Glacier National Park, located on one million acres in Montana, is known for its hiking trails, fly fishing, and cross country skiing. This protected national park teems with wildlife including hundreds of animal species and thousands of plants that live in and around the park’s 130 lakes. While this park does take some planning to get to, the history, recreation opportunities, and animals reward visitors who are willing to make the trip.
History
This area of Montana has been continuously inhabited by human for over 10,000 years. Before Europeans arrived, the Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai Indians hunted buffalo and lived within what is now the park’s borders. The first Europeans in the area were hunters and miners. By the late 1800s, more and more people were coming west to settle in Montana, a migration that was assisted by the completion of the Great Northern Railroad.
Around the time that Montana’s towns began to spring up, settlers realized that their new home was worth preserving for future generations. In 1910, President Taft made Glacier into the country’s tenth national park. Since then, the park has attracted over a million and a half visitors a year who come to experience the pristine beauty of the area. Thirty-five movies have been filmed in Glacier National Park including portions of Forrest Gump, Beethovan’s 2nd, and The Shining.
Recreation
Whether you’re at Glacier National Park for one day or many, there are activities for the entire family year-round. Learn about the park’s history on a self-guided cell phone tour around the Apgar area. Drive on the Going-to-the-Sun road and see how many different animal species you can find. Hike or bicycle some of the park’s seven hundred miles of trails, or take a backpacking trip if you have several days to experience the area. Learn from a ranger on one of the many tours held on horseback, boats, or foot. At the end of the day, relax in one of the park’s 13 campgrounds.
Fly fishing is a popular activity, and visitors are not required to hold a valid fishing or hunting license to participate. However, the park has strict regulations in place regarding fishing limits and catch and release areas; anyone who plans to fish during a trip to the park should become familiar with these restrictions.
During the winter months, select areas are open for skiing and snowshoeing. Visitors who participate in these activities are urged to take caution, as many trails are not marked and the risk of hypothermia in the Montana winter is high.
Local Wildlife
We talked with TraveltheRockies.com about some of the local wildlife and they said, “The park is home to hundreds of animal species including black and grizzly bears, elk, mountain goats, and wolves. The park’s population of grizzlies–currently around three hundred–is one of the largest in the contiguous United States, and ongoing research is being done to preserve the quality of life for these bears.”
Among other popular animals in the park are bald eagles, lynx, falcons, and wolverines.
Location
By car, the west entrance of the park is approximately 30 miles of Kalispell, Montana; the remaining entrances are approximately 125 miles from Great Falls, Montana.
If you’re visiting the area by plane, you’ll need to fly into one of the following airports: Glacier Park International near Kalispell (30 miles from the west entrance), Missoula International (150 miles from the west entrance), or Great Falls International (130-160 miles to the remaining entrances). All area airports have cars available for rental.
Amtrak runs near both the west and the east entrances: shuttles are available from the train station to the main park lodges.
During the summer months, the park’s major roads–including the 50 mile Going-to-the-Sun Road–can be accessed by visitor vehicles. Visitors should always check the park’s website to see which roads are open. Tour buses also operate when possible on the park’s main roads.
