the last 30 years and how much climate change is affecting the glaciers.
Our final stop was at Baring Falls at Sunrift Gorge. This was an easy 1 mile hike right to a waterfall. Our teens love climbing rocks and tree limbs, scaling to precarious heights as I look on with my heart racing until they are back on solid ground!
When you are done, drive all the way out to the town of St. Mary to fill up on gas and enjoy an ice cream cone from Curly Bear Café. Then turn right around and see Going to the Sun Road from the other direction. At this point you can stop at the places you missed along the way! You’ll be ready for a warm dinner back at the lodge when you return.
Wanderlust Travel Diary 