When the crowds vanish, snowshoes open a silent, frozen version of the park. Montana rewards those who step off the pavement, and this pursuit is a case in point.

Winter closes most roads, leaving the park to skiers and snowshoers.

What sets it apart

Ranger-led snowshoe walks run from the Apgar area on weekends. Small as it sounds, it is exactly the sort of thing that defines the experience on the ground.

Wildlife tracks in fresh snow reveal the park's hidden winter residents.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about Montana itself — a state where the wild and the worked-over sit close together. Go prepared, respect the conditions, and Montana's backcountry will give back in kind.