In 1919 painter W. Langdon Kihn joined his art teacher Winold Reiss on a painting trip to MT. In a letter home to his parents, Kihn passionately describes the Rocky Mountains in Glacier National Park: “There is nothing but the moan of the wind in the trees, and the light of the clear moon from the sky, and nothing but the sad silent range going on and on.” Throughout the 1920s, Kihn traversed the Western United States and Canada, where he visited and painted various Native American tribes.

A hiker’s paradise, Glacier National Park provides an exceptional backcountry experience, the perfect vacation for families and adventurers. There are a number of beloved areas and hiking trails in this park, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, the North Fork, Goat Hunt, Two Medicine, and Triple Divide Peak.

Declared a national park in 1910, Glacier National Park is a breathtaking area in northwest Montana. With over one million acres (404,000ha) of protected land, including majestic peaks, lakes, alpine meadows and glacier-carved valleys with numerous types of trees and other vegetation, this park is an outdoor lover’s haven with endless recreational opportunities. From hiking the over 700 miles (1,100km) of trails, to biking to historic chalets and lodges, there is something for every explorer.

Those ready to tackle some longer hikes should head for Montana’s Glacier National Park. Surrounded by the northern Rocky Mountains, the park offers the opportunity to take in one of the most scenic drives in the U.S., spy moose in their natural habitat, and skip gem-colored stones across an alpine lake. But for the best views, attempt one of the park’s magnificent hikes. Kids will enjoy the views from the 5.9-mile Avalanche Lake Trail, or the shorter (but steeper) 2-mile Aster Park hike.

I’ve never seen any place so immaculate in the U.S. The combination of swimming holes, hikes, and glaciers make this place so unique. I recommend the Grinnell Glacier hike on the east side of the park in the Many Glacier region.

Access to Avalanche Lake is from the large parking area at the Avalanche Creek trailhead via the Trail of the Cedars. Even in the off-season, it can be difficult to get a parking spot, so using the free shuttle is an excellent option.

Lush meadows, glistening lakes, jagged rock formations, and expansive, star-speckled night skies—Glacier National Park is one of North America’s greatest natural treasures. In this guidebook, you'll find the park's best hikes.

While it’s home to wildly diverse terrain, including Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, Montana has been targeted for natural gas drilling in recent years. However, in places such as Missoula, Whitefish and Bozeman, efforts have been made to bring the region back on the eco-track. Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, the first LEED-certified hotel in the state, uses water conservation systems, alternative energy and 100 percent organic towels, mats and bathrobes.

While winter weather causes many planned closings in Glacier (and many unplanned ones, too), NPS maintains 10 miles of Going-to-the Sun Road, from park headquarters in West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge, throughout the season. This gives hearty visitors a chance to see some of the iconic mountain views for which Glacier is known. Just be sure to consult ski/snowshoe trail maps to find your favorite route, or those less sure-footed on snow can join a ranger-led snowshoe walk.