After driving from Radium Hot Springs, BC, we entered Glacier National Park via the entrance near West Glacier, MT to explore the west side of the park and the “Going-to-the-Sun Road.” (See our Glacier NP post for an overview of our entire trip that also included Banff NP, Jasper NP (Icefields Parkway), and Kootenay NP.)
Table of contents
Going-to-the-Sun-Road (GTSR) starts in West Glacier (Mile 0).
Lake McDonald Area
Unfortunately, the section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road from West Glacier past Lake McDonald all the way to Avalanche Creek was being paved when we were there. The Road condition was … MUD. This, and the presence of construction barrels, created a lengthy traffic jam that delayed us by over an hour. We began to jokingly call it the “Going-through-the-Mud Road.”
However, we eventually arrived at the Lake McDonald Lodge at the 11-mile mark. The lodge was completed in 1914 and has a Swiss-chalet style. The three story, open interior is rustic, but gorgeous, with unique lighting. Many animal heads and other taxidermy specimens adorn the railings. Go downstairs and outside for access to the shore of Lake McDonald.
Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park, at ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep. This glacier-carved lake is a testament to the power of nature. The water is crystal clear and beautiful mountains circle the lake. Have a look at the smooth colorful rocks on the lake-bottom.
Boat tours of Lake McDonald leave from behind the Lodge. Seats must be reserved far in advance.
A series of trails circle the lake and take you to the McDonald Falls and Sacred Dancing Cascades (see below). See the National Park Service’s Lake McDonald area hiking map Hiking Lake McDonald – Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) for details.
McDonald Falls Overlook
Just 1.9 miles north of the Lake McDonald Lodge on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, these pretty Falls can be seen from the roadside.
Sacred Dancing Cascade
The Sacred Dancing Cascade stop is 13.5 miles north of West Glacier on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The wide falls are on the Upper McDonald Creek and are worth a stop to stretch your legs, and it is easy to walk down to the water’s edge here.
Trails here connect with the Lake McDonald and McDonald Falls trails. See the National Park Service’s area hiking map Hiking Lake McDonald – Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
Trail of the Cedars / Avalanche Creek
The Trail of the Cedars is located at the 17-mile point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road when traveling north from West Glacier. We hiked the easy 0.9-mile trail at the end of the day since it is adjacent to the Avalanche Campground where we planned to stay for the night. The evening light made the forest seem almost magical.
The trail winds through an old growth forest, including Western Red Cedar, Black Cottonwood, and Western Hemlock trees. Also, this is a serene place where the size and majesty of the trees can be enjoyed on a pleasant stroll.
Avalanche Creek spills through a small, scenic “gorge” near the Trail of the Cedars.
Avalanche Creek Campground
We stayed in Site 21 on the A Loop of the campground. This campground has 87 sites on two loops, none with electric hookups. This quiet and shady campground is open from mid-July through mid-September. Reservations are a must, and can be booked at recreation.gov
West Tunnel
The West Tunnel is located 24 miles from West Glacier. You can park near the tunnel and walk into it for view s through its two observation windows. Created in 1926-27, the West Tunnel was bored through 192 feet of rock and is an amazing feat of engineering. The observation windows look toward the McDonald Creek Valley and Heavens Peak.
The Loop
The Loop describes a hairpin turn in the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Stop here for incredible views of Heaven’s Peak. This is also where the hike up to the Granite Park Chalet begins on the Loop Trail. We ended our one-way Highline Trail hike here.
Bird Woman Falls Overlook
The Bird Woman Falls is an iconic image in Glacier National Park. The Falls drop almost 500 feet down the slopes of Mount Oberlin into the valley. While the falls can be seen from many places while traveling east on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, this overlook allows a fuller view of the water rushing into the valley.
Weeping Wall
At the 29 mile mark on the Going-to-the-Sun Road from West Glacier, you come to the Weeping Wall. The water gushes down to the road, especially in the spring and the early summer. But when we were here in September, there was a torrent.
Triple Arches
The Triple Arches on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (just over 30 miles from West Glacier) were built to fill in gaps in the mountain. They are an impressive sight and are best viewed before you get to them when driving west to east. There is not a stop here, so have your passenger take pics!
Logan Pass
At the 32-mile mark, you come to Logan Pass, the highest point on the GTSR. The pass sits on the Continental Divide at 6,646 feet. There is a visitor center, a gift shop, and restrooms. The Highline Trail and Hidden Lake hikes also leave from here. See our Highline Trail hike guide to read about this epic hike and our tips for doing it as a one-way hike down to The Loop.
The parking lot at Logan Pass fills early and stays full all day. We were able to get a parking spot around 6:45 AM, but the lot was full by 7:00. So, come early, or come late, or use the park shuttles to access this area.
As a result of this early start, we arrived at Logan Pass at sunrise for our hike and were treated to a fantastic light show. The sun lighting up the mountains, and the yellow, red and orange hues on the clouds were breathtaking. If you can, check out a sunrise here!
Lunch Creek
Next, stop into Lunch Creek, found just past Logan Pass at a little over 32 miles from West Glacier. It’s not hard to get a parking spot here. Paths follow the creek, and across the street (traveling east), there is an observation deck. The area is beautiful with wildflowers and the sparkling water of the creek.
St. Mary Area
St. Mary Lake
St. Mary Lake lies on the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. We stopped at the Sun Point Nature Trail and picnic area, 40 miles from West Glacier. In addition, this area provides fantastic views of St. Mary Lake with a variety of short trails to different viewpoints.
Also, escape the crowds in other parts of Glacier National Park here.
There is a trail from GTSR to St Mary Falls that is worth the 1 mile hike, if you have time.
This beautiful lake is home to Wild Goose Island, where the opening scene of The Shining was filmed. But the island is tiny, and while fun to get a picture, it is not much to look at. However, the lake itself is gorgeous, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. There are a lot of places to spread a picnic blanket on the rocks overlooking the lake.
St. Mary Village and Visitor Center
The St. Mary area marks the eastern end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Stop in the St. Mary Visitor Center for trip planning information and current conditions in the park. The Visitor Center provides information for planning your trip, Wifi, restrooms and a bookstore. There are interactive exhibits on the American Indians connected to Glacier National Park, as well as a theater with a 15-minute film about the park.
At St. Mary Village, we got coffee treats at Glacier Perk and enjoyed it in the lobby. For information or to book rooms at St. Mary Village, click here.
On the west side of Glacier at Apgar Village, there are also restaurants and accommodations.
Be sure to take a look at our guides for the Two Medicine and Many Glacier Areas.
As always, please leave a comment to provide updates, details, corrections, etc.