Glacier National Park, Montana
Crown of the Continent
Northwestern Montana can be described as enchanting region of quaint towns, millions of miles of federal and state property, backpacking, waterfalls, hiking, as well as downhill skiing. You'll discover an outstanding selection of retailers, galleries and museums, golf courses, bed and breakfasts, spas, as well as restaurants not to mention annual celebrations like the Bull Thing, Huckleberry Days , and Logger Days festivals. You will enjoy the wide range of Montana Outdoor Activities as well as the small town character which makes you feel at home. Spend a little while vacationing, or perhaps speak with a Montana Real Estate agent to discover more about getting your own little piece of Montana real estate.
You will discover Lakefront Real Estate
You will discover Lakefront Real Estate which includes properties that are so spectacular, that you're going to feel as if they were built with you in mind with all the sumptuous luxuries you need and many you may not have dreamed about. Most of the time these luxury homes boast a few of the areas most breathtaking views. Quite a few homes are designed to showcase their particular views whether they look out in the direction of Glacier National Park, among the many spectacular lakes or perhaps towards Whitefish Mountain Resort (Big Mountain). Many Luxury Homes are hidden away within the woodlands while some sit prominently in town in either case you will be the envy of everybody you meet when you live in any one of these magnificent Montana Luxury Homes. Even if Luxury homes aren't your style, you will discover an abundance of Montana real estate from ski in-ski out log cabins to mountainside homes as well as ranches.
Innovations with technology
Innovations with technology, computers along with the world-wide-web have cut down tremendously or eliminated most of the disadvantages of living in a remote location, and this is just one reason, businesses are finding success in Montana as well as the many other locations nestled in mountain valleys in the western third of the state. The wonderful towns each have a very distinctive personality which endear them to locals and visitors alike. They all have excellent recreational and entertainment options readily available, magnificent landscapes, and even though an individual accustomed to the culture of New York or Paris may likely find them just a little demure, they have got more than enough cultural events as well as galleries and museums, to meet the needs of nearly all. The vibrant heritage, along with the wide array of immigrants that labored in the mines, have combined giving the larger cities a cosmopolitan flair and attitude, not found anywhere else in the country.
When most people consider relocating to Northwestern Montana they often picture clear blue skies, breathtaking mountain views, crystal clear lakes, quiet forests, and a prosperous accepting way of life. Well, if this sounds like you, you happen to be right-on. Montana's Glacier Country is among the the "Last Best Places". Combine a one of a kind culture, warm and friendly ambiance, minimal crime rate, along with an Award-Winning educational system and mix it together with limitless adventure opportunities, budget friendly housing, and a low cost of living and you've got an ideal location to raise your family, retire, begin your career, or simply to come vacation.
Home to the awe-inspiring Mission Mountains, the western-most chain of the Rockies, beautiful Flathead Lake, the biggest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi, lovely rolling hills and prairies, as well as the heart-pounding rapids of Flathead River. Outdoor enthusiasts of each and every kind, like backpackers, bike riders, horseback riders, snowboarders, skiers, swimmers, kayakers, fisherman, and even all-around outdoors men will certainly value the flexibility of choosing from a plethora of hiking trails, lakes, streams, and rivers. For people who prefer a more tranquil pace can stroll around the lake, or enjoy a relaxing bike ride through town, or maybe settle down with good book in the park may be a perfect way to spend the day. Northwest Montana real estate provides you with probably the most spectacular waterfront real estate in the world.
Montana lifestyles are rich in traditions which are handed down from one generation to another. The natives believe that once the connection between the culture and the land is broken that traditions cannot be handed down or maintained. Whenever a stream is closed down to angling or a road that leads into a preferred hunting area is gated or even torn away, just isn't possible to expose their children to the unique experiences which they knew there and no way to renew the images of those times within their minds. Montanans do not just enjoy their rich natural heritage, they've created their living from it. They call Montana "The Treasure State", because the land is their treasure and they've taken proper care of it, just as the land has taken proper care of them. The ridge tops are sprouting second homes for folks drawn to what is typically known as "Big Sky Country". Looking at logging trucks as well as cattle along the roads or lumber mills, grain silos and even mines is simply part of the local appeal. The ranchers, loggers and miners, you will meet, mastered their particular trades from their fathers who also instilled a real love for the hard work as well as the land as they taught the secrets of their trade. They handed down a love for the unique Montana Lifestyle.
