Glacier National Park

Perhaps my favorite of all of the national parks, Glacier National Park is found along the northern border of the United States in Montana. In fact, the U.S. shares part of the park with Canada. Though the park isn't completely covered by glaciers, it is named Glacier National Park because its features were carved by the glaciers as they made their way down the continent.

One of the most interesting things to me is that, due to its elevation, the park can still have deep snow throughout the summer months. I recall one trip to the park in July. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt because the weather was warm when we left the campsite that morning. However, once we were in the park, we encountered snow. The snow along the side of the road was almost twice as tall as me.

The Going-to-the-Sun road is one of the most popular drives within the confines of the park. This road takes visitors past many of the park's best features, including Logan Pass, Mount McDonald Valley and Many Glacier. Each of these landmarks provides visitors with a breathtaking view of the wilderness. Over 93 percent of Glacier National Park remains untouched wilderness.

For those tourists looking for more than just a scenic drive, Glacier National Park offers visitors over 700 miles of hiking trails. These trails lead to lakes and other scenic views that can't be seen from the roadways. Guided horseback tours, bus tours and a boat cruise are available within the park limits. Those who enjoy camping can camp in one of the park's 13 campgrounds.