15 Breathtaking Spots In Glacier National Park To Bask In The Natural Beauty

There's no denying that Glacier National Park in Montana is one of the most stunning places in the world. With so many incredible vistas and breathtakingly beautiful natural features, it's impossible to see everything in one shot. In fact, you could spend a lifetime exploring this expansive park and still find something new each time. Whether you are planning to visit this national park in Montana for a single day or extended stay, these 15 places in Glacier National Park will give you amazing views unlike anything you've ever seen.

If you’re planning a visit to this incredible national park, there’s no better time to visit than during National Park Week. Learn all about this celebration of America’s great outdoors — including fee-free days throughout the year!

1. Virginia Falls

Virginia Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall, with the main fall dropping roughly 50 feet, another secondary chute, and then a short cascade section at the bottom. Hikers can stand at the base of the falls and enjoy the rush of air and water on a hot summer day.

2. St. Mary Lake

St. Mary Lake spans almost 10 miles and rests on the east side of the park. A drive along the Going-To-The-Sun on the north shore of St. Mary Lake provides some of the most incredible vistas available in the park. The open meadows surrounded by dense forests also provide some great opportunities for wildlife viewing.

3. Hidden Lake

Hidden Lake sits at the end of a 1.35 mile hike through alpine meadows on top of Logan Pass at just over 7,000 feet altitude. Mountain goats are fairly common in the area and be sure to keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, marmots, and the occasional grizzly bear.

4. The North Fork Road

The North Fork Road is a 28-mile narrow gravel road between Fish Creek and Kintla Lake, providing access to some of the park’s most pristine wilderness areas. Be sure to stop at the Polebridge Mercantile for their famous huckleberry bear claws.

5. Two Medicine Lake

The Two Medicine area is an off-the-beaten-path jewel on the east side of the park. The area is packed with abundant trails, amazing views, waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain lakes. Two Medicine Lake also offers casual boat tours during the summer months.

6. Logan Pass (via Red Bus Tours)

These red busses are an iconic part of Glacier National Park and provide a relaxing way to view and learn more about the area. The rollback tops are perfect for providing full views of the towering mountains, a view you don't always get while driving yourself.

7. Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake is a fantastic spot to get away and find some tranquility. The waters are almost always calm and mirror the snowcapped peaks of the rocky mountains. Just north of Polebridge, Montana, this place is also a great spot for bird and wildlife enthusiasts.

8. Many Glacier Hotel

Many Glacier Hotel, built between 1914-1915 is located in the northeastern area of Glacier National Park. Grinnell Point stands at 7,600 feet directly across from the hotel with Switfcurrent Lake sitting at the base. Boat cruises, horseback rides, and ranger programs are available during the summer months making it one of the best areas of the park.

9. Going-To-The-Sun Road

Every year in early summer and early fall, the road is closed to vehicles, as it is being plowed or prepped for the long, hard winters up on top of the pass. You won't find a better opportunity to take in the massive hanging valleys and panoramas on the Going-To-The-Sun Road. At this point, the road is yours.

10. McDonald Falls

McDonald Creek follows the western section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which has numerous pullouts to stop and take it all in. The creek flows from Mount Geduhn and carries glacial sediment, which gives it the turquoise color.

11. Kintla Lake

Kintla Lake is located in the upper-most northwest section of the park, approximately 40 miles from the west entrance and the Canadian border. Kayaking on this crystal-clear lake provides some great views of the surrounding mountains and places with relics from oil drilling near the lake from the early 1900s.

12. Trail of the Cedars

This section of the park marks the extreme eastern limits for western hemlocks and red cedars in the Pacific Northwest. The humidity in this valley allows the cedars to grow to heights of more than 100 feet, with some trees reaching diameters of four to seven feet. Some of the trees along this trail are more than 500 years old!

13. St. Mary Falls

St. Mary Falls drops roughly 35 feet in three separate tiers, with the third found just below the footbridge. The falls are roughly a mile off the Going-To-The-Sun Road on the east side of the park.

14. Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek flows through Avalanche Gorge on the west side of the park. The lush greens, ferns, and mosses growing along the forest floor are part of a habitat more normally found on the Pacific Coast.

15. Lake McDonald

At ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park and a direct result of glacial carving.

Glacier is an immensely beautiful national park to visit in Montana, and we hope these photos have inspired you to get out and explore this Treasure State gem!

You can see more of photographer Conrad Flynn's unbelievably beautiful adventures across Montana on his website, Conrad Flynn Photography.