Dog Friendly Lodging Near Glacier National Park – A visit to Glacier National Park should be on everyone’s bucket list. With more than 700 kilometers of hiking trails through evergreen forests, alpine meadows, mountain views, and stunning lakes, Glacier is a human paradise. But how does this top national park cater to dog walkers?
Is Glacier National Park Dog Friendly? Unfortunately, Glacier National Park is not one of the dog-friendly national parks. While dogs are allowed within the park boundaries and can explore the trails with their people, dogs are not allowed on the trails.
Dog Friendly Lodging Near Glacier National Park
Read on to find out more about Glacier National Park and how to get the most out of your dog’s visit. This post includes details on places to take your dog, in addition to hiking trails outside of the national park that allow your dog to soak up the natural beauty of this Montana region.
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Glacier National Park is located on the western border of Montana. The park was named after several glaciers. Unfortunately, the number of glaciers is decreasing. In 1966, the park had 35 glaciers. In 2015, only 26 people remained.
An interesting fact about Glacier National Park is that it is included with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. The union took place on June 18, 1932, creating the world’s first Peace Park. The parks are managed separately, but cooperate in wildlife management, scientific research, and other tourism services.
Because Glacier National Park is so large, it is divided into several main areas. Here are the key points:
No matter what region (or regions) you choose to explore, Glacier has something great to offer everyone. On an overcast day like we did it was even more amazing because the views were clear and we were able to explore more of this beautiful national park.
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Glacier, like most national parks, has strict rules regarding animals. Pets must be over 6 feet tall, under physical restraint, or restrained at all times (including in open bed carriers). Animals cannot be left unattended. Pet owners should collect pet waste and dispose of it properly. And the owner of the house should not allow the pet to make unreasonable noise.
During our visit to Glacier National Park, we camped at Apgar Campground to take advantage of the dog-friendly trail between the campground and West Glacier. It is a beautiful paved road that offers a large forest.
The Trail to the Sun is the main attraction of Glacier National Park. The route offers millions of hikers the chance to enjoy alpine lakes, steep slopes, and rugged mountains.
To drive this amazing track, the car must be less than 10 feet long, less than 21 feet long, and no more than 8 feet high. While visiting with the dogs in 2018, we dropped off an RV on our way through North Cascades National Park and Yellowstone. Therefore, we don’t have vehicles small enough to go off-road to the sun (GTSR). All road photos included in this post are from a 2010 Hyundai Elantra road trip without the dog.
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If you are going to Glacier National Park with a dog, I recommend that you make sure you have enough length/height to walk this trail. A trip to Glacier National Park is not complete without it. Opened in 1933, this road offers a great attraction for motorists.
GTSR usually opens fully in late June or early July and remains open until mid-October. Some roads in the highlands are still open all year round.
It takes at least 2 hours to drive the full 50 miles of the GTSR, so plan accordingly. The speed limit on the Alpine section is only 25 km/h. The road climbs to 6,646 as you cross Logan Pass.
Interested in learning more about a one-of-a-kind driving experience, check out video tours of the various GTSR sections of Glacier National Park.
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On the way out of the park, we stopped again at the sight of the goat herd and were able to take a short, paved path for the dogs to see the goats standing on the slopes to lick salt off the rocks.
There are several campsites along the Sunset Trail and along the eastern and western borders of the park. All information can be found on the official NPS.gov website, but below is a brief summary.
Glacier has a helpful website that lists when campsites are full to help non-bookers find a campsite. Campsites can be reserved at St. Mary, Most Glacier, and Fish Creek, some are first come, first served. (The exception to this is that Apgar has group camps that can be reserved.)
We enjoyed our stay at Apgar Campground and found it beautiful, level, and wooded. And the organization of dog-friendly walks from the campground cannot be overlooked.
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Although hiking opportunities with dogs are limited in Glacier National Park, there are many options outside the park boundaries.
Across the border in Canada is Waterton Lakes National Park. Animal restrictions at this nearby national park are different than at Glacier. According to the official website:
“Pets are allowed on the hiking trails but must be kept on a leash at all times. Dogs and other animals can endanger your safety and theirs by stimulating and attracting wildlife. Bears, cougars , pigs, coyotes, wolverines and small animals such as martens can injure or kill your pet.”
I left my passport at home, but if you plan ahead and pack your passport and your dog’s license, you should be able to go to Canada and check out the trails at Waterton Lake. Just use extra caution in the spring, as Waterton Lakes have been known to have mule deer that violently attack dogs to protect their fawns.
Visiting Glacier National Park With Dogs And Nearby Pet Friendly Activities
There are many trails in the nearby national forests of Montana. However, you still need to be careful when taking your dog into the wilderness of this area.
The following blog posts provide dog sledding options near the glacier, some in the surrounding national forest.
Glacier National Park is a top hiking destination, but unfortunately, the amazing trails are not open to dogs. But if you want to visit Glacier National Park with your dog, make sure you drive the Sunset Road. You will get an amazing view from the roadside.
After you’re done driving, set up camp at Apgar Campground to take advantage of the many dog-friendly trails. Then wander around the national forest to your (and your dog’s) heart’s content.
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If you want to learn more about visiting Glacier National Park with a dog, check out these informative blog posts.
Or if you want to explore another national park, check out our growing list of blog posts to help you plan a dog-friendly trip to a US national park.
Kate is the author of Pawsatively Intrepid. She has worked full-time as a veterinarian for the past 9 years, treating dogs and cats. But until June 2023, he spends the whole year walking his dog, volunteering, and working on interesting projects.
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Disclaimer: This website contains general medical information and dog behavior solutions. However, every dog is different and while the author of this blog is a veterinarian, he is not your dog’s veterinarian. The information on this website should not replace the advice of your dog’s veterinarian or behaviorist. Reliance on any information from this website is at your own risk.
We use cookies to ensure that we provide the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this website, we will assume that you are happy with the OkPrivacy Policy. There is no dispute about the natural beauty of Glacier National Park. But for those traveling with pets, the glacier can be a challenge. We share how to get the most out of your pet-friendly visit.
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