Glacier National Park - Visitor Center
Logan Pass

Logan Pass Likely the Most Visited Site in Glacier National Park

Logan Pass easily may be the most visited site in Glacier National Park. One might say it is the “apex” of the Glacier Park experience as it is the “apex” of the Going-to-the-Sun Road at an elevation of 6,647 ft/2,026 m. Exit here at the road's summit and visitors find a large parking lot, a small visitor center staffed by park rangers, restrooms, wildlife and access to several hiking trails, mountains to climb, wildflowers and cascading waterfalls.

Parking lot at Logon Pass with Clements Mountain rising in the background.Parking lot at Logon Pass with Clements Mountain rising in the background.

Most everyone visiting the park makes at least one trip to Logan Pass. Some may even say it's the “high point” of their trip. While some may make the drive just to say they've been there. Others may hike one or more of the several trails or simply take in the splendid views of surrounding peaks, alpine meadows and distant lakes.

Logan Pass Popularity Makes Parking a Problem

So many people make the drive to Logan Pass that the large parking lot often is full between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. On the busiest days, waiting for a parking spot might take up to two hours or more. Once parked, it is easy to spend a couple of hours or more checking out the visitor center, sauntering around the grounds, or simply setting on a rock or bench enjoying such a high experience.

The parking lot at Logan Pass fills up quickly.

Logan Pass visitors have other options than driving. Three different transportation systems operate within the park. Pick up a brochure or visit the web page for each to obtain detailed information about their services including months of operation, departure times, costs and itineraries.

Glacier Park Shuttle System. PO Box 128, West Glacier, MT 59936. Phone: 406-888-7800.

You can catch shuttles either at the Apgar Visitor Center on the west side of the park, or, the St. Mary Visitor Center on the east side of the park. The usual dates of operation usually are July through August, but may vary each year depending upon opening and closing dates of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Both the east bound and west bound shuttles stop at Logan Pass.

Glacier Park Red Bus Tours. Phone: 303-265-7010; Toll-free: 1-855-733-4522; Fax: 303-297-3175.

The red bus tours are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc., an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service. The 1930s vintage buses feature roll-back tops and large windows that provide excellent views of the park's spectacular scenery. There are many departure points on both the east and the west side for taking a Red Bus Tour that includes Logan Pass.

Glacier National Park's Sun Tours. PO Box 234, East Glacier Park, MT 59434. Phone: 406-732-9220; Toll-free: 1-800-786-9220; Fax: 406-732-9220.

Sun Tours buses typically operate May 15 through September 30th using 13-passenger and 25-passenger, air conditioned coaches. The buses have pick up and departure locations in several locations on both sides of the park. Notably, their tour guides are life-time residents of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and are quite knowledgeable of the Park's landscape, inhabited areas, history, and tribal stories.

No Shortage of Stunning Scenery

The views in any direction while visiting Logan Pass are simply stunning. Look north and you see the “Garden Wall” and the spine of the Continental Divide including Bishop's Cap which rises to 9,127 feet /2,782 m, and Mount Gould, the highest point on the Garden Wall at 9,553 ft/2,912 m. Also visible is the Highline Trail which follows the Garden Wall for most of it's 7.6-mile length from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet.

he Garden Wall as seen from the trail above the Logan Pass visitor centerThe Garden Wall as seen from the trail above the Logan Pass visitor center.

Look to the south and see Reynolds Mountain soaring skyward 9,125 ft.2,781 m. The peak is said to be a class 2 climb, which makes it fairly easy for many people to climb.

The view to the east takes in Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, 9,642 ft/2,940 m, and the sweeping St. Mary Valley, St. Mary Lake and the peaks along the lake's south shore.

Looking east toward the St. Mary Valley Looking east toward the St. Mary Valley.

The scene to the west takes in Clements Mountain at 8,760 ft/2,670 m, broad alpine meadows and the Hidden Lake Trail, (a board walk for about half its length), that leads one mile to Hidden Lake. For many, it's enough to hike up the board walk far enough to gain an even higher view of the panoramic scenes the lie before them.

Clements Mountain Clements Mountain

Logan Pass easily could be the high point of your visit to the park in many respects. Enjoy the visit and take home lots of photos and good memories.

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