Glacier National Park Audio Tour: Going-to-the-Sun Road & More

Drive Glacier National Park on your schedule, with stories that play as you go

You drive Glacier National Park at your own pace, with GPS-triggered audio narration playing automatically as you pass each stop—no per-person fees, works offline, and covers four major areas from Going-to-the-Sun Road to the remote North Fork. Start and pause whenever you want, over one day or several, and skip any stop that doesn't interest you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road

• Stop in West Glacier for supplies
• Visit Apgar Visitor Center
• View Lake McDonald
• Walk McDonald Lake shore
• Picnic at lakeside campground
• See historic Lewis Glacier Hotel
• Hike to McDonald Falls
• Hike to second McDonald Creek falls
• Walk Trail of the Cedars loop
• Hike to Avalanche Lake
• View red Grinnell rocks and creek
• Overlook Mount Cannon
• Overlook McDonald Valley
• Visit The Loop trailhead
• View Bird Woman Falls
• Stop at Paradise Meadow overlook
• Walk Oberlin Bend boardwalk
• Explore Logan Pass area
• Stop at Lunch Creek Pullover
• View Jackson Glacier Overlook
• Hike St. Mary Falls Trail
• Hike Baring Falls Trail
• Visit Sun Point promontory
• Photograph Wild Goose Island lookout
• Overlook The Narrows and Golden Staircase
• Dip toes in St. Mary Lake
• Picnic at lakeside area near exit
• Visit St. Mary Visitor Center
• See historic ranger station on Beaver Pond Trail

Day 2 — Explore Two Medicine Area

• See mountain goats at salt lick
• View Silver Staircase Waterfall from road
• See Blackfoot Nation entrance statue
• Eat at Kyiyo Bakery and Mercantile
• Drive scenic Two Medicine roadway overlooks
• Stop in East Glacier town
• Hike Running Eagle Falls trail
• Hike to Appistoki Waterfall on Continental Divide Trail
• Hike North Shore trails to Upper Two Medicine Lake and Triple Divide peak
• Visit South Shore Ranger Station
• Picnic and walk Two Medicine shoreline
• Boat ride or hike to Paradise Point and Aster Falls

Day 3 — Visit Many Glacier Area

• See Sherburne Dam and Lake
• Hike Apikuni Falls trail
• Tour Many Glacier Hotel
• Explore Swiftcurrent Lake trails
• Hike Grinnell Glacier trail
• Eat at Nell’s Restaurant and visit camp store
• Hike Swiftcurrent Trail to Red Rock Falls and beyond
• View Swiftcurrent Lake overlook
• Dine at Cattle Baron Supper Club

Day 4 — Discover North Fork Region

• Walk Forest and Fire Nature Trail
• Visit historic Polebridge Mercantile
• Explore Polebridge Ranger Station Historic District
• Hike Bowman Lake trails
• Hike Kintla Lake Head trail

The Experience

You're sitting in the car, coffee in hand, and you realize you have no idea what you're actually looking at. That's the gap this audio tour fills. Download the Shaka Guide app before you arrive in West Glacier, and the moment you start driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the narration kicks in automatically—stories about the park's geology, the glaciers that carved these valleys, wildlife you might spot. You don't have to read a guidebook or stop to figure out what mountain you're looking at. The GPS knows where you are, and it tells you.

The bundle covers four distinct areas. Going-to-the-Sun Road is the spine—a two-hour drive from West Glacier up to Logan Pass at 6,600 feet, with stops at Lake McDonald, the Loop trailhead, Bird Woman Falls, and down the east side past Jackson Glacier Overlook to St. Mary Lake. Two Medicine branches south and feels quieter; you'll hear about Running Eagle Falls and the boat tours at Two Medicine Lake. Many Glacier sits north and centers on the historic Many Glacier Hotel (opened 1915) and trails to Grinnell Glacier and Swiftcurrent Lake. North Fork is the remote section—Polebridge Mercantile, Bowman Lake, the Forest and Fire Nature Trail through burn recovery zones. You pick which areas to drive, which stops to take, which trails to hike. The audio doesn't force you anywhere.

What makes this different from a printed guide is the hands-free part. As you drive, the narration plays automatically. You hear about the red Grinnell rocks as you pass them, the story of Mount Cannon's first ascent by newlyweds in 1901, why the Highline Trail follows the Continental Divide. If you want to skip a stop or pause and sit for an hour, you do. The map works offline—no data needed once you've downloaded it on strong Wi-Fi before the trip. One purchase covers your whole vehicle, not per person, which saves money if you're traveling with a group.

The audio includes travel tips (West Glacier is the last full-service town before the two-hour Going-to-the-Sun drive; Kyiyo Bakery at Kiowa has famous fried chicken), details about trailheads and their distances, and music between stops. You can start the tour, drive for three hours, stop for lunch, and pick it back up the next day. There's no expiration, no pressure to finish in one go. If you're the kind of traveler who wants context without a guide talking over your shoulder, or if you're traveling with kids and need flexibility to stop when someone needs a break, this works. Download the app, redeem your code, and you're ready to drive.

What’s included

• Self-guided audio tour bundle covering Going-to-the-Sun Road, Two Medicine, Many Glacier, and North Fork.
• offline map with GPS turn-by-turn directions.
• hours of audio narration with park history, geology, wildlife stories, and travel tips.
• automatic audio playback triggered by your location as you drive.
• freedom to start, pause, and resume on your schedule over multiple days.
• access via the Shaka Guide app (download required before your trip).
• one purchase for your entire vehicle with no per-person fees.
• customizable stops—skip or visit whichever attractions interest you.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Shaka Guide Apps

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want context and stories without a live guide, and for families who need flexibility to stop, eat, or rest on their own schedule. The self-paced format and offline map mean you're not dependent on cell service or rushing to keep up with a group.

Traveler reviews

4.33★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

Do I need cell service or WiFi while driving the tour?

No. Download the tour using strong WiFi before you leave, and the audio and offline map work without any data connection during your drive.

Can I use this tour over multiple days?

Yes. There's no expiration. You can start the Going-to-the-Sun Road one day, explore Two Medicine the next, and come back to Many Glacier whenever you want.

How long is the Going-to-the-Sun Road drive?

About two hours from West Glacier to Logan Pass and down the east side to St. Mary, not including stops. With stops, most people spend a full day on it.

Does the audio play automatically, or do I have to start it manually?

It plays automatically. Once you select your tour in the app and start driving, GPS triggers the narration and directions as you go. You can pause anytime.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes. You control the pace and stops entirely. If a child needs a break, you pull over. You can skip trailheads and focus on roadside overlooks, or do the opposite.

What's included in the audio narration?

Stories about the park's history and geology, wildlife information, travel tips, directions to trailheads, and music between stops.

Can I pick which stops to visit, or do I have to follow the entire route?

You choose. The app suggests a route and stops, but you can skip any stop you don't want and customize your drive.

How much does it cost per person?

One purchase covers your entire vehicle, regardless of how many people are in it. There are no per-person fees.