Last week, my favorite travel partner and I hopped on Amtrak’s Empire Builder and rode it from Whitefish to East Glacier Park. (You can read the full post on our train trip in Montana here.) And you guys, it was such a fun adventure! But our trip didn’t end there.

After disembarking the train, we decided to head into Glacier National Park and drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. From East Glacier Park, we took Looking Glass Highway (Highway 49) above the Two Medicine Valley and made our way to St. Mary and the east entrance of Glacier National Park.

Looking into Two Medicine from Looking Glass Highway.
Looking into Two Medicine from Looking Glass Highway.
Fresh snow in Glacier National Park.
Fresh snow in Glacier National Park.
Truth time: Looking Glass Highway is one of my favorite drives in the state.
Truth time: Looking Glass Highway is one of my favorite drives in Montana.

After a quick stop at St. Mary Lodge & Resort, we headed into St. Mary and started driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road. And you guys, it was incredibly beautiful!

Take a look…

Hello, St. Mary Valley.
Hello, St. Mary Valley.
Looking up the road from Two Dog Flats.
Looking up the road from Two Dog Flats.
Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Going-to-the-Sun Road.
As we were driving past St. Mary Lake, the reflection practically begged us to pullover. So we did.
As we were driving past St. Mary Lake, the reflection practically begged us to pullover. So we did.
I'm confident I could have sat here for hours.
I’m confident I could have sat here for hours.
Fall colors + St. Mary Lake = me in love.
Fall colors + St. Mary Lake = me in love.
Hi.
Hi.
Wild Goose Island on St. Mary Lake.
Wild Goose Island on St. Mary Lake.
Debbie taking in the view.
Debbie taking in the view.
The fall color on the trees and underbrush was starting to really change, so we took a short hike down from Wild Goose Overlook.
The fall color on the trees and underbrush was starting to really change, so we took a short hike down from Wild Goose Overlook.
This is my piece of heaven on earth.
This is my piece of heaven on earth.
Driving up the road out of the tunnel.
Driving up the road out of the tunnel.
Fresh snow on Going to the Sun Mountain.
Fresh snow on Going-to-the-Sun Mountain.
Two Montana-loving traveling buddies.
Two Montana-loving traveling buddies.
You guys, check out the fresh snow on the ground behind me.
You guys, check out the fresh snow on the ground behind me.
The view from Logan Pass. (I love this view, but it's so pretty it almost looks fake. But it's not, I promise.)
The view from Logan Pass. (I love this view, but it’s so pretty it almost looks fake. But it’s not, I promise.)

After driving up to Logan Pass and back down again, we had some free time before we needed to return to East Glacier Park and catch our train home. So we did what any two Glacier National Park-lovin’ gals would do: we drove to Many Glacier.

Take a look…

Two Guns (Glacier Park Boat Company's wooden boat) heading to the head of Swiftcurrent Lake.
Two Guns (Glacier Park Boat Company’s wooden boat) heading to the head of Swiftcurrent Lake.
Two Guns under Mount Grinnell.
Two Guns under Mount Grinnell.
The view from the dining room at Many Glacier Hotel.
The view from the dining room at Many Glacier Hotel.

A few things to note if you plan to visit the east side of Glacier National Park in fall:
-Rental cars are available from spring to fall at Glacier Park Trading Company in East Glacier Park.
-Plan for cool weather. While it was gorgeous when we went, we did bust out our scarves and coats at Logan Pass. Weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always be prepared.
-Bring water.
-If you plan to visit Glacier National Park in the fall and want to stay in one of the historic park lodges or motor inns, plan to book your travel early (like now).
-Don’t be afraid to stay outside of the park. There are plenty of lodging options just outside the park that tend to stay open later in the season.
-If you time it right, you can catch dinner at Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant in East Glacier Park. They’re open for dinner through September 30.
-The Going-to-the-Sun Road is slated to be open in its entirety through October 16, weather dependent. You can check the road status here.

Needless to say, it was a good day.

xo,
TT

September 16, 2016

Related: Glacier National Park

Comments

C.Elizabeth Cano
Absolutely beautiful pictures!
Cindy Brooks
So glad you got to drive part of Going-to-the-Sun road! But you must come back and drive the side west of Logan Pass. It's even more gorgeous than the east side, especially if you start at Apgar and drive eastward.
Patrick Padon
Thank you - very nice.
tiatroy
Cindy, I agree! I've driven the road many times and it's gorgeous no matter which direction you take. :)
Connie Flory
We drove it from Apgar-east, and yes very awesome. Logan Pass is beyond beautiful! Enjoyed these last two posts of yours (this one and Empire Builder) immensely, as we have done both. I'd return in a minute! The mountains give me strength!!
tiatroy
Thanks so much, Connie! I appreciate you reading them and I'm SO glad you enjoyed them. And I agree with you - the mountains can be such a source of strength.
Jimmy
Thanks for sharing your pictures! I hope to make it up there next summer to take in that beautiful scenery.

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