Known as “The Crown of the Continent” Montana’s Glacier National Park is home to what is widely considered one of the most scenic roads in America. Stretching about 50 miles across the park from West Glacier to St. Mary, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is a marvel of engineering and became one of the first National Park Service roadways built specifically for automobile tourism when it was completed in 1933.
One of the main pitstops along this iconic roadway is the Logan Pass Visitors Center which sits in the middle of the park at the highest point along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, approximately 32 miles from the West Entrance and 18 miles from the St. Mary Entrance. It is extremely popular with visitors and is also frequented by some of the parks resident wildlife including mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and the occasional grizzly bear.
The following video was taken outside the Logan Pass Visitors Center and shows a group of tourists who were taking pictures of a grizzly bear until it switched directions and sent them running for safety.
Thankfully a park ranger was on scene and directed the tourists to “get out of the way” as she clapped her hands and shouted at the grizzly to vacate the area. The park ranger asked the visitors to help her make noise and a chorus of yells sent the grizzly on its way.
As a reminder to visitors of Glacier National Park intentionally approaching, viewing, or engaging in any activity within 100 yards of bears is strictly prohibited. All bears are dangerous and should be respected. Learn more about bear safety at Glacier National Park below.
Glacier National Park Bear Encounter Guidelines:
If you encounter a bear inside the minimum recommended safe distance (100 yards; 91 m), you can decrease your risk by following these guidelines:
- If a bear or other animal is moving in your direction on a trail, get out of its way and let it pass.
- If you can move away, do so. If moving away appears to agitate the bear, stop. In general, bears show agitation by swaying their heads, huffing, and clacking their teeth. Lowered head and laid-back ears also indicate aggression. Bears may stand on their hind legs or approach to get a better view, but these actions are not necessarily signs of aggression. The bear may not have identified you as a person and may be unable to smell or hear you from a distance. Help the bear recognize you as a friendly human.
- Talk quietly.
- Do not run! Back away slowly. Stop if it seems to agitate the bear.
- Use your peripheral vision. Bears may interpret direct eye contact as threatening.
- Continue to move away as the situation allows.
- If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If you are preparing or consuming food, secure it. DO NOT LET THE BEAR GET YOUR FOOD!
- If a bear approaches in a defensive manner (appears agitated and/or charges), stop. Do not run. Talk quietly to the bear. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If contact appears imminent and you do not have bear spray, protect your chest and abdomen by falling to the ground on your stomach, clasp your hands around the back of your neck, and leave your pack on for protection. If the bear attempts to roll you over, try to stay on your stomach. If the attack is defensive, the bear will leave once it recognizes you are not a threat. If the attack is prolonged, FIGHT BACK!