Few places on earth are as magnificent and pristine as Glacier. Protected in 1910 during the first flowering of the American conservationist movement, Glacier ranks with Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon among the United States’ most astounding natural wonders.

Glacier National Park is an area of spectacular mountain ranges, alpine meadows, thick forests, tall waterfalls, countless sparkling lakes, and numerous glaciers. It’s a paradise for adventurous outdoor-types thanks to its more than 700 miles of hiking trails. It’s also easily accessible by car, a highlight being the 50-mile-long Going-to-the-Sun Road connecting St. Mary via the 6,646-foot-high Logan Pass to West Glacier. Rated one of the most beautiful mountain roads in North America, its breathtaking views include the Triple Divide, the watershed between three drainage systems to the Pacific, the North Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. The views of St. Mary Lake and the surrounding peaks from the wide bend beyond Rising Sun are probably the most photographed scenes in the park and are worth seeing before hitting the Logan Pass Visitor Center, above which tower the imposing peaks of Reynolds at 9,128 feet and the 8,773-foot-tall Clements Mountain.