Information to Visiting Glacier Nationwide Park

Of all of the nationwide parks inside the US, Glacier Nationwide Park stands out as one of many best — and thus some of the fashionable. Situated within the northwest area of Montana, bordering Canda’s Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park, the 1,583 sq. miles of protected land welcomes round three million guests yearly. Many come for the climbing trails, wildlife sightings, and pockets of unparalleled quiet and peace within the park’s extra distant spots; others are there with the aim of driving the 50-mile-long Going-to-the-Solar Street.

Irrespective of your excellent itinerary, one factor’s for positive: You’ll wish to arrive to Glacier Nationwide Park with not less than a primary understanding of the world’s structure and what to anticipate. And to offer you a complete information to the park, we spoke to some native consultants.

Learn on to find all the things you might want to know earlier than visiting Glacier Nationwide Park — together with tips about when to go to and the place to hike, eat, and keep.

How you can Get There

Glacier Park Worldwide Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, Montana is the closest main airport and a couple of 30-minute drive from the park’s west entrance. It’s served by six main airways: Alaska, Delta, United, Allegiant, American, and Solar Nation. Missoula Worldwide Airport (MSO) and Nice Falls Worldwide Airport (GTF) — 120 and 200 miles away, respectively — are additionally choices for these touring by aircraft. Upon arrival, a rental automotive can be needed if you would like the pliability and freedom to discover the park and surrounding space by yourself time.  Taking the prepare to Glacier Nationwide Park is one other transportation choice. Amtrak’s historic Empire Builder line makes year-round stops at West Glacier and serves East Glacier seasonally.

“Throughout peak season, parking might be difficult,” says Glacier Guides and Montana Raft’s Nicolina Baldassari, who suggests utilizing the first-come, first-served shuttle service alongside the Going-to-the-Solar Street, “which will help you keep away from parking hassles and nonetheless entry fashionable trailheads.”

Know Earlier than You Go

Any journey to Glacier Nationwide Park begins with getting a go. “You need to have a park go to enter any gate into Glacier Nationwide Park, after which sure corridors — North Fork, Many Glacier, and Going-to-the-Solar Street — additionally require a car reservation to enter the hall between 6 a.m. and three p.m. throughout peak season,” says Aubrie Lorona, proprietor of Swan Mountain Outfitters. If you have already got the $80 annual America the Stunning go, which grants go holders entry to most U.S. nationwide parks, you’ll be all set on the doorway price.

You’ll additionally wish to put aside not less than two days to see the park — although three to 5 will mean you can test off the entire important websites with out dashing. In any case, says Lorona, “Montana is an enormous state, and it takes over two hours to get from one aspect of the park to the opposite… [and] guests ought to test driving instances and distances between lodging and actions.”

Given the park’s identify, it’s not unusual for guests to come back searching for the glaciers themselves. “Many individuals come to the park after which ask the place all of the glaciers are. Not loads of vacationers are conscious that lots of the glaciers have melted away, leaving solely about 25 left within the park in the present day as a consequence of international warming,” says Baldassari. Seeing a glacier can also be comparatively troublesome, as most of them are situated excessive up on the Continental Divide. Jackson Glacier, nonetheless, is the best glacier to see within the park; Jackson Glacier Overlook is situated on the east aspect of Going-to-the-Solar Street.

As is the case for a lot of nationwide parks out west, wildlife is without doubt one of the largest attracts. Throughout the park, there are bats, beavers, bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, wolverines, and, sure, bears. “Bears are frequent within the park. All the time carry bear spray and know learn how to use it. Retailer meals correctly and concentrate on your environment, particularly when climbing,” says Baldassari. Guests must also brush up on the park’s wildlife security rules. That features staying not less than 75 ft from most wildlife (the likes of moose, deer, mountain goats, and elk) and not less than 300 ft from wolves and bears.

