Swiftcurrent Pass Road to Many Glacier — Glacier National Park’s Rough North Road
Grizzly country and glacier views, no crowds.
Most visitors to Glacier National Park crawl the Going-to-the-Sun Road bumper to bumper. The Many Glacier Valley road off US-89 near Babb is a different animal — a narrow, potholed, occasionally washed-out two-lane that dead-ends at Many Glacier Hotel with the kind of scenery that makes you forget you’re still in the lower 48. Swiftcurrent Lake sits right off the parking area, Grinnell Glacier glows above the valley, and grizzly bears treat the meadows along the road like a grocery store. The road passes through willow flats and river crossings — the Swiftcurrent Creek crossing at the valley mouth runs fast in June — before climbing to the hotel site below Mount Grinnell.
This is not a technical trail in the rock-crawling sense, but high clearance is smart after storms wash out sections, and a 4WD puts you in a better position if you get caught in early season mud. The NPS charges a park entry fee; no separate road permit needed. Many Glacier gets extremely crowded July through August — go in late September for color and fewer bodies. The nearest fuel is in Babb or St. Mary. Cell service drops to nothing past the park entrance. Bears are absolutely present; carry spray and make noise on any side hike.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings, Wildlife |
| Length (miles) | 13 mi / 20.9 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4900 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 2WD (high-clearance recommended) |
| Nearest town | Babb, MT |
| Land manager | National Park Service — Glacier National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | nps.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Subaru Outback handle this road, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock 2WD with decent ground clearance can manage it in dry conditions — it's rated easy and sees passenger vehicles. That said, high-clearance helps on the rougher gravel sections, and if it's rained recently, the softer spots get sloppy fast.
When does this road actually open, and is snow a real issue in early June?
The Many Glacier Road typically opens in late May to early June depending on snowpack, but conditions vary year to year. Check the NPS road status page directly before you go — Glacier's high country holds snow well into June and closures happen without much warning.
Do I need a permit to drive this road, and is there an entry fee?
Yes — Glacier National Park charges an entry fee ($35 per vehicle as of 2024), and during peak season (late May through September) the Many Glacier corridor requires a timed-entry permit. Book through recreation.gov well in advance; these sell out fast.
What's the hardest part of this drive and what should I actually expect?
It's genuinely easy — no serious obstacles or technical sections. The roughest stretches are washboarded gravel that'll rattle your gear if it's not secured. The bigger challenge is sharing a narrow road with tourists in rental sedans who aren't paying attention.
There's zero cell service out here — where's the nearest place to top off gas and water before heading in?
Babb, MT is your last real stop before the park entrance — grab fuel there because there's nothing inside. Water is available at the Many Glacier Campground, but filter anything from natural sources; this is grizzly country and Giardia is a real risk in untreated water.
Trail track
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