Best time to visit Glacier National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Glacier National Park: July–August. Daily highs run around 70°F, with visitor numbers near the yearly peak (July).
Hardest months: November–February, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Glacier National Park month by month
Park-wide averages across 9 locations. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 24° / 14°F | 0.1 in | 17.5 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | 21° / 8°F | 0.1 in | 22.7 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Poor | 32° / 18°F | 0.4 in | 17.6 in | Quiet | – |
| April | Poor | 39° / 24°F | 0.4 in | 16.0 in | Quiet | – |
| May | Poor | 50° / 32°F | 1.7 in | 10.3 in | Quiet | – |
| June | Fair | 60° / 41°F | 3.3 in | 2.7 in | Busy | – |
| July | Best | 70° / 48°F | 1.2 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Best | 69° / 48°F | 1.8 in | – | Peak | – |
| September | Fair | 57° / 40°F | 1.4 in | 4.5 in | Busy | – |
| October | Poor | 43° / 29°F | 1.1 in | 12.7 in | Quiet | – |
| November | Poor | 29° / 19°F | 0.7 in | 19.3 in | Quiet | – |
| December | Poor | 22° / 13°F | 0.2 in | 21.0 in | Quiet | – |
Weather by location
Parks with a big range of elevation can differ a lot from one area to another. Open a location to see its own numbers.
Park-wide (center of the park)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°F | 13°F | 0 in | 27.4 in |
| February | 19°F | 7°F | 0.1 in | 33.3 in |
| March | 30°F | 17°F | 0.3 in | 27.8 in |
| April | 37°F | 23°F | 0.3 in | 23.8 in |
| May | 48°F | 32°F | 1.5 in | 14.4 in |
| June | 57°F | 39°F | 4.1 in | 4.5 in |
| July | 68°F | 48°F | 1.3 in | – |
| August | 67°F | 48°F | 2.3 in | – |
| September | 55°F | 39°F | 1.7 in | 5.1 in |
| October | 41°F | 27°F | 1.1 in | 18.5 in |
| November | 27°F | 17°F | 0.9 in | 29.5 in |
| December | 20°F | 11°F | 0.2 in | 30.6 in |
Many Glacier
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F | 17°F | 0 in | 13.4 in |
| February | 24°F | 11°F | 0.1 in | 17.6 in |
| March | 35°F | 21°F | 0.3 in | 13.2 in |
| April | 42°F | 27°F | 0.3 in | 14.0 in |
| May | 52°F | 35°F | 1.7 in | 10.1 in |
| June | 63°F | 43°F | 3.2 in | 1.6 in |
| July | 73°F | 51°F | 1.1 in | – |
| August | 72°F | 51°F | 1.9 in | – |
| September | 60°F | 43°F | 1.3 in | 4.9 in |
| October | 46°F | 32°F | 0.8 in | 11.2 in |
| November | 32°F | 22°F | 0.6 in | 15.8 in |
| December | 25°F | 16°F | 0.2 in | 16.1 in |
St. Mary
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°F | 17°F | 0.1 in | 9.8 in |
| February | 25°F | 12°F | 0.1 in | 13.4 in |
| March | 36°F | 21°F | 0.3 in | 9.4 in |
| April | 44°F | 28°F | 0.4 in | 11.3 in |
| May | 55°F | 36°F | 2.0 in | 6.7 in |
| June | 65°F | 45°F | 3.0 in | 0.8 in |
| July | 75°F | 51°F | 1.0 in | – |
| August | 74°F | 51°F | 1.7 in | – |
| September | 62°F | 44°F | 1.3 in | 3.7 in |
| October | 48°F | 33°F | 0.8 in | 8.0 in |
| November | 34°F | 22°F | 0.6 in | 11.9 in |
| December | 27°F | 16°F | 0.2 in | 12.3 in |
Two Medicine
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F | 16°F | 0.1 in | 12.1 in |
| February | 23°F | 10°F | 0.2 in | 17.7 in |
| March | 34°F | 20°F | 0.5 in | 12.2 in |
| April | 42°F | 25°F | 0.4 in | 12.5 in |
| May | 53°F | 34°F | 2.2 in | 6.6 in |
| June | 64°F | 43°F | 3.1 in | 1.4 in |
| July | 73°F | 50°F | 0.9 in | – |
| August | 72°F | 50°F | 1.6 in | – |
| September | 60°F | 41°F | 1.4 in | 3.8 in |
| October | 46°F | 31°F | 1.1 in | 7.9 in |
| November | 32°F | 20°F | 0.8 in | 12.4 in |
| December | 25°F | 14°F | 0.2 in | 14.5 in |
Logan Pass
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°F | 12°F | 0 in | 22.3 in |
| February | 18°F | 6°F | 0.1 in | 29.9 in |
| March | 29°F | 16°F | 0.3 in | 24.1 in |
| April | 36°F | 21°F | 0.3 in | 19.9 in |
| May | 46°F | 31°F | 1.3 in | 14.1 in |
| June | 56°F | 38°F | 3.3 in | 3.8 in |
