The rugged terrain of Montana’ Glacier
National Park is revered for its awesome beauty and untamed natural
grandeur. It is Montana’s most famous and most visited park. There
are endless opportunities for outdoor adventure in Glacier National
Park’s 1,562 square miles of mountains, glacial lakes and secluded
meadows.
Hiking is the most popular activity at Glacier National Park. With over
700 miles of trails to choose from, there is a trail for everyone. A
short hike that leads to long views is the 1.5-mile hike to the Hidden
Lake Overlook. The 5-mile Grinnell Glacier Trail brings visitors to
the feet of the parks most visible glacier. A park favorite is the 9-mile
hike to Iceberg Lake, a breath-taking glacial lake surrounded on 3 sides
by 3,000-foot vertical cliff faces. The Trail of Cedars is wheelchair
accessible.
There are 13 NPS campgrounds in Glacier National Park. Fish Creek and
ST. Mary campgrounds require a reservation. The Apgar campgrounds are
1st come 1st served and have many amenities. More primitive but no less
enjoyable campgrounds, like those at Kintla or Bowman Lakes are also
available. Backcountry camping is allowed with a permit.
There are other ways to see the Glacier National Park besides hiking.
Glacier Park Boat Company and Glacier Wilderness Guides offer boat tours
on the parks many lakes, like McDonald and St. Mary. The Going-to-the-Sun
Road is a wonderful scenic drive that shows passengers glacial vistas
and wildlife, like mountain goats or bighorn sheep. Bikers in Glacier
National Park are restricted to roadways and bike routes and bikes are
not allowed on the trails. There are excellent routes for cross-country
skiing and snowshoeing, but many are not marked. Skiers should register
at the trailhead for safety.
Fishing is permitted in the park, but there
are extensive rules in place to protect the park’s ecosystem and
prevent anglers from run-ins with hungry Grizzly and Black Bears.
