Apgar Lookout Trail Hiking Guide
Apgar Lookout is the west side's workhorse hike: a steady climb of a little under 2,000 feet from just inside the West Entrance to a fire lookout with a view up the length of Lake McDonald. Because it's low and close to the plowed roads, it's one of the first trails in the park to melt out in spring and one of the last good options in fall, when Logan Pass is closed.
Permit: The trailhead is inside Glacier National Park's West Entrance, so an entrance pass is required: $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per person 16 and older on foot or bike, valid for 7 days; November 1 to April 30 the winter rates are $25, $20 and $15. The $70 Glacier annual pass and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Non-US residents 16 and over pay a $100 per-person surcharge unless they have an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The park takes no cash. No reservation was needed to enter in 2026.
The Climb
AllTrails maps the out-and-back at 7.2 miles with 1,883 feet of gain and rates it hard, with four to four and a half hours of walking. The park lists 3.6 miles one way and 1,850 feet of climbing; its trail database has slightly more, about 1,970 feet. The climb is steady most of the way, and the lookout on top, which AllTrails says is no longer staffed, looks out over the whole Lake McDonald area.
Finding the Trailhead
The park's directions: turn left half a mile north of the West Entrance, then continue a mile and a half past Quarter Circle Bridge to the trailhead at the road's end. It's a quiet side road, a few minutes from West Glacier and Apgar Village, which makes this easy to fit into an arrival or departure day.
Why It Works Off-Season
Most of Glacier's famous trails start high and are snowbound much of the year. Apgar Lookout starts near the valley floor on the warmer west side, and AllTrails notes it is often clear of snow in late spring or early summer. In winter people ski or snowshoe it, though the outing gets longer because the access road isn't plowed. The Apgar Visitor Center, open weekends in winter, keeps restrooms and a water-bottle filling station.
Bears and Sun
Bears use the whole park, and the park's advice applies here as much as anywhere: travel in a group, call out regularly instead of relying on bells, and carry bear spray where you can reach it. Summer afternoons can be hot here; the park says west-side valley temperatures can pass 90 degrees. Start early and carry more water than the distance suggests.
Hiking tips for Apgar Lookout Trail
- Use this hike for shoulder seasons, when higher trails are still snowed in.
- Fill bottles at the Apgar Visitor Center station before you drive to the trailhead.
- Start in the morning on summer days, before the heat builds.
- Expect extra miles in winter, when the road to the trailhead isn't plowed.
- Call out regularly on the climb; the park says bells don't do the job.
Nearby trails to explore
- Avalanche Lake Trail (Glacier)
- Highline Trail (Glacier)
- Hidden Lake Overlook
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Apgar Lookout is a solid workout close to West Glacier, and a good one to tackle together. Use TrailMates to find Glacier hikers heading up Apgar Mountain. Download the TrailMates app to connect.