This US National Park Is Our No. 1 Choice For Families

You've got the car loaded up, kids fidgeting in the back (or perhaps parents visiting from out of town), and the shared goal of enjoying one of America's 63 national parks. There's hardly a weak link in the bunch, but which is best suited for a family affair?

If raw natural beauty, accessible adventures, and accommodating infrastructure are all factored in, Montana's Glacier National Park stands out on all fronts. Here, the mature grandeur of lumbering ice fields and cloud-piercing peaks is balanced by serene waterfalls, bright meadows, forested boardwalks, and popular lakeshores. Glacier is also replete with outdoor activities, educational resources, and both rustic and catered overnight options. Such a place beseeches the most screen-addicted child to join the present moment and those world-weary relatives to smile. This is why Glacier National Park is our #1 choice for families.

Glacier In A (Peanut-Free) Nutshell

Overview

Glacier National Park encapsulates some of the best Rocky Mountain scenery. Called "The Backbone of the World" by the Indigenous Blackfeet Nation, and "The Crown of the Continent" by George Grinnell (i.e. one of the park's early champions) this is the narrowest part of the Rockies, but also one of its most biodiverse. Within Glacier's 1,583 square miles there are 762 lakes, 175 mountains, 26 glaciers (that are all, unfortunately, shrinking in size), 71 species of mammals, 276 types of documented birds, thousands of distinct plants (including seasonal wildflowers), 700 miles of hiking trails, old fashioned lodges/chalets, and roughly three-million annual visitors.

History

Established on May 11th, 1910, Glacier is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. In 1932, it joined forces with its Canadian neighbor, Waterton Lakes National Park, to become Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. That same year, the celebrated Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed - a monumental engineering effort that has to be seen in person at least once. The accolades continued in 1974 when the international peace park became an official Biosphere Reserve. And finally, in 1995, UNESCO branded the Waterton-Glacier as a World Heritage Site because of its visual and ecological prowess. Evidently, Glacier National Park is as well-regarded and protected (at least in terms of controllable variables) of any naturescape America has to offer.

Logistics

Glacier is open year-round with limited facilities but is in full swing from late May until September. As alluded to earlier, this northern Montana park hugs the border with Alberta, Canada. Apgar Village marks the west entrance, whereas the community of St. Mary, which sits on the edge of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, represents the east entrance. Both spots are linked by the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, and sport engaging visitor centers where fun facts can be garnered and logistics sorted. Along with accommodations in the park, sensible base camps can be found elsewhere in Flathead County, such as Whitefish, Kalispell, Bigfork, and Polson.

Activities For Kids

Now that we've laid an informative foundation, let's dig into the kid-specific stuff that Glacier National Park has to offer. There are plenty of options that are fun for the whole family (coming up next), but here are a few attractions that will specifically appeal to wilderness newbies.

Apgar Village

Apgar Village is safe, fun, and authentic. This wooden, nature-soaked hub rests on the south shore of Lake McDonald (i.e. the largest lake in Glacier), offering a boat launch and beach in addition to the picture-perfect views. Apgar also hosts a front-country campground (perfect for checking that first family-camping box), cabins/inns, gift shops, restaurants, and boat/bike rental facilities.

Apgar Nature Center

While cruising around Apgar Village, look for the historic log cabin (built in 1929) that is lightly disguised by surrounding cedar trees. Once available to rent, this cozy dwelling is now home to the Apgar Nature Center. The interactive complex offers hands-on activities for budding wildlife buffs, as well as open-air, ranger-led talks on all things park related. Note: the nature center is only open from 10 am to 4 pm, mid-June through late August.

Junior Ranger Program

Kid-friendly activity booklets can be picked up at any visitor center or ranger station. They act as a self-guided challenge to be completed during one's tour of the park (or at the campsite while parents enjoy some much-needed downtime). Once finished, head back to a center/station and get your official Junior Ranger Badge. This is a great way to get kids excited about nature and conservation, and to encourage autonomy with a healthy reward system.

Native America Speaks

While delving into the topography, ecology, and modern history of Glacier National Park, why not add in the long-standing cultural background of the region? The Native America Speaks program was started back in 1982, making it the longest-running Indigenous series in the National Park Service system. Each summer, representatives of the Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish Tribe, and Kootenai Tribe share their stories at the park's campgrounds and lodges, as well as select Blackfeet Nation sites (i.e. the Museum of the Plains Indian and the Chewing Black Bones Campground). In the process, kids can absorb balanced perspectives, but parents are also likely to learn new and interesting aspects of their favorite national park. This brings us to our next series of activities.