Representing the untamed and wild outdoors,Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks are merely starting points, in your Northwestern Montana adventure. Nestled between the parks lay mountains that do not even have names yet, in ranges you have never heard about. Sprinkled within their valleys, you will discover small towns brimming with warm and friendly local residents telling tales and possibly their very favorite fishing hole. You really should take time to explore the breathtaking beauty of Northwestern Montana, its parks and all the places in between.
Are you looking for a beautiful, exciting location for your next vacation or company conference? The Flathead Valley welcomes guests from the United States as well as around the globe, like our friends from Canada. Many Canadian visitors are from Canada’s two nearby Provinces, Alberta and British Columbia. Northwest Montana is an substantial mountainous region on the western side of the Continental Divide in the far northwest corner of Montana with Canada bordering the north and Idaho the west. The area boasts a couple of the most popular vacation destinations in the Pacific Northwest, Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake. Their state department of tourism refers to this as "Glacier Country".
This is a extensive geographical region which includes the Bitterroot Valley, the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the Clark Fork River area, the Flathead Valley, Glacier National Park,Kootenai Valley, the city of Missoula, and the Seeley Swan Valley. You can find exceptional vacation and leisure opportunities throughout the entire region such as horse packing, llama rides, trail rides, wagon trains, bicycling, hiking, backpacking,camping, trout fishing, big game hunting, whitewater river rafting, downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing. Northwest Montana's many points of interest include, along with it's wildlife and natural wonders, numerous local community celebrations, rodeos, Native American Pow-wows, antique shops, as well as galleries and museums. The area is renowned for active art communities that you could visit as well as numerous artists' and potters' studios and galleries. Visitors are offered accommodations to suit nearly all tastes and personal preferences such as bed and breakfasts, log cabin rentals, family vacation rentals, dude ranches, guest ranches, camping grounds, RV parks, motels, resorts, inns and vacation resort complexes.
As a vacation destination, Glacier National Park, is a diverse location with so much for you to do. For vacationers hoping to recharge in the great outdoors, Montana is definitely the promised land. The problem is figuring out where to start. Boat, raft, canoe or kayak on Montana’s storied rivers and lakes. Anglers of every level dream of casting a caddis fly to clever rainbow trout or taking on the the depths to get lunker walleye. Perhaps you would like to get in touch with your inner-cowboy so saddle up, on any one of the famous dude ranches.
There is backpacking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Beartooth-Absaroka as well. Your choices are as vast as the magnificent surroundings. In order to be precise, you will find two rivers, the Flathead and Swan rivers source clean freshwater to Flathead Lake year round. They were created as a result of Ice Age glaciers, nearly 30 miles long and 15 miles wide at it’s broadest point, Flathead lake stands out as the largest natural lake throughout the western United States with 160 miles of shoreline and the water covers just about two-hundred square miles of Montana. Anglers beware, you may need extra line for is you are planning to fish this lake, it has a depth of 300 feet deep.
If you love hiking you simply must come and experience Glacier's pristine woodlands, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and dazzling lakes. With an impressive 700 miles of trails, Glacier is known as a paradise for hiker's and adventure seekers searching for wilderness and solitude. Step back in time and relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, transportation, and stories of Native Americans. Glacier National Park simply begs to be explored and when you to, there is no limit to what discoveries await you. Glacier National Park has over two million visitors each year,and with such a range of facilities and attractions in the park, there is something to interest everyone in your group. The majority of visitors spend three to four days in the area, even though you very easily can fill up a week with fun-based activities in the park. Allow me to share a few recommendations of some of the more popular activities . Whatever you decide to decide to do, don't forget to devote some time to just relaxing and enjoying your time in the park.
Probably the most well known and popular attraction is Going-to-the-Sun Road. It should be the highlight of any trip to Glacier National Park and it provides access to the Lake McDonald Valley, Logan Pass, and the St. Mary Valley,. Did you know that you can find so many alternatives for discovery off the beaten path? The North Fork, Goat Haunt, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine also beckon investigation. Each and every spot in the park is unique, making it possible for visitors to uncover historic homesteading sites, transforming landscapes, Native American heritage, forests, wild rivers, peace and serenity, delightful meadows, along with glacially-carved valleys.
Where will your visit lead you? Glacier National park was named for the glaciers that sculpted and carved forming this breathtaking landscape millions of years ago and even though the current glaciers are receding, the park will not change its name when the glaciers are gone for good.
The Going-to-the Sun Road takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. This marvel of engineering spans 50 miles through the park's untamed interior, twisting around the mountainsides and gracing guests to some of the finest scenery in all of northwest Montana. Given that parts of the road hug the mountainside, there are some tight curves, nevertheless countless cars and trucks have made the journey safely, from one side of the park to the other. If you are heading east in the direction of Logan Pass and St. Mary from the West Entrance, people on the passenger side of the car should be able to have a peek over the edge of the road in certain places. Stick to the posted speed limit, drive cautiously, and enjoy the majesty that the road provides.