This a part of Montana can also be deeply tied to the historical past of the Blackfeet, Pend d’Oreille, Salish, and Kootenai individuals. “It’s largely unknown that Glacier Nationwide Park is conventional territory for a number of Tribes, most particularly the Blackfeet on the east aspect,” says Derek DesRosier, the final supervisor of Solar Excursions. “All Tribes nonetheless apply some type of conventional and fashionable use of the panorama, and despite the fact that it’s globally acknowledged as a nationwide park now, to us, it’s a sacred place, full of drugs, connection, and historical past.”

Greatest Time to Go to

Glacier Nationwide Park is open year-round, although its attraction, actions, and variety of guests shift by the season. Summer time is, unsurprisingly, the most well-liked time to go to, because the climate is hotter and the entire park’s amenities are open. For those who’re ready to navigate the crowds, you’ll be rewarded with good situations for driving the Going-to-the-Solar Street and the potential of seeing purple asters and beargrass, amongst different wildflower species within the park. “I imagine the very best time of yr to go to GNP is mid to late July [when] many of the snow has melted off the paths and the wildflowers begin blooming,” says Baldassari.

If you wish to keep away from the bumper-to-bumper site visitors of July and August, however nonetheless drive the whole Going-to-the-Solar Street, see wildlife, and get a glimpse of the colourful foliage, head to the park in early fall. “My private favourite time to go to Glacier is in September or October when the crowds have died down and we’re within the peak of fall colours,” says Lorona. “Typically, you’ll be able to even get the gorgeous mixture of snow-capped peaks up excessive and fall forest colours down low. It’s breathtaking.” Most roads within the nationwide park are open seasonally, so test the web site for present situations as you intend your journey.

Greatest Issues to Do

Drive Going-to-the-Solar Street.

If there’s one factor to test off your listing in Glacier Nationwide Park, it’s the 50-mile drive between West Glacier and St. Mary. “Driving Going-to-the-Solar Street at dawn or sundown is a deal with,” says Lorona. “I’ve pushed that street lots of of instances over time, and it all the time seems to be completely different as a result of it modifications with the climate, mild, and time of day.” The route takes you by glacial lakes, waterfalls, remark factors, and even throughout Logan Cross, the very best level on the street and the placement the place it crosses the Continental Divide.

Discover the park on horseback.

“Glacier is now extra fashionable as a climbing park, however all the paths within the park have been initially based through horseback, so there’s something very genuine and nostalgic about seeing the park’s magnificence from the again of a horse,” says Lorona. Her firm has stables at Many Glacier, Lake McDonald, Apgar, and West Glacier, and the crew gives a spread of trip sorts — from beginner-friendly one-hour experiences to half-day and full-day excursions for superior riders.

Get out on the water.

With greater than 700 lakes (131 of that are named) inside Glacier Nationwide Park, it comes as no shock that water actions take priority in the summertime months. “I really like swimming, paddleboarding, or kayaking in Lake McDonald. The water is crystal clear, which lets you see the rocks [that] are actually rainbow coloured,” says Lorona. Needless to say the water can be chilly, so it’s greatest to train warning and keep away from swimming for extended durations of time. Baldassari additionally recommends “rafting on the Center Fork of the Flathead,” and there are a number of firms that supply guided raft journeys alongside the category two and three whitewater rapids.

Attempt to see the northern lights.

Glacier Nationwide Park is a licensed Worldwide Darkish Sky Park and among the finest locations to see the northern lights in the US. As a result of elevated photo voltaic exercise, the aurora borealis is meant to be notably sturdy in 2024 and 2025; park guests can put together for a light-night viewing in Apgar Village or Logan Cross, or alongside the shorelines of St. Mary Lake or Lake McDonald.

Greatest Hikes

For those who’re going to Glacier Nationwide Park — dwelling to greater than 700 miles of climbing trails — you’ll wish to pack a lot of layers, water, and applicable footwear. You’ll want to analysis trails forward of time to pinpoint your excellent sort of hike, because the park has all the things from straightforward out-and-back routes to more difficult in a single day routes.

