Though several species of marmots exist across the globe, in the United States their range is limited to mountains of the northwest. The result is very few Americans ever see the marmot.
Technically, the marmot is a large ground squirrel. Because of their whistle to warn others in their colony of danger, they sometimes are referred to as “whistle pigs.” Marmots grow up to 32 inches long and can weigh as much as 15 pounds.
A good trail at Glacier National Park to spot a marmot is the 3-mile round trip Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. It does sport a 550-foot gain in elevation.
Here’s a video of a marmot at Glacier:
More:
• Trails to see Glacier National Park’s highlights
Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.
