A park ranger standing with arms out in front of snow and ice.
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Glacier National Park Photography Guide

National Park · Montana

  • Bortle 1
  • 143 photo spots
  • Clearest: July
Photo: NPS · Public domain (NPS)

Glacier National Park is a National Park in Montana. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 143 photo locations inside or next to the park.

A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking a landscape steeped in human culture. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
143
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
July
39% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
May–Jul
Nearest town
Columbia Falls
45 km (28 mi)

Light at Glacier

Live
Sunrise
8:04 AM
Sunset
6:38 PM
Golden hour AM
7:44 AM – 8:47 AM
Golden hour PM
5:54 PM – 6:57 PM
Blue hour AM
7:32 AM – 7:44 AM
Blue hour PM
6:57 PM – 7:10 PM
Full darkness
8:23 PM – 6:20 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
4:23 PM / 1:33 AM
Day length
10h 34m
Sunrise azimuth
105°
Sunset azimuth
255°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Best photo spots in Glacier

We matched 143 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Glacier. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.

Scenic Viewpoints (3)

Scenic Viewpoint
Bird Woman Falls OverlookFlathead County
Scenic Viewpoint
Camas Creek OverlookFlathead County · 1,128 m
Scenic Viewpoint
McGee Meadow OverlookFlathead County · 1,179 m

Waterfalls (32)

Bird Woman FallsWaterfall
Bird Woman FallsFlathead County · 1,753 m
Apikuni FallsWaterfall
Apikuni FallsGlacier County · 1,699 m
Grinnell FallsWaterfall
Grinnell FallsGlacier County · 1,757 m
Monument FallsWaterfall
Monument FallsFlathead County · 1,302 m
Morning Eagle FallsWaterfall
Morning Eagle FallsGlacier County · 1,748 m
Weeping WallWaterfall
Weeping WallFlathead County
Waterfall
Beaver Chief FallsFlathead County · 1,604 m
Waterfall
Akaiyan FallsFlathead County · 2,129 m
Waterfall
Feather Plume FallsGlacier County · 1,953 m
Waterfall
Feather Woman FallsFlathead County · 2,192 m
Waterfall
Ipasha FallsGlacier County · 1,914 m
Waterfall
Piegan FallsGlacier County · 2,154 m

Natural Arches (1)

Natural Arch
Triple ArchesFlathead County

Mountain Peaks (49)

Chief MountainMountain Peak
Chief MountainGlacier County · 2,745 m
Triple Divide PeakMountain Peak
Triple Divide PeakFlathead County · 2,433 m
Mount ClevelandMountain Peak
Mount ClevelandGlacier County · 3,175 m
Mount CannonMountain Peak
Mount CannonFlathead County · 2,691 m
Mount StimsonMountain Peak
Mount StimsonFlathead County · 3,076 m
Mount SiyehMountain Peak
Mount SiyehGlacier County · 3,054 m
Mount JacksonMountain Peak
Mount JacksonFlathead County · 3,060 m
Mount WilburMountain Peak
Mount WilburGlacier County · 2,838 m
Kintla PeakMountain Peak
Kintla PeakFlathead County · 3,070 m
Mount BrownMountain Peak
Mount BrownFlathead County · 2,572 m
Mount GrinnellMountain Peak
Mount GrinnellGlacier County · 2,686 m
Bearhat MountainMountain Peak
Bearhat MountainFlathead County · 2,644 m

Lakes (33)

Saint Mary LakeLake
Saint Mary LakeGlacier County · 1,368 m
Avalanche LakeLake
Avalanche LakeFlathead County · 1,192 m
Lake McDonaldLake
Lake McDonaldFlathead County · 962 m
Swiftcurrent LakeLake
Swiftcurrent LakeGlacier County · 1,488 m
Upper Waterton LakeLake
Upper Waterton LakeGlacier County · 1,280 m
Kintla LakeLake
Kintla LakeFlathead County · 1,223 m
Bowman LakeLake
Bowman LakeFlathead County · 1,230 m
Cameron LakeLake
Cameron LakeGlacier County · 1,661 m
Two Medicine LakeLake
Two Medicine LakeGlacier County · 1,575 m
Lake JosephineLake
Lake JosephineGlacier County · 1,488 m
Logging LakeLake
Logging LakeFlathead County · 1,163 m
Cosley LakeLake
Cosley LakeGlacier County · 1,477 m

Rock Formations (1)

Haystack ButteRock Formation
Haystack ButteFlathead County

Glaciers (15)

