Glacier National Park, Montana - Alberta
Glacier National Park, is located in the northern section of Montana near the Canadian border. Two thousand lakes and a thousand miles of rivers, threading between forests and meadows make up this beautiful park. Though the park still holds fifty small glaciers, its name comes from the fact that the immense valleys were carved by huge flows of ice, many centuries ago.
Driving the fifty mile Going-to-the-Sun road creates the illusion that you'll be climbing forever. At the east end of ten-mile Lake Donald, the road starts to climb in earnest. Snowmelt from waterfalls gushes across the road. The winding route nudges over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6680 ft - 2036 m) - a bewildering area where the peaks look like mere hillocks of ice.
The park is a haven for bighorn sheep, mountain goats, black bears, grizzlies, wolves and mountain lions. Crisp air, freezing waterfalls and year-round snow combine to give the impression of being very close to the Arctic Circle; in fact, the latitude is lower than that of London. The park is a hiker's paradise, with exceptionally beautiful views at every turn. The most popular trail in the park begins at Logan Pass, which runs across wild flower alpine meadows to the serene Hidden Lake.
Tour boats explore all of the large lakes., including sunset cruises on Lake McDonald and St Mary Lake. You can also rent canoes, rowboats and outboards. The lakes, teeming with trout, are excellent for fishing.