Highline Path

“One of the crucial gorgeous hikes within the park is the Highline Path, however it’s 12 miles and never for the faint of coronary heart,” says Lorona. The precise distance you hike might fluctuate, although, as there are a number of other ways to deal with the path. You possibly can both full it as a one-way path — from the Logan Cross Customer Middle to The Loop Trailhead, taking the shuttle again to your automotive — or as an out-and-back path; there’s additionally the choice to enterprise out to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, which provides about 1.6 miles to your trek.

Avalanche Lake

“Avalanche Lake is a extra accessible hike for all ranges of health,” says Lorona. Slightly below six miles in size, the climbing path can also be some of the trafficked routes within the park; it’s really helpful to begin your hike earlier within the morning if you wish to discover parking.

Hidden Lake Overlook

“A simple, but beautiful view can also be going to the Hidden Lake Overlook; it is a should,” says Baldassari. About 2.7 miles in complete, the route takes, on common, about an hour and 20 minutes to finish, and it’s identified for its mountain goat sightings in the summertime months.

Different Climbing Trails in Glacier Nationwide Park

DesRosier additionally suggests “getting off the street onto a much less fashionable path,” recommending Aster Park Overlook to Two Medication, Peigan Cross to Siyeh Bend, and Ptarmigan Tunnel to Many Glacier.

Locations to Keep

Inns and Lodges

“If you’re trying to keep instantly within the nationwide park and wish a couple of extra facilities, Many Glacier Resort is my favourite historic lodge,” says DesRosier. Lorona can also be a fan of the 214-room property, which she says is “on the east aspect and situated proper on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake… discuss gorgeous views.” Lake McDonald Lodge, which dates again to 1913, is one other nice choice, with 82 visitor rooms, three eating choices, and modest but comfy facilities.

Historic Chalets

Two of the unique 9 chalets in-built Glacier Nationwide Park stay open in the present day for in a single day vacationers — and our consultants agree they’re a magical addition to any summer season journey.  “If you’re extraordinarily fortunate, and are up for some climbing, Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet are once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” says DesRosier. Lorona notes that “getting a room might be troublesome as they promote out in a short time, however [it’s] so value it.” Reservations might be made on-line for each chalets. 

Campgrounds

Tenting could be a extra reasonably priced lodging choice, and Glacier is dwelling to over 1,000 tenting websites throughout 13 frontcountry campgrounds. Reserving a campsite is very really helpful, particularly for those who’re touring to Glacier anytime between June and early September; most campgrounds might be booked on Recreation.gov. Baldassari recommends Apgar Campground or St. Mary Campground, and Lorona is keen on “the backcountry campgrounds within the Stomach River space as a result of it feels off the crushed path.” Alternatively, says DesRosier, “If you’re tenting and are okay with being on the periphery of the park, you’ll be able to have phenomenal views of the mountains and revel in much less crowded areas at any of the Blackfeet Tribal Campgrounds: Crimson Eagle, Chewing Black Bones, and Buffalo Calf.”

Locations to Eat

“There are very restricted choices throughout the nationwide park,” says DesRosier, “however the eating room within the Glacier Park Lodge and [the] Prince of Wales Resort are particular highlights.” Or, as Lorona suggests, be happy to carry a “picnic lunch [to eat] alongside a lake or waterfall or on high of a peak.” Different eating places within the park embrace Eddie’s Café, Russell’s Hearth Eating Room at Lake McDonald Lodge, and Nell’s at Swiftcurrent.

The variety of eating places and locations to eat will increase simply outdoors of the park. “If I have been to go to a restaurant, I might go to Final Greatest Pizza proper outdoors the park’s west entrance if I needed one thing informal. If I used to be in search of one thing a bit fancier, I might do The Kitchen at Josephine’s Speakeasy in Coram,” says Lorona. Baldassari says considered one of her favorites is the Sunflower Cafe at Glacier Campground by the park’s west entrance.