Glacier National Park Fall of 2025

Glacier National Park

Glacier was our second stop, about a 7.5-hour drive from Yellowstone. While many pair Yellowstone with the Tetons, we added Glacier in between to break up the return trip before my flight home.

Lodging

We stayed at the Wonderstone (8/10) in Columbia Falls — comfortable beds, a cozy community room with coffee, tea, and a water station, plus a bear spray rental vending machine (a nice touch!). The location was perfect, halfway between Glacier National Park and the charming town of Whitefish. https://www.wonderstoneusa.com/

Favorite Eats

* The Last Chair – 9/10 🍽️ Fantastic seasonal menu, creative cocktails, and excellent service. Make a reservation! https://lastchairkitchenandbar.com/

* Spotted Bear Spirits – 9/10 🍸 Quirky and fun cocktail bar with great mocktails too. https://www.spottedbearspirits.com/

* Jalisco Cantina – 5/10 🌮 Good food and vibe, but service missed the mark. https://thejaliscocantina.com/

* Loula’s Café – 7/10 🥧 Popular breakfast/lunch spot—great pies! Join the waitlist early or grab a counter seat.https://www.loulaswhitefish.com/

* Glacier Distilling Co. – 9/10 🥃 Small-batch whiskey and spirits tasting room. https://www.glacierdistilling.com/

* Montana Coffee Traders – ☕️ Great coffee, food, and friendly service. https://coffeetraders.com/pages/columbia-falls

* Jersey Boys Pizzeria – 9/10 🍕 Excellent pizza and drinks. https://www.jerseyboyswhitefish.com/

Top Tips

* Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) is an absolute must. It’s a 50-mile drive of stunning views and frequent pullouts. A timed-entry pass is required—screenshot it, as there’s no cell service. Start early to beat traffic and get a beautiful sunrise view. We even had a mama bear and cub cross right in front of us!

*Grinnell Glacier Hike – 10 miles round trip with a 2,000-ft elevation gain. It’s challenging but jaw-dropping. Arriving a week earlier would’ve let us take the Many Glacier boat shuttle, cutting off 3 miles. After the hike, relax with a beer at the Many Glacier Hotel—the lounge views and gift shop are worth the stop.

* Lake McDonald – Rain changed our hiking plans, so we explored here instead. The boat tour was peaceful and scenic (join the waitlist if it’s full—they often fit you in). The Lake McDonald Lodge, with its massive stone fireplace, earned a solid 9/10 from us.

* Animals seen -Black Bear and cub, Bighorn sheep, Bald Eagle, Mountain Goats

* Very limited cell service and lots of pull-outs have patience