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If you’re planning a trip to Glacier National Park in May or June and discovered that Going-to-the-Sun Road isn’t fully open yet — I promise you, this is not a disaster.
I understand that feeling. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most iconic drives in North America, and it’s often the main reason people come to Glacier. Finding out the alpine section is still under snow can feel like a real blow.
But here’s the thing: the western side of Glacier is absolutely packed with things to see and do, and the lower section of Going-to-the-Sun Road that is open is already breathtaking. You can have a completely spectacular day without ever reaching Logan Pass.
This itinerary is designed exactly for that situation. It covers the best of Glacier’s west side — including one of my absolute favorite hikes in all of North America — and it will fill your day beautifully.
Let’s get into it!
Before You Start: A Few Things to Know
1. Start early
Getting out early makes a huge difference in Glacier.
The morning light in the mountains is extraordinary, and popular spots like Avalanche Lake get busy as the day goes on. If you’re out by 7 or 8am, you’ll have some of the most beautiful places almost entirely to yourself.
Wildlife — bears, mountain goats, deer, moose — is also far more active at dawn than at any other time of day.
2. Check the road conditions
Before you head out each morning, check the NPS Glacier website for the latest road conditions and see exactly how far up Going-to-the-Sun Road is currently open.
The lower sections are the focus of this itinerary, but conditions can change, and it’s always good to know what to expect before you set off.
3. Get the Guide Along App
This is genuinely one of the best things you can do for this drive.
The Guide Along App is an audio driving tour that plays GPS-triggered commentary as you make your way along Going-to-the-Sun Road — explaining the geology, the history, the wildlife, and exactly what you’re looking at as you drive.
It’s not constant or intrusive. You can still chat, listen to music, and enjoy the ride. It just fills in the story at the right moments. I love it.
💡 PRO TIP: Download the Glacier package before you enter the park. Signal is unreliable inside, so it’s much easier to have everything ready before you set off.
4. Stock up before entering the park
Food and drinks inside Glacier are limited and more expensive than outside. West Glacier has cafes and shops where you can pick up coffee, snacks, and supplies for the day.
Pack a picnic lunch so you can eat at the trailhead after your hike rather than having to drive back out for food mid-day.
The Glacier National Park 1-day Itinerary
Stop 1: West Glacier
West Glacier is the gateway town on the western side of Glacier National Park, and if you’re staying outside the park, this is a great first stop.
It’s a small town, but it has what you need: cafes where you can grab a takeaway coffee and breakfast, and outdoor shops where you can pick up anything you might have forgotten — bear spray, sunscreen, bug spray, or any last-minute gear.
If you’re there early in the morning, some things might not be open yet — but you can almost always find a coffee somewhere, and it’s worth doing before you head in.
Everything here is a bit cheaper than inside the park.
Stop 2: Park Entrance & Apgar Village
🚗 Driving time from West Glacier: 5 minutes
As you enter the park, you’ll either pay the entrance fee at the gate or show your America the Beautiful Pass.
Stop 3: Apgar Visitor Center
This is one of the best visitor centers in the park — well worth a stop, especially first thing in the morning.
The rangers here are genuinely wonderful and incredibly helpful. If the weather looks uncertain, or if you’re not sure this itinerary is quite right for what you’re looking for, this is the perfect place to ask questions and get recommendations tailored to the day.
Pick up the free daily park newspaper here too. It lists all the ranger-led activities happening in the park that day — guided walks, talks, and boat tours of Lake McDonald with a park ranger.
These are free to join (except for the boat tour), and they’re absolutely worth doing if you can fit one in.
Stop 4: Apgar Village
From there, head to Apgar — one of the main villages on the western side of Glacier, sitting right at the southern end of Lake McDonald.
Apgar was named after one of Glacier’s first settlers, and it makes for a lovely start to the day. There’s a small cluster of shops — outdoor gear, souvenirs — and a cafe if you need anything before heading further in.
If kayaking or canoeing on Lake McDonald appeals to you, Apgar is also where you can rent a boat and get out on the water.
Stop 5: Lake McDonald & the Colorful Pebbles
Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park, and it is a beautiful sight — but the thing that makes it especially famous is the colorful pebbles on its shores.
You’ve almost certainly seen photos of them online: smooth, brilliantly colored stones in reds, greens, blues, and purples, glowing under clear water. They really are gorgeous — but I want to set expectations just a little bit, because the colors you see on Instagram are often enhanced.
