Glacier Country in Montana is home to Glacier National Park. This region of the state features wilderness areas, crystal-clear lakes and streams. Recreational activities include golfing and fishing.
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of the state contains numerous mountain ranges; other 'island' ranges are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name, derived from the Spanish word
montaña (mountain). The state nickname is the "Treasure State." Other nicknames include "Land of Shining Mountains," "Big Sky Country," and the slogan "The Last Best Place."
Among the various attractions of Montana the most visited and popular spots are
- Glacier National Park
- National Bison Range
- Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site that is on the northern border of Montana in the United States of America. Glacier National Park borders
Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada — the two parks are known as the
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and were designated as the world's first International Peace Park in 1932. Both parks were designated by the United Nations as Biosphere Reserves in 1976, and in 1995 as
World Heritage sites. Glacier National Park is a stunning display of the geological processes that changed North America over the last billion years. The rock formations in the park are almost entirely sedimentary, laid down between 1600 to 800 million years ago when this area was an inland sea. They were uplifted during the formation of the Rockies beginning around 170 million years ago, and today contain some of the best Proterozoic fossils in the world. The mountains were carved into their present form by the advance and retreat of glaciers during the last ice age, and the park, as its name suggests, contains an abundance of glacial features, including lakes, valleys, and remnant glaciers.
In the rocky northwest corner of Montana, Glacier National Park encompasses 1.2 million acres (1,563 square mi) of untrammeled wilds. Within the park, there are 37 named glaciers (which are ever-so-slowly diminishing), 200 lakes, and 1,000 mi of streams. Neighboring Waterton Lakes National Park, across the border in Alberta, Canada, covers another 130,000 acres. In 1932 the parks were unified to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park—the first international peace park in the world—in recognition of the two nations' friendship and dedication to peace.
West Glacier. Known to the Kootenai people as "sacred dancing lake," Lake McDonald is the largest glacial water basin lake in Glacier National Park.
Logan Pass. At 6,646 feet, this is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. From mid-June to mid-October, a 1.5mi boardwalk leads to an overlook that crosses an area filled with lush meadows and wildflowers.
East Glacier. St. Mary Lake and Many Glacier are the major highlights of the eastern side of Glacier. Services and amenities are at both sites.
Backcountry. This is some of the most incredible terrain in North America and provides the right combination of beautiful scenery and isolation. Although Waterton is a much smaller park, its backcountry trails connect with hiking trails in both Glacier and British Columbia's Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park.
The major attractions are
Avalanche Greek
Avalanche Creek is a deep and narrow gorge that cuts through red mudstone filled with potholes. A trail travels to Avalanche Basin and Lake which has many waterfalls.
Going to the sun road
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a 50mi/80km scenic roadway that features stunning views of Glacier National Park.
Sperry Chalet
Sperry Chalet was built in 1913 by James J and son Louis Hill of the Great Northern Railway. The buildings are built of native rock and consist of a two- story hotel building and a kitchen/dining room building. The chalet can only be reached by foot or horseback.
With these attractions we can do lot of things and enjoy the place to a large extent.
Glaciers Heli Tour:
We can see the breathtaking beauty of the glaciers through the Helicopter tours.Several service providers provide the facility for a reasonable amount and duration.The one hour tour encompasses the entire Park. The half hour tour gives you a very good cross section of Glacier Park enabling you to view the Park’s major glaciers and lakes. Prices range from $60 to $90.
Glacier Park Boat Co.
It serves 5 locations in Glacier National Park including Many Glacier - Lake McDonald - St. Mary Lake - Two Medicine and Apgar. Narrated "scenicruises" boat tours are offered daily in the summer and usually leave every hour, but schedules are subject to change due to weather.
Glacier Sun Tours
It offers daily tours where you will learn some valuable insights and cultural past to this incredibly beautiful land known to the Blackfeet people as the "Backbone of the World".
Glacier Institute
It offers exceptional field and science-based adventures to people of all ages conducting field classes and seminars to study the geologic, wildlife, and spiritual aspects of the park.
Glacier Raft Company
From Glacier Outdoor Center, offers fishing, whitewater rafting, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing and log cabins provide all the comforts of home along with breathtaking views of the mountains of Glacier National Park. Montana's oldest whitewater rafting Company.
