Guide to Visiting Glacier National Park

"Spanning roughly 1,583 square miles along the U.S.–Canada border, this national park is famed for dramatic mountain scenery, glacial lakes, abundant wildlife, and extensive hiking — attracting around three million visitors annually. Visitors are advised to obtain a park pass (the America the Beautiful annual pass is accepted), plan at least two days (three to five to avoid rushing), and check vehicle reservation requirements for key corridors during peak hours. Climate change has reduced the park’s glaciers to about 25 remaining, with the most accessible glacier visible from an eastern overlook along the main scenic route; most remaining ice sits high on the Continental Divide. Wildlife is a major draw — including bears, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, beavers, and wolverines — so carrying and knowing how to use bear spray, storing food properly, and obeying distance rules (roughly 75 feet for most species, 300 feet for bears and wolves) are stressed. The landscape is also culturally significant to Tribes including the Blackfeet, Pend d’Oreille, Salish, and Kootenai, and the area is a certified International Dark Sky Park where the aurora borealis can sometimes be seen." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com.  Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines