Reddit threads could be a nice supply of knowledge if you’re planning a visit. You get recommendation from fellow vacationers and locals who’re accustomed to the world you’re going to go to. Typically, these feedback are additionally latest so you understand you’re getting up-to-date info from individuals who have been there not way back.
In case you’re searching for wildlife in Glacier Nationwide Park, a number of Reddit threads and feedback provide nice recommendation on how to try this. Right here, we’ll share a few of the greatest Reddit recommendation on the way to see wildlife in Glacier Nationwide Park … and the way to keep protected whereas doing so!
The place to See Wildlife in Glacier Nationwide Park In line with Reddit
Glacier Nationwide Park is dwelling to all kinds of wildlife. Watch for big animals like bears (Glacier is among the greatest locations within the continental U.S. to see grizzly bears), mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, and even wolves. You can even look ahead to smaller animals like marmots, cute little pikas, rabbits, beavers, and squirrels. The park has over 270 chicken species, together with bald and golden eagles, peregrine falcons, ospreys, ptarmigans, and woodpeckers.
Numerous Redditors have recommendation on when and the place to see these animals. Listed below are a few of the greatest ideas from Reddit to see wildlife in Glacier Nationwide Park.
Basic Tricks to See Wildlife
Listed below are some normal tricks to improve your probabilities of seeing wildlife across the park, shared by Reddit posters.
- When to look at: Early morning is an effective time to see wildlife out and about. One poster additionally talked about that late afternoon was a great time to look at for moose and different animals, who will emerge because the day cools down. Animals are most energetic at Glacier from late spring via early fall.
- The place to look at: One other commenter stated that guests usually tend to encounter animals on the japanese aspect of the park than to the west. Bears like meadows for his or her berry potentialities, in addition to the perimeters of forests for the vegetation and small animals they supply. They could additionally hang around close to lakes and streams, searching for fish. Moose can start to overheat at temperatures as little as 60°F, so in the summertime you’ll usually discover them close to lakes and streams the place they will cool off.
- Different cues to look at for: As you’re driving via the park, look for many automobiles slowing or pulling to the aspect. This often means there’s one thing to see within the space. Another person suggested testing the feedback on the hikes on the AllTrails app. Typically, individuals who have performed hikes just lately will touch upon what animals they noticed and the place. This may give you an thought of which animals could also be frequenting these spots.
- Test trails: In case you’re planning on mountain climbing on the park, you’ll want to test the path standing reviews. Glacier’s excessive altitudes and snowy winters imply that some trails is perhaps closed, even into the summer season months.
The place to Keep in Glacier to See Wildlife
Glacier Nationwide Park has two principal areas – the east aspect of the park and the west aspect. It takes 2-2 1/2 hours to drive one-way from the east to the west aspect, or again once more. The street is winding, and the velocity restrict is often between 25-45 mph so driving is sluggish. Through the summer season, there may also be a number of visitors. It makes essentially the most sense to remain within the space of the park that you just want to probe for the day. In case you arrive on the japanese aspect of the park, spend a number of days there at Many Glacier, Two Medication, and different areas on the east aspect. Then, drive to the west aspect to expertise Lake McDonald, Apgar Village, Huckleberry Lookout, and different areas on that aspect.
Reservations contained in the park e book rapidly, however you’ll be able to all the time test late to see if there have been any cancellations. In case you can’t keep contained in the park, search for lodging or tenting in cities close to every entrance.
Cell service at campgrounds within Glacier is commonly sketchy and typically non-existent so ensure you have necessary info and maps downloaded forward of time.
East Aspect of Glacier
The place to camp or keep on the east aspect of Glacier Nationwide Park.
- Many Glacier Campground: NOTE: This campground is closed till mid-Might 2026 for development. Many Glacier is among the hottest campgrounds within the park, with tent and RV tenting. The campground has entry to a number of well-liked day hikes within the park, and there are dump stations and potable water obtainable. Reservations are required.
- St. Mary Campground: St. Mary is the most important campground on the east aspect of the park. It’s open year-round and is close to the customer heart with its interpretive applications and shuttle excursions. The campground has dump stations and showers throughout tenting season. Reservations are required through the summer season.
- Two Medication Campground: Two Medication Campground places you close to boat excursions and Purple Bus excursions, together with a number of well-liked day hikes. There’s a dump station and potable water, and every website has a picnic desk and hearth ring. Reservations are required.
- St. Mary / East Glacier KOA Vacation: The city of St. Mary is the japanese gateway to Glacier Nationwide Park. The KOA has extra facilities than you’ll discover at nationwide park websites, together with full hookups, a swimming pool, an espresso bar, pet-sitting, a grocery retailer, and extra.
