English: Known as the “Crown of the Continent”, Glacier National Park, is in many ways still a hidden gem. Rugged terrain and minimal roads keeps access to this remote backcountry limited to adventurous trekkers. The Nitsitapii (“real people”), collectively called the Blackfoot, called the Greater Glacier National Park ecosystem the "Backbone of the World," fitting for the endless spine of mountain crests that ribbon throughout the park.

USGS researchers spend most of the year exploring the high peaks and low creeks of Glacier National Park. You might find us snorkeling in a creek in search for native and non-native fish species or kayaking Grinnell Glacier surveying the perimeter to characterize how much the glacier has declines over the years. You might even bump into biologists collecting a sample of bear hair from a tree used to scratch a big bruin’s back in order to estimate bear population and distribution.

There is no doubt Glacier National Park is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground, an artist’s canvas, a naturalist’s library, and USGS scientists’ ​"​office​"​.

In this photo: USGS scientists return from an alpine ecosystem study site in Glacier National Park where they are researching and monitoring potential impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems. Image courtesy of Greg Pederson, USGS.