Canada · British Columbia
Glacier
A World of Ancient Ice and Peaks
Glacier National Park is a dramatic realm of towering peaks, dense ancient rainforest, and over 400 glaciers that cling to its rugged mountainsides in the Columbia Mountains of British Columbia.
Discover the destination
More than a destination
Glacier National Park is a dramatic realm of towering peaks, dense ancient rainforest, and over 400 glaciers that cling to its rugged mountainsides in the Columbia Mountains of British Columbia.
The essentials
A place to understand before you wander
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
- Best time
- July — September
- Ideal stay
- 2 — 4 days
- Known for
- Historic Pass · Valley Glacier · Ancient Forest
- Climate
- Heavy snow and a short high-country summer
- Protected since
- 1886
In the landscape
Things to do
Heritage
Rogers Pass Discovery
Explore the historic ruins and interpretive museum.
Mountaineering
Glacier Mountaineering
High-altitude climbing and ski touring in legendary terrain.
On the trail
Walks and climbs
01Meeting of the Waters
easy · 1.3 km loop
Walk where Asulkan and Illecillewaet rivers join.
02Rockgarden Trail
easy · 0.5 km loop
Boulder field trail with mosses and lichens.
03Great Glacier Trail
moderate · 6.4 km return
Hike to the viewpoint of the retreating Illecillewaet Glacier.
04Abbott Ridge Trail
challenging · 13.6 km return
Strenuous climb above treeline with 360-degree views of glaciers and peaks.
05Hermit Trail
challenging · 6.4 km return
Steepest maintained trail in Canada with immediate access to alpine terrain.
Must visit
The landmarks that define Glacier
Historic Pass
In pictures
Scenes from the park
The story of the place
A landscape shaped by mountains, water and time
In 1881, Albert Bowman Rogers discovered a route through the Selkirk Mountains. The Canadian Pacific Railway spanned Rogers Pass in 1885, cementing this corridor into Canadian history.
High annual precipitation creates dense interior rainforests of giant western red cedars transitioning quickly into permanent ice and alpine glaciers.
Wildlife of the park
Grizzly Bear · Mountain Goat · Wolverine · Pika · Hoary Marmot
Find it
Where is Glacier?
Glacier sits in British Columbia, Canada. The panel marks the park until a live map is connected.
National park
British Columbia
Canada
- Coordinates
- 51.2727° N, 117.4897° W
- Elevation
- 1,310 m (4,298 ft)
- Protected area
- 1,349 km²
- Established
- 1886
- UNESCO
- Canadian Heritage Site
Practical notes
Travel with the mountain, not against it
Arrival
Getting there
Airport
Calgary or Vancouver, then the Trans-Canada through Rogers Pass.
Road
The Trans-Canada is the spine of the park. Winter tires matter here for much of the year.
Train
The Rogers Pass line carries freight. Visitors arrive by road.
In the park
Trailheads leave the highway. Check avalanche and trail bulletins before high routes.
The year
Weather
Summer
Mid-July to August for hiking; winter for world-renowned backcountry touring.
Autumn
Clearer trails and thinner crowds around Glacier, with frost arriving first on the summits.
Winter
Snow settles over Glacier. Daylight is short, the air is dry, and the landscape feels newly emptied.
Spring
Waterfalls run full as the snowpack releases. Higher routes around Glacier open late.
Before you go
Travel tips
What to pack
Layers, a rain shell, broken-in shoes and sun protection. Mountain weather turns inside an hour.
Safety
Stay on marked routes, carry water, and read the day’s trail and road alerts before leaving town.
Wildlife awareness
Give Grizzly Bear, Mountain Goat, Wolverine plenty of room. Never approach or feed an animal.
Park rules
A valid national park pass is required. Drones, off-trail travel and feeding wildlife are restricted.
Through the year
Experience the destination
Spring
Meltwater fills the rivers around Glacier. Lower trails open while the high country is still waking.
Suggested · Meeting of the Waters
Summer
Mid-July to August for hiking; winter for world-renowned backcountry touring.
Suggested · Rogers Pass Discovery
Autumn
The light softens over Glacier. Crowds thin, and the high country turns gold before the first lasting snow.
Suggested · Abbott Ridge Trail
Winter
Glacier settles under snow. Days are bright, cold and made for a slower kind of mountain travel.
Suggested · Snow and silence
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