Glacier National Park lies about 80 kilometres west of Golden along the Trans-Canada Highway, straddling the Selkirk Mountains at Rogers Pass. The park is named for its more than 400 glaciers, though the icefield has retreated substantially over the past century. The landscape is dramatic: deep valleys choked with old-growth cedar and hemlock at lower elevations give way to alpine meadows and permanent ice above the treeline.
The Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, just off the highway, is an excellent introduction to the park's history and ecology. The park has numerous hiking trails ranging from accessible boardwalks through the cedar forest to multi-day backcountry routes. The Asulkan Valley and Abbott Ridge trails are particularly rewarding. Golden serves as a good base for day trips to Glacier — the drive through the park on the Trans-Canada is itself spectacular, especially in late spring when the avalanche slopes are dotted with wildflowers.