In northwest Montana, no place pulls people in quite like Glacier National Park . It's famous for its mountain ranges carved by prehistoric rivers and its breathtaking vistas. But this fall, the usual rush of hikers and road trippers exploring the trails and soaking in the views is nearly non-existent. While gateway towns near other national parks, like Shenandoah, are still surging with tourism , Glacier's accessible roads are far emptier—and so are the nearby towns.

The silence on the trails has become unrecognizable, but so have the struggling communities that depend on the park's steady stream of visitors. Glacier's transformation isn't just physical; it's social, economic, and institutional, revealing just how deeply the government shutdown cuts.

Local shops and lodges sit quiet

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