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Glaciers in Montana

17 glaciers in Montana with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Glacier County has the most (12). The darkest skies are at Boulder Glacier (Bortle 1).

Top glaciers

Grinnell GlacierGlacier
Grinnell GlacierGlacier County
Grant GlacierGlacier
Grant GlacierFlathead County
Blackfoot GlacierGlacier
Blackfoot GlacierGlacier County
Jackson GlacierGlacier
Jackson GlacierGlacier County
Red Eagle GlacierGlacier
Red Eagle GlacierGlacier County
Sperry GlacierGlacier
Sperry GlacierFlathead County
Stanton GlacierGlacier
Stanton GlacierFlathead County
Salamander GlacierGlacier
Salamander GlacierGlacier County
Boulder GlacierGlacier
Boulder GlacierFlathead County
Chaney GlacierGlacier
Chaney GlacierGlacier County
Logan GlacierGlacier
Logan GlacierGlacier County
North Swiftcurrent GlacierGlacier
North Swiftcurrent GlacierGlacier County

Glaciers by county

All glaciers (17)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Grinnell GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,025 mColumbia Falls1
Grant GlacierFlathead County2,420 mColumbia Falls1
Blackfoot GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,471 mColumbia Falls1
Jackson GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,177 mColumbia Falls1
Red Eagle GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,152 mBrowning1
Sperry GlacierGlacierFlathead County2,445 mColumbia Falls1
Stanton GlacierFlathead County2,528 mColumbia Falls1
Salamander GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,195 mColumbia Falls1
Boulder GlacierGlacierFlathead County2,411 mWhitefish1
Chaney GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,250 mColumbia Falls1
Logan GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,180 mBrowning1
North Swiftcurrent GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,178 mColumbia Falls1
Old Sun GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,670 mColumbia Falls1
Piegan GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,510 mNorth Browning1
Pumpelly GlacierGlacierFlathead County2,574 mColumbia Falls1
Sexton GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,192 mNorth Browning1
Shepard GlacierGlacierGlacier County2,293 mColumbia Falls1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph glaciers

Ice shows its blue best under overcast skies or in shade; bright sun turns glaciers white and flat.

  • Never walk on a glacier without training and gear; crevasses hide under snow bridges.
  • Expose carefully: ice and snow fool meters into underexposure, so add +1 to +2 stops.
  • A polarizer deepens the blue of glacial ice and the turquoise of meltwater lakes.
  • Include a person or boat for scale — glaciers are much larger than they look.
  • Boat tours to tidewater glaciers offer calving shots; use fast shutter speeds and a telephoto.

Season: Summer offers access; late summer exposes the most bare ice before new snow.