Hwy 2; 33 miles from Kalispell, 56 miles from East Glacier. Elevation: 3,200 feet. Visitor Information: National Park Visitor Center and Park Headquarters, West Glacier, MT 59936; Phone: (406) 888-7800. Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centre, Toll Free: 1(800) ALBERTA (252-3782); Website: www.travelalberta.com
West Glacier is the western entrance to scenic Glacier National Park. The Park contains over a million acres of the finest mountain scenery in America.
Hotel, campgrounds, golf, shopping and fine restaurants are all available. Hiking, backpacking, fishing excursions and horseback trips into the Park can be booked there and boat rentals and scenic helicopter flights are available. Whitewater rafting is popular and several rafting concessions provide thrilling excursions on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River that flows through the center of the community.
West Glacier is home to the Glacier Institute, an educational facility providing courses on geology, flora and fauna of the Park. The historic Belton Depot houses the Glacier Natural Park Conservancy and greets Amtrak trains twice a day. The 1910 Belton Chalet is a National Historic Landmark, the first of the Great Northern Railway hotels in Glacier, providing excellent Montana fare dining.
