UPDATE 2026: TRAVELING TO GLACIER IN 2026
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Two Medicine Lake is in Glacier National Park, 11 Miles From East Glacier, and the East Glacier Historic Hotel. (Montana)
I considered my self very fortunate this summer (2023) for being allowed to work for one of the oldest Glacier Park service vendors. As a result, I had better access than most to one of the greatest attractions in Glacier Park, Glacier Park Boat Company and their vintage boat tours at Two Medicine Lake.
I was able to visit this area twice. The first time I visited, it was late in the day. I had been up at Many Glacier for the day and I stopped on the way home just to take a look at the Two Medicine Lake area. At the time it seemed like a crazy idea, that of stopping at another lake.that day, I had already been on the road for 9 hours.
I was very glad I did. One look down the lake convinced me that I needed to come back and spend time in the area. The area has a historic look and feel to it. From the campground to the old log lodge with the giant front porch (now the gift shop) – Running Eagle Falls, and the Sinopah, the 100 year old historic boat that is still giving tours on a full schedule – to me, Two Medicine Lake is the best area for an authentic, classic, Glacier Park Visit
A few weeks later I was able to return for a boat tour and a closer look at the area. Choppy day on the lake….winds gusting to 35mph. Never even felt the wind during the tour. You could see the chop, the whitecaps through the windows of the boat. Inside, the ride was smooth and undisturbed.
I chose not to do any hiking my 2nd day there…normally there are several easy to moderate hikes in the area and the tour is a ‘hiker boat’ where hikers are dropped off and picked up later. I will come back with good hiking poles and a friend and we will spend the entire day hiking.
During the tour, the boat captain and guide spoke of snow and 100 mph winds in the winter in the Two Medicine Valley. The NPS does close the valley for winter. Definitely a short story in that somewhere.
On the way out I took a good look at the campground facilities, the gift shop, and spoke with the tour providors for a while. Definitely will return for camping/hiking as soon as possible.
When I headed for home I took a few minutes and stopped at Running Eagle Falls. The parking lot was full, I took the last spot. I headed down a paved then hard packed trail to the falls and was happily surprised.
See Also: Many Glacier – A Bucket List Favorite
