| The Blackfeet called it the Land of Shining Mountains. | | | | It was George Bird Grinnell, the father of Glacier |
| Lewis and Clark in their quest for the Pacific, failed to | | | | National Park who coined the phrase, Crown of the |
| find a route through these formidable peaks. | | | | Continent. Today it is the formal name of the |
| Yet for centuries native hunters followed ancient | | | | ecosystem that encompasses Glacier and Waterton |
| routes to hunting grounds on both sides of the | | | | parks. The bio-diversity found here is one of the |
| continental divide. | | | | highest in North America. |
| Today you can experience Glacier National Parks | | | | This is the Crown, the birthplace of the great rivers of |
| visual drama from the scenic roadways that follow | | | | the continent, their waters flow into three different |
| these ancient routes. Visitors marvel at the stunning | | | | oceans. The climate creates its own ecological |
| change in scenery between the western slopes cedar | | | | conditions which result in the presence of flora and |
| forests and the prairie grasslands on the eastern side. | | | | fauna unique in the world. Outstanding natural features |
| In Between stand the glacier-carved peaks and lush | | | | remain habitat for abundant and spectacular wildlife, |
| alpine meadows of the Rocky Mountains. | | | | from the mighty grizzly bear to rare species of |
| Year-round access is granted by Highway 2, which | | | | butterflies. |
| follows the parks southern boundary over Marisa | | | | The Going to the Sun Road is the highlight of the park. |
| Pass. The famous Going to the Sun Road is a | | | | Driving on this road is what all the tourists do. Or if you |
| spectacular summer only route that travels through the | | | | do not want to drive you can take a tour bus and let |
| heart of the park. This 55 mile scenic parkway winds | | | | them do the driving for you. There are a couple |
| its way up and over the Continental Divide. From Lake | | | | companies that offer the tour. The most popular is the |
| McDonald to St Mary, Going to the Sun Road reveals | | | | one with the red tour buses of a forgotten era. If you |
| the glory of Glacier National Parks high alpine terrain to | | | | like mountain scenery, take the tour. If you drive you |
| all that find them way to this magnificent landscape. | | | | will be too buy keeping you eyes on the road. And that |
| In 1932, Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton | | | | is not what you want to look at. |
| Lakes National Park in Alberta were formally joined to | | | | There are not too many places to stay around the |
| form Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the | | | | park. You might just want to stay in the park itself. |
| worlds first. A Rotary International initiative, the | | | | There are a few nice hotels in the park. All the |
| designation celebrates the peace and friendship that | | | | surrounding areas, especially on the east and south are |
| exists between Canada and the US. It highlights the | | | | run by the Blackfeet tribe. Their reservation borders |
| fact that nature knows no political boundaries. | | | | the park on the east. |