High alpine mountain pass offering sweeping panoramic views, dramatic elevation changes, and access to one of the park’s most iconic backcountry hiking routes.
Typically accessible from mid-summer through early fall
Motorcycle: $30
Individual (walk/bike): $20
Children under 16: Free
Whitefish, MT (approx. 60 miles)
How to Get There
From St. Mary (10 mi): Enter the park and follow Going-to-the-Sun Road west to the Jackson Glacier Overlook or nearby trail access points, then begin the long-distance hike toward Gunsight Pass through the backcountry trail system.
Overview
The Gunsight Pass route is one of Glacier National Park’s premier backcountry experiences, traversing a dramatic landscape of alpine lakes, steep valleys, and rugged mountain terrain. The trail gradually climbs through forested slopes and open meadows before ascending into high elevations where sweeping panoramic views reveal glaciers, jagged peaks, and distant valleys carved over millennia. This journey highlights the vast scale and raw beauty of the park’s wilderness.
Reaching the pass itself, hikers are rewarded with expansive vistas that stretch across multiple drainage systems, showcasing the dramatic contrasts between lush valleys and exposed alpine environments. The route demands preparation and endurance, but it offers one of the most immersive ways to experience the park’s dynamic geology and ecosystems. For those seeking a true backcountry adventure, the hike represents a defining experience within Glacier’s wild landscape.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Gunsight Pass and the Glacier National Park, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
