A tale of two glacier parks
The U.S. West is home to a number of spots where nature never fails to impress. Two prime examples are the similarly named
Glacier National Park and Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. While the parks vary in location—Glacier is in inland Montana
and Glacier Bay is in coastal Alaska—they share more than just a very descriptive word in the name. Both are packed with
unspoiled beauty, mountain peaks, glacial valleys, acres of wilderness and wildflowers, and hundreds of species of animals.
Glacier National Park Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
West Glacier, Montana | nps.gov/glac Gustavus, Alaska | nps.gov/glba
The basics: Glacier is home to headwaters for streams and
rivers that flow to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and
to Hudson’s Bay. There are more than 200 high-altitude
lakes along with nearly 50 glaciers spread across the park’s
1,600 square miles, which blend seamlessly with rugged
mountains and alpine meadows. The basics: Located at the northern end of Alaska’s Inside
Passage, Glacier Bay is many things: a living laboratory, a
designated wilderness, a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO
World Heritage site. The marine park’s remoteness helps
protect its glaciers and fjords, as well as its rainforest and
snow-capped mountains.
Top activities: Hiking is the best way to see the park, and
its hundreds of miles of trails lead to waterfalls, forests and
scenic overlooks. Options range from short nature walks to
multi-day backcountry excursions. Boating, biking and horse-
back tours also take visitors deep into the park. Top activities: While shore-based tours are interesting,
getting out on the water is the way to go at Glacier Bay.
Whale-watching excursions and other boat tours detail the
park’s rich maritime heritage, while the area also is one of
America’s top spots for sport fishermen.
Unique experiences: Going-to-the-Sun Road, which con-
nects the eastern and western sides of the park, meanders
beside long stretches of St. Mary’s Lake and Lake McDonald
and reaches 6,646 feet when it heads over Logan Pass.
Groups can book a ride along the famous road in one of the
park’s iconic Red Jammer vehicles. Unique experiences: Sea kayaking provides unparalleled
access to glaciers and icebergs. Popular options include a
tour that goes from the Glacier Bay Lodge to the Beardslee
Islands and one around the Point Adolphus area, which may
put paddlers up close with humpback whales. There are
routes geared for both veteran and novice kayakers.
Wildlife viewing: Glacier is grizzly country, as it boasts one
of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in the lower
48 states. The park also is home to bats, beavers, bighorn
sheep and elk, as well as lynx. Wildlife viewing: Marine mammals abound, with the stars
of the show being migrating whales, stellar sea lions, Dall’s
porpoises and harbor seals. Bald eagles, which nest in tall
cottonwoods, are one of the many seabirds found in the park.
To learn more, contact Debbie Picard of Montana’s Glacier
Country at [email protected]. To learn more, contact the Alaska Travel Industry
Association’s Tanya Carlson at [email protected].
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June 2017