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