Glacier National Park
Situated in northwestern Montana, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site contains 2,000 square miles of some of the most beautiful and dramatic natural scenery on the continent. In 1932, Canada and the United States declared Waterton Lakes National Park (founded in 1895) and neighboring Glacier National Park (founded in 1910) the world's first International Peace Park. While administered as two separate entities, the park's two sections cooperate in wildlife management, scientific research and some visitors services. With the northern tip of the park extending into Alberta, Canada, the southern portion of the park is a great place to stop if you're heading to West Yellowstone, Montana from this direction, which is approximately 550 miles south. Along the way, visit interesting places like Missoula, Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park. more info
Glacier National Park Listings: (add your listing)
Historic Tamarack Lodge - New Cabins near Glacier
If you are headed to Glacier after a visit to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone, we offer the best value & location - adjacent to the Park's West Entrance. 6 Brand New Cabins!
(406) 387-4420
Many-hued summits whittled by ancient glaciers into walls and horns rise abruptly from gently rolling plains. Some 650 lakes, dozens of glaciers and numerous waterfalls sparkle in the forested valley. A scenic highway crosses the park, making the surrounding beauty accessible to the casual traveler. More than 700 miles of trails await backpackers and horseback riders.
The gigantic range of topography in the peace park supports an array of plants and wildlife. More than 1,000 plant species provide food and haven for 60 native species of mammals and more than 200 species of birds. In the 1980s, the grey wolf migrated into Glacier for the first time since the 1950s.
Sheltered valleys and bountiful food have attracted scores of different peoples here for more than 8,000 years. Ancient cultures tracked bison across the open plains, fished the lakes and climbed the mountain passes. The Blackfoot Indians controlled the land during the 18th and much of the 19th century.
In summer, Going-to-the-Sun Road is opened from mid-June to mid-Oct. Trails at the higher elevations can remained snow covered until mid-July. Cross-country skiing is popular from late Dec. to April in many areas of the park.
With a handful of peaks surpassing the 10,000-foot mark, a visit to the park is a must for those who are interested in getting into a breathtaking backcountry and those who enjoy photographing dramatic mountain scenery. Grizzly bears are a common site in the park. While approximately 50,000 grizzlies remain in Alaska and Canada, fewer than 900 now inhabit the rest of the United States with perhaps 300 of them calling the park and nearby wilderness home. In Glacier they say that 90 percent of grizzly management is people management. Today, park rangers carefully instruct visitors on how to share the vast wilderness with bears.
The southern part of the park, known as Glacier, offers free naturalist-led activities such as hikes, slide shows and campfire programs. Climbing, horseback riding, boating, fishing, bicycling, launch tours, nature courses and cross-country skiing are also available for outdoor enthusiasts. Permits are required for overnight backpacking trips and are available at park headquarters in West Glacier, Montana. Ten campgrounds are available in Glacier with some working on a first come first serve basis. Hotels, motels, inns and lodges are plentiful in the area and tend to fill up quickly during the busy summer months.
Notable side excursions include: Flathead National Forest, Lewis & Clark National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Pine Butte Swamp Preserve and Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Check the local visitor center or ranger station for maps, schedules and information.
Kalispell, MT Weather
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Other pages you might find helpful:
Glacier NP & Whitefish Montana
Vacation planning guide for Kalispell and Whitefish Montana, Glacier National Park and the Flathead Lake region.
