Glacier National Park In Montana

One of the most beautiful of the U.S. National Parks is Glacier National Park located in Northwest Montana.

Glaciers have carved the montains over the eons resulting in steep rugged mountains and gorgeous waterfalls.

How To Get To Glacier National Park

You can access the west side of Glacier Park from US 2 at West Glacier, which is about 35 miles from Kalispell, Montana.

Another remote access point on the west side of Glacier is from the North Fork of the Flathead Road at Polebridge.

Higway 2 also provides access to the east side of Glacier Park at East Glacier. On the east side, you can also take US 89 to St. Mary and Many Glacier.

Amtrak trains from Seattle to Chicago stop year-round just outside the park at Whitefish, West Glacier (Belton), Essex, and East Glacier.

The nearest airports are Glacier International at Kalispell, Great Falls, and Lethbridge, Alberta.

When To Go To Glacier National Park

The most popular time to visit Glacier Park is during the summer months.

Be aware that road work is currently underway on the Going-to-the-Sun Road which is the main road through the interior of Glacier Park and is only open mid-June to mid-October due to snow. Plowing of Going-to-the-Sun Road starts the first part of April and depending on snow conditions can take until mid-June. The lower elevations provide a lot of hiking opportunities starting in April and May. Expect snow on the high elevation trails into mid-July. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are very popular winter activities.

Visiting Glacier National Park

When you visit Glacier National Park, you will need to spend several days to see the popular areas of the park.

You should plan on spending your first day on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. You can either drive your own vehicle, take a red bus tour, or ride the Glacier Park shuttle bus.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most scenic drives in the world. On a second day, you should visit either the Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas on the east side of Glacier.

You could also take a day to explore the more remote North Fork of the Flathead on the west side of Glacier Park. If you have several days, definitely take some day hikes or horseback rides.

If you really want to experience the Glacier backcountry, plan on an extended backpacking trip either on your own or with an experienced guide from Glacier Wilderness Guides.

Glacier National Park Wildlife
Glacier National Park's diversity of habitat types creates opportunities for a wide range of wildlife.

Everything from the bighorn sheep of the mountain slopes on the east side of the park, to the small and seldom seen northern bog lemming in the coniferous forests of the wet west side of the park.

Many people when they think of Glacier think of bears. Glacier provides the core of one of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in the lower 48 states. Recent research provides interesting insight to this threatened population.

More frequently seen than the grizzly however are the snow-white mountain goats that thrive on the steepest of slopes along the Continental Divide.

Glacier National Park History
The development and history of Glacier Park was closely tied to the railroad. In the late 1890's, visitors arriving at Belton (now called West Glacier) could get off the train, take a stagecoach ride a few miles to Lake McDonald, and then board a boat for an eight mile trip to the Snyder Hotel. 

Soon people, like naturalist George Bird Grinnell, pushed for the creation of a national park. Grinnell was an early explorer to this part of Montana and spent many years working to get the park established.

The area was made a Forest Preserve in 1900, but was open to mining and homesteading. Grinnell and others sought the added protection a national park would provide. Grinnell saw his efforts rewarded in 1910 when President Taft signed the bill establishing Glacier as the country's 10th national park.

Glacier National Park Lodging

Historic Glacier Park Lodges
The lodges and inns located throughout Glacier National Park provide a range of accommodations.  Visitors may choose from rooms in historic grand hotels dating back to the early 1900's, modern hotels, rustic cabins or historic backcountry chalets accessible by hiking or horseback.

Glacier Park Inc.
Columbia Falls, Montana
Village Inn Motel, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn at Many Glacier and Many Glacier Lodge.  
Apgar Village
West Glacier, Montana
Apgar Village Lodge at Lake McDonald
Granite Park and Sperry Chalets
Glacier National Park has two backcountry chalets that visitors can hike to for overnight accommodations.  Both are operated by Belton Chalets Inc. in West Glacier, Montana.