Glaciers from the most recent ice age have helped to carve and create the beautiful stunning landscape of Glacier National Park, which is where Glacier National Park gets its name.Although smaller than the ice age glaciers found 20,000 years ago, the park has more than 26 named glaciers. Unfortunately due to global climate change, the number of glaciers continues to decline each year.Conservationist George Bird Grinnell was a major figure who helped to establish the Glacier National Park in 1910. This national park is now cared for by the National Park Service, an agency of the United States government.Late June to mid-September is the best time to visit Glacier National Park as you can enjoy many activities on offer, including driving on the ‘Going to the Sun Road’, hiking, and taking a boat trip. If you want to enjoy biking through the park then spring, from May to mid-June might be ideal, as this is before the Glacier National park opens for vehicular traffic. This is also a good time for those who want to go whitewater rafting. If it’s solitude that you seek then September is a perfect time and North Fork is the ideal spot. For those looking to snowshoe or cross country ski, winter is the best time to visit.One of the sites that you shouldn’t miss visiting in Glacier National Park is Saint Mary Lake. The lake features a beautiful island known as Wild Goose Island where you can take a boat ride to visit the island. You can reach Saint Mary Lake by traveling west on the Going to the Sun Road. The Logan Pass visitor center, where you can pick up souvenirs or gifts and get all your questions about the park answered by the friendly and helpful staff, is also a useful place to visit. Huckleberry Lookout near Apgar and the West Glacier RV Park both offer beautiful panoramic views of the surroundings. Another place to enjoy the scenic beauty of this park is the Glacier Park Lodge. This heritage hotel is family-friendly, and with no TVs in the rooms, it’s the perfect place to unwind and spend quality time with your loved ones.If you’re looking for adventure, then take a trip to Waterton Lakes National Park on the Canadian side. You can cross at the Chief Mountain border crossing and visit the Prince of Wales Hotel. This area made up of Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park, have together been recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site and is the world’s first international peace park. Formally known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, there’s plenty of animal life around including mountain goats and bears.You should plan to visit Glacier National Park for two to three days, which allows you enough time to hike a couple of the trails and visit the beautiful areas of Many Glacier and Two Medicine. However, if you have only a day for the park, then don’t miss the drive on Going to the Sun Road and a visit to Logan Pass. You might also be able to take a few short hikes, such as the one to Hidden Lake or Avalanche Lake.In Glacier Park, you can also see active glaciers such as the Harrison glacier and Grinnell glacier. Of these active glaciers, Harrison Glacier is the largest glacier in the park. The second largest is Blackfoot Glacier.When you finished this article, check out the fun facts about natural gas and the eastern woodlands facts.The Geographic Location Of Glacier National ParkGlacier National Park is one of the most attractive national parks in the U.S. Situated in northwestern Montana, this unique National Park is on the Canada-United States Border. British Columbia and Alberta are the Canadian provinces that border this park.Glacier National Park covers an area of more than 1 million acres (4.05 million ha) and encompasses two sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains and more than 130 lakes. It’s home to over a thousand different types of animals and plants including grizzly and black bears, moose, mule deer, and mountain goats. A protected area of about 16,000 sq. mi ( 41439.8 sq. km) known as the ‘Crown of the Continent Ecosystem’ is also part of the park.Tourists flock to the Glacier National Park to participate in jammer tours, which are offered on antique red buses. The tours were launched by the U.S. National Parks in the ’30s, with the aim of decreasing car traffic in these parks.The Peculiarity Of Glacier National ParkWater that falls on the summit of Triple Divide Peak flows either into the Atlantic or Pacific oceans or into the Hudson Bay. So, depending on which summit of Triple Divide Peak the rain or snow falls, it can travel in either direction.Going to the Sun Road was completed in 1932, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also listed as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Going to the Sun Road is two-way, 50 mi (80.5 km) long and at Logan Pass, it connects the east and west sides of the park.The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is located on 1.5 million acres (6.07 million ha) near the eastern boundary of Glacier National Park. It’s home to the largest indigenous community of Montana. The highest point in Glacier Park is Mt. Cleveland at 10,466 ft (3190 m). Mountain goats are a common sight in the park and can be spotted on the hiking trails and at Logan Pass. It’s for this reason that the agile mountain goat is the official symbol of the park.Glacier National Park experiences extreme weather, and in some parts, when the snow plows start work in early April, it can take up to 10 weeks to clear all the snow. The mile-long walk through Lake McDonald Valley offers you the chance to do a glacier walk.Things To Do In Glacier National ParkGlacier National Park has plenty of