On a recent summer trip, I found myself dumbfounded, floored, and awe-struck. Not only that, but Glacier National Park–an American treasure tucked under Montana’s sprawling Big Sky–ranks among the most visually stunning places I’ve ever visited. And that includes trips to Iceland, the Andes, the Alps, Africa, and even Antarctica.

This park is like someone carved up the best parts of Patagonia and dropped them into our own American backyard, complete with ice-cut valleys that resemble inland “fjords,” turquoise lakes, hidden waterfalls, and soaring, triangular peaks. Many call this the heart of the Rockies, and for good reason — it feels like the heart. It pulses with grandeur. It humbles you.

Consider my luck: I’ve traveled the world chasing glaciers and rugged wilderness, and somehow, shamefully, I overlooked this national gem for years. But standing before Grinnell Glacier, I felt deeply honored to witness something millions of years old. Maybe the last of the park’s glaciers before they all melt away. I’m grateful I got to see it before I melt away someday.

Indeed, Glacier National Park is easily a top five national park. As I rank them, there’s basically Yosemite, a bunch of Utah National Parks (ask me later which), and this. That’s because these are some of the most massive mountains I’ve seen in the Lower 48, if not all of North America (including Alaska).

When I first heard of the park’s famous thoroughfare, aka “Going-to-the-Sun Road,” I thought to myself: Really? That seems like a stretch. I’m happy to report: it’s not. My family towered and tunneled through Glacier’s sensational scenery along this iconic byway for several hours. My kids took turns standing through the moonroof of our Hyundai Santa Fe, beaming like they did riding roller coasters for the first time.

Every turn in this park brings a moving view. It’s stunning in the truest sense: “causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness.” That’s exactly what Glacier does. It offers adventure, and somehow — through the awe, the sweat, the aching feet after three days and 25 miles of hiking–it brought my family closer.

In between hiking to Grinnell and driving the seriously sky-high road, my brood loved the sweet-smelling wildflowers along the St. Mary’s and Virginia Falls trail. All of us hiked (and some of us swam) the surprisingly warmer-than-expected waters of Hidden Lake. And all of us agreed that the crowds at Logan Pass, Avalanche Lake, and the Redwood-like Trail of the Cedars were all worth it. As were distant encounters with bears, rams, mountain goats, and marmots along the way.

As for me, this was my second Montana moment. The first one changed my life. I wrote a best-selling book about it called Log Off. You should totally read it. This second visit, though, cemented my love for this great state.

On our final day in the park, I overheard an exhausted toddler exclaim to his mother, “I wanna be done with this dumb place!” I’m here to tell you: that kid is wrong. Glacier National Park is outstanding and never gets old. It exceeded my expectations of what’s possible after just a day’s drive north in the marvelous Mountain West.

Pro Tip: End your Glacier trip with a few relaxing days at nearby Flathead Lake. Clear waters, charming communities, and plenty of room to decompress after the mind-blowing spectacle you just survived.

In short, Glacier National Park isn’t just a pretty park. It’s proof that many of the world’s wonders can be found right in our own backyard. You just have to look up.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and seasoned travel journalist to all seven continents. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife, five children, and one ferocious chihuahua.