Often called the Crown Jewel of the Continent, Glacier National Park sits atop the Continental Divide where three distinct watersheds begin. Valleys west of the divide flow into the Columbia River system and end up in the Pacific Ocean. Rivers east of the divide flow into the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River system. Rivers flowing north end up in Canada's Hudson Bay. The Continental Divide is where prairie meets mountain and forms a unique ecosystem of high ridges, meadows and cold clear lakes, providing ideal habitat for both wildlife and plant life.
Lake McDonald is 10 miles long and over a mile wide making it the largest lake in Glacier National Park. It fills a deep valley formed by erosion and glacial activity. Lake McDonald is on the west side of the Continental Divide. The Going-to-the-Sun Road parallels the lake along its southern shoreline. Lake McDonald Lodge is a historic hotel located on the southeast shore of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. The lodge was built in 1913 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
The Garden Wall is a steep alpine ridge along the west side of the Continental Divide. During the summer months the Garden Wall is heavily covered in dozens of species of flowering plants and shrubs. The Garden Wall can be traversed via the famous Highline Trail.
Saint Mary Lake is the second-largest lake in Glacier National Park. The lake is located on the east side of the Continental Divide. The Going-to-the-Sun Road parallels the lake along its north shore. Tiny Wild Goose Island in Saint Mary Lake provides one of the most iconic views in the park.
There is abundant wildlife in Glacier National Park. The Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus), also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed ungulate found only in North America. A subalpine to alpine species, it is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on cliffs and in meadows. These goats may be found in the alpine meadows near Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun Road. The Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a North American sheep named for its large curled horns. An adult ram can weigh up to 300 lb and the horns alone can weigh up to 30 lb. The Grizzly Bear (Usus arctos horribilis), also known as the North American Brown Bear, is a large population of brown bear inhabiting North America. They are a very large bear with the male weighing from 400 - 790 pounds and the females from 290 - 400 pounds. The Lewis and Clark expedition named the bear "grisley" but probably meant grisly which means fear-inspiring or gruesome. Although grizzly bears are classified as and have the digestive system of carnivores they eat both plants and animals. They will even eat carrion left behind by other animals. They are very opportunistic feeders eating whatever they can find. Grizzly bears normally hibernate for 5-7 months each year, especially in a colder climate. The American Moose (Alces americanus) is the largest antlered animal in the world and a member of the deer family. The male moose can weigh between 1,200 and 1,600 pounds and have antlers, while females may reach weights of 800 – 1,300 pounds. Moose spend a lot of their summers grazing in meadows and marshy areas. The rest of the time is spent in the forest. Moose are also excellent swimmers and use this ability to feed on underwater vegetation. Their also consists of leaves, twigs, tree buds and bark. The Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus), is a species of rodent which includes marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs and other squirrels. It is the second largest member of the genus Urocitellus and is common to certain regions of Canada and the northwestern United States. Its habitat includes open woodlands, grasslands and alpine meadows. The ground squirrel's diet is mostly made up of grasses and plant parts like stems, leaves, bulbs, fruits and seeds.
Lake McDonald is 10 miles long and over a mile wide making it the largest lake in Glacier National Park. It fills a deep valley formed by erosion and glacial activity. Lake McDonald is on the west side of the Continental Divide. The Going-to-the-Sun Road parallels the lake along its southern shoreline. Lake McDonald Lodge is a historic hotel located on the southeast shore of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. The lodge was built in 1913 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
The Garden Wall is a steep alpine ridge along the west side of the Continental Divide. During the summer months the Garden Wall is heavily covered in dozens of species of flowering plants and shrubs. The Garden Wall can be traversed via the famous Highline Trail.
Saint Mary Lake is the second-largest lake in Glacier National Park. The lake is located on the east side of the Continental Divide. The Going-to-the-Sun Road parallels the lake along its north shore. Tiny Wild Goose Island in Saint Mary Lake provides one of the most iconic views in the park.
There is abundant wildlife in Glacier National Park. The Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus), also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed ungulate found only in North America. A subalpine to alpine species, it is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on cliffs and in meadows. These goats may be found in the alpine meadows near Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun Road. The Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a North American sheep named for its large curled horns. An adult ram can weigh up to 300 lb and the horns alone can weigh up to 30 lb. The Grizzly Bear (Usus arctos horribilis), also known as the North American Brown Bear, is a large population of brown bear inhabiting North America. They are a very large bear with the male weighing from 400 - 790 pounds and the females from 290 - 400 pounds. The Lewis and Clark expedition named the bear "grisley" but probably meant grisly which means fear-inspiring or gruesome. Although grizzly bears are classified as and have the digestive system of carnivores they eat both plants and animals. They will even eat carrion left behind by other animals. They are very opportunistic feeders eating whatever they can find. Grizzly bears normally hibernate for 5-7 months each year, especially in a colder climate. The American Moose (Alces americanus) is the largest antlered animal in the world and a member of the deer family. The male moose can weigh between 1,200 and 1,600 pounds and have antlers, while females may reach weights of 800 – 1,300 pounds. Moose spend a lot of their summers grazing in meadows and marshy areas. The rest of the time is spent in the forest. Moose are also excellent swimmers and use this ability to feed on underwater vegetation. Their also consists of leaves, twigs, tree buds and bark. The Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus), is a species of rodent which includes marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs and other squirrels. It is the second largest member of the genus Urocitellus and is common to certain regions of Canada and the northwestern United States. Its habitat includes open woodlands, grasslands and alpine meadows. The ground squirrel's diet is mostly made up of grasses and plant parts like stems, leaves, bulbs, fruits and seeds.
This gallery contains some of my favorite Glacier National Park images that are available as downloads and fine art prints. To view the gallery, click here or on the photo collage above. When you are in the gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge an image. To navigate the images click on the arrows. To see the captions click on the (i) symbol.
