Glacier National Park
Rivaling one of the United States’ most spectacular national parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park is made up of jagged peaks formed by dramatic geological thrusts and carved by ancient ice. fulfilled. But its mountains and dense forests are just the tip of the well-known iceberg here. The glacier boasts deep indigenous connections, one of the most scenic park trails in the entire national park system, a historic “parktecture” lodge, and 740 miles of the intermittent escarpment. Trails with migration of grizzly bears and moose. Glacier National Park Highlights Glacier’s Glaciers There are now 26 glaciers in the park (35 were identified and named in 1966), more than any other national park in the United States, including North Cascades (over 300) and Mount Rainier (with 25). Many people are surprised to learn that there are far fewer 1). Mountain). Today’s visitor may be the last to actually see a glacier in the park. Current figures suggest that the park could be glacier-free by 2030 if current warming trends continue. Head to the Jackson Glacier Overlook for an easily accessible viewpoint. This popular pullover is just a short walk from the Gunsite Pass starting point and offers distant views of his fifth largest glacier in the park. Going to the Sun Road A strong contender for America’s Most Spectacular Road, the 50-mile Going to the Sun Road was created for the express purpose of allowing visitors to explore the interior of the park without having to hike. was built in A National Historic Landmark, this engineering wonder traverses Logan Pass (6,646 feet) and is surrounded by hiking trails, waterfalls, and endless vistas. The opening of the road marks the official start of the park’s busy summer season. Logan Pass Logan Pass is named after the glacier’s first keeper, William R. Logan. The pass sits above the treeline of the windswept Continental Divide and is blocked with snow most of the year. This is the highest point in the park where you can drive on the road. There are two of his trails, the Hidden Lake Overlook leading into Hidden Lake itself and the High Line from here. The scenery is amazing. However, the parking situation is not. During peak hours, you may spend a lot of time looking for a parking space. Two Medicine Valleys Prior to the construction of the Going to the Sun Road in the 1930s, Two Medicine Valley was just a 12-mile (12-mile) horse ride from the Great Northern Railway and the newly built Glacier Park Lodge, making it the park’s most He was one of the most accessible hubs. Renowned for its healthy bear population and steeped in Aboriginal beliefs, the area has never lost its haunting beauty, although it has seen fewer visitors in recent times. The 8,020-foot Triple Divide Peak, located about 3 miles northwest, marks the hydrological peak of the North American continent. Emptying the bucket of water at the top, he flows into three oceans: Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic. Hiking Glacier National Park has nearly 1,000 miles of hiking trails, from short trips just off Going to the Sun Road to epic backpacking trips into bear country. Here are some of the highlights of the trail. High Line Trail One of the glacier’s classics, the Highline Trail follows the famous Garden Wall to Granite Park Chalet. Granite Park Chalet is he one of two historic lodges accessible only by trail. The summer slopes are covered with alpine plants and wild grasses, and the scenery is spectacular. With only 800 feet of elevation gain over 7.6 miles, you’ll hardly break a sweat. Iceberg Lake Trail Just one of his most popular glacier hikes, this 14.5 km round-trip tour takes you to the eponymous deep cirque, surrounded by 914 m high vertical walls. The icebergs floating on the quiet surface of the lake in the middle of summer are breathtakingly beautiful. The climb into the Many Glacier Valley is fairly gradual, passing wildflower meadows with spectacular views. Sunpoint to Virginia Falls The myriad trailheads along the eastern side of Going to the Sun Road are conveniently served by the free park shuttle, offering many short interconnected hikes, of which Some can be combined into a decent morning or afternoon walk. Follow the busy St. Mary Falls Trail, winding up through the trees to the most picturesque waterfalls in the valley, surrounded by the colorful foliage of the St. Mary River. Beyond here, the trail branches off along Virginia Creek, past narrow canyons, and onto the mist-shrouded (and quieter) Virginia Falls. Round trip to Virginia Falls is approximately 7 miles. An easy hike takes about 4 hours. Piegan Pass A popular hike among glacier fans. The trail begins on the Going-to-the-Sun Road at a convenient shuttle stop at Siyeh Bend, east of Logan Pass, and takes you to Many Glacier, the mystical heart of the glacier. Also St. Mary and Whitefish. You’ll also pass through colorful Preston Park, one of the most beautiful and happy alpine meadows in the region. The 12.8-mile trail (6-hour journey) begins at the Siyeh Bend shuttle stop. Dawson, Pitamacan Pass Loop This epic his 18.8-mile hike along an exposed ridge that crosses the Continental Divide twice, for the ambitious and fit he can be completed in one day. Blessed with two spectacular mountain passes and home to a myriad of flora and fauna, including grizzly bears, the site is often touted by park rangers as one of his highlights of glacier hiking. Accommodation options near Glacier National Park Glacier’s classic ‘marketecture’ lodges — many of the Glacier Hotels, Lake Macdonald Lodges, and Glacier Park Lodges — are separate locations where travelers to this wilderness park arrive by train and set out on their adventures. A living, breathing, functioning artifact of the (later) era. Backcountry on horseback. But there’s more to staying in Glacier National Park. There are also popular backcountry chalets, numerous campgrounds for RV travelers and tent campers, and motel-style accommodations in and