Montana

Glacier National Park

A seasonal west Glacier itinerary with Trail of the Cedars, an optional Avalanche Lake hike, Going-to-the-Sun Road and a Lake McDonald boat outing.

Alpine roads & lake trails5 daysPrices in USDReviewed October 21, 2026

Photo: Paul Crook / Unsplash

Specific places. A workable pace.

A west-side base. Room for mountain weather.

Made for: First-time Glacier visitors with a car, a west-side base and flexible hiking expectations.

Use the route below, then open each named recommendation for its official details. Prices marked “estimated” are editorial planning allowances; published fares can change and availability is not held.

Your itinerary

01Reach your west-side base

Check in at Columbia Falls, Apgar or Lake McDonald. Buy packed-lunch supplies and review closures. Reserve Belton only if your arrival leaves a comfortable margin.

Food options for this part of the trip — choose to suit your timing:

Belton ChaletUSD 45–75/person meal allowance

02Cedars forest & an optional lake hike

Pay admission once for its validity period, then go early to the Avalanche area for Trail of the Cedars. Extend to Avalanche Lake if suited to the hike, or return to Apgar for Eddie’s. Carry lunch and water for the longer route.

Glacier entrance passUSD 35/private vehicle for 7 days May–October; USD 25 November–April
Trail of the CedarsIncluded in park admission
Avalanche Lake Trail — optional extensionIncluded in park admission

Food options for this part of the trip — choose to suit your timing:

Eddie’s Cafe, ApgarUSD 20–35/person meal allowance

03A weather-flexible Going-to-the-Sun day

Check road and Logan Pass access rules before setting out. Use open road sections and designated pullouts. A summit visit depends on road conditions, legal parking or a booked shuttle. Swap this day with the lake day when weather requires.

Going-to-the-Sun Road & Logan Pass accessRoad included in admission; 2026 shuttle required USD 1 processing per ticket

Food options for this part of the trip — choose to suit your timing:

Belton ChaletUSD 45–75/person meal allowance

04Lake McDonald by boat

Book the Lake McDonald sailing and reach the lodge with time to park and check in. Keep the rest of the day light around the lake. The listed boat fare is the published 2027 price.

Glacier Park Boat Company — Lake McDonaldUSD 28.75/adult published 2027 fare; park admission extra

Food options for this part of the trip — choose to suit your timing:

Eddie’s Cafe, ApgarUSD 20–35/person meal allowance
Belton ChaletUSD 45–75/person meal allowance

↗A departure that fits the distance

Allow extra driving time from park lodging to your airport or onward destination. Avoid a high-road crossing immediately before a flight.

Three ways to stay

Hotels by name.

Choose for location and travel style, then check your actual dates. All ranges below are editorial estimates per room per night for two adults, not live availability or advertised offers. Tax, resort/destination fees and parking may add to the total.

Essential

Cedar Creek Lodge

USD 180–320/ room / night · planning estimate

Year-round Columbia Falls base outside the park; allow driving time to West Glacier and the trailheads.

Official hotel & date-specific rates ↗

Signature

Village Inn at Apgar

USD 250–420/ room / night · planning estimate

Seasonal lakeside accommodation near Apgar services; book early and confirm the room’s facilities.

Official hotel & date-specific rates ↗

Exceptional

Lake McDonald Lodge

USD 350–550/ room / night · planning estimate

Historic seasonal lodge inside the park. The splurge is its setting and heritage; facilities differ from a modern luxury resort.

Official hotel & date-specific rates ↗

A table worth planning around

Where to eat.

Meal allowances are per person, before tax, gratuity and alcohol. They are planning estimates, not fixed menu prices. Use the restaurant link for menus, current service hours and reservations; park restaurants require the appropriate admission.

Eddie’s Cafe, Apgar

USD 20–35/ person / meal · planning allowance

Seasonal Apgar meal around a lake day; verify opening dates and pack trail food separately.

Official menu & dining details ↗

Belton Chalet

USD 45–75/ person / meal · planning allowance

Reserve seasonal dinner in West Glacier. Leave time to drive back from Lake McDonald or the high road.

Official menu & dining details ↗

Know what you are buying

Activities, trails & tickets.

This directory includes the route’s stops and clearly labeled alternatives. Do not add every price together. A park entrance fee is generally paid once for its validity period; included rides and trails do not incur another admission charge. Times are planning allowances, not guaranteed departure or queue times.

Glacier entrance pass

USD 35/private vehicle for 7 days May–October; USD 25 November–April

Allow: Covers the admission period

Non-US residents age 16+ pay an additional USD 100/person unless admitted with an eligible Annual or America the Beautiful Pass; check party coverage.

Official details, current price & reservations ↗

Trail of the Cedars

Included in park admission

Allow: 0.7 mi loop; 45–60 min

Short forest outing at Avalanche. Parking is limited; do not assume the Logan Pass shuttle stops here.

Official details, current price & reservations ↗

Avalanche Lake Trail — optional extension

Included in park admission

Allow: NPS lists 2.3 mi one way; allow 3–4 hr round trip

A steady climb with uneven terrain and elevation changes. Extend the Cedars day only if conditions and fitness suit it.

Official details, current price & reservations ↗

Going-to-the-Sun Road & Logan Pass access

Road included in admission; 2026 shuttle required USD 1 processing per ticket

Allow: Full scenic day from a west-side base

Check current road status and travel-year rules. The linked page describes 2026 access, not a promise for future seasons.

Official details, current price & reservations ↗

Glacier Park Boat Company — Lake McDonald

USD 28.75/adult published 2027 fare; park admission extra

Allow: 1 hr boat tour plus check-in

Choose Lake McDonald, not another lake. Seasonal sailings leave Lake McDonald Lodge; verify date and cancellation terms.

Official details, current price & reservations ↗

Build a budget you can use.

Prices and source links reviewed October 21, 2026. USD is the local currency used in this guide; no exchange-rate conversion is assumed.

Multiply your selected hotel’s room rate by your actual nights, then add its taxes and mandatory fees.
Multiply meal allowances by the number of diners and meals. Add breakfast, snacks, drinks, tax and gratuities as needed.
Add only the activities you choose. Keep per-person, per-vehicle and included-admission costs separate. Check child, resident and passholder eligibility.
Add transportation, fuel, parking and any optional queue products. Flights, insurance, shopping and advisor fees are not included in the item prices.

Booking order: Confirm dated admission or tour availability first, then coordinate refundable lodging and restaurant reservations. For multi-day theme-park trips, price the actual multi-day ticket rather than multiplying one-day fares.

Destination planning notes

This is a summer west-side route. High-road opening dates and lodge seasons vary. No vehicle reservations were required in 2026; recheck policy for 2027. Logan Pass used ticketed shuttles and summer parking limits in 2026; the linked page is explicitly year-specific. Check trail status, carry bear spray you know how to use and keep distance from wildlife. Reserve scarce lodging before locking in the rest of the trip.

Check the official links for current hours, closures, accessibility and cancellation terms. Weather, maintenance and seasonal schedules can change the route.

Official destination resources

Turn the guide into your trip

Let’s make the details fit.

Share your dates, must-do experiences and preferred hotel. We’ll build around the choices that matter to you.

Plan with Kai through Fora ↗