A golden summer morning over Swiftcurrent Lake, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

I’ve written about favorite parks for capturing specific shots, but not much about exactly where to go, exactly how to get there, and exactly how to set up for those shots. Why? Because this is all so subjective, IMO. You and I may have differing opinions about great spots for great shots. And, if you’ve been photographing for any length of time, you already know (or have a pretty good idea) of where and how to set up for the shot.

On the flip side, though, many of you reading this column may want to know some great spots for great shots in a park which you have never visited and in which you may only have a day or two to spend. Location recon takes time and your time may be limited. Some of you might be starting to get more than a little serious about your national park photography, perhaps even using a new camera and acquainting yourself with a new menu setup. You might even be taking the huge leap of turning off that Auto Mode and experimenting with your camera’s manual settings. Or, maybe you are just simply curious as to where I think you can get great shots.

Fair enough. For this month’s piece, I’m writing about sunrises at Glacier National Park in Montana. I’ll tell you where some nice spots are based upon my own experience, how to reach those spots, and what you might expect photographically.

Map of Glacier National Park where sunrises were photographed / NPS

Why just sunrise? Because there’s so much to write just about the sunrises at Glacier. Attempting to add anything more would make this column much longer than it currently is. So, I’ll save the Glacier sunset and “blue hour” shots for another column.

I’ve visited Glacier several times over the years. The more return trips you make, the more great locations you’ll discover, and the more you will understand what to expect and how to set up for it based upon the season, weather, and time of day. Sunrise during the winter is not quite the same as sunrise during the summer, not only because the sun rises and sets at different angles relative to a specific spot during a particular season, but seasonal weather conditions can also totally change the look of the landscape.

Although sunrise is considered a “golden hour” time for fantastic photography, you should keep in mind this golden hour doesn’t last an hour, but more like a few minutes. Make sure you are at your desired location at least 30 minutes prior to sunrise, allowing yourself a little breathing room while staking out, setting up, and otherwise preparing for that sunrise shot.

Note: distances, when listed, are based upon Google Maps mileages.

Lake McDonald – Lake McDonald at Glacier’s west entrance is a lovely place for a sunrise, as long as you don’t mind not capturing the actual sun. Most of the time, you will be photographing the beauty of Lake McDonald and mountains bathed in the sun’s glow, or with the colorful orange/gold glow of the sun in the background, as opposed to directly capturing that bright yellow globe above the jagged horizon. You see, by the time the sun ascends above the mountains to your right as you face north/northeast, the entire area will be light enough and bright enough to create the very real possibility of blowing out (overexposing) the sun, itself. What looks overly-bright to the naked eye tends to look overly-bright on digital “film,” as well.

A forest fire sunrise at Lake McDonald, ISO 160, f/8, 13 seconds, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

One of the most colorful sunrises I achieved at Lake McDonald was during the September 2017 Sprague Fire on the west side of the park. The saying about wildfire smoke creating spectacular sunrises and sunsets is true. A constant haze veiled the horizon on this morning, not only presenting a dark backdrop emphasizing the bright orange pinpoint of wildfire on the mountainside, but also scattering the shorter blue wavelengths in the atmosphere to allow more reds, oranges, and yellows to dominate the sky. I placed my camera on a tripod because – even though technically sunrise time - it was still quite dark, due to the haze. Achieving decent exposure meant using a shutter speed too slow to prevent camera blur if handholding the camera. Also, I wanted to avoid as much high-ISO noise (graininess) as possible, so I kept my camera’s ISO low and aperture small. Aperture (f-stop), shutter speed, and ISO all play parts in getting good exposure. Often, this three-way exposure balancing act requires the steadiness of a tripod.

The shot below was photographed during a very cold, very snowy Glacier winter. As you can see, my luck with clear-sky sunrises at Lake McDonald was nil. On the plus side, this photo is a nice example of clouds, weather, and the season combining for an interesting composition.

A January sunrise over Lake McDonald, ISO 100, f/9, 0.3 sec, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Map of the West Entrance to Apgar and the south end of Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park / Google Maps screenshot

Getting There: From the West Glacier entrance drive to the junction of Camas Road and Going-to-the-Sun Road (aka Glacier Rte. 1). Turn left onto Camas Road for maybe 0.25 mile (0.4 km), then turn right at the sign toward Apgar Village for a total drive distance, start to finish, of approximately 2 miles (3.2 km). Park your car at an available parking space and walk to the lake’s southern shore.

