Many Glacier, Goat Lick and Other Wildlife Viewing Areas in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is known for its scenic views and Yellowstone National Park for its wildlife, but Glacier probably should be known for both.

Black Bear near Lake McDonald

This last week, four of us traveled to the Many Glacier entrance on the northeast side of Glacier.  Over the course of two days of hiking and one night of camping we saw five moose, ten bighorn sheep, two mountain goats and one elk!  Some were spotted through binoculars, but three of the moose were visible across the river from our campsite in the Swift Current campground!  All that to say, Glacier has plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities!

Best Viewing Areas
Many Glacier is the best entrance for general wildlife viewing.  Every animal you can see in Glacier can be seen here and sometimes from the Many Glacier Lodge itself.
Goat Lick is the most reliable option for seeing Mountain Goats.  It is a marked pull-off along Highway 2 on the south end of Glacier.  The minerals on the hillside are just what the goats are craving and they almost never leave during the summer.

Bighorn Sheep in Logan Pass parking lot

Logan Pass is a great place for viewing Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats.  You can often see both without getting out of your car!



Tips for Viewing
Grizzly Bears are often higher up during June and then slowly make their way down in elevation as the berries ripen in July.  Scan high meadows and snow fields in June and lower ones in July, August and September.  Be very careful in thick brush, especially in August and September!

Moose on Cut Bank Creek

Moose are all about the low meadows and ponds.  If you can get up high, scan areas that have lots of water and brush around them.  Be careful though, moose are statistically more dangerous than bears.
Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats both love to hang out up high.  You can scan for them from below and they are often easiest to pick out when they are running across snow fields.
General Tips- if you can, get a pair of binoculars before you go into Glacier, its well be worth it.  Whether you're driving or hiking, get to an area where you can see lots of open hillsides, meadows and snowfields with brush in between each section.  If you can get there in early morning or late evening.  You will see more wildlife at those times.  Scan the meadows, hillsides and snowfields with your naked eye, or with binoculars until you see movement.  The more area you have to scan the better your odds.  Once you see something you can zero in with your binoculars.  Patience is key.  Something is almost certainly out there, you just have to be willing to wait until it comes to a place you can see it.