Best national parks in Montana

Montana sets the gold standard when it comes to beauty in the US.

Thanks to wilderness-preservation programs and low population numbers, the state's mountains, forests, and rich wildlife are mostly untouched.

Montana is the main gateway to this slice of America's natural history, with thermal features and wild animals you won't find anywhere else in the world. Glacier National Park, which is located within Montana, offers some of the state's best hikes, with endless trails, towering cliffs and sparkling lakes to explore.

Yellowstone National Park is the Montana’s best national park for natural history

It is easy to see how the expansion of the US inspired the preservation of wilderness. At a time when western expansion was still relatively unmitigated, planners decided to designate this treasure as a federal protected area.

The park is not only one of the best places to visit in Montana, but it's also the top place to visit in the entire USA. The same sights that enthralled people in the 1800s can be seen when people visit. There are more than 500 geysers in the park. Old Faithful is the most well-known eruptor. Some of America's most recognizable animals are scattered among the waterworks. More than four million people come here every year to see wildlife and it's one of the main reasons.

The Roosevelt Arch is located at the gateway to the park's north entrance and is one of the most well-known attractions. It is easy to get a photo of a line of cars winding beneath the gate. The spires of Mammoth Hot Springs are one of the popular photo spots. Don't approach, feed or touch the animals, as they are often wandering around in the area. Don't walk between a bull and any of his cows as he'll take that as an act of aggression.

The largest hot spring in the US is one of the popular attractions. From the elevated platform on the Fairy Falls trail, you can see the orange and blue colors of the spring. Most visitors don't want to miss the photo op at the canyon. You can view the canyon and Lower Falls at the park.

Old Faithful Inn is a landmark next to the geyser of the same name and is located in the park. It's a great place to stop for lunch or just to explore the antique architecture, and it's a good place to stay for the night. The best places to find the predator species are in the Lamar Valleys. There are a lot of bison in the park.

Visiting Yellowstone National Park

During July and August, when it's busiest, it's important to plan your trip. The Old Faithful Inn and Roosevelt Lodge are two of the hotels that offer in- park accommodations. The gateway towns of Gardiner at the north entrance and West Yellowstone at the west entrance are the best places to stay outside of the park. Close access to the park is offered by Livingston, Big Sky and Paradise Valley. Booking ahead will be important during the high season.

During the winter, only the road from the north entrance to the south entrance is open. There are enough available rooms to keep the minimal crowds at bay. Wolves and other animals congregate in the Lamar Valley for the winter and this is the best time to see them. Snowmobilers can be found in a lot of places, but winter travelers are unlikely to see them in the park. Prepare for cold and bad driving conditions.

If you want to explore the park on your own, a fee of $35 is required for each vehicle. The National Park Pass gives a year's access to every national park in the country. Annual passes are free for military personnel and 4th graders. Fee-restricted sites are not allowed at the park once in it.

Glacier National Park is Montana’s best national park for hiking

There is a reason why Glacier National Park needs to be protected from development. The largest concentration of grizzly bears in the world can be found here, surrounded by a dense pine forest.

There is more to see in Glacier National Park than hiking trails. Kayaking Lake McDonald is a great way to see the scenery and photograph the colorful river stones beneath the water. Driving Going To The Sun Rd can lead to traffic jams during busy times of the year.

There are a lot of hiking options. Most of the trails are accessible and lead to stunning views. The hike to the lake is a relatively easy one. The hike leads to a glacier and a lake on the eastern side of the park. You can see the park's cliffs and valleys along the way. The Highline Trail is easy to reach from the parking lot. There is also the Hidden Lake Trail.

Visiting Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park requires a lot of planning to visit. Its roads, hotels and trails are all seasonal, and the park's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years as people go on road trips.

Three of Glacier National Park's seven entrances are connected to Going To The Sun Road. The west and east entrances of the park are used the most. Both of these are open year-round, but the east entrance on tribal land may be closed due to winter weather.

The historic Many Glacier Hotel is located within the park's boundaries. Some campgrounds take reservations, others first come, first served. There is a permit for wilderness camping that you can get.

Several gateway towns with hotels and campgrounds are located outside the park. The perfect starting point for a Glacier adventure can be found in West Glacier Village, which has cabins and an RV park. The ski resort town of Whitefish is south of Kalispell, which hosts the Glacier Park International Airport. The Tiny homes at St Mary Village are located on the east side.

It's a good idea to book far in advance for trips from June to September. Competition for campsites is high during the Under The Big Sky Festival in July.

Unless you have the $80 National Park Pass or are a military veteran or 4th grade student, entering Glacier in a standard vehicle costs $35. During the summer months, a $2 per vehicle ticket was required to access Going To The Sun Rd. While it is possible to see parts of the park while avoiding GTTSR, it is not easy or recommended.

In about 18 hours, this article was updated.