It’s safe to say that Montana’s Glacier National Park is a must-see destination. With more than 1 million acres of glacial-carved terrain, it’s the kind of place that stops you in your tracks and takes your breath away. From taking in the view of the Livingston Range from the foot of Lake McDonald to the sweeping meadows of the St. Mary Valley, there are abundant things to see and do inside the park boundaries.
Whether you have visited in the past or if you’re planning your first visit to the Backbone of the World, here are five things you probably didn’t know about Kalispell’s backyard national park.
1. 32 Miles to Kalispell’s Backyard Park
From downtown Kalispell, Glacier National Park’s west entrance is a beautiful 35-minute drive, making it easy to use our mountain town as your home base for your northwest Montana vacation. And while Kalispell may be a city by Montana standards, our mountain town has an array of places to stay, sip, eat, shop and explore. Our best advice: book your stay in Kalispell (check out boutique properties, flagship hotels and more here) and then build your itinerary of things to do, including visiting Glacier National Park.
2. No Reservations Needed in 2026
While Glacier National Park has required vehicle reservations for the last few years, for 2026 no reservations are needed for any of the park entrances. However, there are some new changes for this summer, including time limits at Logan Pass and a hiker shuttle. Get the latest rundown here.
3. The Park is Open Year-Round
While summer welcomes the most visitors to Glacier National Park, the park is open 12 months a year and spring and fall are considered the park’s secret seasons. During spring, the park is lush with rushing waterways, waterfalls and the chance to hike, bike and walk on the Going-to-the-Sun Road before it opens to vehicular traffic. You can access the road by bike from both the west and east entrances and ride to your heart’s content. And while you can go on your own, Glacier Guides also offers rental bikes and guided rides. Fall is also a must-visit time of year, with brilliant shades of gold and yellow, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically open through early or mid-October, depending on weather. Be sure to visit Two Medicine, the North Fork and Many Glacier during autumn, as they’re full of stunning foliage. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are also known to be viewable from the park, with prime viewing season between October and March.
4. Make the Most of Your Time
One of the biggest misconceptions about visiting Glacier National Park is that you need several days to visit. And while we enjoy slow travel, we also know that sometimes your time on vacation is limited. No matter how much time you have – whether it’s a week, a day or a couple of hours – you can tailor your time in the park to fit your needs. For longer visits, we recommend exploring various areas of the park, including Many Glacier, Logan Pass and the North Fork. If you only have one day, be sure to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. From Kalispell, you can easily do an entire loop, going in through West Glacier and out at St. Mary, looping back around to Kalispell on U.S. Highway 2. If you only have a couple of hours, pop into Apgar Village and take in the view of Lake McDonald from its southern shore.
5. Museums + Glacier National Park
Beyond or after visiting the park, you can dig deeper into its history, culture and people, from tribal nations to artists and early explorers at two of Kalispell’s museums: the Northwest Montana History Museum and the Glacier Art Museum. Located in the historic Central School, the history museum has an educational Crown of the Continent exhibit that is well worth checking out. You can also see murals and work from artists at the Glacier Art Museum, which is housed in a 1904 Carnegie Library building.
Want to learn more about Glacier National Park? Start here.
