7 Epic Photo Spots In Glacier National Park And Montana
Montana, often referred to as "Big Sky Country," is renowned for its vast landscapes, rugged mountains, and unspoiled wilderness. For photographers, it's a dream destination, offering countless opportunities to capture the beauty of the natural world. Glacier National Park, a crown jewel of Montana, is a particular highlight with its dramatic scenery and diverse ecosystems.
My husband and I visited Glacier National Park on a 72-day national park road trip over 10 years ago. After visiting nearly 40 US national parks before and after, Glacier National Park still remained on top of our favorites.
With only a short break after our Iceland road trip, we went back on the road again. This time, we wanted to revisit some of our favorite US national parks in the wild wild west, and share with our kids’ the beautiful memories we had about our past trips.
Glacier National Park was our first major stop. But we had less than three days. If this is your first trip to Glacier National Park or Montana in general, budget at least one week, or two. There are simply too many beautiful places to explore.
Nevertheless, here are our highlights and my favorite photo spots on this trip.
1. Swiftcurrent & Josephine Lakes, Glacier National Park
The Many Glacier area is often referred to as the “Switzerland of North America” due to its striking scenery. Although we’ve spent two weeks in Montana in our last trip over 10 years ago, we haven’t explored the Many Glacier area.
We did an evening hike from Swiftcurrent Lake to Josephine Lake. With the backdrop of Mount Gould and Grinnell Point, and the historic Many Glacier Hotel, this hike presents diverse photo opportunities for any photo enthusiasts, no matter if you are into landscape or portrait photography. You simply can’t run out photo scenes along the way.
The area is also a great place to capture wildlife, including bears, moose, and mountain goats. We brought our bear spray, but found the mosquito spray even more crucial. There were moments I was surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of hungry mosquitoes, especially when I took the landscape photos during the sunset golden hours.
Needless to say, Many Glacier was my favorite photo spot in this Montana trip.
2. Sun point Nature Trail
The Sun Point Nature Trail in Glacier National Park offers a short, scenic hike with breathtaking views of St. Mary Lake and the surrounding peaks.
This easy trail is perfect for spotting wildflowers, enjoying the tranquil lake shores, and capturing stunning photos of the dramatic landscape.
3. Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park
Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park, and its stunning beauty makes it a popular spot for landscape photography during sunrise or sunset.
The lake's calm waters, in my memory, reflect the fiery hues of the setting sun, creating a mirror-like effect. The surrounding mountains add to the dramatic scenery, making it a perfect place for photographers and nature lovers alike.
Unfortunately luck wasn’t on my side this time. We had a long drive from Washington that day, and arrived at Lake McDonald literally right before sunset. There was road construction and traffic was super slow. I didn’t have enough time to recon for the best vantage points. Nor did I have the crucial mosquito spray ready to protect me from hundreds of aggressive mosquitos.
As you could see from the above photos, water was pretty choppy (above right). I had to use 10-stop filter to create a long exposure for a tranquil lake scene (above left). The colorful pebbles at the bottom of the lake that were well known interest to many photographers weren’t dramatic and clear in my forced long exposure either.
The moral of the story here: taking a successful landscape photo oftentimes involves good planning, and sometimes luck. It’s never as easy as having a good camera and the skills to operate the camera.
In short, it was a quick photo stop before I had to suffer more mosquito attacks.
4. Paradise Meadow, Going-to-the-Sun Road
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most scenic drives in Glacier National Park, or even in the US, offering countless photo opportunities along its 50-mile stretch.
Our favorite stop was at Paradise Meadow, a picturesque alpine meadow bursting with vibrant wildflowers and surrounded by towering peaks. It's an idyllic spot for hikers and photographers, offering breathtaking views and a serene, natural setting. It was just too beautiful to bypass.
5. Red Rock Point, Going-to-the-Sun Road
Red Rock Point along the Going-to-the-Sun Road offers stunning views of McDonald Creek's turquoise waters and the surrounding red-rock cliffs.
It's an excellent spot for a short hike and capturing the beauty of Glacier National Park's dramatic landscapes.
Parking could be challenging along the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road in the summer. On narrow sections such as Red Rock Point, you just have to try your luck.
Walk down the view point if you have a chance. Get the up and close view of the McDonald Creek. Any river or lake stops could always be the bonus points for our kids to throw some rocks and have fun.
6. Kootenai Falls & Suspension Bridge, Montana
Kootenai Falls & Suspension Bridge in Montana is a spectacular natural attraction featuring one of the largest free-flowing waterfalls in the Northwest.
The cascading falls and the surrounding rugged landscape provide a breathtaking backdrop, while the suspension bridge offers a thrilling vantage point high above the roaring waters.
This location is perfect for adventurous visitors and photographers looking to capture the raw beauty of Montana's wilderness. It was a good stop for a hike before spending a long day driving from Washington to Glacier National Park.
7. Browning, Montana
Browning, Montana, is the heart of the Blackfeet Nation, rich in Native American culture and history. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, Browning serves as a gateway to Glacier National Park on the east side and the Rocky Mountain Front.
We spent one evening at Browning as a transition point of our road trip and didn’t explore anything in particular. However, I experienced one of the most magic sunrises.
We rented a small hut surrounded by 360 degree unblocked mountain views. As the skyline in twilight was still faint colors, I sneaked out and took some drone shots.
As you might know, you couldn’t use drone in any national parks, so this was one of the rare occasions on this trip I could fly it. The view was simply spectacular.
Miraculously, just as I wrapped up my drone flight, it started to drizzle. A small rainbow slowly flourished into a big arch, and then two. What a magic morning! I was simply speechless.
Thought of the Day
You see, everyone’s photo experience is different. Your most epic photo spot does not necessarily have to be well known epic to everyone. Your most memorable photo experience may come from something unexpected.
Embrace possibilities. You never know, your next photo might be your best. Your next photo spot might be your most epic one.
Montana and Glacier National Park are filled with awe-inspiring landscapes that will elevate your photography to new heights. Whether you’re capturing the serene beauty of a mountain lake or the dramatic expanse of a valley, these epic photo spots will provide you with images that tell the story of this remarkable region. So grab your camera and embark on an adventure to capture the unparalleled beauty of Montana.
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