Alternative Location: Instead of parking your vehicle near the southern end of Lake McDonald, continue up Going-to-the-Sun Road toward Lake McDonald Lodge. Along the way, be on the lookout for a spot to hike down to the lakeshore for a western view of the sunrise coloring the sky behind Howe Ridge like the one captured here, during my January winter visit to the park. I was trying to figure out how to get through that thick blanket of snow down to the shoreline while driving the snowy road from Apgar to the lodge when I noticed a car parked at a snowy pullout and a spot of tamped-down snow leading to the lake. Word of advice: wear boot traction devices for walking on the frozen, pebbly lakeshore.

A subdued sunrise glow over Howe Ridge and Lake McDonald, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/50 second, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

McDonald Creek / Upper McDonald Creek – I captured this sunrise image on a different day of my September 2017 stay. The Sprague Fire haze (and smell) thickened the further I drove northeast alongside Lake McDonald. Parking at the McDonald Creek parking lot, I crossed the bridge over the creek and stepped down onto a rocky outcrop. Turning to face the direction of the road (hidden from view by the trees), I noticed the clouds and smoky haze screened out some of the rising sun’s brilliance and formed a series of crepuscular rays. I deliberately used a small lens aperture of f/14 to create a bit of a sunstar (aka sunburst), as well. Making the aperture small meant I needed to use a longer shutter speed to prevent the resulting image from appearing too dark. To avoid camera blur from the slow shutter speed, I used a tripod.

A smoky sunrise at Upper McDonald Creek, ISO 160, f/14, 0.3 sec, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Map of the route from Lake McDonald Lodge to Upper McDonald Creek parking area and bridge, Glacier National Park / Google Maps screenshot

Getting There: From Lake McDonald Lodge, drive northeast along Going-to-the-Sun Road for approximately 2 miles (3.2 km). To your right, you will see a trail to John’s Lake. A hop and a skip further up the road is a paved parking area on the left side. Follow the trail down toward Upper McDonald Creek and cross the pedestrian bridge.

Heavens Peak from The Loop – Sometimes, a telephoto view of the sunrise is far more effective than a wide-angle vista. This is especially so if you want a larger view of the moon at the same time as sunrise. While I advocate using a tripod for most of your shots, there are times when it’s just not possible or even desirable to set up a tripod and spend precious moments affixing and adjusting the camera. Expedience may require eschewing the tripod in favor of handholding the camera.

A telephoto moonset and sunrise over Heavens Peak, ISO 100, f/4, 1/200 sec, shadows lightened in editing stage, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

I literally watched the moon sinking behind the mountain and knew I needed to act fast. Not bothering with the settings, I fired off several shots with my 24-105mm zoom lens at 105mm focal length. Full disclosure: I goofed up the settings. I wanted a higher ISO (maybe 400 – 500) so I could use a faster shutter speed to capture as many shots as possible before the moon descended behind Heavens Peak, but I was in a hurry (haste makes waste). I made exposure corrections during the editing stage and cropped the shot for an even closer view.

Route to "The Loop" from both Lake McDonald Lodge and Logan Pass Visitor Center. Glacier National Park / Google Maps screenshot

Getting There: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road 13.5 miles (21.7 km) northeast from Lake McDonald Lodge or 8 miles (12.9 km) northwest from the Logan Pass Visitor Center to a tight switchback known as The Loop. There’s a parking area on either side of the switchback curve.

Wild Goose Island Overlook – This spot along St. Mary Lake is a great place for sunrise, no matter what the weather. Sure, you may not always see much sunlight on a cloudy day, but the morning view is stunning, nonetheless.

A questionable sunrise at Wild Goose Island Overlook, ISO 100, f/9, 1/4 second, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

The view from this overlook facing Wild Goose Island is toward the southwest, so the rising sun will be behind and to your left, slicing across the mountainside to your right.

A swath of sunlight over the mountain at Wild Goose Island Overlook, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/30 second, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

You can stand on the rocky view area just about anywhere, or you can walk down to the shore of the lake. Bear in mind, the closer you are to the lake, the more you may need to raise your camera upward to include a greater portion of the mountains and sky. Regardless where you stand, a wide-angle lens works nicely for a Wild Goose Island sunrise.

Wild Goose Island Overlook (yellow circle) and parking area looking toward St. Mary Lake's "Narrows" (purple square), Glacier National Park / Google Maps screenshot

Getting There: From the St. Mary Visitor Center on the east side of the park, drive 6.7 miles (10.8 km) west along Going-to-the-Sun Road, or 11 miles (12.87 km) east from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. You will see a sign pointing to the Wild Goose Island Overlook in either direction. There is a long, paved parking area along the lake side of the road, as well a couple of wide shoulder spots across the road.

