Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road Self-Guided Tour Discount Tickets

3.3
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 15 reviews |
location pin icon West Glacier, Montana, USA
location pin icon West Glacier
3.3 /5
15 reviews
View all Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road Self-Guided Tour photos
View all Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road Self-Guided Tour photos

Get your discount tickets for the Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road Self-Guided Tour, save up to 9% !

Select your ticket

9% OFF Refundable
Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road Self-Guided Tour
FROM

$9.08

REG. $9.99

Overview

Drive one of the most spectacular roads in the world—Going-to-the-Sun Road—and experience Glacier National Park’s dramatic landscapes at your own pace. Wind past glacial valleys, turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls, and rugged alpine peaks while narration shares captivating stories about the park’s wildlife, geology, and history. Start from either entrance and enjoy total flexibility to stop for short hikes like Trail of the Cedars or Hidden Lake Overlook, spot mountain goats and bighorn sheep, capture panoramic photos, or pause at wildflower-filled meadows. Use offline GPS navigation, follow insider tips, and revisit anytime with lifetime access. Highlights include Logan Pass, St. Mary Lake, Wild Goose Island, Weeping Wall, Rising Sun, and countless scenic pull-offs. Download the tour, hit the road, and explore Glacier’s breathtaking beauty—on your terms, with every mile offering a new view.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

To reach West Glacier, Montana, take U.S. 2 E from Kalispell for about 33 miles. If you're coming from Missoula, drive north on U.S. 93, then follow MT-35 and U.S. 2 E. From Spokane, take I-90 E, then continue on U.S. 2 E. This will bring you to the main entrance of Glacier National Park.

Language Offered

English-AUDIO

Itinerary

1. West Glacier
The gateway town just outside of the west Going to the Sun entrance. If you need to pick up anything, like coffee, gas, or bear spray, West Glacier is the last full-service town you'll see until the end of your 2 hour Going to the Sun drive.
Duration: 15 mins
2. Apgar
At the Apgar Visitor Center, you can browse exhibits, do some trip planning, stop by the restroom, and refill your water bottle. It’s also where you can board the Going to the Sun Shuttle. Apgar village has a cafe, gift shop, supply store, and more.
Duration: 30 mins
3. Lake McDonald
This is where you'll take in your first views of Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacier National Park.
Duration: 5 mins
4. Apgar Beach on Lake McDonald
This quick stop lets visitors walk along the pebbly shores of McDonald Lake, admiring its famous rainbow rocks.
Duration: 10 mins
5. Sprague Creek Campground
This shady, lakeside campground has many picnic tables for your enjoyment.
Duration: 5 mins
6. Lake McDonald Lodge
Originally called the Lewis Glacier Hotel, it was built in 1914 by prospector John Lewis. This fine example of parkitecture, is made of local stone and cedar.
Duration: 30 mins
7. McDonald Falls
McDonald Falls is one of two short, but beautiful rushing waterfalls located along the McDonald Creek Trail. The blue-green water and white foam is especially stunning on clear, sunny days.
Duration: 30 mins
8. Sacred Dancing Cascade
The second of the two cascading McDonald Creek falls. Visitors can either stop at each roadside pullover, or just take the McDonald's Creek Trail to visit both. If you turn around at McDonald's fall, the total time is only one hour, and about a mile long.
Duration: 30 mins
9. Trail of the Cedars
The Trail of the Cedars is renowned for its Western Red Cedar and Hemlock rainforest. The Ttrail is an easy, flat, half-mile loop, although many hikers will choose to continue on to Avalanche Lake.
Duration: 60 mins
10. Avalanche Lake
To reach the famous lake, hikers will start at the Trail of the Cedars Trailhead. At four-and-a-half miles, or just over seven kilometers, the Avalanche Lake Trail passes through more rainforest, multiple waterfalls, and up to a crystal clear glacial lake, reflecting Avalanche Peak.
Duration: 120 mins
11. Red Rock Point
These rocks are made of compacted clay and oxidized iron, giving them their rusty red color. This roadside stop features the clear-blue waters of McDonald Creek, cascading over the red Grinnell rocks.
Duration: 10 mins
12. Mount Cannon
This is the overlook for the snow-dusted Mount Cannon. This triple-peaked mountain was formerly known as Mount Goat until 1901, when two daring newlyweds became the first people to summit it.
Duration: 5 mins
13. Garden Wall
This overlook allows you to get a first view of the Mc Donald Valley before heading up to the higher altitiudes of the Garden Wall.
Duration: 5 mins
14. The Loop Trailhead
The Loop is the steepest hairpin turn on the entire road, and a major highlight for hikers. It’s the trailhead for some of the park’s most famous trails, like The Loop, Granite Park, and the Highline.
Duration: 30 mins
15. Bird Woman Falls
Fed by snowmelt from Mount Oberlin and Mount Cannon, the falls are especially spectacular in late spring and early summer. From the overlook, Bird Woman Falls, at 960 feet, is across the valley.
Duration: 10 mins
16. Paradise Meadow
Paradise Meadow overlook is a quick roadside stop that lets visitors see across the rolling hills and valleys of Glacier. In spring, a blanket of vibrant wildflowers covers the hillside.
Duration: 5 mins
17. Oberlin Bend
Oberlin Bend offers a ten minutes boardwalk trail offering great views of Logan Pass, the Mc Donald Valley, and, sometimes, the local mascots, Glacier's mountain goats.
Duration: 30 mins
18. Logan Pass
At a whopping 6,600 feet above sea level, Logan Pass is the highest elevation on the road. There's a lot to see and do here, including several famous trails and the Logan Pass Visitor Center.
Duration: 60 mins
19. Highline Trail
One of the most popular trails on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park is a spectacular 11.8-mile path that follows the Continental Divide, offering breathtaking views of alpine meadows, rugged mountain peaks, and diverse wildlife.
20. Lunch Creek
Hidden in a hairpin turn, Lunch Creek Pullover is where water cascades down Pollock Mountain. Take a short walk down to the observation deck to take in the sights and sounds.
Duration: 10 mins
21. Piegan Pass
Piegan Pass is a popular hike, but at over nine miles long, it’s definitely a full-day adventure. First, the trail follows along Siyeh Creek, through a thick, spruce-fir forest, and up to the barren, rocky pass between Siyeh and the Cataract Mountains.
22. Jackson Glacier Overlook
Jackson Glacier Overlook is where you can see Jackson, the park’s 7th largest remaining glacier, and learn a little about glaciers and their fate in the park.
Duration: 10 mins
23. St. Mary Falls
If you’re up for a short hike, we highly recommed the St. Mary Falls Trail. It’s only one-and-a-half miles to the falls and back, with less than 200 feet of elevation change. If you want to double your falls, you can take the trail down to Virginia Falls, for a total of three miles round trip.
24. Siyeh Pass
This quick hike is great to take on its own, or with St. Mary's falls. It’s just over a mile to Baring Falls and back.
Duration: 30 mins
25. Sun Point Nature Trail
The picture-perfect promontory of Sun Point is a great place to look out over St. Mary lake. You may also want to set out on the Sun Point Nature Trail, a two-mile, or three-kilometer hike that offers stunning views of Saint Mary Lake, Baring Falls, and Red Eagle Mountain.
26. Wild Goose Island Lookout
Wild Goose Island lookout is a great place to stop and practice your photography skills. From left to right, you’ll see the following mountains: Red Eagle, Mahtotopa, Little Chief, Dusty Star, and Citadel.
Duration: 10 mins
27. The Narrows
This overlook looks our at The Narrows and The Golden Staircase, the narrowest channel of the lake and the retaining wall built to support the banks.
Duration: 5 mins
28. Rising Sun Boat Dock
This is a great spot to dip your toes in the waters of St. Mary Lake, watch boaters, or maybe even set sail yourself.
Duration: 5 mins
29. Rising Sun Picnic Area
This lakeside picnic area is one of the final stops before exiting the eastern Going-to-the-Sun gate.
Duration: 5 mins
30. Saint Mary Visitor Center
At the St. Mary Visitor Cnter, you can browse the bookstore and exhibits, and watch a film on the history of the park. You can also swing by the restroom and fill up your water bottles.
Duration: 30 mins
31. Saint Mary Historic Ranger Station
This "secret stop" is missed by most people. Only about 500 feet down Beaver Pond Trail, this historic ranger station was built in 1913 and housed one of the earliest park rangers.
Duration: 30 mins

