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A mountain goat above Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park
Photo: Robert M. Russell, CC BY-SA 4.0

National park · USA

Glacier National Park Animal Checklist

Glacier National Park in Montana, the 'Crown of the Continent', is famous for mountain goats at Logan Pass, grizzly bears on the slopes above Many Glacier and one of the most intact sets of large carnivores in the lower 48. This checklist covers 64 animals. July to September, when Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open, is the main season for wildlife.

Glacier shares a border with Canada's Waterton Lakes, and together they form an international peace park. Its wildlife is best found on foot, so pack binoculars and bear spray.

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See all 64 animals
The Glacier checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
64
Where
USA
Best time
July to Sept
Signature spot
Logan Pass mountain goats

Headline animals in Glacier National Park

  • Mountain Goat, one of the animals to look for in Glacier

    Mountain Goat

    The park's symbol. They wander around Logan Pass and the Hidden Lake Overlook trail, and visit the Goat Lick on US Highway 2 near Essex in spring and summer.

    Photo: Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0

  • Grizzly Bear, one of the animals to look for in Glacier

    Grizzly Bear

    Many Glacier is the classic place: watchers with scopes scan the avalanche slopes of Mount Altyn and Grinnell Point from the road and lake shore. August berry season is especially good.

    Photo: GlacierNPS, Public domain

  • Black Bear, one of the animals to look for in Glacier

    Black Bear

    More widespread than grizzlies, especially in the forests on the west side around Lake McDonald and the North Fork.

    Photo: NPS Natural Resources, Public domain

  • Bighorn Sheep

    Rams often graze on the slopes around Swiftcurrent Lake and at Logan Pass in summer. They move lower in winter.

  • Moose

    Fishercap Lake, a short walk from the Swiftcurrent trailhead in Many Glacier, is the most reliable spot, especially early in the morning.

  • Hoary Marmot

    Sunbathe on boulders and whistle alarms around Logan Pass, on the Highline Trail and along the Iceberg Lake trail.

  • American Pika

    Listen for sharp calls in rockfalls along the Hidden Lake and Highline trails. They are busy gathering 'haypiles' in late summer.

  • Harlequin Duck

    Breed on fast streams. Upper McDonald Creek in spring and early summer is the best place to see the colourful males.

  • White-tailed Ptarmigan

    Perfectly camouflaged on alpine tundra around Logan Pass. Often seen only when they move.

All 64 animals to spot in Glacier

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Big mammals 8

Hunters 10

Small mammals 9

Birds of prey 5

Water birds 8

Mountain and forest birds 17

Reptiles and amphibians 4

Fish 3

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Glacier

Wildlife viewing in Glacier follows the snow. Going-to-the-Sun Road usually opens fully between late June and mid July and closes in mid to late October. In June, bears feed on fresh green growth on avalanche chutes and roadside slopes, but the high country is still snowbound. July and early August are prime time for mountain goats, bighorns, marmots and pikas at Logan Pass. Mid August to September is huckleberry season, when bears feed heavily on berry slopes, especially at Many Glacier. From October, crowds fade, elk bugle on the east side, and snow closes the high road. Winter visitors can ski or snowshoe at Lake McDonald and Two Medicine.

  • May-JunBears on avalanche slopes, harlequins on McDonald Creek
  • JulLogan Pass opens: goats, bighorns, marmots
  • Aug-SepHuckleberry season, grizzlies at Many Glacier
  • OctElk rut on the east side, high road closes
  • Nov-AprDeep snow, lower valleys only

Tips for spotting wildlife in Glacier

  1. Get to Logan Pass early

    In 2026 the park dropped vehicle reservations and introduced three-hour timed parking at Logan Pass, with a ticketed shuttle pilot. Arrive before 8am for the best chance of both parking and goats.

  2. Base yourself in Many Glacier

    Grizzlies, moose and bighorns can all be seen from the road and lake shore here. Evening scope sessions by Swiftcurrent Lake are a local tradition.

  3. Carry bear spray and make noise

    This is dense grizzly country. Hike in groups, call out on blind bends and keep 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from other animals.

  4. Stop at the Goat Lick

    On US Highway 2, near Essex on the park's southern edge, an overlook looks down on a natural mineral lick visited by mountain goats. Late spring and summer are best.

  5. Check the east side too

    Two Medicine and St. Mary are quieter and drier, with elk and bighorns in the open grassland at the foot of the mountains.

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Glacier wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in Glacier National Park?

Glacier is home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, grizzly and black bears, moose, elk, deer, marmots and pikas, along with wolves, cougars, lynx and wolverines that are rarely seen. It is one of the few places in the lower 48 with all its native large carnivores. Birds include Harlequin Ducks, White-tailed Ptarmigan and Clark's Nutcrackers.

Where can you see mountain goats in Glacier?

Logan Pass is the best place to see mountain goats in Glacier, especially along the boardwalk to the Hidden Lake Overlook. They are often close to the trail, but you should still stay 25 yards away. The Goat Lick overlook on US Highway 2 near Essex is a reliable second option in late spring and summer.

Where are the best places to see bears in Glacier National Park?

Many Glacier is the best place to see bears in Glacier National Park, especially grizzlies feeding on berries on the slopes above Swiftcurrent Lake in August and September. The west side around Lake McDonald and the North Fork has more black bears. Always watch from a distance with binoculars and carry bear spray.

When is the best time to see wildlife in Glacier?

July to September is the best time to see wildlife in Glacier, when Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open and Logan Pass is reachable. July is best for goats and marmots, and August to September for bears on huckleberries. June is good for bears at lower elevations, but much of the high country is still under snow.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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