15 Fun Things to do in West Glacier National Park With Kids!
The west side of Glacier National Park is somewhere that I grew up visiting every year. It’s such a fun and beautiful place for families with stunning lake views, short family friendly hikes, awesome bike paths, and the best huckleberry ice cream! After visiting West Glacier over 20 times, these are the best things to do in West Glacier with Kids.
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Why Visit the West Side of Glacier National Park With Kids?
Glacier National Park is an absolute gem, known as the Crown of the Continent, with some of the most incredible lake and mountain views in the entire world. In my opinion Glacier is one of (if not THE best) National Park in the United States.
The west side of Glacier National Park is very kid friendly whether you are visiting Apgar, Fish Creek, or somewhere just outside of the park. There is access to many bike trails, less grizzly bears, and tons of family friendly hiking trails. If it’s your first time visiting Glacier National Park, I highly recommend that you spend some time here. If you’re like me, you’ll want to keep coming back over and over again.
Getting Around West Glacier
You’ll definitely want to rent a car to get around to all the best stops. We’ve been able to save a ton of money on rental cars through Economy Bookings! In our complete guide to Glacier National Park with kids, we have more information about shuttles, tours, and everything else you need to know.
Vacation Rentals Near West Glacier
If you’re looking for a vacation rental near West Glacier – here is a list of some of the amazing properties you can rent and be very close to or even inside the park! Yes, you read that correctly – there are several vacation rentals inside Glacier National Park that you can rent for your family – then you won’t even need a reservation for the park which can save you some headache.
This adorable cabin is actually situated on the shores of Lake McDonald inside Glacier National Park! The views from the cabin are incredible and you even have beach access on one of the most stunning lakes in the world
This cozy lakefront cabin has huge windows with unmatched views of Lake McDonald. The property sleeps six people, and gives you easy access to tons of hiking trails and Glacier gems!
This property, located just outside the West Entrance of Glacier National Park, is the perfect place to stay if you’re traveling with a big group. It sleeps 12, and even has a hot tub with mountain views!
This budget friendly house is loaded with charm and would be the perfect place to stay just outside the park.
The Best Things To Do in West Glacier National Park With Kids
Whether you are staying in West Glacier, Apgar, or Fish Creek – there are tons of things to do with kids in the Lake McDonald Valley. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll have an amazing time in the most beautiful corner of Montana.
1. Play on Lake McDonald
You can’t visit the west side of Glacier National Park and not explore Lake McDonald. Lake McDonald is an incredibly beautiful, clear, and clean lake. If you’ve seen the famous “pebble lake” online, this is it! In good weather, the lake is very calm which makes for excellent paddleboarding or kayaking conditions. There is also nothing better than taking a dip in an alpine lake after a hike.
Tip: Swimming in Lake McDonald can be cold, swim at your own risk and take all safety precautions!
Another tip: the “pebble lake” pictures are heavily edited. The shores of Lake McDonald are beautiful, and the rocks are colorful, but don’t expect it to look like the images you’ve seen on Instagram.
Kayak, paddleboard, and raft rentals are available near Eddie’s Cafe in Apgar Village. If you choose to bring your own you will need to have it inspected and you must have a life jacket in order to get the inspection done. Life jackets can be rented for about $6 per day also. You don’t have to wear the life jacket, but it needs to be present on the kayak or paddleboard with you.
If you’re looking for a great inflatable paddleboard, this is the one we have here!
2. Take a Bike Ride
West Glacier is very bike friendly. I highly recommend bringing bikes for yourself or your kids if you come to this side of the park, or renting them. I grew up riding bike riding in Apgar! You can rent bikes or e-bikes near Eddie’s Cafe in Apgar Village at Glacier Outfitters. This is also a great place to rent bear spray!
Bike Trails in Glacier:
- Apgar Village Loop
- Gateway to Glacier
- Fish Creek Bike Path
We use this balance bike for our two year old and he absolutely loves it!
