Where to See Mountain Goats in Glacier National Park
Article Topics: Best Places to See Mountain Goats in Glacier National Park, Glacier Mountain Goats, Where Are the Mountain Goats in Glacier
Often considered the official mascot of Glacier National Park, mountain goats are some of the most popular sights in this spectacular Montana national park.
Also known as Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), these fascinating hoofed mammals are endemic to the high mountains of western North America.
They are native residents of a handful of national parks, mainly in the northern Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range. (Although they’re also present in parks like Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain and Olympic, they’re not actually native to these areas.)
With its rugged high-elevation meadows and cliffs, however, Glacier National Park is home to absolutely perfect mountain goat habitat. It is the ideal natural environment for these beautiful animals to thrive in, which they have for thousands of years.
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5 Best Places to See Mountain Goats in Glacier National Park
When visiting spectacular Glacier National Park, you can see mountain goats wandering along the park’s high cliffs, steep slopes and boulder fields.
Well adapted to the region’s harsh winters, mountain goats remain in Glacier National Park throughout the entire year.
Thanks to their specialized cloven hooves, complete with traction-providing inner pads, they’re able to scale seemingly impossibly steep cliffs and agile enough to escape predators like grizzly bears and eagles.
Just to illustrate how badass these (sub)alpine mammals are, they can effortlessly climb slopes as steep as 60%, survive temperatures as low as -50°F (-45°C) and withstand windspeeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h).
Fun fact: Mountain goats aren’t actually goats at all! Although both true goats and mountain goats are members of the Bovidae family and Caprinae subfamily (which also includes sheep, chamois, muskox and ibex) they are a different genus—Capra and Oreamnos respectively. Mountain goats are only found in North America and are the only surviving species in the Oreamnos genus.
In Glacier National Park, you can find mountain goats pretty much everywhere at higher elevations, above the tree line and on steep cliffs.
Read on to learn about the very best places to see mountain goats in Glacier National Park.
Although there are many other locations throughout the park where goats are common, the following places both offer the best chances of seeing them and are the most accessible.
Essentially, they can be broken down into two main areas: the vicinity of Logan Pass and the alpine trails in Many Glacier.
Going-to-the-Sun Road near Logan Pass
If you’d like to see some mountain goats in Glacier National Park, but don’t want to go for a hike, your best bet is the Going-to-the-Sun Road near Logan Pass.
Look for them on rock walls and even on the side of the road between the Oberlin Bend Overlook and the East Side Tunnel. There are some pullouts along the road where you can stop and scan the landscape for goats.
The scenery on this section is arguably the most spectacular on the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road, the panoramic views taking in the deep glacial valley below, as well as numerous peaks and waterfalls.
I recommend just sitting at a pullout for a while and taking it all in. This area is particularly stunning early in the morning.
Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
One of the absolute best places to see mountain goats in Glacier National Park is the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, an easy-to-moderate 2.8-mile roundtrip hike.
This popular trail starts at the Logan Pass Visitor Center and runs to a viewing platform overlooking scenic Hidden Lake. The trail is a combination of gravel and boardwalks across fragile wildflower-covered meadows.
As the trail climbs to the Hidden Lake Overlook, you can enjoy panoramic views of Logan Pass and see ancient rock layers in the cliffs of Clements Mountain to your right.
The upper section of the trail features small waterfalls and reflective moraines, as well as excellent opportunities to see mountain goats.
Other frequently seen animals on the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail are bighorn sheep, marmots and pikas. Additionally, the trail runs through prime grizzly bear habitat, too, so stay aware of your surroundings.
Highline Trail
Considered by many to be the crown jewel of Glacier National Park’s trail system, the Highline Trail is one of the greatest day hikes in America.
Completing the entire hike, however, requires a more-than-basic fitness level, no fear of heights and a full day. The roundtrip hike from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet and back is more than 15 miles.
Alternatively, you can also hike from Logan Pass to The Loop and catch a shuttle bus back to your starting point, a 11.8-mile point-to-point hike.
Along the entire Highline Trail, from the famous Garden Wall to Haystack Saddle and Bear Valley, you get to enjoy spectacular mountain views.
Easily one of the best Glacier National Park hikes, this is a full-day adventure in the heart of the park. Of course, you don’t have to hike the entire thing, though.
Starting from Logan Pass, you can simply hike as far as you want and turn back whenever you like. The views and mountain goat viewing opportunities are excellent from the very beginning of this famous trail.
All along the way, your chances of encountering mountain goats, which thrive in these high-elevation landscapes, are excellent. Bighorn sheep and the occasional grizzly bear may be seen as well.
Grinnell Glacier Trail
One of my personal favorite hikes in Glacier National Park, the spectacular Grinnell Glacier Trail in Many Glacier also offers a great chance to see a mountain goat or two.
You can hike this trail from the Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Picnic Area. For a shorter option, take the boat shuttle across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine and start your hike at the far end of these two beautiful lakes in Glacier National Park.
From the shore of Lake Josephine, the Grinnell Glacier Trail quickly climbs to above the tree line. Views open up suddenly, their beauty often taking hikers by surprise.
Once you’ve left the thick vegetation behind and are among open slopes and meadows, your chance of seeing mountain goats increases dramatically.
Watch for moving white dots high above on the cliffs and slopes. Lucky hikers might even see one on or along the trail itself.
It’s also worth noting that Many Glacier is known for regular bear sightings and encounters, too. Both black bears and grizzly bears live here. Keep an eye out, don’t hike alone, carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail
Another wonderful hike in Many Glacier is the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail. Starting at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, one of several accommodation options in Glacier, the first 2.7 miles of this trail are shared with the popular Iceberg Lake Trail.
After Ptarmigan Falls, both trails split up. The Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail runs off to right toward Ptarmigan Lake, while the Iceberg Lake Trail continues to the left toward Iceberg Lake itself.
From the trail junction, it’s another 2.6 miles to Ptarmigan Tunnel, making the total roundtrip distance of this strenuous hike 10.2 miles.
That last section of the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail, especially around Ptarmigan Lake and Ptarmigan Tunnel itself, provides pretty decent chances of seeing mountain goats in Glacier National Park.
And the scenery is to die for, made even more enjoyable by the remoteness of quietness of this area in the northeast of Glacier National Park.
Map of the Best Places to See Mountain Goats in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park Mountain Goat Safety Tips
As exciting as it is to encounter wild mountain goats on a trail in Glacier National Park, you have to remember that these animals are, in fact, wild.
They may act aloof and seem relaxed, but they can be aggressive. This is especially true if you’re dealing with a nanny with kids or a male goat during the fall breeding season.
Although physical confrontations are rare, people have been gored and even killed by mountain goats before—they use their sharp horns to defend themselves.
So, when you’re hiking in mountain goat country, it’s important to keep a handful of safety guidelines in mind.
- Stay at least 50 yards away from mountain goats at all times. This is the length of half a football field.
- Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to view or photograph them.
- Don’t pee on or near the trail. Goats crave salts and may seek out human salts in urine and sweaty clothes. Pee at least 50 yards from the trail on a rock or bare ground. Don’t leave sweat-soaked clothes lying around; goats may actually chew them.
- If approached by a mountain goat, slowly back away to a safe distance. If the goat follows you, you should be prepared to chase it off. Yell, wave your arms or clothes, throw rocks.
- Never approach a mountain goat and invade its space yourself!