Grinnell GlacierGlacier
Grinnell GlacierGlacier County
Blackfoot GlacierGlacier
Blackfoot GlacierGlacier County
Jackson GlacierGlacier
Jackson GlacierGlacier County
Red Eagle GlacierGlacier
Red Eagle GlacierGlacier County
Sperry GlacierGlacier
Sperry GlacierFlathead County
Salamander GlacierGlacier
Salamander GlacierGlacier County
Boulder GlacierGlacier
Boulder GlacierFlathead County
Chaney GlacierGlacier
Chaney GlacierGlacier County
Logan GlacierGlacier
Logan GlacierGlacier County
North Swiftcurrent GlacierGlacier
North Swiftcurrent GlacierGlacier County
Old Sun GlacierGlacier
Old Sun GlacierGlacier County
Piegan GlacierGlacier
Piegan GlacierGlacier County

Mountain Passes (1)

Logan PassMountain Pass
Logan PassGlacier County · 2,028 m

Fire Lookouts (8)

Apgar Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Apgar Fire LookoutFlathead County
Heaven's Peak Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Heaven's Peak Fire LookoutFlathead County
Huckleberry Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Huckleberry Fire LookoutFlathead County
Loneman Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Loneman Fire LookoutFlathead County
Mount Brown Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Mount Brown Fire LookoutFlathead County
Numa Ridge Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Numa Ridge Fire LookoutFlathead County
Swiftcurrent Fire LookoutFire Lookout
Swiftcurrent Fire LookoutFlathead County
Fire Lookout
Scalplock Mountain Fire LookoutFlathead County

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Glacier the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 234° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January8:23 AM9:15 AM4:15 PM5:07 PM238°8h 44m
February7:44 AM8:29 AM5:12 PM5:57 PM252°10h 13m
March7:49 AM8:31 AM6:59 PM7:41 PM268°11h 51m
April6:45 AM7:27 AM7:44 PM8:26 PM286°13h 41m
May5:55 AM6:41 AM8:24 PM9:10 PM301°15h 15m
June5:33 AM6:22 AM8:51 PM9:40 PM308°16h 08m
July5:49 AM6:37 AM8:46 PM9:34 PM305°15h 45m
August6:29 AM7:13 AM8:08 PM8:52 PM293°14h 23m
September7:13 AM7:54 AM7:08 PM7:50 PM276°12h 37m
October7:56 AM8:39 AM6:04 PM6:47 PM258°10h 51m
November7:45 AM8:34 AM4:08 PM4:57 PM242°9h 12m
December8:22 AM9:17 AM3:46 PM4:40 PM235°8h 18m

Computed for the park's reference point (48.6841, -113.8009); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Glacier, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from May through July. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 12° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
FebruaryNot visible in darkness——
MarchNot visible in darkness——
April4:25 AM – 4:35 AM0.211°
May2:22 AM – 3:12 AM0.812°
June12:23 AM – 3:03 AM2.712°
July12:31 AM – 1:11 AM0.712°
August11:01 PM – 11:01 PM0.010°
SeptemberNot visible in darkness——
OctoberNot visible in darkness——
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.

Weather & best time to visit

Glacier's weather is highly variable and can be extreme. Expect warm, sunny summer days but be ready for any type of conditions. In the winter, temperatures can fall well below freezing and typically the park receives considerable amounts of snow. Glacier's geography, straddling the Continental Divide, sets the stage for clashes of two very different climates. Warm, wet Pacific air moves in from the west, and cold, dry Arctic air flows from the northeast. They meet at the Divide.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (72%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.

Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.

Entrance feeCost (USD)
Entrance - Private Vehicle$35.00
Entrance - Per Person$20.00
Entrance - Motorcycle$30.00
Commercial Entrance - Sedan$25.00

Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.

Getting there

Glacier National Park is located in the northwest corner of Montana along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. By car you can access Glacier via Highway 2, which runs along the southern boundary of the park. You can reach the east side of the park via Highway 89. The nearest airports are in Kalispell and Great Falls, Montana.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Cultural Demonstrations
  • Live Music
  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Astronomy
  • Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Boat Tour
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
  • Group Camping
  • Climbing
  • Mountain Climbing
  • Fishing
  • Food
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Self-Guided Tours - Auto

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Glacier National Park?
July has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Glacier?
Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Can you fly a drone in Glacier?
Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Can you see the Milky Way in Glacier?
Yes — from May to July, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 1.
What time is sunset in Glacier?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:47 PM local time; see the live widget for today.