VIEWPOINT: Glacier National Park
This hiker's paradise is full of incredible views, but it's losing the glaciers that once defined it.
A google search of “places to visit before they’re gone” brings up a myriad of similarly titled lists. Most of these lists share the same entries: the Amazon Rainforest, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Venice, etc.
And Glacier National Park.
The glaciers aren’t gone (yet—they were once predicted to be almost entirely melted by 2020 or 2030), but few are visible from the main road, and those have receded drastically. Despite this, Glacier National Park is still a must-visit place. The glaciers have shaped a stunning landscape on the Continental Divide that features imposing mountain peaks and eye-popping blue lakes, plus a wide range of wildlife.
NATURE: INCROYABLE!
Awe-Inspiring Vistas in Every Direction
If you’re looking for a view, look no further. Glacier National Park is full of them, and a simple drive through the park provides constant views of mountains, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. On top of that, these classic national park features are hardly typical. The mountains are steep and imposing. The rivers and lakes are filled with the signature light blue hue of glacially fed waters. And the waterfalls come and go along each trail and road as snowmelt navigates the steep cliffs.
Glacier National Park is also home to a relatively undisturbed ecosystem of wildlife. Bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and pikas are among the mammals that frequent the trails here.
EXPERIENCE: INCROYABLE!
The Most Rewarding Trails in the Country
Glacier National Park is one of the few places where visitors don't have to leave their car to sample the entirety of the park’s offerings. Going-to-the-Sun Road is an engineering marvel cut into the steep cliffs of the Continental Divide, and the result is arguably one of the most scenic stretches of road in the world. We even saw a grizzly bear from our car here.
Of course, those willing to put in a little effort will be rewarded with some of the best hiking trails in the country. The crown jewel is the Highline Trail, which hangs above Going-to-the-Sun Road before venturing out into the wilderness. Panoramic views are uninterrupted, and those looking for even more can take a difficult-but-worth-it side trail up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, which proved to be our best view of a glacier during our time in the park. Other trails take hikers through forests, along rivers, and to blue alpine lakes.
VISITING: REASONABLE
NPS is Doing its Best in an Unforgiving Landscape
As amazing as Going-to-the-Sun Road is, it has its limitations. Vehicle size is restricted, and visitors need reservations to enter the park during peak hours. Both regulations are necessary. The road is narrow, winding, and unforgiving. And parking areas fill up quickly, often before many visitors wake up.
It could be worse. A network of shuttles adds flexibility, and the reservation system helps prevent pure chaos. The bottom line is, Glacier National Park is an immensely popular destination with a short tourism season and a landscape resistant to infrastructure. It’s going to be crowded, and there isn’t much else anyone can do about it.
STUPIDITY INDEX
The Stupid Are In Danger
Glacier National Park is the type of place where a lack of focus is all it takes to end up in trouble. Steep drop-offs are in abundance on the sides of roads and trails, and the free-roaming wildlife can interrupt a hike in a heartbeat. If the stupid tap into their inner power and manage to make the wildlife feel threatened, good luck. There’s rarely a safe exit nearby.
CATSBY’S TAKE
It Was Great
My home didn’t move for a whole week, and I got to watch campers on both sides of the trailer the whole time.