Recreation
A fleet of restored 1930s White Motor Company coaches, called Reds, offer tours on all the main roads in the park. The drivers of the buses are called "Jammers," due to the gear-jamming that formerly occurred during the vehicles' operation. To lessen their environmental impact, when the tour buses were rebuilt in 2001 they were built to run on propane.A number of historic wooden tour boats, some dating back to the 1920s, operate on several of the larger lakes.
Hiking is a very popular activity in the park. Over half of the visitors to the park report taking a hike on the park's nearly 700 miles (1,127 km) of trails. 110 miles (177 km) of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail spans most of the distance of the park north to south, with a few alternate routes at lower elevations if high altitude passes are closed due to snow. Due to the presence of bears and other large mammals, dogs are not permitted on any trails in the park. However they are permitted at front country campsites that can be accessed by a vehicle, and along paved roads.
Numerous day hiking options are available throughout the park. Backcountry camping is allowed at campsites along the trails. A permit is required for backcountry camping, and can be obtained from certain visitor centers or arranged for in advance. Much of Glacier's backcountry is usually inaccessible to hikers until early June due to accumulated snowpack and potential avalanche risk, and many trails at higher altitudes remain snow packed until July. The major campgrounds that allow vehicle access are found throughout the park, most of which are near one of the larger lakes. The campground at St. Mary and at Apgar are open year round, but conditions are considered primitive in the off-season, as the restroom facilities are closed and there is no running water. All campgrounds with vehicle access are usually open from mid June until mid September. Guide and shuttle services are also available.
Fishing is a popular activity in the park and some of the finest fly fishing in North America can be found in the streams that flow through the park. No permit is required to fish the waters within the park boundary although regulations must be followed. The endangered bull trout must be released immediately back to the water if caught, otherwise, regulations on limits of catch per day are fairly liberal.
Winter recreation activities in Glacier are limited due to snow accumulation and avalanche risks. Snowmobiling is illegal in the park, but cross-country skiing is permitted in the lower altitude valleys on the east and western sides of the park.