Horseback Riding
Bring your own horses or rent them locally, but be aware that restrictions apply to private animals. A free brochure outlining horseback riding regulations is available from the Park Service. Mule Shoe Outfitters invites one and all to come and join us on horse rides through spectacular Glacier National Park. Experienced wranglers will accompany you, explaining the history of the Park along with its flora and fauna. Trips are available from Many Glacier Corral on the east side, Lake McDonald Corral near Lake McDonald Lodge and Apgar right past the entrance on the west side.
GolgfingGlacier View Golf Course in West Glacier is a family friendly course, The clubhouse includes a Pro Shop, restaurant and lounge with a welcoming fireplace - perfect for events and tournaments.
Flathead Lake is one of the most beautiful places on earth and we believe there is a law against visiting northwest Montana without stopping at Flathead Lake.
National Bison Range
Bisons, antelopes, elks and other animals can be observed from signposted roads in this reserve, north of Missoula in the Flathead Reservation. As a complete contrast, the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, further to the north, has an astonishing collection of pure American kitsch.
The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation.As its name implies, the Refuge was established to support a population of American bison. It is home to about 350-500 of these animals. Other large wildlife found on the Range include elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and black bear. Because of its open grasslands, the Bison Range is a place for the public to enjoy some excellent wildlife observation and photography.With 250,000 visitors per year, the National Bison Range is receiving more visitors than it can comfortably handle and so does not advertise its existence.
The Loop gains 2000 feet in elevation and magnificent views are to be had of the sea of mountains rolling away in every direction. The 10,000-foot peaks of the Mission Mountains can be seen to the east. There are picnic areas, and hiking trails, with clear instructions as to where you can and can’t be out of your car.
Waterton Glacier International ParkThe Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the name of the union of the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and the Glacier National Park in the United States. Both parks are declared Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO and their union as a World Heritage Site.The union of the parks was achieved through the efforts of Rotary International members from Alberta and Montana in 1932. The dedication address was given by Sir Charles Arthur Mander, second baronet. It was the world's first International Peace Park, symbolising peace and friendship between the two countries.
Located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park is bordered to the south by the state of Montana and on the west side of the continental divide by the province of British Columbia. Due to its small size (505 sq. km/202 sq. miles), cooperative management between all of its neighbours is essential for the protection of the park's environment. For example, one male grizzly can occupy a home range three times the size of the park!
Some of these concerns were addressed with the establishment of the Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park (IPP) in 1932. Today, cooperation between both parks allows for the joint management of a larger part of the ecosystem. The following is a brief overview of the evolution of Waterton/Glacier IPP.
Waterton Lakes National Park was established in 1895. By 1910, Glacier had become a National Park as well. John George 'Kootenai' Brown, Waterton's first park official, and American ranger Henry 'Death on the Trail' Reynolds (Goat Haunt Montana) were the first proponents of the International Peace Park idea.The idea for an International Peace Park was taken a step further by the Cardston Rotary Club, who initiated a meeting of several regional clubs from Alberta and Montana. In 1931, at the Prince of Wales Hotel, the first "annual goodwill meeting" convened to discuss the desire to foster "a worldwide International Peace Movement". The idea of establishing an International Peace Park in the Waterton/Glacier area was unanimously endorsed.
Come and experience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker's paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, transportation, and stories of Native Americans. Explore Glacier National Park and discover what awaits you.
Glacier preserves over 1,000,000 acres of forests, alpine meadows, and lakes. Its diverse habitats are home to over 70 species of mammals and over 260 species of birds. The spectacular glaciated landscape is a hikers paradise containing 700 miles of maintained trails that lead deep into one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states.
The park contains over 350 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and six National Historic Landmarks.
Named for the rivers of ice that continue to carve its spectacular alpine landscape here, Glacier continually ranks as the most pristine of America's national parks and the one people would most like to revisit.
Don't be surprised if a hike in the park leads to a grizzly bear tearing lazily into a rotten log for a meal of tasty grubs; grizzly sightings are a tradition here, and a guarantor that hikers take precautions like clapping, singing, and wearing bells on their bootlaces to make sure the encounters are from a safe distance. Glacier also is home to wolves, mountain lions, and mountain goats.
The same remote quality that makes Glacier hospitable to these solitary species makes it less accessible than other national parks; a visit to Glacier demands a bit more effort before it surrenders its charms. But it won't take long for you to discover that this is one of the park system's true gems.
Enjoyment Events
Drive to the Sun
Going-to-the-Sun Road is the marquee drive in Glacier and perhaps the most scenic stretch of tarmac in all of North America. It has been described as a "don't look down" road. It bisects the northern and southern halves of the park, crosses the Continental Divide, and is designated a National Historic Landmark. If you have quads of steel, then consider bicycling Going-to-the Sun. The screaming descent is worth the uphill toil. Whatever the size of your vehicle, be sure to detour into the numerous turnoffs for awesome views of mountainsides and wildflowers.
