19 Things to Do

2018-19 NORTHWEST MONTANA O UTD oo R R ECREATI O N GLACIER NATIONAL PARK The park has about 250 lakes, both in the for day hikes, backcountry hiking, fishing, PARK HEADQUARTERS mountains and in the valleys. One of the boating and horseback riding. Ranger-guided PO BOX 128 favorite lakes is St. Mary Lake for its beauty. walks, campfire and evening presentations are WEST GLACIER, MT 59936 Iceberg Lake, named so because it contained offered June through September. 406-888-7800 icebergs even in the summer at 6,000 feet, TDD 406-888-7806 and Lake McDonald, the largest at 11 miles Glacier National Park Headquarters is located http://www.nps.gov/glac long and averaging 1½ miles wide, are also beyond the entrance at West Glacier and beautiful spots to see. Hidden Lake is just houses the main offices. THINGS TO DO Glacier National Park was established in 1910, a short distance from the visitor center at and part of it was at one time included in the Logan Pass and is a popular place to observe Logan Pass Visitor Center, on the Going-to-the Blackfoot Indian Reservation. Waterton Lakes mountain goats. Sun Road, shows exhibits on alpine plants and National Park lies north of Glacier, and in1932, animals. the two parks were united to form the The animals of Glacier Park are, of course, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a protected by law. Among the wildlife in the Many Glacier Ranger Station, near the Many million-acre park. They remain under separate park are mountain goats, grizzly bears, black Glacier Valley, has maps and literature. administrations. bears and bighorn sheep, as well as numerous birds and fish. Polebridge Ranger Station is at the northwest The park was named for the 30-40 named corner of the park, just off the North Fork glaciers located there. Some of the glaciers All visitors must stop at one of the park Road, and also has maps and literature. are small, and others are immense like the entrances. There is an entry fee. Visitor centers Blackfoot Glacier, the park’s second largest at are open seven days a week at Apgar from St. Mary Visitor Center, near St. Mary Lake almost 440 acres. It lies in the central section May thru October, at St Mary from late-May on the east side of the park, has geological of the park at the head of the St. Mary Valley. thru mid-October, and at Logan Pass from exhibits and Glacier’s life zones. These beds of ice are the remains of mountain mid-June thru mid-October. Apgar Visitor glaciers that once covered the whole area. Center is also open during winter weekends. Two Medicine Ranger Station is located The summer months, June through August, in the southeast section of the park near In 1818, the 49th parallel to the Continental are when the park is most heavily used. Two Medicine Lake. Maps and literature are Divide was used as the international However, from late December to April, visitors available. boundary between the U.S. and Canada, can ski or snowshoe, as a few of the roads then a territory owned by Great Britain, are cleared. Going-to-the-Sun Road along BIKING thereby making an arbitrary division between Lake McDonald is plowed in the winter. No There are some restrictions on biking in what are now Waterton and Glacier Parks. snowmobiles are allowed in the park. It is also Glacier, and other roads are narrow and Toward the end of the 19th century, two advisable to register all climbs with a ranger winding with little shoulder room. Bicyclists men, Frederick William Godsal of Canada and and check the latest weather and avalanche are prohibited from crossing Logan Pass and George Bird Grinnell of the U.S., persuaded postings. along Lake McDonald during certain times, their respective governments to set aside a with signs posted showing the times for use. large part of that area as wilderness to be During the summer, Going-to-the-Sun Road is Bikes are not permitted on the hiking trails. preserved for future generations. In 1895, cleared of snow and will take visitors to Logan Waterton Lakes National Park was established, Pass (6,646 ft). Don’t be surprised to see snow BOATING and in 1910, Glacier was created. In 1932, along the roadside. Remember that there are There are historic excursion boats at Many due largely to the persuasion of Rotary vehicle restrictions throughout the park. Glacier, Two Medicine, Lake McDonald and International, the U.S. Congress and the Rising Sun. The boats operate from June to Canadian Parliament established the first More than 50 miles of mountain highways cut mid-September, with naturalists on board international peace park. through the park to take visitors to famous some of the trips. Some of the excursions park hotels, hiking trails, horseback riding, have an option of a hike added to the trip. Mount Cleveland (10,466 ft) in the northern biking areas, boating, mountain climbing Sunset cruises are available. Private boats, part of the park is the highest peak. Others and fishing areas. At the ranger stations and including motorized, non-motorized and include Kintla Peak, Mount Siyeh and Mount visitor centers, publications and schedules are canoes and rowboats, are permitted on some Stimson. All are more than 10,000 feet above available sea level. 