Area Info

Located in northwest Montana at the headwaters of Flathead Lake, Flathead Valley is a beautiful area with a total population of approximately 85,000 people.

Community

Although Glacier National Park is distant from any major cities, it is surrounded by small, friendly towns that offer easy access to the park. The closest airport is in Kalispell, Montana, south of the park. Trains stop at East Glacier and West Glacier, Montana.

The closest towns are the following, moving counter-clockwise around the park from the northwest:

Polebridge
On the northwestern edge of Glacier, Polebridge is on Montana Secondary Highway 486, close to the Canadian border.

Apgar
Apgar is only two miles from the West Glacier entrance at the south end of Lake McDonald. This fascinating settlement was established in 1895 by loggers.

West Glacier
Welcoming park visitors since 1938, West Glacier is the place to stock up for your trip into the park. Find a great home-cooked meal before embarking on your adventures.

Essex
Twenty-six miles southeast of West Glacier, Montana, Essex is one stop on Amtrak’s busy route. You’ll find comfortable accommodations available here as well as other amenities.

East Glacier
East Glacier is located on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation, and a beautiful region to visit when coming to the area. You’ll need to make early reservations as this town gets a lot of tourists passing through each year.

Kiowa
If you want to have solitude and quiet, Kiowa is the place to stay. Wildlife is abundant here and you’ll spot grizzlies and black bears as well as mountain lions and bobcats. The Blackfoot word for bear is Kya-yo, and this is where the town gets its name.

St. Mary
The renowned Going-to-the-Sun Highway links St. Mary with West Glacier at the western entrance of Glacier National Park. This is an ideal place to make a home base for a Glacier area vacation. You’ll find all the amenities you could desire right here.

Babb
Continue north on US 89 from the east entrance to Glacier and you’ll come to Babb. There are some tourist cabins here, a general store and post office. Get away from it all by staying in Babb when visiting Glacier.

Weather/Climate

With many different elevations, there are a number of different climates within Glacier and the surrounding area. The average temperature drops as elevations increase. On the west side of Glacier, you’ll find a milder, wetter climate, with winter and spring giving much precipitation. Snow will fall just about at any time of year, particularly at the higher altitudes. The largest accumulation occurs in the western regions. You will find excellent air quality, as there are no large human populations nearby. Of course, summer temperatures are warm and the low humidity makes it pleasant to get outdoors and enjoy the abundant recreation throughout the area.

History

Early occupants of the Glacier area were the Salish, Shoshone, Cheyenne and Flathead tribes. The Blackfoot Indian arrived near the beginning of the 18th century. In 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition came to the region, trekking within 50 miles of the park. George Bird Grinnell, after viewing the scenery in the Glacier area in the late 1880s, worked hard to establish a national park.

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