Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana, on the Canada–United States border, adjacent to the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1 million acres and includes parts of two mountain ranges, over 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species of animals. This vast pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of what has been referred to as the “Crown of the Continent Ecosystem,” a region of protected land encompassing 16,000 square miles. You can easily spend a week in the expansive park and not see everything as it truly is one of the jewels of the national park system.
The town of West Glacier on the western side of the park makes a good entrance point.
The only road traversing the park is the “Going to the Sun Road” which is snowbound as late as July in some years.
Beginning at the West Glacier entrance there is a wonderful park campground with very secluded sites available.
This is definitely bear country so be sure to take precautions when camping or hiking.
The rangers will confiscate your cooler if you leave it out on your picnic table.
The many lakes in the park are beautiful with their frame of mountains surrounding them.
As you wind your way up the Going to the Sun Road,
you will pass many waterfalls and cascades coming down the cliff faces,
the snow drifts on the side of the road are enormous even into late summer.
Logan Pass is the pinnacle of the road on the continental divide.
On the eastern end of the park is the Many Glacier region with its numerous hiking trails and its grand hotel.
