As the name suggests, Glacier National Park does have glaciers. Glaciers helped to form and shape the huge rock formations, and the glaciers in the park today are the remnants of the very glaciers that formed the park. If you think glaciers and the history of the park are interesting, there are many places in the park to get information on the formation of the glaciers and how they cut through the rock. If this isn’t particularly interesting to you, don’t worry, there are many great things to do and see in the park that don’t actually involve glaciers.
For those who would enjoy a scenic drive, Going To The Sun Road is for you. This 50 mile road was finished in 1932 and extends all the way across the park. “It passes through almost every type of terrain in the park, from large glacial lakes and cedar forests in the lower valleys to windswept alpine tundra atop the pass” (Glacier National Park). There are many places to pull over for scenic overlooks, and it is recommended to drive the road from either direction as you get a different experience going each way. Another fun fact about the road is that it was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1985. I will definitely take a long drive on this road if I ever get the chance! But beware if you are afraid of heights, this road does come pretty close to some steep cliffs!
There are endless hiking opportunities in Glacier National park, and you can see many unique features such as glacial lakes, waterfalls, snowcapped mountains, and valleys carved out by glaciers. Jake Bramante hiked all 734 miles of trails in the park in one summer in 2011, becoming the first person to do so (Glacier National Park). He has posted a lot of information online about his experiences and his posts are a great way to get firsthand comparisons of trails and information on the best day hikes to complete.
On top of all the scenery and hiking opportunities, the nearby town of Whitefish was named one of the “Top 25 Ski Towns in the World” by National Geographic (Glacier National Park). It is clear from the picture below that this is a huge skiing destination with many trails at the base of a huge mountain. You can see why those with a love of skiing (like me) would want to come to Whitefish for a great time on the slopes. Even if you don’t enjoy skiing though, you can come to Whitefish just to shop, go to the theater, eat great food and just enjoy the cheerful atmosphere of the town.
Glacier National Park is a great place to go hiking, go for a scenic drive, see glaciers, see waterfalls and lakes, and is even nearby one of the best skiing destinations in the world. There are so many things to do here, and I really hope I get to come to Glacier National Park one day, and maybe even go to Whitefish to go skiing while I’m at it.
Citation:
Glacier National Park, Montana, 9 Aug. 2021, https://www.visitmt.com/places-to-go/glacier-national-park
Wow, how beautiful! I have never seen glaciers in real-life before. I would love to drive through that long road throughout the park. I haven’t skied before, but that looks super fun too! That town looks adorable. Another great post 🙂
Glacier National Park is on my list of destinations to visit, too! I am fortunate enough to have been ice climbing on similar glaciers, and I think that being able to hike, ski, and explore the glaciers would be fascinating here, too! I’m also always down for a scenic view. Thank you for the pretty posts – they always make me smile!
I love how you used photos to emphasize the beauty of Glacier National Park, its definitely amazing to look at. I love long car rides and road trips so I know I would love to Going to The Sun right. I hope one day I will be able to see it myself. Fantastic post! So excited to see more.