East Glacier

East Glacier is a town located at the eastern park border of Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana. In 2020, 354 people lived there.

Understand
East Glacier is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This area has cultural and historical significance to the tribe.

Some businesses are only open during the summer.

By car
As with most of Montana, you will need a car to get to East Glacier. The town is at the intersection of US Hwy 2 and State Hwy 49.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Kalispell. There is a shuttle service from the airport in Calgary, which is 220 miles away.

By train

 * Route stopping in East Glacier:
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.

Get around
The town itself is walkable but you will need a car to get to many of the activities.

In town you will find car rentals, shuttle services, and even horse rentals.

See
There are abundant scenic spots in and around East Glacier. You can see waterfalls, clear mountain streams, and wildlife that includes moose, bear, elk, and mountain goats.

Do
There are a variety of hiking trails to get you into the wilderness. Geocachers will be pleased to find over 50 caches in the area. Winter brings skiing and snowmobiling.

Connect
This is a remote, wooded area, which means cell service and data can be spotty. Not all hotels offer WiFi.

Go next

 * Blackfeet Nation Bison Reserve: Tribe's bison herd, visible from the road. Pull off area and information. 5 miles east on US Rte 2.
 * Glacier National Park