3. Hike the Trail of the Cedars
Distance: 0.9 mile loop
Elevation: basically flat
Stroller friendly? yes
The Trail of the Cedars is probably the busiest easy trail in Glacier National Park. It’s an easy hike through a beautiful forest, and definitely worth doing when you are in West Glacier. The trail takes you along a boardwalk that passes giant cedar trees and crosses Avalanche Creek.
This trailhead is located along Going to the Sun Road and can be VERY popular – go early or you will likely not get a spot (or take the free shuttle!) Also, you could add this to a hike to Avalanche Lake if you are feeling ambitious (4.6 miles roundtrip and ~750 feet elevation gain).
4. Hike the Oxbow Trail
Distance: ~1.5 miles
Elevation: mostly flat
Stroller friendly? No
The Oxbow Trail hike leaves from across the street from the Schoolhouse Gift Shop in Apgar Village. If you can’t find parking there you can park at the Apgar Visitor Center and walk along the Apgar bike path until you hit the trail (adds about 0.6 miles). This trail leads through the woods until you hit McDonald Creek and then the trail follows along the creek.
We saw some of the bluest water we’ve ever seen in a river! The trail forks at several points without clear signage. Make sure to look up the trail map and consider downloading it ahead of time on AllTrails to prevent getting lost.
TIP: This hike is much more beautiful in the summer. We’ve also done it in the fall and the color wasn’t nearly as vibrant. Still a nice walk, but don’t expect this beautiful blue water!
5. Hike the Rocky Point Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles
Elevation: 230 ft
Stroller friendly? No
This trail walks you through the forest and past many different types of wildflowers. You will also pass some signs about the wildfire there and how it impacted what you see today. The trail ends when you reach an overlook of Lake McDonald – be careful with the little ones it is a steep drop off, but beautiful! The distance on this trail can be slightly variable because there are a few different points you can access the trail.
6. Howe Lake Hike
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 350 ft
Stroller friendly? No
If you’re looking for a short, less crowded Glacier hike, this will likely be the one for you. The trailhead is located about 5 miles north of Fish Creek. Note that the road up to the trailhead is dirt road and is narrow and windy. The lake views are less spectacular than some of the other hikes you’ll encounter here, but due to the location of the trail you won’t have very many hikers with you. Bring bug spray!
7. John’s Lake Loop Hike
Distance: 2.0 miles
Elevation: 190 feet elevation
Stroller friendly? No
The John’s Lake Loop Trailhead is located along Going to the Sun Road before you reach the Trail of the Cedars Trailhead. I haven’t done this hike yet, but it is a good family friendly option. Since the parking is along Going to the Sun Road, I would encourage you to arrive early if you want to get a spot.
Note: this trail is partially closed as of 2024
8. Cool down with some huckleberry ice cream!
Huckleberries are a a classic Montana treat, and if you need to try one food while in Glacier National Park, this is it! Huckleberries are a small purple berry that are similar to blueberries that grow all over Northwest Montana. They are also a favorite snack of black and grizzly bears and many other animals in the park. There are several places to get ice cream or milkshakes in the Apgar Village and also one place in the Lake McDonald Lodge.
9. Shop for souvenirs at The Cedar Tree gift shop
Out of the gift shops in the Apgar Village, we liked the Cedar Tree the most. It seemed to us to have the best selection of souvenirs and was the most inexpensive as well. We bought a magnet (something we buy everywhere we go), a book for ourselves and for the kids, some huckleberry licorice, and a Glacier National Park hat.
The other thing that we bought that I would recommend if you have a toddler or young kids is small plastic animal figurines. They were really affordable and kept our toddler busy for a long time.
10. Take a Scenic Boat Ride on Lake McDonald
Take an hour long boat tour on the historic DeSmet vessel around Lake McDonald. Kids under 4 boat for free. Get dinner at the Lake McDonald Lodge and then take a sunset cruise! More information on boat tours available here. Also, a boat cruise will serve as your vehicle reservation system ticket if you have a tour booked. This is definitely a plus if you are not staying inside the park.
