Glacier National Park in Montana encompasses a large portion of the Rocky Mountain region of northwest Montana and even crosses the border into Canada to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
The land that makes up Glacier National Park is both wild and majestic. More than 75% of it remains pristine wilderness area untouched by any man-made development of the modern world. In fact there is only one road that transects the park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50+ mile stretch of highway that starts in the town of West Glacier, straddles the Continental divide, and exits the park at the town of St. Mary along the eastern side of the park.
Despite its purposefully limited infrastructure, Glacier National Park receives more than 3 million visitors a year. These visitors come in droves to the park each year to experience Glacier’s incomparable natural beauty, remarkable and abundant wildlife, and rich history.
The incomparable beauty of Glacier National Park
I have had the privilege of visiting several of America’s national parks in my lifetime, and I can say without hesitation that Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. Glacier National Park is a land full of wonder, magic, and rugged Rocky Mountain majesty. The unique beauty of this area has garnered several nicknames for the park, including “the crown of the continent,” and “America’s Little Switzerland.” In fact the latter was a name given to the park by the Great Northern Railway in the early 1900s, as a way to help promote the park as a prime vacation destination for families and individuals across the United States to come visit and enjoy. Many of the lodges throughout the park were built by the Great Northern Railroad and carry a Swiss-Chalet theme to coincide with the “Little Switzerland” promotional efforts.
Glaciers remarkable wildlife
Glacier National Park is home to an abundant variety of unique and diverse wildlife. Some of the wildlife that you will find within the park would be difficult or impossible to find anywhere else in the lower 48. Some of the species of wildlife Glacier National Park is especially known for, includes the North American grizzly bear, the majestic mountain goat, Moose, Big Horn Rams, and other unique characters like the hoary marmot. Of course there are many other species that live in the park as well like elk, white tailed deer, various ground squirrels, brown bears and black bears and many more. There are also hundreds of varieties of birds that make their home throughout the park with some especially noteworthy species such as the bald eagle and ospreys.
Glacier National Park’s rich history
According to archaeological records Native Americans began inhabiting the park as many as 10,000 years ago. The Blackfeet people moved into the area around the start of 18th century and very quickly dominated the eastern slopes of what is now a Glacier National Park, as well as the Great Plains that follow to the east. In 1806 the Lewis and Clark expedition came within 50 miles of the park during their exploration of the Marias River. Many more explorers ventured into the area in the late 1800s and in 1885 a man by the name of George Bird Grinnell, hired an explorer to guide him into the mountains and valleys which are now part of Glacier Park, as part of a hunting expedition. Mr. Grinnell was so inspired by the beauty of the area that he spent the next two decades lobbying to establish the area as a national park. In the year 1910 his efforts came to fruition and Glacier National Park was established as America’s 10th national Park. Over the next several decades the great Northern Railroad began building their Swiss-style chalets near the gateways of the park and they began promoting Glacier National Park is America’s Little Switzerland. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in the late 1930’s and further boosted vacation travel into the park. Glacier National Park is steeped in native American and early settler and pioneer history as well as a great deal of early American railroad history. Many of the hotels and chalets in and around the park are national historic landmarks and are very unique in style and beauty.
A vacation to Glacier National Park is an unforgettable experience that will treat you to a beautiful side of America’s past and present that many people don’t even know exists. Visit our Glacier National Park campground information page for more information in camping, lodging and RV parking near Glacier Park.
