Glacier National Park – Day Two
Glacier, like so many national parks, is steeped in fascinating history. From the timeless charm of Many Glacier Hotel and Granite Park Chalet to the engineering marvel of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, it’s nearly impossible to visit without crossing paths with at least a few historic landmarks. One of the best ways to experience both the park’s history and its breathtaking vistas is by hopping aboard the iconic Red Bus Tour.
The buses themselves are living pieces of Glacier’s story. Painted in their signature mountain-ash-red hue, these “jammers” first hit the road in the 1930s, ferrying early visitors through the rugged landscapes. Decades later, they were lovingly restored and modernized, ensuring that new generations could enjoy the same scenic journeys in true vintage style.
After our first day and an exhausting hike to Grinnell Glacier, our group opted to do a Red Bus Tour. We arrived to the park late our first night, so we hadn’t had the opportunity to take in the grand views of the rest of the park outside of Many Glacier area.
We booked the Crown of the Continent Tour, which conveniently picked us up right from Many Glacier Hotel. This tour took us all the way down the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Lake Macdonald before heading back to our hotel. Our adventure began at 9 a.m., but we met our guide for the day, Richie, a little earlier outside the hotel at 8:45. With a warm welcome, he walked us through the day’s itinerary before our group climbed aboard the legendary “jammer.”
Inside, the bus is outfitted with classic bench seats running across its width, each comfortably seating four—perfect for us and our friends to ride together. But the real highlight is the roll-back canvas roof, a signature feature of the red buses. It lets you stand, snap photos, and fully soak in the incredible views during stops along the route.
Our tour began by winding out of the Many Glacier area and heading toward Highway 89, the route that leads to Glacier’s St. Mary entrance. This stretch of road passes through the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and along the way Richie shared stories about the deep connection between the Blackfeet people and the park. There are centuries of history woven into the very landscape we were traveling through.
We made a quick stop in St. Mary Village to pick up a family joining our group. Since we were ahead of schedule, our tour guide, Richie, gave us a few extra minutes to stretch our legs and browse the hotel gift shop. My friend K and I made a beeline inside, scooping up postcards, stickers, and a handful of little treasures to remember the day by.
Back on board the jammer, we rolled into the park from the east side, where the vast expanse of St. Mary Lake opened before us. The water seemed endless, stretching far into the distance as our bus climbed steadily up the road. Soon we passed the famous Wild Goose Island overlook, a view so striking it has graced countless postcards and remains one of Glacier’s most iconic sights.
Our tour guide narrates history of the park, Going-to-the-Sun road, and the jammer’s themselves as we continue our climb to Logan Pass. We stop at various overlooks and hoist ourselves up in our seats to capture pictures of the sweeping sites around us.
We made a brief stop at Jackson Glacier overlook and took in the sites of one of the park’s namesakes.
Our next stop was the Logan Pass Visitor Center, the final pause before our lunch break at Lake McDonald. Knowing a long stretch of driving lay ahead, we had some extra time here to stretch, explore, and get ready for the journey down the valley. From this point forward, the road begins its descent, unfolding one breathtaking view after another. The sweeping vistas are so stunning they leave every visitor, including ourselves, in awe.
Our guide kept the journey engaging by highlighting historic landmarks, sharing stories of notable figures, and explaining the geological forces that shaped the park—carved long ago by the massive glaciers of the Ice Age.
We made the journey down from Logan Pass to our lunch stop at Lake McDonald Lodge. We had an hour to get lunch and explore the lodge, so our group opted for Jammer Joe’s Grill & Pizzeria, a fast casual Italian option. We made quick work of our meatball subs and explore the short time we had at Lake McDonald.
We took in the beauty of the lodge and the lake and savored these short, but breathtaking moments.
After we had made our rounds of the property, we were picked up by our driver to start our journey back across the park. Our driver stopped our bus by two different swimming holes and falls tucked into the valley.
We then ascended up the Going-to-the-Sun road and had a second chance to take in the grandiose nature of the views. We took in the views from this second lap up the road, and we took a moment to just soak in the scenery around us.
The driver stopped at various vantage points and continued to narrate history and facts about the park. Our group asked questions, intent on soaking in all of the information we could squeeze out of the experience.
Before we knew it, we were slowly approaching the hotel. However, just after we had passed the entrance station at Many Glacier, our eagle eyed friend, M, spotted a black bear just off the road within the trees. Our bus driver turned the bus around so we could get a good look at the wildlife spotting. It was an exciting way to end the day! We arrived back at Many Glacier Hotel around 4:30pm and bid farewell to our guide for the day.
Overall, I can’t recommend the Red Bus Tour enough as part of your Glacier National Park experience. It’s the perfect way to take in the park’s history and scenery without the stress of navigating the winding mountain roads yourself. Since we had several big hikes planned for the week, this tour offered the ideal balance—a chance to rest our legs while still covering a lot of ground and soaking up incredible views. Sitting back in the open-top bus, learning from our guide, and simply watching Glacier unfold around us made for an unforgettable day. Whether you’re looking to give your body a break between hikes or want a more relaxed way to explore the park, the Red Bus Tour is a must.
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