Location:

Northwestern Montana, 156 miles north of Missoula, Montana, and 200 miles west of Great Falls, Montana.

Vital Stats:

Nearest airport: Glacier Park International Airport, Kalispell, Montana, 25 miles southwest of the park.

Established: May 11, 1910; joined Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, to become Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932. The two parks are administered separately but cooperate in wildlife management and scientific research.

Size: 1,013,572 acres.

Park website: http://www.nps.gov/glac/

Snapshot

Named for its dramatic glacier-carved landscape, Glacier National Park boasts more than one million pristine acres marked by sawtoothed ridges, steep rock horns, smooth cirques, and, of course, dozens of alpine glaciers. Not to be outdone, the forested valleys below brim in season with wildflowers and abundant wildlife.

Did You Know?

Water originating in Glacier National Park—much of it from snowmelt—can be considered the headwater of the continent. Water that runs down Triple Divide Peak flows in three directions, eventually winding up in the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay.

Scenic Drive

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is considered one of the most scenic drives in the nation. The 52-mile route traverses the park from west to east, following the Continental Divide. Numerous lookout points and trailheads give visitors ample opportunities to enjoy broad panoramas and hikes through temperate forests. The road in its entirety generally is open only during the summer months, starting around mid-June. Check the park's road status updates before starting your drive.