Glacier National Park’s ecosystem spans the border between Montana in the U.S. and Alberta/B.C. in Canada. The “Crown of the Continent” ecosystem is so pristine that it is designated as an international preserve. With over 700 miles of trails, providing visitors access and preserving an ecosystem can be a delicate dance.

Glacier’s total number of visitors continues to climb annually near its historical record, around 2.2 million. For the Park stewards and Glacier National Park Conservancy, the top trail priorities are ensuring that certain trails are accessible to all visitors, and that materials are environmentally friendly. With this visitation increase, one of the Park’s most popular pathways, Trail of the Cedars, is deteriorating to the point where it is no longer accessible.

As reported in Popular Glacier National Park trail closed for level surface installation by Dax VanFossen, StaLok Paving Material solves the Park’s ADA accessibility problems. "I think it is sorta one of the first portals where people get to really experience Glacier, and I think that having access, equal access for anyone that wants to experience Glacier and that's part of what that trail is about, and that portal is about, and I think absolutely, when that project is completed, we're going to have meaningful access for everyone," said Mark Priess of Glacier National Park Conservancy.

The report goes on to say, “it (StaLok Trail) will make things much more handicapped accessible... The new surface is a mixture of materials, all eco-friendly, and relatively inexpensive, and as one of the crew installing the trail told us, easy to see, making it hard to lose your way if you follow the red brick-ish road.”

Image Credit: MTN News Photo