Updated January 2026
The Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park sits on the southeastern side of the Continental Divide, just north of the town of East Glacier. Known for its dramatic scenery, rewarding hikes, historic boat tours, and abundant wildlife, this region offers a noticeably quieter experience than other parts of the park. Most activities are centered around Two Medicine Lake, where you’ll find a campground, boat dock, and several trailheads radiating into the surrounding mountains.
Compared with the busier Going-to-the-Sun Road and Many Glacier areas, Two Medicine feels like a different world altogether. With far fewer visitors, it’s one of the best places in Glacier to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and experience a genuine sense of peace.
Our time in Glacier was part of a longer northern Rockies road trip that extended into Canada, including Banff National Park, the Icefields Parkway through Banff and Jasper, and Kootenay National Park. If you’re considering a cross-border route, Glacier fits naturally into a broader Canadian Rockies itinerary.
We’ve outlined one way to connect these destinations in our Epic Banff & Glacier Itinerary, which brings Glacier together with Banff, Jasper, and Kootenay into a single, well-paced road trip.
For current conditions, seasonal access, and trail updates in the Two Medicine area, check the official Two Medicine page on the National Park Service website before your visit, especially if you’re planning to hike or take the boat shuttle.
Quick Planning Snapshot – Two Medicine Area
- Best time to visit: July–September (quietest in late August–September)
- Don’t miss: Two Medicine Lake boat ride, Twin Falls detour, Upper Two Medicine Lake
- Wildlife you may spot: Bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, moose (less common)
- Best for: Hiking, peaceful scenery, photography, visitors seeking fewer crowds
- Good to know: Two Medicine sees far fewer visitors than Going-to-the-Sun Road and Many Glacier. Boat shuttles can save miles on longer hikes, and services here are limited—plan ahead.
Helpful Glacier National Park Guides
Glacier National Park is best explored by region. These guides work together to help you decide where to spend your time—and how to connect it all into a well-paced itinerary.
- Glacier National Park Overview Guide
A big-picture look at the park, including entrances, regions, logistics, and planning tips. - Going-to-the-Sun Road Area Guide
A mile-by-mile guide to Glacier’s most famous scenic drive, with viewpoints, hikes, and stops. - Many Glacier Area Guide
Detailed coverage of Glacier’s most dramatic region, including lakes, lodges, boat tours, and major hikes. - Highline Trail Hiking Guide
An overview of Glacier’s classic high-elevation traverse along the Continental Divide. - Grinnell Glacier Trail Hiking Guide
A step-by-step guide to one of Glacier’s most iconic and rewarding hikes.
Glacier Park Lodge, Two Medicine Entrance
Located in East Glacier, about 14 miles from the Two Medicine General Store, Glacier Park Lodge opened in 1913 and originally served as the starting point for many tours of Glacier National Park. Today, its historic “Red Bus” tours still depart from the lodge, with many heading toward Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Even if you’re not taking a tour, it’s well worth stopping in to admire the massive timbered lobby, relax by the enormous stone fireplace, and browse the shops. The lodge also has restaurants, a coffee shop, and a large gift store.
Two Medicine General Store
The Two Medicine General Store, housed in a historic 1924 building, is open seasonally and sells snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and basic camping supplies. When we visited in early September, it was already closed for the season. Even so, it’s a charming stop — and its front porch offers lovely views of Two Medicine Lake.
Boat Tour on the Historic Sinopah
Scenic boat rides across Two Medicine Lake are operated by Glacier Park Boat Tours. Both round-trip sightseeing rides and one-way shuttle options are available and should be booked in advance during peak season.
The ticket office and dock are located next to the Two Medicine Campground.
Note: You don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy this experience. Many visitors simply ride to the far end of the lake and back — though if you’re able, we highly recommend pairing the boat ride with a hike.
We took the 10:00 AM boat and reached the west end of the lake about 20 minutes later. Along the way, the guides shared background on the boat and the surrounding landscape, and passengers were free to move around — including standing at the front of the boat for photos.
Recommended Hike: Upper Two Medicine Lake (with Twin Falls Detour)
If you take the boat across Two Medicine Lake and start from the dock at the west end, this rewarding hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake is just over four miles round trip. You can hike the entire lakeshore instead, but doing so adds roughly 3.1 miles each way before you even reach the main trail. Taking the boat saves time and energy — and lets you focus on the most scenic portion of the hike.
Twin Falls
About 0.7 miles into the hike, after a short uphill climb and a series of boardwalks and footbridges, you’ll reach a trail junction. Continue straight for a short 0.1-mile detour to Twin Falls.
The water spills down the impressive Pumpelly Pillar, a massive glacially carved rock formation. Two distinct streams tumble from above before converging near the trail.
Back at the junction, turn right to continue toward Upper Two Medicine Lake. From here, it’s a relatively easy 1.3-mile walk with minimal elevation gain, passing through alpine meadows with wide-open mountain views. Keep an eye on the cliffs to your right — we spotted bighorn sheep high above the trail.
Upper Two Medicine Lake
Upper Two Medicine Lake is a striking destination. Multi-colored stones are visible through the crystal-clear blue water along the shoreline, where sun-bleached logs rest in sculptural piles. Evergreen forests line the water’s edge and climb the surrounding slopes, while rugged peaks rise dramatically in the distance.
Because reaching the lake requires both a boat ride and a hike — or nearly five miles on foot without the boat — it sees far fewer visitors. It’s an ideal place to linger, enjoy a picnic, and soak in the quiet. We relaxed on a log jam just left of where the trail meets the lake.
Mountain goats were visible high on the slopes near the end of the trail, though from that distance they appeared only as small white shapes against the rock.
On the return hike to the boat dock, the scenery remains outstanding, especially near a small alpine pond just below the trail.
Our total time for this hike was about four hours, including time spent exploring and picnicking at the lake. Back at the dock, simply wait for the next shuttle boat to return to the ticket office.
For trail distances and junctions in this area, the official Two Medicine trail map (PDF) is helpful to download ahead of time.
Running Eagle Falls
Running Eagle Falls is an easy and rewarding stop, accessible from the Two Medicine Campground. From the parking area, it’s a flat, 0.3-mile walk one way along a wheelchair-accessible trail.
Towering above the falls is Rising Wolf Mountain, which rises more than 9,500 feet.
Water flow here varies by season. Earlier in spring and summer, a higher cascade can obscure the lower falls. When we visited in September, only the lower falls were flowing, spilling dramatically from the rock wall below. The photo with Fred standing at the base gives a good sense of the scale.
Two Medicine Campground
Reservations for the lovely Two Medicine Campground are required and can be made through Recreation.gov on a rolling six-month basis. The campground is typically open from mid-June through mid-September.
The campground has 110 mostly shaded sites, many with beautiful views of nearby mountains and Pray Lake. Wildlife sightings are common — a family of bighorn sheep wandered through the campground as we arrived, and we watched beavers swimming in the lake.
Travel Tip: For international visitors or seniors exploring remote U.S. destinations like Glacier National Park, it’s worth considering travel insurance that includes medical evacuation coverage. Plans such as Genki Traveler (available through https://www.safeandnotsorry.com/plans/genki-traveler) provide substantial protection for emergencies in remote areas.
Related Guides
If you’re planning a broader Glacier National Park itinerary—or deciding which areas to prioritize—these guides pair well with the Two Medicine area:
Epic Banff & Glacier Itinerary
Glacier National Park Overview
Going-to-the-Sun Road Area Guide
Many Glacier Area Guide
Hiking the Grinnell Glacier Trail