Glacier: Nature, Culture, and Trails in Northwestern Montana

Glacier County is located in northwestern Montana between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Glacier National Park lies within the county, connecting natural experiences, long trails, and cultural discoveries in one landscape. When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home in Glacier, it is worth deciding early what you want to focus on during your trip: Will your time be devoted primarily to trails in the national park, the region’s history, or Blackfeet culture?

Nature and Trails in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is characterized by its great diversity of species. Approximately 1,132 plant species, 278 bird species, and 69 mammal species live there. A practical introduction to the natural environment is the Running Eagle Falls Trail, a self-guided nature trail. Those planning a longer hike can combine the Dawson and Pitamakan Pass Trails into a popular full-day loop hike. The Continental Divide Trail runs for approximately 110 miles through the national park, from Marias Pass through Two Medicine and Many Glacier to the border between the United States and Canada.

Two Medicine Lake also offers a different way to spend the day. Both motorized and non-motorized boats are permitted there; motorized boats may be used after a 30-day quarantine. When snow conditions are good, Two Medicine Road also provides access to scenic cross-country skiing opportunities. Families and travel groups with different interests can therefore choose between a self-guided nature trail, a loop hike, a water activity, and winter sports without limiting their itinerary to a single type of trip.

Access Points, History, and Regional Orientation

The St. Mary Entrance is an important reference point when planning your arrival: It is the eastern access point to the Going-to-the-Sun Road and provides access to the St. Mary Visitor Center. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is designated both a National Historical Civil Engineering Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Those interested in the connection between landscape and the history of infrastructure can incorporate this aspect into their choice of excursions. The historic Amtrak Empire Builder train stops seasonally in East Glacier Park.

Glacier also offers various ways to learn about the history and present-day life of the Blackfeet. Blackfeet Cultural History Tours include half-day and full-day tours featuring historic and cultural attractions. The Blackfeet Heritage Center and Art Gallery offers visitors an experience designed to foster an understanding of the Blackfeet. At the Museum of the Plains Indian, a permanent exhibition presents historic artworks by Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains; the museum also displays murals by Blackfeet artist Victor Pepion.

The visitor gallery at the Lodgepole Gallery and Blackfeet Culture Camp provides further insights. It displays beadwork, paintings, moccasins, dolls, and other artworks and crafts by Indigenous artists from the region. The Blackfeet Trail Tour is marked by historic road signs updated by the Blackfeet Planning and Development Department. The Blackfeet Reservation, which is part of Glacier County, is also an important point of reference. Nonmembers can obtain one-day, three-day, and annual permits for fishing on the reservation.

Places, Museums, and Travel Planning

North American Indian Days features traditional dancing, singing, drumming, Stick Games, and rodeos and takes place annually on the second weekend in July. In Cut Bank, the Glacier County Historical Museum focuses on the history of the region. Its exhibitions cover topics including homesteading, Lewis & Clark, artist John Clark, local businesses, oil, and the history of Cut Bank from 1898 through the 1960s.

The museum is located on a 14-acre site with two exhibition buildings, an oil workers’ house, an oil derrick, a 1917 schoolhouse, and a caboose from the 1980s. A reconstructed homestead house and a farm, presented through living history, are also part of the site. The Cut Bank Trails run along the creek and along the edges of the prairie. They offer paved and natural-surface trails for walking, running, and cycling.

When searching for accommodation, you can first decide which of these topics should shape your vacation. Nature trails and the national park landscape call for a different daily itinerary than museums, cultural offerings, or historic sites. You can then compare the places Browning, East Glacier Park, and Cut Bank as destinations in their own right. Further destinations for orientation: Broadwater, Sanders, Custer County, Beaverhead County, and Silver Bow.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.