- Divide Creek Campground: Divide Creek has 7 RV websites which are considerably primitive. There aren’t any hookups. The campground has showers and is near the St. Mary River and to Glacier.
When you’re on the east aspect of the park, there are many locations to hike and look ahead to wildlife. Listed below are a few of the greatest hikes for looking ahead to wildlife on that aspect of Glacier.
The place to Go on the East Aspect
Listed below are a few of the locations that have been generally advisable by Reddit advisers the place you’ll be able to see wildlife.
| Title | Mileage | Animals You Might See | Different Data |
| Going-to-the-Solar Highway | 50-mile drive | mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears, elk | Going-to-the-Solar Highway is the principle scenic route that connects the east and west sides of the park; Logan Move is a good place to look at for mountain goats and sheep, when you would possibly spot bears and elk from Wild Goose Island Overlook |
| Many Glacier Space | N/A | black and grizzly bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer, pikas, marmots, bald eagles, ospreys, ptarmigans | The Many Glacier Space is commonly known as the “Serengeti of North America” due to all of the animals that roam there. Look ahead to wildlife within the meadows and forest areas, the place they’ve good meals sources. That is additionally a phenomenal space for photographing wildlife |
| Grinnell Lake & Grinnell Glacier Path | 7.8-mile hike; 10-mile hike | moose, bears; mountain goats, bighorn sheep | The Grinnell Lake Path is a 7.8-mile, comparatively flat hike to a scenic lake. The Grinnell Glacier Path is extra strenuous, with a 2,047-foot elevation acquire. |
| Iceberg Lake Path | 9.6-mile hike | black and grizzly bears | This path has 1,459 toes of elevation acquire. It ends at a phenomenal lake that (because the title implies) has icebergs floating within the center. Numerous hikers have a good time attending to the lake by taking a chilly plunge into the frigid water. |
| Lake Josephine | 1.4-mile path | moose | You may get to Lake Josephine from a paved footpath on the higher Swiftcurrent boat dock. You possibly can take a simple stroll across the lake, or decide up longer and extra strenuous trails that hook up with the lake path. |
| Two Medication Valley Trails | varied | moose | This space has quite a lot of trails of various lengths you’ll be able to hike and look ahead to wildlife. |
West Aspect of Glacier
The place to camp or keep on the west aspect of Glacier Nationwide Park.
- Apgar Campground: That is the most important campground at Glacier. You’ll discover tent tenting and tenting for RVs as much as 40 toes lengthy right here, and Lake McDonald is inside strolling distance. You’ll additionally discover a number of mountain climbing trails close to this campground. There’s a dump station, and there are free showers through the tenting season. Reservations are required.
- Avalanche Campground: This campground permits tents and RVs as much as 26 toes lengthy. There are two well-liked day hikes close to Avalanche, so it’s a great dwelling base for mountain climbing. Every website has a picnic desk and a hearth ring, however there aren’t any hookups or dump stations. Flush bathrooms can be found in season. Avalanche requires reservations.
- Fish Creek Campground: This campground close to Lake McDonald is for RV and tent campers. There’s a dump station and seasonal showers, together with potable water. Reservations are required.
- Sprague Creek Campground: Sprague Creek is a small campground on Lake McDonald, and may accommodate tents and RVs as much as 21 toes lengthy. The campground has potable water, plus a picnic desk and hearth ring at every website. Reservations are required.
- West Glacier KOA Resort: This campground is lower than three miles from the west entrance to Glacier. It has full hookups, a pool, a playground, laundry services, a comfort retailer, deliberate occasions, and extra.
- Glacier Campground: Glacier Campground is only a mile from the park, and has water and electrical hookups. The campground can accommodate RVs as much as 32 toes lengthy. There’s a dump station obtainable as effectively. The campground has laundry services, showers, a camp retailer, and is pet pleasant.
The place to Go on the West Aspect
Listed below are a few of the locations that have been generally advisable by Reddit advisers the place you’ll be able to see wildlife on the west aspect of the park.
