Glacier National Park: Crown of the Continent

Iceberg Lake

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Iceberg Lake lies below Iceberg Peak in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park.

Established in 1910, Glacier National Park is one of the oldest national parks in America. It’s often called the “Crown of the Continent.” The awe-inspiring scenery is seemingly endless with 25 named glaciers, 762 lakes, 175+ named mountains and over 200 named waterfalls. Glacier National Park contains over 1 million acres, including 745 miles of maintained hiking trails, making it a hiker’s paradise. While in Glacier National Park, also be sure to keep your eyes open for wildlife including the amazingly majestic mountain goats.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Grinnell Glacier and Lake McDonald are just a few of the places in the park loved by visitors. Another beloved sight in Glacier National Park are the Red Jammers, which are the red buses often seen giving tours to visitors.

Summer is peak season in Glacier National Park, as many of the park’s roads are unplowed and impassable in the winter. However, if you happen to be in the area during the winter, it is definitely worth stopping. The Apgar Village and Lake McDonald areas are open year-round, and some of the popular activities are skiing and snowshoeing. You can even ski or snowshoe on the portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road that is closed to motorized vehicles in the winter.

At the west entrance of the park, West Glacier is a quaint village with plenty of amenities and activities. West Glacier is also a station stop for Amtrak’s Empire Builder train. Nearby, Whitefish and Kalispell are also great options for exploring Glacier National Park and beyond!

Facts & Stats

Glacier National Park is part of the world’s first international peace park. In 1932, Glacier and neighboring Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada were designated the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.