Concessioner Selected to Provide Backcountry Lodging in Glacier National Park

The National Park Service has selected Belton Chalets, Inc. to provide backcountry lodging, food and beverage, and other services at Glacier National Park under concession contract CC-GLAC004-26. The new contract will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, and has a term of 10 years.

Belton Chalets, Inc. previously served as the concessioner under a contract that was effective Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2025. The public is not expected to experience any interruptions in services.

“Belton Chalets, Inc. has provided park visitors with exceptional and unique services at Granite Park and Sperry chalets for years. We know that their passion for the chalets and their experience will serve the public and the park well,” said Dave Roemer, superintendent of Glacier National Park.

Solicitation of concession business opportunities within NPS sites and the selection of best proposals are routine processes for the NPS, dictated by the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act. By law, all contracts are issued through a fully open and competitive process, awarding contracts to those with the best proposal. Additional information about the law, regulation, and policy governing the National Park Service’s Commercial Services Program can be found online at the NPS Concessions webpage.

Concessioners fill a vital role in helping the NPS carry out its mission by operating publicly owned facilities and offering high-quality, commercial visitor services at reasonable rates. Glacier National Park has six concession contracts that provide a variety of visitor services in the park.



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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Update: Three hikers found dead on Mount Baldy in California

Because of the strange circumstances surrounding the deaths of three hikers on Mount Baldy in Southern California last week, I thought it was important to provide an update. Yesterday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department provided this bit of information on their website:

On Friday, January 2, 2026, the Sheriff’s Coroner Division positively identified Juan Sarat Lopez and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, two Guatemalan Nationals residing in Los Angeles, were among the three deceased males located at Mt. Baldy. Investigators believe Lopez and Ramos Garcia fell from the Devil’s Backbone Trail the same day they were found.

Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

Also, ABC7 out of LA added this piece of information:

Authorities said Lopez and Garcia were not hiking with Casanova at the time of the incident, but they believe they fell from the same Devil's Backbone trail.

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Can Pole Walking Help With Weight Loss?

It's a new year, and if past is prologue, then we can probably assume that many of us are trying to figure out how we're going to lose all that weight we gained over the holidays. The solution might already be in our closets. Did you know that Nordic walking, or walking with poles, can burn as much as 20% more calories during the same amount of time that you normally spend walking or hiking? Honestly, this came as a bit of a revelation to me recently, but it makes complete sense. Using trekking poles while walking also gives your upper body a workout. Apparently, scientific research has confirmed this:



For more information, you can click here, here and here.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Three hikers found dead on Mount Baldy in California

Yesterday evening, rescue crews responded to a report of an injured hiker who fell down a slope along the Devil’s Backbone Trail on Mount Baldy in Southern California. Search crews found the man, and two of his companions dead, authorities said. Further recovery efforts have been hampered due to high winds. Here's a report from 13WMAZ:





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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Wyoming State Parks and Wyoming Game and Fish Urge Safe Winter Recreation Practices

As winter settles across Wyoming, Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are jointly reminding residents and visitors to prioritize safety while enjoying winter recreation, particularly when it comes to ice conditions. Temperatures have continued to fluctuate and trend warmer than average, making ice stability more unpredictable and potentially dangerous for recreational activities.

Wyoming State Parks rangers and Wyoming Game and Fish game wardens routinely patrol frozen lakes, reservoirs, and access points throughout the winter season, responding to emergencies and educating recreationists about ice safety.

"While winter offers stunning landscapes and exciting recreational activities, it's important to remember that ice is never 100 percent safe," said Mark Caughlan, chief ranger of Wyoming State Parks. "By working closely with Wyoming Game and Fish, we’re able to combine training, patrol presence, and public education to help reduce preventable accidents."

Before venturing onto any ice, it is essential to understand basic safety guidelines. Ice should generally be at least 4 inches thick for foot traffic. Ice measuring 6 inches thick may support one ATV, UTV, or snowmobile. Vehicles such as cars or small trucks typically require 9 to 12 inches of solid ice, while a medium pickup truck requires 13 to 15 inches.

Rangers and game wardens advise remaining alert for pressure ridges, inlets, vegetation, and other areas where ice may be thinner or unstable. “As ice begins to form this winter, drill test holes to determine thickness, and remember thickness is not always uniform,” said Craig Smith, deputy chief game warden of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Weak ice may not support even light foot traffic or motorized vehicles, and if conditions are uncertain, staying off the ice is the safest option.

Monitoring local ice conditions through your nearest parks or recreation areas can significantly enhance your safety and experience.

For more information on winter recreation safety and current ice conditions, contact your local Wyoming State Parks ranger or Wyoming Game and Fish game warden, or visit wyoparks.wyo.gov or wgfd.wyo.gov.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com