THE BACKBONE OF THE WORLD

A place you have to see to believe.

Known as the Crown of the Continent and described by American Indians as the Backbone of the World, Glacier National Park is altogether stunning. Massive prehistoric glaciers cut through the landscape, leaving 1 million acres of awe-inspiring terrain carved into jagged mountain peaks, hanging valleys and high alpine meadows. Today, the park is home to hundreds of lakes, 734 miles of maintained trails, rolling foothills, striking rock faces, cascading waterfalls, 25 glaciers and some of the most jaw-dropping views in the world.

If it’s your first visit to the park, you’re well-advised to set out on the Going-to-the-Sun Road; just note that you’ll need to plan ahead for a vehicle reservation, as described in the box below. This 50-mile drive is both an engineering marvel and National Historic Landmark, and it’s pretty easy on the eyes. The road connects West Glacier and St. Mary—winding through some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and cresting the Continental Divide at 6,646 feet at Logan Pass. You can drive private vehicles (size restrictions apply) on park roads, but plan to soak up the sights and leave the driving to someone else by booking an interpretive red bus tour with Glacier National Park Lodges or a Blackfeet interpretive tour with Sun Tours. Both tours operate May to October and are an insightful and educational way to learn about the park, its history and its terrain. Sun Tours offers the chance to see the park from the cultural and historical perspective of the Blackfeet Tribe. The National Park Service also operates a free shuttle system from July to Labor Day.

Vehicle Reservation For Glacier National Park

Vehicle reservations are required for most areas of the park from 6 a.m. – 3 p.m., including the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork, May 26 to September 10, 2023, and Two Medicine, Many Glacier and Rising Sun, July 1 to September 10, 2023. You will need to purchase a vehicle reservation in advance for each area on recreation.gov. In addition to vehicle reservations, park passes are required for park entrance. Learn more at nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations.htm

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is the most visited place in Glacier National Park, but the park is also home to other exceptionally beautiful and less-explored areas. Visit the North Fork—home to Kintla and Bowman lakes—Two Medicine, Many Glacier and Goat Haunt. Visitors with service reservations in the park (lodging, camping, commercial tours) do not need a vehicle reservation for that day in that section of the park.

Exploring the park by water and trail is easy, with concessionaires, businesses and outfitters in and around the park providing a variety of travel options. Inside the park, take a guided hiking or biking trip with Glacier Guides, hop aboard one of Glacier Park Boat Company’s historic wooden boats, set out on a horseback trail ride with Swan Mountain Outfitters or embark on a multiday hiking trip with Travel Montana. Outside the park, sign up for a whitewater or scenic float trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River (which borders the park) with one of the rafting companies in West Glacier. Not sure where to begin? Glacier Planner can help you plan your trip to the park.

Summer sees the most visitors here, but it’s important to note that Glacier National Park is open— and breathtaking—all year long. During fall, wildlife-watching opportunities are in abundance and the autumn foliage is some of Montana’s most vibrant. Winter transforms the park into a lifesize snow globe, and fresh, pristine powder is ideal for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and backcountry exploration. Spring is a draw for hikers and bikers, with early-season access on the Going-to-the-Sun Road before it opens to vehicular traffic. In the fall, bicyclists and hikers can also access the road vehicle-free. Though services within the park are limited during non-peak seasons, the vibrant communities just outside the park offer plenty of authentic Glacier Country lodging and amenities.

Please travel and recreate responsibly. That means planning ahead and being prepared. Monitor park dashboards and social channels for weather and gate information, parking lot availability, and closures: glaciermt.com/gtsr, nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm, twitter.com/GlacierNPS. Have a backup plan in the event that the park is at capacity. glaciermt.com/outside-glacier-park