Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park lies in northwest Montana along the border with Canada, where it meets Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. It was established on 11 May 1910 and covers more than 4,000 square kilometres of the northern Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide.

The park takes its name from the glaciers that carved its U shaped valleys, sharp ridges and deep lakes during the last ice ages. Around 150 glaciers existed in the area in the mid 19th century, while only about 25 active glaciers remain today. In 1932 Glacier and Waterton were joined as the world's first International Peace Park, and UNESCO listed the combined area as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road, completed in 1932, crosses the park for about 80 kilometres from West Glacier to St Mary, climbing to Logan Pass on the Continental Divide at about 2,026 metres. The road is one of the most scenic mountain drives in North America, and its upper section usually opens only from late June or July to mid October because of heavy snow.

The park has more than 700 lakes, including Lake McDonald on the west side and St Mary Lake on the east, and more than 1,100 kilometres of hiking trails. Popular hikes include the Highline Trail from Logan Pass, Grinnell Glacier and Avalanche Lake. Grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and moose all live here.

As of October 2026 the National Park Service charges 35 US dollars per private vehicle for seven days from May to October and 25 US dollars in winter, and non US residents aged 16 and over pay an added 100 US dollar surcharge. The park states that no vehicle reservations are required in 2026. July to mid September is the main season.