The Beautiful Town That’s The Gateway To Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park was recently named one of the world’s best places to visit in 2025 by U.S. Information. Whereas Glacier is often seen as a runner-up to Yellowstone, mainly due to popularity and size, the park is no doubt the undisputed “Crown Jewel of the Continent” when it comes to pure splendor. Its jagged peaks towering over clear glacial lakes and alpine meadows are a definite postcard visible, finest skilled by driving up the well-known Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Nonetheless, most individuals enter the West Entrance of the park somewhat than the East Entrance, which is the most effective start line for Glacier’s legendary street. The latter entrance is probably a greater solution to escape Glacier National Park’s most frustrating pain point (certainly, lengthy entrance traces and parking troubles), however there’s one other draw; it is additionally dwelling to the attractive city of St. Mary, Montana. This little village is taken into account an underrated gateway to the park, with West Glacier, MT, attracting much more consideration and crowds as a consequence of its “primary entrance” fame. However coming into Glacier Nationwide Park from St. Mary presents a extra dramatic build-up of surroundings, and with out the massive crowds. Learn on to find the untapped sights and adventures in St. Mary, together with its cute in a single day lodging.

The Stunning City At Glacier Nationwide Park’s East Entrance

St. Mary, Montana, is an unincorporated group situated proper on the East Entrance of Glacier Nationwide Park, on the western border of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It is also the easternmost level of the Going-to-the-Solar Street proper on the U.S. Freeway 89 intersection, making St. Mary an excellent entry to the legendary drive.

The village is small at solely 0.75 sq. miles, with a year-round inhabitants of 100 to 200 and even much less. Nevertheless it’s not only a service cease. It truly hides a few of the most wonderful landscapes main as much as the nationwide park. Whether or not it is dawn or sundown, St. Mary presents majestic panoramic views of Mount Jenkins’ peaks, in addition to St. Mary Lake nestled between the Lewis and Livingston Ranges.

Crimson Eagle Mountain can be seen from the village’s part on Going-to-the-Solar Street, rising 4,000 ft above the lake. As if these weren’t breathtaking sufficient, the St. Mary River additionally frames the small city, operating proper alongside its edge and fed instantly by the St. Mary Lake from inside Glacier Nationwide Park.

The city permits you to discover Glacier’s underrated however adventurous east aspect, with out the massive crowds. It is nearer to the park’s mountain climbing capital, secret pristine lakes, and is the prime spot for wildlife viewing—with sightings attainable proper on the street. St. Mary additionally presents distinctive entry to the Blackfeet Nation’s tradition and historical past. The city shares deep ties with the Indian tribe, which has instantly formed tourism in St. Mary.

St. Mary’s Historical past And Transformation

Earlier than the fur commerce within the Glacier area between the late 1700s and early 1800s, the St. Mary River Valley, Lake, and surrounding nature had been the middle of the Blackfeet’s lives. Also called the Amskapi Piikani (Southern Piegan) lifestyle, the world wherein the city of St. Mary, MT, stands was their searching grounds, plant gathering spots, and an total sacred area.

St. Mary Lake was among the many main sacred websites of that point, usually talked about as a part of outdated ceremonies and traditions. However in 1895, the Blackfeet signed the Ceded Strip Agreement, the place they offered roughly 1,071,000 acres of land in Montana to the U.S. authorities. They retained searching, fishing, and gathering rights so long as the land remained public.

Nonetheless, when Glacier Nationwide Park was established in 1910, most of the Blackfeet had been displaced, together with from the lands that had been essential to their livelihood. They retained full rights to be in St. Mary, however their conventional actions had been now not allowed within the park. Because of this, throughout the first 20 years of Glacier Nationwide Park, the Blackfeet remodeled St. Mary right into a staging space for excursions.

A lot of them labored as guides, craft sellers, and even performers. These days, their efforts to combine their tradition into the city have grown tremendously, they usually proceed to run companies within the village alongside the park’s tourism. Additionally they host various immersive tours for visitors who need to study extra concerning the Blackfeet Nation.

St. Mary, Montana City & Entry Particulars

These days, St. Mary is the proper gateway to a lot of Glacier Nationwide Park’s most iconic sights, loads of that are only a fast journey away.

St. Mary’s Closest Glacier Nationwide Park Points of interest

Except for being the most effective start line for Going-to-the-Solar Street, St. Mary can also be near a few of the most underrated but stunning spots in Glacier Nationwide Park. Essentially the most iconic is Glacier’s Wild Goose Island Overlook, simply minutes away from city. Enclosed by towering peaks, it is solely 14 ft above the floor of St. Mary Lake, and is understood for its superb dawn views.

For the most effective hikes, the Many Glacier Hotel is only a 10-to 15-minute drive away and serves as a trailhead for the park’s signature hikes. These embody the straightforward Swiftcurrent Lake, identified for its Mount Wilbur and Wynn Mountain views; the Iceberg Lake Trail, the place you may see icebergs floating year-round; and the strenuous but spectacular day hike, the Grinnell Glacier Trail.

One other accessible Glacier attraction from St. Mary is the mystical-looking St. Mary Falls. Additionally reachable by mountain climbing, this waterfall incorporates a milky turquoise colour and three distinct drops cascading 35 ft on rocky gorges, and into swimming pools earlier than flowing into the St. Mary Lake. The 2015 Reynolds Creek Fire burned a lot of the dense forest, turning the St. Mary Falls path right into a extra open and sunlit space.

The Two Medicine region, an underrated mountain climbing spot in Glacier, can also be simply 50 to 55 minutes south of St. Mary by way of US-89. It options quieter lakes, magnificent mountain sights, and extra gorgeous trails, just like the difficult Scenic Point, which takes you previous Appistoki Falls and Appistoki Creek and onto a summit with sweeping views of the Rising Wolf Mountain; and the simpler Aster Falls Trail that results in yet one more fantastic falls.

The place To Keep In St. Mary, Montana

St. Mary, MT, presents totally different lodging choices, together with the lovable Tiny Home Village that is straight out of a feel-good movie. These compact properties have barn-style doorways, luxurious inside areas, and an total energy-efficient construction. When you’re on the lookout for ten and RV campgrounds or cozy cabins, there’s the St. Mary/East Glacier KOA Holiday, whose service is rooted in Blackfeet hospitality.

For excellent lake entry, the Rising Sun Motor Inn and Cabins has 72 items situated only a quarter mile from St. Mary Lake. Based in 1940, this motel is correct alongside the Going-to-the-Solar Street, simply 6 miles west of the St. Mary Customer’s Heart. It is also identified for its family-friendly restaurant, the Two Canine Flats Grill, and classic Crimson Bus excursions.

General, St. Mary is definitely an excellent base for varied adventures in Glacier Nationwide Park. Whether or not you are simply passing via or on the lookout for a small-town keep in Montana, the views, tradition, and comfort of the village assure an enthralling expertise you may always remember.