Day in the Life of a Park Ranger

A park ranger leads a guided hike in Many Glacier.

NPS

 

What Do Park Rangers in Glacier Do?

Glacier National Park is a busy place in the summer. There are about 3 million visitors that come to enjoy the beauty of Glacier. To help us protect this special place, Glacier has many types of park rangers and other employees. Some of them are more visible than others, but all are important in protecting the park and assisting people who come to visit.

So...what do rangers do? Some rangers protect Glacier National Park by enforcing its laws and regulations, created by the US Congress and the Superintendent of the park. Some rangers protect the park by educating visitors about the many wonderful things Glacier National Park offers. Some rangers patrol the trails to make sure that visitors are safe and trails are in good condition. And some study wildlife, plants, and even people!

 

Protecting the Park and People

A law enforcement park ranger’s job is to protect all that is within Glacier National Park from harm. This can be very exciting because you never know what you might do in a day. A ranger might help a visitor who needs directions to a visitor center, help treat and load an injured patient into an air ambulance, put out a car fire, and investigate an animal poaching all in one day!

A ranger can also be called on a Search and Rescue day or night, so they must always have their rescue gear ready to go. Rescues can take a couple hours to several weeks. The ranger below is practicing lowering a litter, a device designed to carry out injured people, off a cliff.

 

Law enforcement rangers provide many different services. From searching for missing hikers to protecting park resources and property.

 

Teaching, Sharing, and Listening

The job of some rangers is to share information and tell stories about Glacier National park to park visitors. They may work in a visitor center, lead hikes, give programs to kids, perform campfire talks and evening programs, or create exhibits. Their job is to help visitors understand and care about Glacier National Park.

 

Interpretation and education park rangers share park stories and information with visitors and school groups who come to the park.

 

Researching, Studying, and Protecting

Rangers who study wildlife, plants, and artifacts help to understand the special natural and cultural resouces within the park. Their job is to monitor Glacier's plants and animals and protect them. Some of these rangers study objects left by people from long ago, helping us to better understand the past and its importance to how we live today.

 

From artifacts to plants, resource rangers monitor and study plants, animals, and cultural resources found in Glacier.

 

Maintaining and Repairing Roads, Buildings, and Trails

A park like Glacier is so big that it takes many people with a large range of skills to care for it. Facilities park rangers fix park buildings, monitor our water system, make road signs, and clear and maintain the park's beloved trail system. Their work allows park visitors, volunteers, and staff to enjoy clean restrooms, historic buildings, and over 700 miles of trails.

 

Park rangers who work in facilities tackle plowing the Going-to-the-Sun Road each spring as well as maintaining the over 700 miles of hiking trails found in Glacier.

 

What's so great about being a park ranger?

"I am so thankful to be a Park Ranger because I get to share my passion for the natural world through incredible story telling with people who come from all over—many of whom who have never experienced wilderness before." – Ranger Jordyn

 

More fun things!

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  Park Fun

  Find activities to do, whether you're planning a visit or visiting from home!

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  Become a Junior Ranger

  Want to earn a Glacier National Park Junior Ranger badge? Learn how here!

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  Kids and Youth

  Activities and information to connect the young (and young at heart) to the park.