Recreational Activities

Some recreational activities of Glacier National Park include, hiking, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, and cross country skiing.

Hiking

With more than 730 miles of trails in Glacier National Park, and 114 miles in Waterton Lakes National Park, hiking is sure to be a definite option while sightseeing while in Montana. Day hikers do not need permits but backpackers camping overnight in the backcountry are required to go to a visitor center to obtain a backcountry permit and to be sure that camping sites are available at their destination. At Glacier, apply for a permit within 24 hours of your departure. To make your hike as safe and fun as possible, follow these few tips.

• Take proper gear. Take rain and sun protection all the time. Take a first-aid kit with blister treatment and maps. The most common hiking ailment, blisters, is usually preventable by wearing comfortable shoes or boots and that also fit the terrain. Also, take quality socks that will protect your feet. Also, be sure to break in boots ahead of time.

• Let someone know where you are going. If you don't return on time, someone can find you. Rangers will generally not begin a search unless you are reported missing.

• Know your limitations. The average hiker travels about two miles an hour. You should add another hour for every 1,000 feet the trail climbs. Heavy loads and inclement weather can slow you down.

• Be wary of wild animals. Not only are bears and mountain lions a danger, but so are squirrels and other animals. Glacier is the home of over 200 grizzly bears, 500 black bears, and an unknown number of mountain lions so hikers and campers should be wary of these animals even though encounters are rare.

• Carry Water. Trails in high mountain area will often cross areas with little water. Streams and lakes may carry Giardia lamblia protozoans, which makes water unsafe to drink unless treated. Giardia lamblia causes diarrhea and can make your hike an unpleasant experience. If you go on longer hikes, boil water from streams or lakes for at least three minutes.

• Know where you are going. There are many trails, especially around developed areas. Ask a ranger for directions to where you are going before beginning your hike. Maps as well as hiking guides are available at visitor centers and natural history associations.

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Fishing

There are five kinds of trout that can be found in Glacier Country as well as whitefish, arctic grayling, and kokanee salmon. Restrictions for the area and regulations for catch limits are available at visitor centers. A fishing license is not necessary to fish in Glacier. But since the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Flathead River border the park so these areas are subject to Montana fishing regulations and require a license.

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Golf

Even duffers can hit long drives with the high elevation of greater than 3,000 feet in Glacier Country, with the exception of the Libby area elevation of just over 1,000 feet above sea level.

• Kalispell Buffalo Hill's 18-hole Championship course with excellent views of Flathead Valley is a "must play." Village Greens features fairway mounding, deep rough, and and many water hazards. It is known for its carefully kept fairways and greens.
• Bigfork. Eagle Bend was rated the number one public course in Montana by Golf Digest and Top 50 in the nation in 1990. The 27-hole course features a Nicklaus nine, practice facility, marina, and mountain vistas.
• Polson. Along with spectacular panoramas of the Mission Mountains and Flathead Lake, enjoy the lush fairways and lightning-fast greens of Polson Country Club.
• Columbia Falls. The gently rolling Meadow Lake offers great views of Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley as well as lakes, trees, and streams.
• Whitefish. Both the North and South courses of the first 36-hole course in Montana are lines with birch and pine trees with the greens being trapped with white sand.

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