Hike the Nations Spine
Glacier National Park boasts some of the most remote backcountry hiking in the Lower 48 and nearly 700 miles of maintained trails. The eastern slope of the Divide tends to be drier and it has more dramatic alpine scenery. The southern part of the park is more remote and less visited. A great and vigorous hike to the Continental Divide is on the Dason-Pitamakan trail. It climbs through diverse landscapes to the Continental Divide and then explores the Dry Fork drainage. The trail starts at the Two Medicine north shore trailhead and travels more than 16 miles out and back over moderately strenuous terrain with an elevation gain of 2,935 feet.
Carve Tracks in the Mountains
Western slopes in the northern Rockies are famous for their dry, powdery snow, and Glacier is no exception. Telemark and cross-country skiers alike can get their "freshies" (first tracks after a big snow) throughout the park free from the sounds and smells of snowmobiles, which blessedly are prohibited in the park. The route most suited to a mellow Nordic trek is the Upper Lake MacDonald Trail, which follows Going-to-the-Sun Road for 8 miles. The Autumn Creek Trail near Marias Pass offers a more remote ski experience, but also puts skiers into avalanche country. Check snow conditions before heading out.
Cast for Dolly Varden
You won't find Brad Pitt in Glacier National Park, but you might snare Dolly Varden. Fly fishing in the park is rated as world-class, with cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden trout, eastern brook trout, arctic grayling, and kokanee salmon on the menu. Another plus: Out-of-staters don't need a license to fish at Glacier. Lake fishing tends to be better than stream fishing, with good fishing reported at Elizabeth, Ellen Wilson, Grace, Hidden, and Isabel Lakes. The North Fork of the Flathead is known as the best stream fishing, but because spring runoff is so dramatic all rivers are best fished from mid-July through September.
Paddle the Spring Melt
The opaque emerald waters of the North Fork and the Middle Fork of the Flathead entice hundreds of courageous paddlers every spring when the melting snowpack and glacial runoff swell this river into a raging monster. The Middle Fork is known as the wildest river in Montana as it traces Glacier's western border. Shaefer Meadows, about 25 miles upriver from Bear Creek, has an airstrip and is the most frequent starting point for wilderness rafting trips.
Waterton Lakes National Park has a variety of activities you can enjoy year round! Immerse yourself in the peaceful serenity of the park in the Winter and take in some cross country skiing, snow shoeing, or just a stroll in the snow! Hiking trails are open year-round, offering a unique experience, breathtaking scenery, and a variety of flora and fauna. Waterton Park offers a huge variety of fishing experiences. You can fish at the most beautiful alpine lakes the Rocky Mountains have to offer. Waterton Lakes is home to a huge variety of animals and birds, giving you the opportunity to experience wildlife in its natural habitat.
Glacier's Shuttle SystemIn July of 2007, park visitors were able to access many destinations along the Going-to-the-Sun Road while enjoying the spectacular scenery by riding on one of the park’s optional and environmentally-friendly shuttle buses. The shuttle system was established to offer a travel option for visitors to avoid traffic and parking problems associated with rehabilitation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and to offer an alternative to driving for park users.
The transit system provides two-way service along Going-to-the-Sun Road between the Apgar Transit Center and St. Mary Visitor Center. Buses run every 15 or 30 minutes dependent on location and time of day between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to use a wide range of information at the Apgar Transit Center and St. Mary Visitor Center to assist in understanding the full range of options to enjoy the park. There is no additional charge to ride the shuttle, no tickets are required, and transit stops are clearly marked along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The concepts of peace and solitude are indivisible from the natural beauty and international location of the Waterton-Glacier landscape. It is an example to the world of what conservation and cooperation can achieve - tangible evidence of goodwill between nations and nature.
As visitors look down the Upper Waterton Valley or glance across Cameron lake, their thoughts of awe and inspiration move freely from one mountain peak to another. And just as their thoughts move freely across the 49th so do the waters, the fish, the pollen, the seeds, the birds, the deer and the bears.
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
whc.unesco.org
www.watertonpark.com
gorp.away.com
glacier.areaparks.com
www.nps.gov
www.pc.gc.ca
www.planetware.com
wikitravel.org
www.glaciernationalpark.name
www.fodors.com
www.fws.gov
www.gonorthwest.com