19 2018-19 NORTHWEST MONTANA O UTD oo R R ECREATI O N of the lakes. Motor size is limited to 10 hp Officials may close park trails when bears are KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST or less on Bowman and Two Medicine Lake. in the area. For Fee & Reservations Visit Rentals are available at Apgar, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun, Many Glacier and Two There are six self-guided trails: Running Eagle http://www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai Medicine. Falls Nature Trail, The Trail of the Cedars, OFFICE Huckleberry Mountain, Hidden Lake, 31374 US Highway 2 CAMPING Swiftcurrent Nature Trail and Sun Point. Libby, MT 59923 See chart of locations and amenities on The Trail of the Cedars and Running 406-293-6211 page 21. Eagle Falls are handicap accessible. There are also ranger-guided hikes. Ranger Districts Camp regulations are available at park CABINET RANGER DISTRICT TROUT CREEK RANGER STATION headquarters, entrance stations, visitor HORSEBACK RIDING 2693 MT Highway 200 Trout Creek, MT 59874 centers and ranger stations. Camping is Guided and scheduled horseback riding is only permitted in designated areas. Most 406-827-3533 available at Apgar, Many Glacier and Lake campsites are available on a first-come, first- McDonald Lodge. Those with their own horses LIBBY RANGER DISTRICT CANOE GULCH RANGER STATION served basis. Campers are limited to seven need to check with the park on regulations 12557 MT Highway 37 consecutive days at any single campground. and restrictions. Libby, MT 59923 Fish Creek and St. Mary campgrounds may 406-293-7773 be reserved five months in advance through WILDLIFE SIGHTSEEING the National Park Service by calling 800-365- As one might guess, the time of year will REXFORD RANGER DISTRICT EUREKA RANGER STATION CAMP. play a part in the wildlife that might be seen 949 US Hwy 93 N in Glacier. Don’t expect to see bears in the Eureka, MT 59917 winter, but rather, an elk herd or two looking THINGS TO DO FISHING 406-296-2536 Although a Montana state fishing license is for food. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep not necessary to fish in Glacier, there still are are visible from a distance up on higher peaks. THREE RIVERS RANGER DISTRICT TROY RANGER STATION fishing regulations provided in a brochure. One popular place to view the goats is the 12858 US Hwy 2 Stop by an entrance station, visitor center Hidden Lake Overlook near Logan Pass. That Troy, MT 59935 or ranger station to find out the regulations. spot can only be reached by hiking to it. Early 406-295-4693 Waterton fishers need a Canadian National morning or early evening are considered the Located in the northwest corner of Montana, Parks fishing permit, and areas near Glacier best time for viewing. While everyone may access into the Forest is from US Highways 2 require a Montana State fishing license, want to see a bear, remember, no one wants and 93 or State Highways 200, 37, 508 and 58. such as the North Fork and Middle Fork to see it up close. Distance from wildlife is Canada borders it on the north and Idaho on of the Flathead River. Glacier waters hold best; use binoculars. Also remember, the the west. five kinds of trout: Arctic grayling, rainbow, animals have their own diets to follow. Know brook, westslope and Yellowstone cutthroat. the importance of sealing and storing all The Kootenai National Forest includes the Whitefish and kokanee salmon are among food in containers in a hard-sided vehicle or Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, Northwest the others. Some fish must be immediately food locker. Making noise while hiking is also Peaks Scenic Area, Ross Creek Scenic Area and released to protect the species from recommended to forewarn the animals of intrusion. Don’t forget to look for the smaller Ten Lakes Scenic Area. extinction. Lake McDonald, Kintla and St. Mary Lakes have lake trout. St. Mary Lake and lower critters and birds as well. Remember that park Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Two Medicine have brook trout, and June animals may also be viewed by taking ranger The 93,272-some mountainous acres have and July are the best times to catch them. or naturalist-guided tours, which are available rugged terrain with Snowshoe Peak at 8,738 Try Quartz Lake for cutthroat trout as well as only during the summer.

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