Glacier is breathtaking in the summer, attracting millions of visitors every season- and can get quite crowded. Understandably, the park’s star attraction, the extremely narrow and steep Going-to-the-Sun Road, is no better off. In 2019 Glacier started a Going to the Sun reservation system for vehicle entry to cull crowds and keep the road safer. While this offers a nicer experience for visitors who do make it up the road, what happens if you didn’t get your Going to the Sun reservation?
Don’t want to miss out on some of Glacier’s most famous views? Don’t panic! There are plenty of other ways to see the park and even access the iconic GTTS road.
Take the Free GTTS Hiker Shuttle
A great option and a gas saver! If you don’t mind leaving your vehicle at the Apgar visitor center, you can take the free NPS shuttle up and over GTTS road. Shuttles run every 15-30 minutes and have 12 different stops between Apgar and St. Mary. Parking along GTTS road can be nearly impossible, so this is a great option for smaller groups of people who would like to make multiple stops to hike and look around.
Drive the East-to-West Route
No Going to the Sun reservation? The most straightforward solution that includes both driving GTTS AND doing it in your own vehicle is going around to the East side’s St. Mary Gate. From West Glacier, take a scenic stretch of Highway 2 out to East Glacier. You will see some beautiful landmarks including Mount St. Nick and Marias pass. From there, take a detour to see Two Medicine Lake (absolutely worth its own day trip!) or drive directly north to St. Mary. The St. Mary entrance does not require a vehicle reservation and you will be able to drive over GTTS road from east to west, stopping to take in views of Wild Goose Island, Logan Pass, and the Highline trail. The drive from West Glacier to St.Mary takes around an 1 hour 50 minutes without traffic. Returning to West Glacier over GTTS is another 2 hours.
Join a Tour!
Feeling a little intimidated by steep mountain roads? Want to skip the headache of driving and finding parking? There is no shortage of tours offered in the park ranging from laid back to adventurous. The Red Bus Tours might be some of the first that pop into your head. These public driving tours take you up and down GTTS road with short stops to take pictures. We offer some great tours, including the East-to-West route returning on GTTS, that are fully private and customizable for your family trip or larger group!
Think Outside of the Box
With how vast Glacier is, it’s completely valid to scratch your GTTS itinerary all together. The most popular spots are of course beautiful, but crowds can take away from the untouched magic of the park. Highway 2, Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier tend to be easier to navigate with parking and hikes can be less crowded. Glacier is big and all these areas are worth visiting!
Need some help planning your dream Montana trip? Check out these other articles from our blog or give us a call! We would love to help make your experience memorable and magical.