| Title | Mileage | Animals You Might See | Different Data |
| John’s Lake Loop | 2-mile hike | moose | A straightforward hike with out a lot elevation acquire. You’ll move Sacred Dancing Cascade and McDonald Falls |
| Hidden Lake Path | 5.1-mile hike | moose, bears | This can be a average path, with 1,338 toes of elevation acquire. It begins on the west aspect of the Logan Move Customer Heart. Look ahead to moose close to the lake |
| Mount Brown Lookout | 9.9-mile hike | mountain goats | This can be a exhausting path, with 4,232 toes of elevation acquire. Mountain goats have been noticed on this path, and one commenter stated they have been making an attempt to get near hikers to lick the salt off of their sneakers and legs. |
| Apgar Space & McDonald Creek | N/A | bears, deer, river otters, osprey, bald eagles | Animals just like the creek as a meals and water ource, and the meadows close to Apgar Village appeal to deer and bears. |
| Camas Highway Hall | 11-mile drive | bears, coyotes, elk, deer | This street is a quieter again street that heads towards the North Kind space. There are forests and meadows the place wildlife prefer to roam, searching for meals. |
RV tenting in Glacier Nationwide Park
RV tenting in Glacier Nationwide Park is a good way to be near wildlife. A number of the campgrounds, like Many Glacier and Two Medication, are areas the place wildlife congregate. Chances are you’ll even see them as you simply go about your tenting enterprise!
Tenting can also be an exquisite possibility as a result of it places you nearer than ever to the outside. You possibly can open your RV door within the morning and also you’re proper out in nature. At evening, you’ll be able to sit round a campfire and revel in a night on the park.
Numerous the campgrounds at Glacier Nationwide Park do require reservations. Since it is a well-liked park, you’ll wish to make these reservations as quickly as you understand your plans. The Flathead Nationwide Forest on the west aspect of the park additionally permits dispersed tenting, so you’ll be able to camp without cost in some areas close to the park.
Wildlife Security
In fact, if you’re viewing or photographing wildlife, you wish to ensure you’re doing so safely. Listed below are some tricks to keep protected when you’re looking ahead to wild animals on the park.
Make Noise
Most wild animals don’t wish to encounter you up shut any greater than you wish to get too near them! However animals might assault once they’re feeling threatened or scared. Make loads of noise as you stroll to alert any animals within the space that you just’re round and to stop them being startled.
Hike in Teams and Stick Collectively
Climbing in teams is one other method to alert animals to your presence. A bigger group may also be extra intimidating to an animal. In case you’re mountain climbing in a gaggle, you’ll want to stick collectively. Not solely are animals much less prone to method a big group, you’ll even have folks available if somebody hurts an ankle or is in any other case injured.
In case you are exploring Glacier Nationwide Park with youngsters, make certain they stick near you as effectively. Don’t let youngsters run forward on a path by themselves.
Convey Bear Spray
Many Reddit posters advocate bringing bear spray on hikes. They observe that it may be used on different animals apart from merely bears, if wanted. You possibly can’t convey bear spray on a aircraft, however loads of locations close to Glacier promote spray you’ll be able to decide up. One Redditor advisable shopping for a pack of two in order that if you must use one, you will have a backup to maintain defending you.
Carry your spray the place you’ll be able to seize it simply – don’t pack it in your backpack. You can even follow eradicating the protection tab and spraying. In case you do that, follow effectively away from others (not at your campsite, for instance!), and ensure nobody, together with your self, is downwind if you attempt it out.
Use the Rule of Thumb
In case you see an animal, comply with the “Rule of Thumb.” Lengthen your arm all the best way in entrance of you and provides a thumbs-up. Put your thumb over the animal. In case you can nonetheless see elements of the animal round your thumb, it’s worthwhile to transfer farther away.
Preserve Pets on a Leash
Glacier Nationwide Park doesn’t permit pets on many trails, and it’s in all probability greatest to depart them at a kennel or in your motorhome through the day. In case you are out the place they’re allowed, make certain they’re on a leash and that you’ve them underneath management. A wild animal can get scared by a barking canine and react aggressively.
Retailer Meals Correctly
Don’t depart any meals out at your campsite, and clear the tenting space totally after every meal. And it’s not simply meals that animals are interested in. You’ll wish to put away any smellables like toothpaste, sunscreen, lotion, and anything with a scent.
You probably have a hard-sided RV (not a pop-up trailer), you’ll be able to retailer meals and smellables in your RV. Be sure that your home windows and doorways are closed and secured so bears can’t get in. Don’t depart something which will have meals smells on it, like grills or empty coolers, open air at your campsite. Put all your trash within the bear-safe trash bins obtainable on the park.
In case you don’t wish to put all your meals, coolers, or different objects in your RV, or in the event you’re tent tenting, most campgrounds even have bear containers the place you’ll be able to retailer scented objects.
Hopefully, this text has given you some beneficial recommendation from fellow hikers and campers about the way to see wildlife in Glacier Nationwide Park. In case you can;t get a campground reservation, otherwise you merely wish to attempt someplace much less crowded, try these options to Glacier Nationwide Park. And in the event you’re searching for extra Reddit recommendation, this text on Issues Reddit Says About RVing to Yellowstone has a number of recommendation that applies to Glacier as effectively.