Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road: 10 things to know before you go!

Recommended full day itinerary along the Going to the Sun Road - start at the east side of the road in St. Mary's before sunrise. Stop at the Goose Island Overlook, make the short walk and stay there through sunrise. Get back on the road, continuing to head west. Park at Logan's Pass, which fills up very early. Hike out on the HIghline Trail for spectacular early morning views above the Going to the Sun Road for at least a mile or two before turning back. If you can do a 6-7 mile hike, I'd recommend hiking out to Haystack Pass and then returning to Logan Pass. Get back on the Going to the Sun Road and continue west, stopping at overlooks along the way. Stop for lunch and a break in the Lake McDonald or Apgar Village areas. Continue west on the Going to the Sun Road and do a short in and out hike through the Trail of the Cedars. Drive the remainder of the Going to the Sun Road to the west. In late afternoon, drive the Going to the Sun Road from west to east (with the sun mostly behind you) at a leisurely pace, stopping at overlooks to take in the views. In addition to the Highline Trail and Trail of the Cedars hikes, the Sunrift Gorge hike to 3 beautiful waterfalls is another great hike whose trailhead is on the east side of the Going to the Sun Road. It is abut 5-6 miles round trip, out and back, and best on a cloudy/drizzly day (as is the Trail of the Cedars). Depending on how long your trip to Glacier is, I'd try to spend at least a couple of days along the Going to the Sun Road and at least 2-3 days hiking in the Many Glacier area. Some of the top day hikes in Many Glacier are Grinnell Glacier (book the boat trip in advance that cuts the length of the hike), Iceberg Lake and Bullhead Lake. The best place in the park to see moose is at Fishercap Lake, which is a very short hike (about a half mile one way) from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. There is a very high probability of seeing moose in and around the lake early in the morning and late in the afternoon as they like to feed on the vegetation at the bottom of the shallow lake.

Thank y’all so very much. The video was amazingly informative.

Thoroughly enjoy your videos! What a service you provide, and just wonderful cinematography too. Thank you!

Thanks for posting. I did the drive in 1991, and I need to go back again.

Glacier N.P. was one of the best road trips I've ever done. The year I was there the Going to the Sun Road didn't open until the end of June and they were still ploughing some areas. I saw a Bear sauntering across the road right in front of me. I stayed at a National Park Motel overlooking Lake McDonald and loved to just sit on the patio and look over the lake. Fresh air and relaxing peace and quiet.

My husband and I road our Goldwing on this trip. It was and still is the most enjoyable ride I’ve taken. I will go back again. 💕

This is so helpful! I wish GTTS road had been open when we went in mid-June, but it was still closed. One more reason to go back to Glacier again someday!! 🎉😅

We visited first weekend in July 2022 and the entire road was not yet open for travel - bur in 2023 it opened the earliest ever I heard - mid June...

I went 30 years ago it was beautiful. The women (me, my sister and my mom) in the group were hesitant about the road so we made the men drive over to the east side and enter that way which made us on the inside of the road for most of it.

Interesting, I think I'll skip this place, it seems like it's a hassle to just go anytime and have fun there. I'll check out other amazing places in Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, etc. Thank you for this important information, you couple rock.

Ok I'm good lol was worried I couldn't take my toyota tundra there but saw the busses and saw 2 toyota tundras in the video haha

Done it once from west to east. It was rainy and foggy all the way, so we didn't see much. 😁

I am glad you mentioned all this, because I do get scared , are there anywhere we can visit Glacier without visiting the "going to the sun road"???? This is my first time, ever researching the Glaciers , and I just want to visit at least . I noticed you all went to Banff Canada, that's on my "Dream come true list

Matt, do you know if there is a place to park the RV before the national park west entrance? Greetings!

I have my vacation booked for september 6th of this year.. After watching this video I'm scared of driving the roads. I do have fear of heights..yikes! Maybe drive ourselves. We should just drive a little bit on the West entrance, And then another day going to saint mary's for a little bit... Scared to drive off the cliff!!

Any chance you can do 4 wheelers on GTTS Road if it’s closed?

if i have a half day at glacier-arrive at 11am and leave as late as i can is it possible to see lake mcdonald, do trail of the cedars, drive to logan pass? the next day i have a full day we plan on doing going to the sun road and hike st marys and hidden lake trail.

So there is no ticket entry this year ( for vehicles)?

At least logging trucks aren't rear ending your car if you go slow on the GTTR.

can i do red bus tour to st marys falls, hike there then take the red bus back to the west side of the park?