St. Mary Lake – A short, 1- to 2-mile (1.61 – 3.w km) drive further southwest from the Wild Goose Island Overlook offers a large pullout jutting toward the lake where you can capture a northeasterly sunrise view including the mountains and a portion of St. Mary Lake called “The Narrows.”

Sunrise over St. Mary Lake and "The Narrows," ISO 100, f/4, 1/320 second, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Note the yin-yang feel to this image at this location. Unless it is a totally gray, matte day, the sun will brighten a portion of the sky while leaving the water and mountains in shadow. You can lighten the shadowed parts of the image during the editing stage, or you can use a graduated neutral density filter (grad ND) and expose for the darker portion of the composition.

Many Glacier Area

Swiftcurrent Lake / Swiftcurrent Falls – To be honest, just about anywhere you place your tripod around Swiftcurrent Lake will make for a great sunrise shot. Looking toward the west (Mount Wilbur) and southwest (toward Mounts Gould and Grinnell), you won’t see the sun itself, but you will see sunlight on the tips of these mountains. Depending upon the time of year you visit, you might even see the moon set while the sun rises.

Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail provides numerous venues for sunrise shots looking toward or away from the direct sun. Just remember to be bear aware, make plenty of noise, and carry bear spray with you. Bears roam where they please, often wandering through parts of the thick forest near this loop trail.

Sunrise light over Mt. Grinnell along Swiftcurrent Loop Trail, ISO 125, f/7.1, 1/100 second, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

One of my favorite spots is on the shore of the lake near the southwestern end of the Many Glacier Hotel’s back deck. Standing upon the pebbly shore, you can gaze across a part of the lake toward Mounts Gould and Grinnell. The sun rises behind and to the side of you, first dipping the mountain tops in a pink-orange alpenglow before fully bathing those rocky edifices with a bright yellow light. Very often that early in the morning, Swiftcurrent Lake will be mirror smooth for great reflections. It usually doesn’t last very long, though, before the breeze picks up.

The beginning of sunrise over Mount Gould at Swiftcurrent Lake, ISO 125, f/4, 1/13 second, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Moonset and sunrise over Swiftcurrent Lake and Mounts Gould and Grinnell, ISO 100, f/4, 1/400 second, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Another great sunrise spot is the boat dock behind the hotel.

A swath of sunrise over Mount Grinnell, ISO 125, f/8, 1/100 second, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Walk to the bridge over Swiftcurrent Falls and Swiftcurrent Creek, where you will see the sun rising, even on a very smoky day.

A very smoky sunrise over Swiftcurrent Falls, ISO 160, f/9, 1/13 second, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Don’t forget to use your telephoto lens for some sunrise shots, too, especially if there are clouds or mist mixed with the morning sun.

Sunrise over Mount Gould, ISO 100, f/4, 1/6 second, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Getting There: From the community of St. Mary, drive 8.8 miles (12.87 km) north on U.S. Route 89 toward Babb. Turn left onto Rte. 3 for another 11.6 miles (18.67 km). Park in the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot. Total drive mileage is a little over 20 miles (32.8 km).

The route from St. Mary to Swiftcurrent Lake and the Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Google Maps screenshot

A closer view of the Swiftcurrent Lake terrain, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park / Google Maps screenshot

As you might have noticed, my sunrise compositions were captured at easy-to-reach spots. Yes, there are all sorts of great sunrise images to be captured along Glacier’s lengthier trails and backcountry, but not everybody can (or wants) to hike many miles out into the hinterlands. Yes, these pullouts, parking areas, and overlooks are oft photographed, and you may ask yourself why on earth you would wish to get a photo at a location that’s perhaps been photographed to death. Fair question. The answer is this: the image you capture of that specific place is your image, taken with your camera. There’s a reason that location is so oft-photographed – because it’s beautiful. Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to capture your own beautiful image.

Also, nothing is truly ever the same. There will always be differences in where you place your tripod versus where others place theirs, the angle of your shot, the time of day, the weather, the season, and the atmospheric conditions (i.e. a hazy day due to area wildfire smoke). All these differences add up to an original shot made by you.

So, tell me, where are some of your favorite spots in Glacier for sunrises?

Traveler’s Note: If you are planning to visit Glacier National Park between now and May 2026, you will encounter extremely limited parking in the Many Glacier Valley due to a construction closure in the Swiftcurrent area. The construction zone is closed to ALL traffic until mid-May 2026; the only available parking is at Many Glacier Hotel.

Many Glacier closure map, Glacier National Park / NPS graphic