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Things to do in Glacier
National Park
The Blackfeet called it the Land of Shining Mountains. Lewis
and Clark in their quest for the Pacific, failed to find a
route through these formidable peaks.
Yet for centuries native hunters followed ancient routes
to hunting grounds on both sides of the continental divide.
Today you can experience Glacier National Parks visual drama
from the scenic roadways that follow these ancient routes.
Visitors marvel at the stunning change in scenery between
the western slope's cedar forests and the prairie grasslands
on the eastern side. In Between stand the glacier-carved peaks
and lush alpine meadows of the Rocky Mountains.
Year-round access is granted by Highway 2, which follows
the park's southern boundary over Marisa Pass. The famous
Going to the Sun Road is a spectacular summer only route that
travels through the heart of the park. This 55 mile scenic
parkway winds its way up and over the Continental Divide.
From Lake McDonald to St Mary, Going to the Sun Road reveals
the glory of Glacier National Parks high alpine terrain to
all that find them way to this magnificent landscape.
In 1932, Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes
National Park in Alberta were formally joined to form Waterton-Glacier
International Peace Park, the worlds first. A Rotary International
initiative, the designation celebrates the peace and friendship
that exists between Canada and the US. It highlights the fact
that nature knows no political boundaries.
It was George Bird Grinnell, the father of Glacier National
Park who coined the phrase, Crown of the Continent. Today
it is the formal name of the ecosystem that encompasses Glacier
and Waterton parks. The bio-diversity found here is one of
the highest in North America.
This is the Crown, the birthplace of the great rivers of
the continent, their waters flow into three different oceans.
The climate creates its own ecological conditions which result
in the presence of flora and fauna unique in the world. Outstanding
natural features remain habitat for abundant and spectacular
wildlife, from the mighty grizzly bear to rare species of
butterflies.
The Going to the Sun Road is the highlight of the park. Driving
on this road is what all the tourists do. Or if you do not
want to drive you can take a tour bus and let them do the
driving for you. There are a couple companies that offer the
tour. The most popular is the one with the red tour buses
of a forgotten era. If you like mountain scenery, take the
tour. If you drive you will be too buy keeping you eyes on
the road. And that is not what you want to look at.
There are not too many places to stay around the park. You
might just want to stay in the park itself. There are a few
nice hotels in the park. All the surrounding areas, especially
on the east and south are run by the Blackfeet tribe. Their
reservation borders the park on the east.
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