Don't worry though, if that sounds like a little too much for you, there are alternate travel options for the faint of heart. Jackson Glacier Overlook will give you the very best chance to view a glacier from the road. Jackson Glacier Overlook is situated on the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in between Logan Pass and St. Mary. Logan Pass is definitely the highest place on the Going-to-the Sun Road at and impressive 6,646 feet. Since Glacier National Park is untamed land, it is very likely that you will see wildlife anywhere along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, even so, Mountain Goats and Bighorn Sheep are normally seen close to Logan Pass.
Lake McDonald Valley stands out as the center of activity on the western side of Glacier National Park. At one time it was occupied by the enormous glaciers which created this area thousands of years in the past, the valley is currently brimming with breathtaking scenery, hiking trails, various species of plants and animals, historical chalets, as well as the grand Lake McDonald Lodge. At ten miles long and just about 500 feet deep, Lake McDonald, the largest lake within the park and is a direct result of glacial carving. High peaks all around the lake all display proof of the strength of glaciers to shape even the hardest of stone. The powerful glaciers that carved the wide valley that Lake McDonald is situated in, at the same time created smaller sized suspended valleys with fantastic waterfalls that can be reached by any number of hiking trails.
A couple of well-liked day hikes start inside Lake McDonald Valley are Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake, they are both wheelchair-accessible, making this a great stroll for all abilities. If you use the Glacier's shuttle, reaching these trail-heads and various locations in the valley has never been less difficult. On the shoreline of Lake McDonald rests Lake McDonald Lodge. Built during 1913-1914 to look like a rustic hunting lodge with Swiss-influenced architecture, it is a very warm and inviting place that provides comfort and ease for overnight guests. After having a long day of hiking, horseback riding, or even a picturesque boat tour on the historical DeSmet, you can cozy up in front of the massive fireplace inside of Lake McDonald Lodge or you could check out a Ranger-led evening program. Were you aware that when Beargrass flowers then dies, a brand new stalk will bloom 5-10 years following that? This is just one of many types of plant life you might find at Logan Pass. Reynolds Mountain and Clements Mountain tower above fields of wild flowers which blanket the ground during the entire summer season. Breathtaking waves of yellow glacier lilies peeking through the snow will be quickly replaced by several different types of alpine plants and flowers that have adapted to this severe, yet astonishingly exquisite, environment. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, as well as an occasional grizzly bear can be seen making their way across the meadows, make stopping for a little while one of the most spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities, you may ever get.
Logan Pass is the highest elevation at 6640 feet that can be reached by a car within the park. This is very popular with tourists and parking is scarce from open to close. You can avoid the crowds and lack of parking space by taking advantage of one of the free shuttles or you could plan to stop by early or late in the day when possible. Early morning sunlight on the mountains supplies superb pictures along with the likelihood of seeing wildlife before the crowds show up.
Two of the most popular hiking trails are, the Hidden Lake trail and the Highline trail, both great ways to build up your for a late supper back at camp or your hotel. There are just Half a dozen peaks more than 10,000 feet high in Glacier; Cleveland, Stimpson, Kintla, Jackson, Siyeh, and Merritt.
St. Mary is the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park. and prairies, mountains, and forests all meet to create a diverse and abundant environment for animals and plants. The wide open meadows enclosed by dense forests are provide many great opportunities for wildlife watching. St. Mary Lake, with its surface often riffled from the blowing wind, covers nearly 10 miles. Any drive alongside St. Mary Lake gives you some of the most extraordinary views to be found in the park. Neighboring the Blackfeet Reservation, Native American culture and history is without a doubt resilient and strong,` in the St. Mary Valley. Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai tribal members take part in the park's Native American Speaks programs. All these programs feature award winning performing musicians and artists and local drummers along with dancers at the St. Mary Visitor Center.
The North Fork is probably the most uncrowded parts of Glacier National Park and can be reached by private vehicle. Rough dirt roads have a tendency to greatly reduce visitation but the ones that do journey here are rewarded with a living laboratory of forest succession inside fairly recently burnt off areas, views of Bowman and Kintla Lakes, a homesteading site, and even chances to view and hear hard to find park wildlife.
