Glacier National Park

While skiing is the main attraction for locals and tourists in the winter, in the summer it’s visiting Glacier National Park. Glacier is considered to be one of the best-preserved ecosystems in the country. You can discover all kinds of plants and animals in their natural habitat.

Combined with its Canadian neighbor, Waterton Lakes National Park, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glacier National Park (GNP) covers about 90% of the international park. So you have a lot of places to explore on your visits!

From squirrels and grizzly bears to wolverines and elk, the wildlife you may encounter is vast and sometimes dangerous. It’s important to learn about the animals in the areas of the park you’re visiting so you know how to react. It is also important to bring a bear spray and to know how to use it in case of danger. Don’t worry, it’s not often that you find yourself in such a situation, but better safe than sorry!

GNP is not only known for its biodiversity. In fact, the park has been featured in several major movies. Going-to-the-Sun Road is the road to the Overlook from The Shining. For fans of Forrest Gump, if you continue on the road past Logan Pass, you will see St. Mary Lake which Forrest describes in the movie.

Hiking in Glacier National Park

Probably the most popular activity for those who come to visit Glacier National Park, hiking allows access to points you can’t drive to. Prepare your backpack with a picnic, your camera, your bear spray and why not binoculars to better examine the panorama in search of animals!

Put on your best hiking boots and most importantly, leave early! Especially during the period from late June to July, the park welcomes most of its 3 million annual visitors. It is therefore essential to leave at the crack of dawn to find a parking space at the start of your hike! You can also visit the park outside of summer, but a significant portion of the park will be inaccessible due to large amounts of snow blocking the roads (yes, even in early June).

Before you leave, find out how difficult the hike will be. While some of the hikes are easy and accessible to everyone, some of the elevation changes can be daunting. In some cases, you will need several cars: one to be dropped off at the end of the trail and one to take you to the beginning.

Other activities in Glacier National Park

From fishing to cross-country skiing, camping to biking. Visiting Glacier National Park is about more than just hiking! To learn more about the park you can also visit the visitor center. There you will find several interactive activities to better understand the park’s ecosystem. What animals live in the park, where they live etc…

Backpacking in the park

Want to get as close to nature as possible? Go on a multi-day hike and take your tent with you! By going for several days you will have the opportunity to discover the park and its areas less impacted by human presence. Don’t forget to take enough food and water filters to avoid weighing down your pack with too much liquid. The most important rule remains “Pack it in, pack it out”. Everything you bring into the park must come out with you. Minimize your impact by collecting all your trash. This also applies to organic waste such as banana peels for example. These are not native to the area and could make the local wildlife sick.