| July | 66°F | 46°F | 1.4 in | – |
| August | 65°F | 46°F | 1.9 in | – |
| September | 54°F | 38°F | 1.3 in | 5.6 in |
| October | 40°F | 27°F | 0.9 in | 17.5 in |
| November | 26°F | 17°F | 0.6 in | 26.0 in |
| December | 19°F | 11°F | 0.1 in | 26.5 in |
North Fork
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°F | 6°F | 0 in | 24.0 in |
| February | 12°F | 0°F | 0.1 in | 32.8 in |
| March | 22°F | 10°F | 0.3 in | 25.1 in |
| April | 29°F | 15°F | 0.3 in | 21.4 in |
| May | 39°F | 25°F | 1.3 in | 15.0 in |
| June | 49°F | 32°F | 3.2 in | 5.1 in |
| July | 60°F | 40°F | 1.4 in | – |
| August | 59°F | 40°F | 1.9 in | 0.5 in |
| September | 47°F | 32°F | 1.3 in | 5.6 in |
| October | 33°F | 20°F | 0.9 in | 18.4 in |
| November | 20°F | 10°F | 0.7 in | 26.7 in |
| December | 13°F | 4°F | 0.1 in | 28.7 in |
Goat Haunt
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16°F | 7°F | 0 in | 19.9 in |
| February | 13°F | 1°F | 0 in | 24.4 in |
| March | 23°F | 11°F | 0.2 in | 24.1 in |
| April | 31°F | 16°F | 0.3 in | 20.5 in |
| May | 41°F | 25°F | 1.3 in | 14.7 in |
| June | 51°F | 33°F | 3.4 in | 4.9 in |
| July | 61°F | 41°F | 1.8 in | – |
| August | 60°F | 41°F | 2.2 in | 1.0 in |
| September | 48°F | 32°F | 1.4 in | 6.4 in |
| October | 34°F | 21°F | 0.9 in | 18.3 in |
| November | 20°F | 11°F | 0.5 in | 24.2 in |
| December | 13°F | 5°F | 0.2 in | 24.4 in |
Apgar
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F | 18°F | 0.3 in | 14.2 in |
| February | 31°F | 14°F | 0.6 in | 16.5 in |
| March | 42°F | 23°F | 1.2 in | 9.3 in |
| April | 51°F | 30°F | 1.4 in | 6.2 in |
| May | 63°F | 38°F | 2.4 in | 1.4 in |
| June | 71°F | 47°F | 2.9 in | 0.8 in |
| July | 80°F | 53°F | 0.6 in | – |
| August | 79°F | 54°F | 1.3 in | – |
| September | 67°F | 46°F | 1.5 in | – |
| October | 53°F | 36°F | 2.3 in | 3.9 in |
| November | 39°F | 26°F | 1.5 in | 10.8 in |
| December | 31°F | 20°F | 0.4 in | 18.5 in |
Rising Sun
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°F | 19°F | 0 in | 14.5 in |
| February | 25°F | 13°F | 0.1 in | 19.1 in |
| March | 36°F | 22°F | 0.3 in | 12.9 in |
| April | 44°F | 28°F | 0.3 in | 14.2 in |
| May | 54°F | 37°F | 1.8 in | 9.9 in |
| June | 64°F | 45°F | 3.1 in | 1.4 in |
| July | 74°F | 52°F | 1.1 in | – |
| August | 73°F | 52°F | 1.8 in | – |
| September | 61°F | 44°F | 1.2 in | 4.9 in |
| October | 47°F | 34°F | 0.7 in | 10.8 in |
| November | 34°F | 24°F | 0.6 in | 16.2 in |
| December | 27°F | 17°F | 0.1 in | 17.4 in |
Glacier National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a difficult time to visit Glacier National Park. Daily highs average 32–50°F and lows 18–32°F. Expect about 0.9 in of rain a month and 14.6 in of snow, with up to 43 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 3–25% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is among the best times to visit Glacier National Park. Daily highs average 60–70°F and lows 41–48°F. Expect about 2.1 in of rain a month and 1.0 in of snow, with up to 1 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 72–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a difficult time to visit Glacier National Park. Daily highs average 29–57°F and lows 19–40°F. Expect about 1.1 in of rain a month and 12.2 in of snow, with up to 9 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 3–73% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Glacier National Park. Daily highs average 21–24°F and lows 8–14°F. Expect about 0.1 in of rain a month and 20.4 in of snow, with up to 40 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 2% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails, camping and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
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: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 9 locations. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
