Glacier National Park, Montana

 Glacier National Park is located in the U.S. state of Montana, south from the Canadian borders of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km²) and includes parts of two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), 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 (41,000 km²).

The region that became Glacier National Park was first inhabited by Native Americans and upon the arrival of European explorers, was dominated by the Blackfeet in the east and the Flathead in the western regions. Soon after the establishment of the park on May 11, 1910, a number of hotels and chalets were constructed by the Great Northern Railway. These historic hotels and chalets are listed as National Historic Landmarks, and a total of 350 locations are on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1932, work was completed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, later designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, which provided greater accessibility for automobiles into the heart of the park.

Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It's crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700 miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly bears.

 

Address: West Glacier, MT, United States

Area: 4,101 km²

Hours:

Open today · Open 24 hours

Phone: +1 406-888-7800

Established: May 11, 1910

Management: National Park Service

Current Conditions

Roads, Campground, and Services
Winter snows are here, so roads are starting to close for the season. The section of road from the West Entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge is maintained year-round, but may close for brief periods immediately after heavy snows. You may call 406-888-7800 (press 2) or visit the current road status webpage for current information.
Winter camping is available at St. Mary and Apgar.
Visitor services in the park have closed for the season, with the exception of one or two private businesses in Apgar Village. Come prepared to be self-sufficient.

 

Wildlife
Bears are being seen in areas throughout the park. This is the time of year that they are making their final efforts to gain weight for winter hibernation. They may been seen in any area of the park, even developed areas.
Winter places great stress on animals so it is important to provide them as much space as possible. If an animal reacts to your presence you are too close. Please remain at least 100 yards away from bears or wolves, and no closer than 25 yards of any other wildlife.
 It is always a good idea to check our safety information concerning wildlife and humans.

 

Weather
Weather is always unpredictable in the mountains. Be prepared for all types of weather! For a clickable map of Glacier National Park weather visit the National Weather Service Recreation Safety Forecast for Glacier National Park. For a text version of the weather forecast for Glacier visit their Glacier National Park Forecast page. Visit our Weather page for information on temperature averages.

For information on air quality in the park and surrounding region, please visit the Montana Department of Environmental Quality website.