Stuff For The Whole Family

Whether you are a nuclear unit, a car full of in-laws, or a rag-tag group of peripheral relatives meeting up for an adventurous weekend, these highlights will accommodate all interests and abilities.

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Many of the aforementioned and upcoming features are stops along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. And while each turnout adds personality, the mountainous road trip as a whole deserves a shout-out. This two-lane, point-to-point, 50-mile highway is the star attraction of Glacier National Park (and the only through road). It connects Apgar with St. Mary (or vice versa) by crossing the Continental Divide. Along the way there are trailheads, tunnels, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and roadside wildlife (such as mountain goats and bighorn sheep). If the vehicle reservation system (more on this in a moment) or antsy-backseat drivers seem too stressful, Glacier offers regular shuttle services that not only cover the main attractions, but add context with the help of enthusiastic tour guides.

Lake McDonald Lodge

If launching forth from Apgar Village, Lake MacDonald Lodge marks the first major stop along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This classic, Swiss chalet-style lodge (completed in 1914 under the name Snyder Hotel) looms large on the southeast side of the titular lake. With a spacious parking lot, multiple restaurants, a generous shoreline to sprawl out on, boat tours/rentals, horseback rides, and all kinds of authentic satellite structures to compliment the central chalet, Lake McDonald Lodge is a wonderful place to root down for an hour, an afternoon, or multiple days.

Trail Of The Cedars

After getting your fill of lakeside fun, scoot just 5.5 miles up the road to the Trail of the Cedars. This one-mile, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk loop skirts along the eastern edge of the Pacific Northwest's humid climate, where impressive western hemlocks and red cedars still grow. Though these ancient trees (some as old as 500 years) beckon eyeballs skyward, the soothing green of ferns and mosses and the babbling of Avalanche Creek admirably compete for attention. No one will be overexerted by the effort, but everyone will be talking about the unexpected, Washington-esque enchanted forest on the way up to our next attraction.

Logan Pass

At 6,646 feet in elevation, Logan Pass is the highpoint (in every sense of the word) of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Here, another visitor center and exceptional boardwalk awaits - this time in the shadow of Reynolds and Clements Mountains. A short amble to stretch the legs will afford many family-photo opportunities, but keen hikers can continue further along the Hidden Lake and/or Highline Trail. Be mindful of wildlife, as bighorns are once again common in these parts, and the odd grizzly has even been known to meander on by. In fact, with an estimated 1,000 ursines (both black and brown) Glacier is one of the best national parks for bear sightings. Now, I recognize that this may intimidate some readers, but given the enormous popularity of Logan Pass, you will always have strength in numbers. Nonetheless, this presents an opportunity to learn more about one of the last grizzly bear sanctuaries in the lower 48 states. Flag down a park ranger and ask about best practices when sharing space with these alluring creatures.

Further Considerations

Now that we've run the highlight reel, let's take a step back and acknowledge one of Glacier National Park's drawbacks, as well as a seamless alternative (just pack your passport).

Make Like The Lion King And "Be Prepared"

I am not alone in thinking that Glacier National Park is a top-tier choice for just about anybody. It's not so much that its attendance figures tip the scales (for there are at least 10 U.S. parks with higher annual visitations), it's that so many people flock here during the limited fair-weather season. As such, planning ahead will certainly improve the quality of your family's experience. For instance, I was able to rouse myself before the Going-to-the-Sun Road's reservation system took effect at 6 am, but folks on the edges of the age bell-curve might prefer a reasonable time slot booked in advance. The same goes for staking out an appropriate campsite, claiming that swanky room at the lodge, snagging a table for breakfast, or getting enough spots on the desired tours.

Continue On To Waterton

Everything great about Glacier is mirrored by Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park. Hence why these vertical neighbors comprise the first UNESCO World Heritage Site of its kind. The continent-dividing mountain range that splices through Montana, continues into the province of Alberta. The same charming combination of alpine lakes, historic architecture, and timeless timber flows northbound - but the crowds do not. Last year, only about 526,000 people (i.e. about 1/6th of Glacier's attendance) visited Waterton.

Whether you take the time to plan out a perfect vacation in Glacier National Park, or skip the crowds by sneaking up to Waterton Lakes, the whole family will thrive in these parts. And best of all, thanks to the accessible majesty of both Rocky Mountain havens, the memories shall be everlasting. Happy travels!