Explore Blackfeet Country Along the Edge of the Park
Communities: East Glacier Park, Browning, Cut Bank, St. Mary, Babb
Just east of Glacier National Park, the Blackfoot Indian Reservation stretches into a landscape defined by history, community and open space. This corridor offers access to the park alongside small towns, living traditions and plenty of room to explore.
East Glacier Park makes a great base camp for a Glacier National Park adventure into Two Medicine. Amtrak's Empire Builder train stops in East Glacier Park seasonally, with additional stops in Browning and Cut Bank. The 1913 East Glacier Park depot sits across from Glacier Park Lodge, known for its timber architecture and views of Dancing Lady Mountain. The lodge grounds include a nine-hole golf course—the oldest grass greens course in Montana—and both the lodge and Serrano’s offer reliable dining stops.
In Browning, experience one of the largest powwows in the country at North American Indian Days in July, or attend Heart Butte Indian Days in August. The Museum of the Plains Indian houses collections from Northern Plains Tribes, including clothing, horse gear, tools and beadwork. For contemporary and traditional Blackfeet art, visit Lodgepole Gallery, and browse American Indian–made goods at Faught's Blackfeet Trading Post and Western Curios. Look for the Native American Made in Montana sticker.
St. Mary marks the eastern entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road. The St. Mary Visitor Center offers trip planning and park information, while the nearby overlook provides expansive views across the valley. The Dusty Star Observatory hosts public astronomy programs during the summer months.
Babb connects to the Many Glacier area—one of the park’s most photographed regions—with access to Many Glacier Hotel, hiking trails and prime wildlife viewing. Duck Lake, located nearby, offers fishing with a required tribal permit. Between Babb and St. Mary, Two Sisters Café is a known stop for huckleberry desserts and casual meals, with dinner-only service.
Cut Bank connects to the Lewis and Clark Trail, with historically significant sites like Camp Disappointment, Cut Bank Camp and the Meriwether Lewis Fight Site. The Cut Bank Trails offer hiking and biking, and the Lewis and Clark Days Festival takes place each July. For more context on the region, visit the Glacier County Historical Museum.
