Saint Mary Lake and Wild Goose Island
Glacier's east-side lake and the tiny island from the opening of The Shining
- Admission
- Glacier entrance pass required: $35 per vehicle (May-Oct), $25 (Nov-Apr)
- Non-US residents 16+ pay an extra $100 each unless holding an annual pass
- Hours
- The lake shore near St. Mary is reachable all year; the Wild Goose Island turnout is on Go...
- Where
- St. Mary, Glacier National Park & the Flathead Valley
- Directions
- Directions
Saint Mary Lake is the second-largest lake in Glacier National Park, about 9.9 miles long and 300 feet deep, stretching west from the village of St. Mary into the mountains. It lies at 4,484 feet, almost 1,500 feet higher than Lake McDonald on the other side of the divide, and here the Great Plains end against the Rockies in a rise of about 5,000 feet. Going-to-the-Sun Road follows the north shore, so the lake fills the windshield for the first 10 miles or so of the drive west from St. Mary.
The best-known view is Wild Goose Island, a small rock with a few trees that rises only about 14 feet above the water, dwarfed by the peaks around the head of the lake. It is seen from the Wild Goose Island turnout on Going-to-the-Sun Road, about 8 to 9 miles from St. Mary, and is one of the most photographed spots on the road. The aerial shots of the lake and island, and of a car driving along the north shore, open Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining. The lake also appears in the background of a scene in Forrest Gump.
Along the shore there are short stops and trails. Sun Point has a short walk to a rocky point; trails lead to St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls, and the Rising Sun area has a picnic site and a boat dock. The water rarely rises above 50 °F and in winter the lake often freezes, with ice up to 4 feet thick. The east end of the lake is on the boundary of the Blackfeet Reservation, and the St. Mary Visitor Center sits at the entrance.
In 2026 there were no vehicle reservations. Rising Sun was one of the two east-side boarding points for the ticketed Logan Pass shuttle from July 1 to September 7. Glacier Park Boat Company's Saint Mary Lake tours have finished for 2026. Private gas-powered boats are allowed on the lake only after an invasive-species inspection and a 30-day quarantine. The St. Mary Visitor Center is open from late May to early October, and partial closures at the St. Mary campground are expected from fall 2026 to spring 2027 while water lines are replaced.
Practical tip: Wild Goose Island is best photographed at sunrise, when the light comes up the valley behind you and the wind is usually lowest. Arrive early: the turnout is small.
Categories
More photos coming soon
Hours & Fees
- Open
- The lake shore near St. Mary is reachable all year; the Wild Goose Island turnout is on Going-to-the-Sun Road and depends on the road's seasonal opening on the east side.
- Admission
- Glacier entrance pass required: $35 per vehicle (May-Oct), $25 (Nov-Apr); non-US residents 16+ pay an extra $100 each unless holding an annual pass.
Hours and prices change, especially out of season. Check with the venue before you go.
Nearby Attractions
Other places to visit in St. Mary
Grinnell Glacier Trail
A 5-mile climb from Many Glacier to one of the park's best-known shrinking glaciers
From $35 National Parks · Natural Wonders
Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
A 1.3-mile boardwalk climb from Logan Pass to a view over Hidden Lake
From $35 National Parks · Wildlife Viewing
Logan Pass
The Continental Divide at 6,646 feet, with mountain goats and the Highline Trail
From $1 National Parks · Wildlife Viewing
Many Glacier
Lakes, peaks and a 1915 Swiss-chalet hotel in the valley many call Glacier's best
From $25 National Parks · Hiking Trails
Questions people ask
Quick Facts
Glacier entrance pass required: $35 per vehicle (May-Oct), $25 (Nov-Apr)
Non-US residents 16+ pay an extra $100 each unless holding an annual pass.
Best Time to Visit
July to mid-September, when Going-to-the-Sun Road is open over Logan Pass and the village's lodges, shuttles and visitor centre are running.