Glacier County is located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 13,399. The county is located in northwestern Montana between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, known to the Blackfeet as the "Backbone of the World". The county is geographically and culturally diverse and includes the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National Park, and Lewis and Clark National Forest. The county is bordered by 75 miles of international boundary with two ports of entry open year-round and one seasonal international border crossing into Alberta, Canada.
Mount Wilbur is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Plainly visible from the region of Many Glacier, the peak rises over 4,500 feet (1,372 m) above Swiftcurrent Lake and is a steep pyramid on three sides. The west slopes of the peak join to ridges along the continental divide. Much of the climbing routes are rated at class 4 to 5, with some only used once. The sedimentary rock of the mountains makes for often poor anchoring points and enhances the difficulty. A cirque on the north slopes of the mountain shelter Iceberg Lake, a popular hiking destination from Many Glacier.
Many Glacier Hotel is a historic hotel located on the east shore of Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The building is designed as a series of chalets, up to four stories tall, and stretches for a substantial distance along the lakeshore. The building has a Swiss alpine theme both on the outside and on the inside. The foundation is made of stone, with a wood superstructure. The outside is finished with brown-painted wood siding, and the window framing and balconies have wood sawn in Swiss jigsawn patterns. On the inside, the four-story lobby is surrounded by balconies, whose railings are patterned after Swiss designs.
Many Glacier is an area within Glacier National Park which is located in the U.S. state of Montana. The Many Glacier region is located north of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, on the east side of the park. Lake Sherburne is the large lake in the area and the Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel within the park, is along the shore of the adjacent Swiftcurrent Lake. The Many Glacier Hotel and surrounding buildings are a National Historic Landmark, with original construction dating back to 1915. Many Glacier is surrounded by the high peaks of the Lewis Range, and numerous hiking trails can be accessed from the area. The region is noted for numerous lakes, waterfalls and dense coniferous forests interspersed with alpine meadows. Major sites in the immediate vicinity that can be accessed by trails include Lake Josephine, Grinnell Lake, Grinnell Glacier, Cracker Lake, Granite Park Chalet, Iceberg Cirque and the Ptarmigan Tunnel, which is a hiking tunnel carved through the mountainside during the 1930s. Tour boats allow visitors an opportunity to venture onto Swiftcurrent Lake. Other activities in the region include ranger guided nature hikes, horseback riding, fishing and camping.
Swiftcurrent Lake is located in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana. The Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel in the park, is along the east shore of the lake. Many hiking trails originate from the area and scenic tour boats provide access to the lake for visitors.
Grinnell Glacier is in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is named for George Bird Grinnell, an early American conservationist and explorer, who was also a strong advocate of ensuring the creation of Glacier National Park. The glacier is in the Lewis Range and rests on the north flank of Mount Gould at an altitude averaging 7,000 feet (2,100 m), in the Many Glacier region of the park.
Lake Sherburne is located in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana. The lake is a reservoir, formed by Lake Sherburne Dam, which impounded Swiftcurrent Creek and was constructed in between 1914 and 1921. The construction of the dam inundated several small lakes and highly productive riparian and wetland areas, and due to its fluctuating water levels, the surrounding area supports little vegetation. However, trumpeter swans are often observed along the lake in the spring and fall. The lake stretches nearly 6 miles (9.7 km) when full. The reservoir is the principal water storage component of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Milk River Project, which provides irrigation water to north central Montana farms.
Babb is a small unincorporated farming and ranching community in Glacier County, Montana, United States, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The community experiences a large influx of tourists in the summer months as it is the gateway to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. Babb is a census-designated place (CDP) and had a population of 174 at the 2010 census.
Mount Grinnell is a peak located in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Lying just east of the Continental Divide in the Many Glacier region of the park, the peak is flanked to the northwest by Swiftcurrent Glacier and to the south by Grinnell Glacier. Mount Grinnell is named after George Bird Grinnell. From the Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake, the eastern arm of Mount Grinnell, known as Grinnell Point, hides the main summit.
Swiftcurrent Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana.The glacier is on the east side of the Continental Divide arête known as the Garden Wall. Swiftcurrent Glacier is one of several glaciers that are being monitored to determine stream flow alterations that occur due to glacial retreat. Compared to other glaciers in Glacier National Park, Swiftcurrent Glacier has experienced relatively slow retreat. As of 2005, the glacier had an area of 55 acres (0.22 km2), a 14 percent reduction since 1966.
This article is on a creek in British Columbia. For an article on a creek of the same name in the U.S. state of Montana, see Swiftcurrent Creek (Montana).
The following articles relate to the history, geography, geology, flora, fauna, structures and recreation in Glacier National Park (U.S.), the U.S. portion of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
North Swiftcurrent Glacier is Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is situated immediately to the east of the Continental Divide and north of Swiftcurrent Mountain at an elevation between 8,000 ft (2,400 m) and 7,000 ft (2,100 m) above sea level. North Swiftcurrent Glacier consists of several remnant glaciers and additional ice patches, none of which exceed 19 acres (0.077 km2) in surface area and do not meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier. The glacier lost over 32 percent of its area between 1966 and 2005.
Lake Josephine is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Swiftcurrent Lake is immediately to the northeast of Lake Josephine and the two lakes are separated by a short stream. Lake Josephine is accessible via the Grinnell Glacier Trail which follows the west shoreline of the lake for 1 mile (1.6 km).
Redrock Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Mount Wilbur is west of Redrock Lake. Prior to entering Redrock Lake, Swiftcurrent Creek tumbles over Redrock Falls which can be reached after an easy 1.8 miles (2.9 km) hike by way of the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail.
Fishercap Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Mount Wilbur is west of Fishercap Lake. The lake is almost adjacent to the Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District.
Iceberg Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Mount Wilbur is south and Iceberg Peak is west of Iceberg Lake. Iceberg Peak towers more than 3,000 feet (910 m) above the lake. A popular day hike destination, Iceberg Lake is a 4.8 miles (7.7 km) hike from the Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District.
Ptarmigan Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Ptarmigan Lake is situated below the Ptarmigan Wall. The lake is a 4.3 miles (6.9 km) hike from the Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District by way of the Ptarmigan Trail. After another .9 miles (1.4 km) hike from Ptarmigan Lake, the historic Ptarmigan Tunnel can be seen.
Lake Sherburne Dam is a 107-foot (33 m) high compacted earthfill dam built between 1914 and 1921 built just outside the boundary of Glacier National Park, Montana, its reservoir extending into the park. The dam impounds Swiftcurrent Creek as it flows out of the park. Water stored in Lake Sherburne is released to flow down Swiftcurrent Creek to the St. Mary River, from which it is diverted to the Milk River, flowing through Canada for 216 miles (348 km) before returning to the United States. Use of these waters is governed by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Water from the Milk River is used for irrigation in north central Montana.
Altyn Peak is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Altyn Peak is situated just north of Swiftcurrent Lake and the Many Glacier Hotel and is easily seen from both locations. The peak is named after Dave Greenwood Altyn who was a financial backer of a local mine in the late 1800s; the mining town of Altyn was at the junction of Canyon Creek and Swiftcurrent Lake. The peak was known as Crow Feet Mountain after the last chief of the Blackfeet confederacy of tribes.