In person, the pebbles are still genuinely beautiful and completely unique. The colors depend a lot on how much light there is, how clear the water is, and how shallow the shoreline is at the spot you’re standing.
Walk along the beach a bit and explore — different sections can look quite different.
If you’re there first thing in the morning, you’ll have the shore largely to yourself, which makes it even more special.
Stop 6: The Open Section of Going-to-the-Sun Road
🚗 Driving time from Apgar: 5 minutes
Now it’s time for the drive and even the lower section of Going-to-the-Sun Road is spectacular.
The alpine section up to Logan Pass may still be closed, but the road from Lake McDonald up to the Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake is open and absolutely beautiful.
Take it slowly. If you spot a pullout with a view worth stopping for, stop. This is one of those drives that rewards you for not rushing.
Stop 7: Trail of the Cedars & Avalanche Lake
🚗 Driving time from Lake McDonald to the trailhead: 25 minutes
This is the highlight of the day — and honestly, one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done anywhere in North America.
Trail of the Cedars is where you’ll start.
It’s an easy, flat boardwalk loop — only 0.8 miles long — that takes you through a stunning old-growth cedar and hemlock forest.
Ancient trees draped in moss, the sound of Avalanche Creek rushing alongside you, shafts of light filtering through the canopy. It is genuinely magical, and accessible for almost everyone.
But don’t stop there. The same trailhead continues on to Avalanche Lake, and if you’re up for it, you absolutely should go.
This is a proper hike — a round trip of about 4.5 – 6 miles — so set aside a few hours. The trail climbs gently through the forest before opening out onto one of the most breathtaking lakes I have ever seen.
Avalanche Lake sits in a natural bowl ringed by steep mountain walls still draped in snow in May and June.
The water is a deep, vivid green and turquoise, fed by multiple waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. Cedar trees stand in the shallows at the edges.
It is the kind of place that genuinely stops you in your tracks.
I absolutely loved it. It is worth every step.
When you feel ready, head back to the parking lot. This is a great spot for your picnic lunch as there are tables.
💡 IMPORTANT: Make sure you take all your trash with you and do not leave any food. This is very important to preserve the wildlife.
Stop 8: McDonald Falls
🚗 Driving time from Avalanche Lake trailhead: 10 minutes
On your way back down the road, make sure you stop at McDonald Falls.
There’s a small parking area right by the falls, and it’s just a short walk to reach the viewpoint.
They are beautiful — the creek tumbles over a series of rocky ledges surrounded by forest, and it’s very photogenic.
It’s a quick stop, but absolutely worth it.
Stop 9: John’s Lake Loop Trail
A short distance from McDonald Falls, on the other side of the road, is the start of the John’s Lake Loop Trail.
This one is quite different from the Trail of the Cedars, even though you’re again walking through cedar forest. Instead of following the river, the path takes you deeper into the woods — and there’s something really wonderful about it.
You feel a bit like you’re truly lost in the forest, far from everything.
The trail eventually brings you to John’s Lake, which is a peaceful little spot. It’s not as dramatic as Avalanche Lake, but it’s a lovely, quiet ending to the day’s hiking.
Stop 10: Lake McDonald Lodge
🚗 Driving time from John’s Lake Loop: 5 minutes
Before you head back, make sure you stop at Lake McDonald Lodge.
Even if you’re not staying there, it is absolutely worth walking in.
The lodge itself is stunning — all dark wood beams, stone fireplace, animal mounts on the walls, and that unmistakable feeling of a grand old mountain hotel.
It looks like something out of a Western film, and it’s one of the most beautifully preserved historic lodges in any national park in America.
Walk through the main reception and take it all in. Then head outside and find the little jetty on the lake — from there you get a gorgeous view across Lake McDonald to the mountains beyond.
The boat tours of Lake McDonald depart from here too. If you haven’t already joined one with a park ranger, it’s worth checking whether there’s an afternoon tour you can catch.
The park rangers give wonderful commentary on the lake and the park’s history, and it gives you a completely different perspective on the scenery you’ve been exploring all day.
Back to West Glacier
🚗 Driving time from Lake McDonald Lodge: [ADD]
From Lake McDonald Lodge, take the same road back toward West Glacier to wrap up your day.
That is a very full and very beautiful day — and I hope it has shown you that Glacier National Park in May and June, even without the full Going-to-the-Sun Road, is absolutely worth every moment.
Map of this Glacier National Park 1-Day Itinerary
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