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  • West Glacier, Montana

    As the western gateway to Glacier National Park, West Glacier has been dubbed "guide central," and adventures in and around Glacier National Park often begin and end in West Glacier.

    Top Spots in and near West Glacier

    • Columbia Falls, Montana

      Hike to Apgar Lookout

      4.5
      7 mi / 1850 ft gain
      Precursor: I completed this hike in November, hence the snow in the photos. Due to a lack of tree coverage, this hike is best suited for a cool summer day, or in the late spring and early autumn. It is doable in the heat of the summer, but be sure to pack plenty of water. This hike begins by tre...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Capture Sunrise or Sunset at Lake McDonald

      5.0
      Lake McDonald doesn't offer the close-up views of glaciers and mountains like some of the other spots in Glacier NP, but it does offer sweeping views of park's west side. The most popular spot to photograph this grand perspective is along the southwest beach and dock. The dock makes the most in...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Kayak Lake McDonald

      5.0
      Rent kayaks at the shore of Lake McDonald and take them out for the day. Make sure to start early to get a full day in and leave yourself enough time to stop for lunch. There are multiple places to pull off and bring your kayaks onto the shore and do some small hikes. The views are spectacular fr...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Swim at the Belton Bridge

      2.0
      The Belton Bridge is the old entrance to glacier. You can get there by turning right down old river bridge road, which is the first right when you turn in to the West Glacier village. There are some 5-8 ft rocks to jump off, but be sure to check the water below them first. The water is gorgeous, ...
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    • Flathead County, Montana

      Snowshoe the North Fork Area of the Flathead River

      1.5 mi / 0 ft gain
      Starting in Columbia Falls, MT, which is 17 miles from Kalispell, MT, locate North Fork Road off of Railroad Street. Follow North Fork Road about 17 miles. While along the Flathead River, there are many Forest Service roads that are accessible to snowshoe along. There are roads that lead to the F...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Hike to Howe Lake

      4 mi / 240 ft gain
      The hike begins along the Inner North Fork road across from a small parking area. The trail meanders up a slight incline most of the way through areas of a recent fire, as well as some areas with spectacular wildflowers when it gets a bit more lush. Around 1.7 miles in you will go up a relatively...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Backpack to Lincoln Lake

      16.75 mi / 3747 ft gain
      It's a 1600 ft slow increase in elevation. You can walk around the loose rocks going around the lake for an additional 2 miles of hiking. There is a back-country campground at the base of the glacier-fed lake and an amazing waterfall at the opposite end of the of the campground. To camp overnig...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Snowshoe Skiumah Trail

      1.9 mi
      The trailhead for Skiumah Creek Trail is located just off of highway 2, and is well marked from both directions of the road. It is roughly 15 miles East on Highway 2 from the West Glacier Entrance of Glacier National Park. Parking is located on the other side of Highway 2 than the actual trailhea...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Camp at Sprague Creek Campground on Lake McDonald

      4.5
      Ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacial National Park. Sprague Creek is a small 25-site campground on the northeast shore of the lake, about 9 miles from the west entrance of the park. Campsites are on a first-come, first-serve basis and fill up early....
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Hike to the Mt. Brown Lookout

      5.0
      The trail is accessible (though sometimes covered in snow) year-round because the trailhead lies in the lower elevation area of the park. It begins at the Sperry Trailhead, located directly across the street from the lake McDonald Lodge. Follow the Sperry Trail for 1.6 miles until you reach the M...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Bike Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

      5.0
      50.65 mi / 5036 ft gain
      Every Spring (May - June) Going-to-the-Sun road remains closed to cars long after the snow has been plowed and melted. However, just past the Lake McDonald Lodge a sign declares the road open to Hikers and Bikers, providing one of Montana's best adventures.  Follow Going-to-the-Sun Road in from ...
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    • Martin City, Montana

      Drive around Hungry Horse Reservoir

      About 100 miles of mostly gravel roads (14 miles of pavement) will take you around this beautiful reservoir.  With that many miles of road and the shoreline to go with it, it is obvious that there is plenty to see and do in the Hungry Horse area. Check out some of my other adventures for ideas of...
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    • Flathead County, Montana

      Hike Glacier View Mountain

      5.04 mi / 2880 ft gain
      Driving north from Columbia Falls, MT for 20 miles, park after the junction of the Camas Road and the North Fork Road. This parking area is directly after the junction on the east side of the road and the trail begins on the west side of the road.The beginning of the trail is started with many sw...
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    • Flathead County, Montana

      Hike Demer's Ridge

      7.47 mi / 3420 ft gain
      This trail is a point to point, so two cars are necessary. The ending point is where Camas Rd intersects the North Fork Road at the Blankenship Bridge. The starting point for the hike is at Demer's Pit. Driving 22 miles from Columbia Falls, MT, make your way to the parking spot, Demer's Pit. From...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Explore Avalanche Creek

      5.0
      0.7 mi
      Avalanche Creek is one of Glacier National Park's easiest features to access and also one of its most unique. The old-growth cedar forest is home to towering trees, moss-covered boulders, and a rushing stream of glacial water. A small loop trail winds through the lower forest and leads to a bri...
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    • West Glacier, Montana

      Trail of the Cedars

      5.0
      0.88 mi / 121 ft gain
      Trail of the Cedars Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Lake Mc Donald, Montana.
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    Camping and Lodging in West Glacier

    Apgar Group Sites
    West Glacier, Montana

    Apgar Group Sites

    West Glacier KOA Resort
    West Glacier, Montana

    West Glacier KOA Resort

    Fish Creek Campground
    West Glacier, Montana

    Fish Creek Campground

    Under Canvas Glacier
    Coram, Montana

    Under Canvas Glacier

    From $99 / night

    Emery Bay Campground
    Martin City, Montana

    Emery Bay Campground

    Big Creek Campground
    Flathead County, Montana

    Big Creek Campground

    Guides, Insights and Stories from West Glacier

    10 Must-Do Adventures In Glacier National Park

    10 Must-Do Adventures In Glacier National Park

    The Outbound Collective

    Jumbo Glacier: Where Do We Go From Here?

    Jumbo Glacier: Where Do We Go From Here?

    Chloe Donlan

    A Walk into the Past: Returning Three Decades Later to Glacier NP

    A Walk into the Past: Returning Three Decades Later to Glacier NP

    Matt Johnson

    15 Amazing Hikes in Glacier National Park

    15 Amazing Hikes in Glacier National Park

    The Outbound Collective

    Watch This Video and Witness the Glory That Is Glacier National Park

    Watch This Video and Witness the Glory That Is Glacier National Park

    Rob Feakins

    From the Glaciers to the Tundra: 15 Photos from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

    From the Glaciers to the Tundra: 15 Photos from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

    Sonja Saxe