Beautiful Glacier National Park: The “Crown of the Continent”

Glacier National Park is #10. The tenth National Park established in the US on May 11, 1910. The Kootenai tribe referred to it as “the place where there is a lot of Ice”. The nickname this park has received, the “Crown of the Continent” really describes it so well. With 26 glaciers, it really is an amazing geological marvel. With over 1 million acres protected and preserved, there are still over 700 miles of trails for us wilderness wanderers to discover enjoy. But, could it be slipping away? This post doesn’t get into debates about climate and reasons why changes are happening. Yet, from 1966-2015, every named glacier significantly reduced in size, some by more than 80%. Read more about these alarming changes here. Why not plan a visit to this ‘Crown Jewel’ and experience its breathtaking wonder?

Trail Details

• Length: 700+ miles of trails
• Difficulty Level: Beginner to Expert
• Camping: Having 13 campgrounds, over 1,000 sites and backpack camping, options are nearly endless. Check it out here.
• Permits/Fees: Entrance fee per family car $35 (annual Pass $70) [The Us Park Pass $80]
  • Some vehicle reservations are required at certain times of the year. ($2.00 each) Check it out here.
• Favorite season: May-September are the busiest Months.
• Pets: Allowed in some areas, however, not on trails. See restrictions here.

What to expect:

• Terrain: Easy to very difficult
• Water: Abundant throughout most areas
• Wildlife: Bear, Lynx, Elk, Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Lions, Beaver, Wolverine. Home to 71 species of mammals. The largest population for Grizzlies and densest population of Wolverine in the lower 48.

Location & Trails

This park offers over 1 million acres to wander in Montana, USA. You won’t tire of things to be amazed at, with 700+ miles of trails, 762 Lakes, 175 Mountains, and 26 Glaciers! There is something for everyone. How do you choose where to start? Being a very busy park, especially May-September, it is best to plan your visit ahead of time. Here is a page that helps you deal with crowds. Why not plan your trip outside of peak season? Or plan to take the road a little less traveled. With so many trails available, there are spectacular views everywhere – they may just take a little extra effort.

Looking for a quick or easy hike? Then start with a trail like Barring Falls, rated an easy hike, and only 0.7 miles. Even so, you will be rewarded with seeing the small waterfall. And if the water is flowing rapidly, you may even feel the mist coming off of it. Want more? Try Red Eagle Lake via Saint Marry Lake and Red Eagle Lake Trail. Rated a hard hike, and 68.6 miles this will provide much more – being at least an overnight or multiple nights trip. But the reward? You will also see several more waterfalls! Would you like to paddle along a river? Try North Fork Flathead River Paddle rated moderate (it is 55.9 miles). This trail will provide multiple days of paddling adventure with great sights along the way. Still having trouble choosing where to begin? I know – I want to see it all too! Well, take a few weeks off, bring your comfy hiking shoes, and try Glacier National Park Full Traverse – Kintla Lake to Lake McDonald This point to point trail is rated hard, and at a lengthy 91.8 miles, you are sure to discover a LOT of Glacier National Park!

As you plan your trip, schedule some time to look through AllTrails list of Glacier National Parks Trails here. But be forewarned, once you start investigating… you will have to go! With so many options and the beautiful sites to see, it will no doubt become a must on your travel bucket list.

Parking

Check out AllTrails here to determine where you want to wander and were you will need to park. Also note: vehicle reservations are required at certain times of the year. ($2.00 each) Check it out here.

Trip Recommendations:

We don’t have any … yet. We would like to ask you for recommendations. That’s right, your input matters. Wilderness Wanderers will be taking a trip next year determined by our readers. Be sure to read these other blog posts:

• Denali National Park & Preserve: Home of the “Great Mountain”
• The Great Yellowstone National Park
• The Amazing Grand Canyon National Park From Rim to Rim

Wilderness wanderers will be wandering off to whichever of these parks that receives the most ‘Likes’ next year! So be sure to like your favorite at the bottom of the page. Paid subscribers will also gain access to a photo gallery that will be made available, so be sure to subscribe!

Also don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram to receive notifications about new posts and for more info on which park we will be visiting (based off of your input).