activities to offer for all ages. Depending on your fitness level, you can choose from a range of activities that allow you to truly enjoy this pristine scenic natural area. It’s important to be aware of the rules and regulations, fees and permits, and safety measures of the activities you wish to pursue at the park. Most of this information is available on the National Park Service website.Glacier National Park has more than 700 mi (1126.5 km) of trails that are suitable for short hikes as well as long trips. Given the frequent changes in the conditions of the hiking trails, it’s a good idea to regularly check the trail status page of the National Park Service website. You can also find area maps and trail details on the website. Some of the easier paths at the park include the Trail of the Cedars, Running Eagle Falls, Lake Mcdonald, and Hidden Lake. If you’re looking for more challenging hiking trails, try the 11.4 mi (18.3 km) Highline Trail. Another popular but challenging one is the Grinnell Glacier Trail.Glacier National Park has been protected under the National Wilderness Preservation System since 1974, making the area an excellent choice for camping. There is a camping fee of $7 per night per person that applies from May 1 to Oct 31. Winter camping between Nov 1 and Apr 30 is free. All necessary safety information regarding the weather and the wildlife is available on the National Park Service website.Visiting the Glacier International Peak Park is an excellent choice with kids, with many programs available for free. When choosing an activity, remember that most of the time children will need to be accompanied by an adult. There’s a small fee for a few of the programs such as boat trips, which also include a ranger-guided hike. This activity is very popular during the summer, so you may need to plan ahead and make a booking.You can enjoy the beautiful Glacier National Park through the many guided tours that are available. You can choose tours by bus and get the Eastern Alpine Red Bus tour from the east side of the park. You can also go for a boat tour on Lake McDonald or enjoy the wildlife tours. If you prefer walking, you can opt for a guided hiking tour or if you’re looking for something a little different, why not try a guided horseback ride.The Going To The Sun Road is one of the park’s most popular features and a national historic landmark. Stretching for more than 50 mi (80.5), the road was built in the late 1920s and offers some of the most breathtaking views in North America. Take a drive along this road to enjoy the beautiful scenery on offer, from sparkling blue lakes to lush green forests, and stunning peaks carved by glaciers.For those who love camping, Glacier National Park has 13 campgrounds and 1,009 sites. With the glacier’s wildlife including animals such as bears and mountain lions, children need to be closely supervised. Ensure you read up on the safety measures and protocol you need to follow when planning your camping trip.Thanks to stunning natural beauty, you can get some amazing photos at Glacier International Peace Park. Whether you love the sunrise, wildflowers, or glaciers, you can get some beautiful pictures here. You can even capture the wildlife, the night sky, or a beautiful sunset.In addition to all paved and unpaved roads in Glacier National Park, there are also four bike trails that you can follow. Be aware of the wildlife, cold weather, and danger of avalanches.You don’t need a license to fish in Glacier National Park. However, some bodies of water are closed for fishing. Be aware of the native fish species you choose to fish as some types of fish need to be released back into the water. Children under the age of 12 years need to wear a personal floatation device on board boats, and motorized and nonmotorized boats are allowed although you are required to know and follow the regulations regarding fishing in the park.Glacier National Park has many trails and routes to suit all skill levels if you’re interested in skiing in the park. You can rent skis and snowshoes at the private businesses nearby, however, this service is not offered at the park.Pets must be leashed at all times and are not allowed on wilderness and front-country trails and on unplowed roads. Avalanches can be a threat during the winter, so ensure that you wear the right clothing and be aware of and follow all warnings and safety advice.In addition to the many activities listed above, you can also check the Glacier National Park website for special events that are organized throughout the year.What is Glacier National Park known for?Glacier National Park is known for its breathtaking scenery and cascading waterfalls. The park has been a backdrop for many famous and hit movies such as ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘The Shining’.Wondering where to stay at Glacier National Park? How about the Granite Park Chalet located in the center of the park? It is a national historic place. You can also find numerous comfortable options in the East Glacier Park Village.When visiting, it’s important to follow all the rules and regulations of the park. The park’s preservation is vital to ensure that the glacier’s ecosystem is not lost forever.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our 51 interesting Glacier National Park facts for travel lovers, then why not take a look at 33 facts about Noah from the Bible: Noah’s life and Noah’s Ark for kids, or 91 facts about Singapore that will make you plan your next trip.
Glaciers from the most recent ice age have helped to carve and create the beautiful stunning landscape of Glacier National Park, which is where Glacier National Park gets its name.
