Shaka Guide's Glacier National Park, Two Medicine Itinerary

Welcome to the Shaka Guide tour of Glacier National Park's Two Medicine area, a less-crowded gem showcasing the raw beauty of Montana's wilderness.

This is the part of Glacier that people tend to skip—usually because they don’t know what they’re missing. You’ll follow Two Medicine Lake, soak in views of Sinopah and Rising Wolf, and get a version of the park that feels calmer and more personal.

This is also Blackfeet homeland, and that history is part of what shapes this place today. As you drive, we’ll share the stories and context that help explain why Two Medicine matters—not just how it looks.

How Long to Spend

For a quick walkabout and drive? You'll need about 3-4 hours. For a good, long hike (of which there are several), I'd dedicate at least a full day.

Itinerary

We’re gonna' kick things off down south near Essex, then head north toward East Glacier before rolling into those gorgeous views in Two Medicine.

Drive time alone is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, but once you factor in scenic pullouts, short walks, and the inevitable “okay, one more photo” stops, plan on 4–6 hours total to really enjoy the route without rushing. For longer hikes? Plan on a full day.

1. Goat Lick Overlook

GlacierNPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

• Duration: 10 minutes

Go see Glacier National Park's official mascots, the mountain goats, at a natural salt lick!

2. Silver Staircase Falls

Matthew DeVries

• Duration: 5 minutes

The Silver Staircase Waterfall is a beautiful cascade of shimmering waters, and it’s particularly impressive during spring runoff. But, the best part of all? You can enjoy it right from the road!

3. Blackfoot Nation Southwest Entrance

Foto: Martina Nolte, Artist: Jay Laber

• Duration: 5 minutes

This statue, one of a set of four, marks the entrance to the Blackfoot Nation. Created from barbed wire, rusty bits of cars, and stones from a mission school, this statue is one of four that mark the entrances to the Blackfoot Nation.

4. Kiowa

Photo by US National Forest Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

• Duration: 10 minutes

The big stop at Kiowa is the Kyiyo Bakery and Mercantile, Kyiyo meaning bear in the Blackfoot language. This place is famous for its fried chicken. It's also the last spot to eat before entering or leaving the park. So, if you’re hungry, feel free to pop by.

5. Looking Glass Hill

Rachel Ennis

• Duration: 5 minutes

This scenic roadway has several overlooks where you can get some early glimpses of Two Medicine and the Lewis Mountain Range.

6. East Glacier

Loco Steve

• Duration: 30 minutes

The town of East Glacier is the last stop before entering Two Medicine. The town has an Amtrak station, the East Glacier Lodge, and a few amenities, hotels, and restaurants.

7. Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail

Rachel Ennis

• Duration: 1-2 hours

The Running Eagle Falls trail is just over half a mile long. It takes you directly to Running Eagle Falls. The double waterfall is absolutely stunning, tumbling over 30 feet into a clear pool below.

But what makes this hike even more amazing is that this is, in fact, the very same falls where Running Eagle underwent her life-changing vision quest.

The trail also includes interpretive signs that tell you about the local plant life and their traditional uses by the local tribes.

8. Continental Divide Trailhead

Gary Miotla

• Duration: 2 hours

The Continental Divide Trail is too long for a day hike. It stretches about 3,100 miles in total. But at the trailhead, you can enjoy an easy, one-and-a-half-mile trail to the beautiful Appistoki Waterfall.

9. The North Shore

• Duration: 5 minutes-full day

There are two great hiking trails here on the North Shore:

Two Medicine

Rachel Ennis

One of the most popular hiking trails in Two Medicine is the Trail to the Upper Two Medicine Lake.

Many hikers begin this trail from the North Shore or South Shore trailheads. It’s a beautiful 10 to 12-mile round-trip hike. And, along the way, they’ll enjoy beautiful wildflower meadows, twin waterfalls, and dense forests of birch, pine, and fir trees.

However, you can shorten the hike by about 4 to 6 miles by taking the boat shuttle across Two Medicine Lake and cutting out the first half entirely. While reservations are recommended for the boat, you can check at the dock to ask about same-day availability. Even if you don’t hike the full trail, the boat ride offers a great view of the lake. You can also take a short hike to Twin Falls.

If you catch a boat ride there and back, it’s only about 1.8 miles altogether.

Triple Divide Peak

Shutterstock Image

The other trail lets you visit Glacier's famous triple divide peak. At Glacier's triple divide, water flows in three directions: north, east, and west. It eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay. That means that raindrops and melting snow, starting just feet apart, can end up in entirely different bodies of water, many hundreds of miles away.

To place boots on the Triple Divide Mountain, you’ll need to check out the backcountry 17-mile Pitamakan Trail. The Pitamakan Pass is definitely spectacular but also long, strenuous, and definitely not for the unprepared.

If you’re interested in hiking some of these longer backcountry trails, you’ll need to talk to the ranger about planning and a permit, as most of them are overnighters.

10. Two Medicine Ranger Station

Rachel Ennis

• Duration: 10 minutes

The South Shore Ranger Station is a great first stop if you need information on backcountry hikes, or boat rentals, or just need to chat with a ranger.

11. Two Medicine Picnic Area

Rachel Ennis

• Duration: 30 minutes

Park in any of the five parking areas on this short loop to have a picnic, relax a little, and enjoy walking along Two Medicine’s rocky shoreline.

12. The South Shore

Rachel Ennis

• Duration: 2 hours- full day

Besides admiring the views, there are several fun and exciting things to do at the South Shore.

• First, if you need any supplies, or just wanna' pick up some souvenirs, you should swing by the Two Medicine general store, just at the right gravel lot.
• Second, for a small fee, you can take a relaxing 45-minute boat ride across the lake. They even sometimes offer free group tours of the short Twin Falls hike. For more info, ask the Two Medicine Boat Company just to our left.
• Finally, the hikes. I have several recommended hikes that start at South Shore Trailhead.

Hike #1: Paradise Point

My first recommended hike is to Paradise Point. It's an easy, flat trail that spans 1.4 miles (2.3 kilometers) round trip. This family-friendly hike passes through a pine and fir forest and conifer swamp before opening up to the lakeshore.

At the rocky shoreline, hikers are treated to views across the lake of the towering Lone Walker Mountain, Mount Helen, and Rising Wolf Mountain.

Hike #2: Aster Falls and Aster Park

Another recommended hike is the trail to Aster Falls and Aster Park Overlook. This moderate 3.8-mile, or 6.1-kilometer, round-trip hike leads to a scenic waterfall and viewpoint overlooking Medicine Lake.

The trail traverses subalpine forests and meadows, with the waterfall located 1.8 miles, or 2.9 kilometers, from the trailhead.

From Aster Falls, hikers can continue another 0.3 miles or 0.5 kilometers to Aster Park Overlook for panoramic vistas of Medicine Lake and the surrounding peaks. There are several more trails in the area, all branching off from the Two Medicine South Shore. However, these two are the best day hikes. To learn more about the others, be sure to check out the trailhead.

Explore Two Medicine with Shaka Guide

Hike to Aster Falls, paddle Two Medicine Lake, or do the very valid activity of “admiring the view for a while.” Either way, you’re stepping into a place that’s inspired visitors for generations—and holds deep significance for the Blackfeet people. Shaka Guide lets you explore it on your schedule, with narration that adds the natural and cultural context along the way.

When you leave, you'll carry with you the spirit of Two Medicine...a place where nature's grandeur and human history intertwine for an unforgettable experience.

Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Glacier National Park: Two Medicine Tour!

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Glacier National Park: Two Medicine Know Before You Go article.

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