Tip: It’s recommended to book tours ahead of time
11. Participate in the Junior Ranger program
Talk to a park ranger about your little ones participating in the Junior Ranger program. This program gives kids the opportunity to take ownership of protecting and preserving Glacier National Park. Complete the steps and activities in the packet provided from the ranger and receive your junior ranger badge.
12. Visit the Historic Lake McDonald Lodge
The Lake McDonald Lodge is a historic, Swiss Chalet style lodge that was built in 1913. It is located along Going to the Sun Road on the east shore of Lake McDonald. The interior of this lodge is beautiful and unique with some of the most interesting lighting I’ve ever seen. There was also someone playing amazing piano music when we visited. Choose to stay in the lodge, or visit and have a cocktail, dinner, or ice cream.
13. Drive the Going to the Sun Road
Going to the Sun Road is a 50 mile road that is an incredible feat of engineering, and an absolutely STUNNING experience. Every time I drive this road I am in awe of these mountain views. If you’re only able to visit Glacier National Park once, make sure you add this experience to your list.
I would highly recommend going EARLY to avoid having issues with parking. Parking lots fill up in the morning on a daily basis during the busy season. There is nothing more stressful than circling the parking lots for an hour with some restless kids in the car. Read about more Glacier National Park tips before you go!
If you drive the entire road without stopping it would take about 2 hours. However, if you’re staying on the west side of the park, you will get a lot of the great views by driving half of the road up to the top of Logan Pass. If you’re up for a hike at the top, the beautiful Hidden Lake Overlook is 2.7 miles roundtrip and ~500 feet of elevation.
Keep in mind that you’ll need a Going to the Sun Road entry reservation to enter during certain hours.
14. Enjoy a campfire at your campsite
Glacier National Park campgrounds are great and I would highly recommend taking some time to relax at your campsite with a nice cozy fire, some s’mores, and fire roasted dinner. Firewood is available for purchase at most camp stores or you can bring your own from home. Please don’t gather firewood from around the campground, it is not allowed. Enjoying my campsite is one of my favorite things to do in West Glacier.
15. Bonus activity: attend a ranger led program at the amphitheater
Ranger led presentations are put on nightly in both Apgar and Fish Creek. Apgar has presentations at 7PM nightly and Fish Creek has presentations at 9PM nightly (double check before attending). Programs run 30-60 minutes and vary on topics. Since we were staying in Fish Creek, we didn’t get the chance to attend because 9PM is past our bedtime, but next time I would love to attend one of these programs.
Topics covered are a huge variety including humanity’s role in the park, eye-catching birds in the crown of the continent (hummingbirds were one of the topics when we were visiting), Glacier’s night sky, colors of the park, and more! These presentations may be tough for really little ones to sit through, but I haven’t attended one yet so I can’t say for sure how interactive they are.
Heading to Glacier, but only have one day to explore? Check out our Epic 1 Day in Glacier National Park Itinerary with Kids!
Overall thoughts on Best Things to do in West Glacier with kids?
Must See:
At least one of the short family friendly hikes listed, driving Going to the Sun road, and playing on Lake McDonald!
Would SkiP:
Driving Going to the Sun Road mid-day. We did this (although we knew better) and we weren’t able to find a parking spot at the trailhead. Make sure to go earlier in the day. Personally, I would skip GTS Road if you aren’t going to make it relatively early, especially when with kids!
Next Time:
I have a goal to complete all the hikes in Glacier National Park, I’ve done about 50% of them, but I would love to finish up the Lake McDonald area ones!
Map of Things To Do Near West Glacier
Check out some of our other guides to help you plan your trip to Glacier National Park with your kids!
- The 7 Best Things to do in Many Glacier With Kids
- Tent Camping With Babies or Toddlers: The Complete Packing Checklist
- Hiking With a Baby: Everything you Need to Pack for a Successful Day
Need some reading material or podcasts to help inspire you before your trip? Or to entertain you on your drive? Here are some of our favorite National Parks books and podcasts!!
