11 Intriguing Details About Glacier National Park

Established on May 11, 1910, Glacier National Park spans over a million acres of breathtaking wilderness. In 2021, it attracted over 3 million visitors to its snowy peaks, securing its position as the 27th-most-visited park in the national park system. What draws so many to this Montana gem? Perhaps it's the vibrant turquoise lakes, the majestic mountains, or the unparalleled diversity of wildlife. Discover some of the key reasons this park remains a beloved destination.

Glacier National Park holds the distinction of being part of the world's first international peace park.

In 1932, Glacier National Park and Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park united to form the first international peace park. Recognizing the importance of preserving the upper Waterton Valley as a single entity, the U.S. and Canada collaborated to protect this shared wilderness. Since then, Rotarians have celebrated this partnership with an annual ritual, shaking hands at the border and vowing to "never take up arms against one another."

2. The wildlife in the area has remained largely unchanged since the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Glacier's rich biodiversity played a key role in its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Thanks to its vast size and early conservation efforts, the park has preserved almost all of its native animal species from pre-European times. The only mammals no longer found here are the woodland caribou and bison.

3. Glacier National Park is often referred to as the "crown of the continent."

With its incredible variety of plant and animal life, it's no wonder Glacier National Park is dubbed the “crown of the continent.” This title was first used by naturalist and historian George Bird Grinnell [PDF], who was instrumental in the park's creation, during the early 1900s.

4. Mountain goats play a significant role in defining Glacier National Park's character.

Mountain goats are iconic inhabitants of Glacier National Park. These resilient creatures are so abundant that they serve as the park's official emblem. One of the prime locations to observe these nimble animals is the Goat Lick Overlook, a mineral-rich area situated in the park's southern region.

5. The park's early architectural style reflects European influences.

Following the park's establishment in 1910, a surge of tourists began visiting the area. To cater to the growing numbers, the Great Northern Railway built a series of chalets and hotels inspired by Swiss lodges. These structures, crafted with natural materials, became known as “parkitecture.” While many of these buildings deteriorated during WWII, several were preserved and are now recognized as national historic landmarks.

6. A single peak in the park channels water to three different oceans.

Triple Divide Peak holds the unique honor of distributing water to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans. The peak’s summit is where the Continental Divide and Northern Divide meet, guiding water flow to these oceans. Rain or snow falling on this peak can end up in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean (via the Gulf of Mexico), or the Arctic Ocean (through Hudson Bay, often considered part of the Arctic Ocean).

7. Guests can enjoy boat rides in historic vessels.

Wooden boat tours have been a staple of Glacier National Park since the 1920s, with many of the original vessels still in operation today. Notable examples include the Sinopah, a 45-foot boat that navigates Two Medicine Lake, and the Little Chief, a 49-passenger craft stationed at Saint Mary Lake.

8. Vintage "red jammer" buses provide scenic tours while helping to minimize traffic congestion.

In the 1930s, U.S. national parks introduced tour buses to curb car traffic. While other parks discontinued their use, Glacier retained its fleet of historic "red jammer" buses, named for the sound of drivers shifting gears on steep mountain roads. These restored 1930s buses still transport visitors to Glacier's iconic landmarks and along the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.

9. The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is a testament to modern engineering.

Spanning 50 miles from east to west, Going-to-the-Sun Road offers a breathtaking journey through the park. Completed in 1933 with its major structures finalized by 1937, the road has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as a national historic place, a national historic landmark, and a historic civil engineering landmark. It also famously appeared in the opening credits of the 1980 film The Shining.

10. Glacier National Park is a landscape forged by fire and ice.

Despite receiving an average of 138 inches of snow annually, Glacier has a rich history of wildfires. The park documented 64 fires in 1936 and faced a particularly intense fire season in 2003, when 13 percent of its land was scorched.

11. Visitors can cross the international border in the park's northern region.

Goat Haunt, situated on the shores of Waterton Lake, serves as the heart of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Travelers looking to cross the border into either the U.S. or Canada must present identification and will receive a passport stamp shaped like a mountain goat.

Originally published in 2016, this article has been refreshed for 2022.