Inclusion

Tours NEVER expire

Offline map (no wifi or data needed)

Turn-by-turn directions using GPS

Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music

Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive

Exclusion

Private Transportation

Meals & Refreshments

Park Entrance Fee

Parking Fees

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Additional Starting Points: Columbia, Middle Fork, Baab, Kiowa and Wetzel

Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.

The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.

Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.

Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device

Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting

No vehicle reservations required as of 2026 — park pass still required at the gate

Road is seasonal — typically open late spring through mid-fall; exact dates depend on snow and weather; check NPS site

Best time to visit: July–August (full access); September for fewer crowds; go early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak traffic

Logan Pass parking is limited to 3 hours — if doing longer hikes like the Highline Trail, book a shuttle reservation (opens on a rolling 60-day window)

Vehicle size limits: no vehicles longer than 21 ft or wider than 8 ft between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun; vehicles over 10 ft tall may have difficulty west of Logan Pass

Main safety concerns: falls at overlooks, fast-changing weather, and bears — bring layers and bear spray (rentable at Kalispell Airport or Apgar Village)

Food and restrooms are limited and seasonal — pack water and snacks

Supplied by Shaka Guide Apps

Reviews

3.3

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5 stars
7
4 stars
2
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 stars
5

Explore other options

Private Sundowner Dinner Experience in Grand Teton National Park

Private Sundowner Dinner Experience in Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone Wildlife and Photo Upper Loop from West Yellowstone

Yellowstone Wildlife and Photo Upper Loop from West Yellowstone
Self-Guided Grand Teton National Park Driving Tour

Self-Guided Grand Teton National Park Driving Tour
Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Cheyenne WY

Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Cheyenne WY
Private GTNP Sunset Wildlife Safari & Field Dinner From Jackson

Private GTNP Sunset Wildlife Safari & Field Dinner From Jackson
Kicking Red Canyon Wild Mustang Bus Tour Deals 8am Daily

Kicking Red Canyon Wild Mustang Bus Tour Deals 8am Daily
3 Hour Horseback Riding in Jackson Hole

3 Hour Horseback Riding in Jackson Hole
Yellowstone 2-Step 2 of Days Of Upper/Lower Loop West Yellowstone

Yellowstone 2-Step 2 of Days Of Upper/Lower Loop West Yellowstone
Dinner Cookout Ride at Heart Six Ranch

Dinner Cookout Ride at Heart Six Ranch
Private Arrival Transfer from Jackson Hole Airport JAC

Private Arrival Transfer from Jackson Hole Airport JAC