A number of fires during the last two decades has led to a broad mix of forests of different ages. Each one bringing in a somewhat diverse balance of species. The most recent fires have furnished substantial areas of habitat for rare woodpeckers. Bird watchers from throughout the globe can be found here looking for the Northern Three Toed and Black-backed woodpeckers. While you drive and negotiate your car or truck over the dusty, uneven, and slow North Fork road, think about the difficulties encountered by early settlers. Isolation, brief growing seasons, untamed land, and severe weather conditions tested those courageous enough to stay in this out of the way and challenging area. All those challenges encountered by early homesteaders continue to exist today, yet what were regarded as difficulties then, these days attract guests away from their modern conveniences.
Devoid of quite a few amenities, the North Fork invites a more self-reliant visitor and experience. Allow yourself all day to drive to and from Kintla and Bowman Lakes and be sure to pack a lunch. The only services (very limited) in this area are offered outside the park in Polebridge. Going to Goat Haunt, among the park's more out of the way and peaceful areas, provides you with a great deal of opportunities to explore Glacier away from the crowds. The majority of guests get there by boat from Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, however it is also pleasant just to walk there. Whenever Goat Haunt opens up for the season, employees from both parks get together to guide the International Peace Park Hike south to Goat Haunt and then return using a historic boat, The International.
This area usually offers an escape from the worries of life, plus a place where serenity can be found. Regardless if you are walking or boating, the one thing you're sure to discover is the straight line of cut trees marking the International Boundary, however the the plants and animals here usually do not; they cross back and forth unhampered, because this is a single large ecosystem and serene political restrictions don't impact the indigenous plant life and animals. Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks were established separately and are still independently maintained, however in 1932 the U.S. Congress along with Canadian Parliament declared that the parks would be joined to memorialize the longstanding peace between the two countries. Waterton- Glacier International Peace Park was then established and grew to become the world's very first International Peace Park.
Guests to Goat Haunt will have to bring ID should they wish to hike further south into Glacier National Park. Currently, only residents of the United States and Canada are allowed access to the U.S. through this restricted port of entry. Citizens of other nations may feel free to leave the boat and take the short 1/4 mile walk from the boat dock to the ranger station, but may not travel further south. There aren't any other facilities or services available inside the park here. Just about all services are available in Waterton Town-site. Which means that you should definitely arrive well prepared. Grizzly bears in the park have a very wide selection of food sources, such as glacier lily bulbs, insects, and berries. They may also make an early season dinner from mountain goats that have been swept down with avalanches during the winter. So, keep your camera handy, you never know when you may see one..
Many people consider Many Glacier the true heart of the park. With its massive mountains, active glaciers, dazzling lakes, hiking trails, and plentiful wildlife this is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. Many Glacier is also a destination where one can travel by car, foot, boat, or horseback, to get a close look at glaciers and see their impact on the landscape.
The small glaciers seen today sculpt the land in much the same way as the larger ancient ice-age glaciers did; slowly grinding away on the mountains, carving rock and leaving a changed landscape. The landscape may also change in another way soon. Global climate change scientists predict that under the current warming trends, all of the park's glaciers will be gone by 2020, affecting habitat and survival of plants and animals throughout the park.
Many Glacier is a hikers paradise. Trails radiate out in all directions, including two of the most popular hikes in the park, the Grinnell Glacier trail and the Iceberg Lake trail. Hikers can take a different trail every day for a week and still not cover all that the area has to offer.
Springtime brings bighorn sheep close to the road and late summer is the best time to see bears, both grizzly and black, feasting on huckleberries on the slopes. Remember that all park wildlife can be dangerous; please keep your distance and never feed wildlife. If you don't have a vehicle with you, take Glacier's free shuttle to the St. Mary Visitor Center and hop on Glacier Park Inc.'s fee-based shuttle to Many Glacier.
Long before the Going-to-the-Sun Road was constructed, Two Medicine was a main destination for travelers who arrived by train. After spending a night at Glacier Park Lodge, visitors climbed on horseback to travel to Two Medicine for a night in one of several rustic chalets or canvas tipis built by the Great Northern Railway. From Two Medicine, a system of back country tent camps and chalets within the park allowed these adventurous visitors to live in Glacier's wild interior.
Hikers and backpackers both find this area provides not only lush landscapes but a true wilderness experience that can only be had by those who travel by foot into the mountains. You could also venture from the roads and into the wild with a relaxed boat tour on Two Medicine Lake.
These days, Two Medicine has turned into a fairly out of the way adventure for the majority of park visitors. As soon as you discover it however you'll find it easy to understand the reasons why many people consider this their most favorite part of Glacier National Park. Incredible views, extensive trails, thundering waterfalls, and dazzling lakes await you.
