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: 1,013,322 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.
Best Hikes
Iceberg Lake offers a long (10 miles round-trip) but relatively easy hike that leads to picture-perfect Iceberg Lake, an ideal place for a picnic.
Highline Trail extends for five miles but can be as long or as short as you desire. Even a brief stroll along this trail, which skirts the park's Garden Wall, a steep ridge, offers rewarding views with little elevation gain.
Piegan Pass is an easy-to-moderate hike that traverses shady woods, wildflower-blanketed valleys, and spectacular mountain passes.
Hiking to Swiftcurrent Pass, a 13.2-mile round-trip with a 2,300-foot elevation gain, is not for the faint of heart. But views of cascading waterfalls and soaring mountains make up for the effort.
Top Experiences
Get out on the trails on a guided horseback ride inside the park at Many Glacier, Lake McDonald, and Apgar. Contact Swan Mountain Outfitters for information and reservations: www.swanmountainoutfitters.com/glacier.
Rent canoes, kayaks, and rafts to ply the waters of Flathead River, which forms the south and west boundary of Glacier National Park. For information, see www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/boating.htm.
Flora/Fauna
Glacier is home to more than 70 species of mammals, including grizzly and black bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goats, and marmots. Two hundred and sixty bird species reside in or travel through the park each year. Plant life ranges from dense coniferous forests to sparsely vegetated mountaintops, with several plant varieties endemic to the northern Rocky Mountains. Bear grass—the bulbous, white, flowering plant featured on many Glacier postcards—blooms in five- to seven-year cycles, each plentiful year followed by four to six years of sparse bear grass blooms.
Photo Ops
Wild Goose Island Lookout offers one of the most popular photo opportunities along the Going-to-the-Sun Road for a reason. Photographs of tiny Wild Goose Island, dwarfed by St. Mary Lake and the mountains beyond, convey the immensity and grandeur of Glacier's famed landscape.
Hidden Lake Overlook can be reached by walking approximately 1.5 miles from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. The trail to the overlook can be crowded at times, but the views of the lake are more than rewarding. Go at dawn or late afternoon, when the shadows and interesting light enhance the contours of the landscape.
Smart Traveler Strategies
Hop on one of the free Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttles to leave the mountain driving to professionals as you take in the expansive views (July-September).
Pick up a copy of the "Glacier Explorer" publication (available throughout the park) for a complete listing of park activities and events, including boat-and-hike trips to Grinnell Glacier, ranger-led nature presentations, and lectures by members of the Blackfeet Indian Nation.
When to Visit
The park is open 365 days a year. Summer is the most popular time to visit Glacier, when hiking and camping opportunities abound and the average high temperature hovers in the 70s (F). Magnificent autumn foliage and pristine cross-country skiing trails attract visitors in the fall and winter months. Some visitor facilities close during the off-season (mid-September to mid-May), so always check the park website (www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm) for information on lodging and road conditions.
Where to Stay
Glacier boasts a wide variety of lodging options, including full-service lodges, remote campgrounds, backcountry chalets, and motor inns.
Many Glacier Hotel, a Swiss-themed hotel on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake inside the park, is a great home base for excursions to Grinnell Glacier.
Lake McDonald Lodge offers guest rooms, cottages, and a motor inn on the shores of Glacier's largest lake (10 miles long).
Sperry Chalet can only be reached by hiking one of several trails that lead to the chalet (the shortest route, Sperry Trail, is 6.7 miles long), but guests will be greeted with hearty meals, homey lodgings, and sweeping views of Lake McDonald.
Frontcountry campgrounds generally operate on a first-come, first-served basis, though two campgrounds may be reserved in advance.
Backcountry campgrounds are maintained along many of the park's popular hiking trails. A Backcountry Use Permit is required for all overnight camping, and fees are charged per person, per night. Reserve a campground ahead of time, or drop by one of the backcountry permit-issuing stations before setting out.
Excursions Outside the Park
For more Rocky Mountains grandeur and to visit the majestic Prince of Wales Hotel in the quaint lakeside town of Waterton, visit Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park, which features 195 square miles of scenically rugged landscapes webbed with trails.
For world-class rafting on the North, Middle, and South Forks of Montana's Flathead River, head approximately 30 miles southwest of Glacier park to Flathead National Forest.
Thirty miles southeast of the park, in Browning, Montana, you can peruse art, historic clothing, and other artifacts made by Northern Plains tribal peoples at the Museum of the Plains Indian.
Venture 60 miles southeast of Glacier to hike or ride horses in the Pine Butte Swamp Preserve, one of the last strongholds of grizzly bears in the plains.
Advisories
Glacier's rugged terrain is as challenging as it is beautiful, so make sure you have the proper gear before hitting the trail. Plan ahead so that you know how much food and water to bring, and make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear. The weather can change quickly in the mountains, so be prepared for an unexpected storm or cold front.
Glacier encompasses hundreds of beautiful lakes and streams. Be cautious around swift glacial streams, moss-covered rocks, and slippery logs. Waterfalls and rivers can be extremely treacherous.
Spotting wildlife is always exciting, but wild animals—even fluffy marmots and mountain goats—can be very dangerous. Be cautious when photographing animals, and always stay at a safe distance. Don't approach or try to pet any wildlife.
Bears and mountain lions are generally elusive. If surprised by humans, these large animals can be extremely dangerous. Avoid startling them by announcing your presence and making plenty of noise on the trail. Never feed wild animals, and be cautious when storing food in campsites.
More From National Geographic
From National Geographic Adventure, "Peaks of Ice," by Robert Earle Howells, maps by Haisam Hussein, June 2009
National Geographic Map Poster of Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks
Downloadable Wallpaper of Glacier National Park from National Geographic, photography by Michael Melford
National Geographic Geotourism MapGuide, Crown of the Continent
Glacier & Waterton Lakes National Parks Explorer 3D
National Geographic Glacier/Waterton Lakes National Parks Trail Map
Copy for this series includes excerpts from National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, Sixth Edition, 2009, and our National Parks series featured in National Geographic Traveler. See staff contributors here.