Western Montana

In the busy summer months, the little village of West Glacier—the western entrance to Glacier National Park—resembles Grand Central Station. It’s easy to spend the day hitting all the “must-see” tourist attractions in the area, but there are equally enjoyable options for fun off the beaten path. Since I spend nearly every summer weekend in West Glacier, I have come up with my ultimate Saturday routine. Next time you’re in West Glacier, consider this one-day itinerary as a part of a longer stay or as a fresh day-trip if you live nearby:

What to bring:
-Bear spray
-Sunscreen and bug spray
-Swimsuit and a change of warm-weather clothes
-Chacos or other hiking/river sandals
-Backpack
-Collapsible or small cooler and freeze-packs
-Water bottles
-Picnic blanket, camping chairs, or Crazy Creek chairs

First stop: Breakfast at Many Friends Café, run by a sweet group of girlfriends out of the Historic Belton Chalet’s dining room. The rustic ambience of the Belton coupled with the fantastically funky menu of breakfast burritos and to-die-for strawberry muffins make this a worthwhile stop. The Belton is on Highway 2 just East of the turn-off into West Glacier.

Then, continue on to the “Old Bridge,” as it’s known locally, for a morning walk. From the Belton, head West and turn right into West Glacier. Turn right again on Old River Bridge Road, which dead-ends at the Old Bridge—the original entrance into Glacier National Park. Across the bridge, there are two mild hiking trails: turn left if you have dogs or a stroller, turn right if you have older kids along and want a bit more of a work out.

After your stroll, take a dip in the deep eddies on either side of the bridge, as long as the water is warm and slow enough!

A shelf of flat rocks along the river make a great spot for some sun bathing and watching the whitewater rafting trips go by. The more adventurous at heart can jump into the river off the Old Bridge at the right water levels, but be sure to ask a local about the best spot beforehand.

Once you’ve had your fill of the river, head back into West Glacier and stop at the little mercantile in the center of town to stock up on picnic supplies. If you need to change out of a wet swimsuit, there are restrooms nearby the mercantile—just ask.

Continue toward the Park entrance, picnic-packed cooler in tow, and be prepared to pay for a day pass or annual pass before entering. You are now on the famous Going-to-the-Sun Highway! When the road comes to a T-intersection, turn left and then take your second right into the village of Apgar (this drive take approximately 10 minutes). Apgar lies at the foot of the incredible 10-mile-long, 1-mile-wide Lake McDonald. Small beaches and lawns with picnic tables near the lake are the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. Small boats—10hp motorboats, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats—are available for rent by the hour at a little stand right on the lake. Browse the tiny shops and enjoy a delicious Huckleberry ice cream cone from the local Eddie’s ice cream stand before heading back into West Glacier, or continuing along the Going-to-the-Sun Highway to explore other areas of the Park.