Visiting the Grinnell Glacier Trail in Glacier National Park is a popular choice for seeing a glacier up close. The path leads to the foot of the Grinnell Glacier after traveling through alpine meadows filled with wildflowers during summer months. Hikers experience magnificent perspectives of the glacier, Lake Grinnell, and Grinnell Falls with the rocky peaks of the Garden Wall and Angel’s Wing towering in the background. The trail also goes alongside the shores of two beautiful alpine lakes. Along the way, hikers will cross directly over the Continental Divide.
We hiked this trail in July of 2021 and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. It was our preferred route in the Many Glacier area, and if you only have time for one hike in this section of the park, this should definitely be your selection (provided you feel comfortable trekking over 10 miles with a substantial elevation gain along the way).
It is not an easy hike, but the effort is entirely worthwhile when standing on the shore of the glacial lake with a dropped jaw in awe of the sheer natural magnificence unfolding directly before you. Meadows, wildflowers, waterfalls, glaciers, and blue-green lakes adorn this hike with everything expected from a high elevation hike in the Rocky Mountains.
If you’re seeking to decide whether or not the hike up to Grinnell Glacier is suitable for you, you’re in the right location. In this guide, we’ll cover everything necessary to know to hike the trail safely and with confidence. By the end, you’ll be aware of how to access the trailhead (and where to park), what route to take, and precisely what to anticipate along the trail.
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Table of Contents
Trail Details
This trail guide is written for hikers starting at the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead, and hiking up to the foot of the glacier without using the boat shuttles across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine.
You may also embark on this hike originating at the Many Glacier Hotel, and the trail particulars are roughly equivalent. The parking lot has more space, too. The path from the hotel skirts the eastern side of Swiftcurrent Lake – the side accommodating the hotel – before meeting the other trail at Lake Josephine`s north end. From there, the hikes align precisely.
Distance: 11 miles. The Elevation Gain is 2,600 feet. The Trail Type is Out-and-Back. The Trailhead Location is the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead or Many Glacier Hotel. Highlights include spectacular views of Grinnell Glacier from up close along with great views of Grinnell Lake and the surrounding valley along the route. The Starting Altitude is 4,500 feet while the Highest Altitude Reached is 6,100 feet.
When to Hike to Grinnell Glacier
The response to the inquiry about lodging in Bogotá will shape your experience in the city. Bogotá is exceptionally large. Massive. It can take a very long time to travel between locations within the city.
The best time period to take on this trail extends from late June through early September, when snow will have cleared and weather grown warmer. Additionally, the long summer days provide ample sunlight to complete the 11-mile hike reaching Grinnell Glacier.
Getting to the Trailhead
The Grinnell Glacier Trailhead is situated along the primary pathway that runs into Many Glacier, sandwiched between the Many Glacier Hotel and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. You’ll enter the national park from the eastern side (the town of Babb serves as the gateway), journeying around 15 miles to arrive at the trailhead, passing the Many Glacier entrance station along the route.
The road from Babb to Many Glacier is constantly either under construction (it was a single-lane road when we passed through, which caused a 30+ minute delay), or in terrible, potholed condition. Plan on it taking longer than anticipated.
Accessible restrooms, both flush toilets and pit toilets (though the pit toilets were closed during our visit) can be found at the trailhead. Furthermore, the ranger station is conveniently located nearby, so you can stop in and check for any trail advisories important to know before commencing the trail.
If you’re staying inside the park – either at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn or Many Glacier Campground – the trailhead is walkable from where you’re staying, so you don’t have to worry about parking!
If staying at the Many Glacier Hotel, there`s an alternative initial section of the trail meeting up with the primary route at the far end of Swiftcurrent Lake, so it`s also walkable!
If you’re coming from outside the park, read on.
The Parking Situation at the Trailhead
Our trip trekking through Many Glacier greatly differed from wandering along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Along Going-to-the-Sun road, which is one of the most visited parts of the park and sees an immense number of visitors on a daily basis – the trailhead access points were routinely filled to capacity by 6:30 am.
In Many Glacier, we found that the timetable was shifted back by 60-90 minutes, so visitors could reliably access parking at the trailheads until roughly 8:00 am (even later on weekdays).
If visitors want to secure a parking spot in the trailhead lot, it`s best to arrive before 8:00 am. Especially on weekends from Friday to Sunday, when the number of visitors increases dramatically.
If you arrive between 9:00 and 10:00, you`ll likely need to park along the roadway, or in the lot outside the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn about a quarter mile away.
For arrivals after 10:00 am, park in the larger lot behind the Many Glacier Hotel and use the connecting trail from there, as it offers a better chance at securing a space after 10:00 am.
The Boat Shuttle from the Many Glacier Hotel
The boat shuttle services – there are two of them – shorten roughly 3.5 miles of the roundtrip hike. You pick up the boat from the dock at the Many Glacier Hotel, take it across the lake, disembark, re-board a second boat, and get dropped off at the far end of Lake Josephine. However, we wouldn’t recommend using the boat shuttle for two reasons. One, it’s expensive. It’s $35 per person round trip. Two, it cuts out 3.5 miles of the easiest hiking on the trail.
The element of the trail you choose not to follow is examined in more depth below in the “Lakeshore” section, where it primarily runs flat, initially paralleling the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake before transitioning along the west side of Lake Josephine to connect with the trail from the boat dock. Only at that location – where passengers disembark from the boat – does this hike become challenging.
Along the route, kayaking portions of the Colorado River winding through the Black Canyon offers views of the indigenous flora, fauna, and geological rock formations shaping the local area.
Tips For Your Hike
Here are some things to keep in mind before starting the trail so you can both hike safely and respectfully in the place you’re exploring.
- Brown Bear Territory. This hike traverses prime grizzly bear habitat. In fact, while visiting Glacier, the trail was closed for several days due to grizzly bear activity along the route. Remarkably, we spotted exactly zero bears on this trail. Be sure to carry bear deterrent – and more importantly, know how to employ it properly. However, bear repellent isn’t the sole precaution one can take to ensure safety for both humans and bears. Generating noise as you hike is important – whether through discussions with companions or clapping and shouting. Personally, I like to audibly improvise songs for the bears as we walk – I assure them to growl twice if they wish for me to cease torturing them with my vocalizations. My latest creation was a version of jingle bells, where we were dashing through the forest in search of some bears. Regrettably, bear deterrent is costly (I’m convinced lobbying influences prices and competition), but it can be rented from Apgar Village for those who don’t want to purchase it. Note – bear repellent cannot be brought on aircraft, so you’ll need to acquire it here if flying in (rent locally or buy at the Kalispell REI).
- Fees and Passes. To enter the park via the Many Glacier Entrance, payment is required (unless already inside after another entry – then just display your receipt or pass in your vehicle). The park entrance fee is $35, valid for seven days. Investing in an Interagency or America the Beautiful Pass ($80), covering all federal recreation areas like National Parks and Forest Service land, proves worthwhile for visiting three or more National Parks in the next year. Procure one here at REI before your trip and present ID upon park entrance.
- Stop by the Ranger Station.The Ranger Station lies a quarter mile up the road from the starting point, and you should park and walk over before commencing your hike to check for any necessary information. Trail status updates are posted. Had we not examined, we wouldn’t know if portions beyond a certain point were closed (as occurred during our multi-day visit).
- Get an Early Departure. This proves the most trafficked trail in Many Glacier (rightfully so, honestly), thus tremendous people volumes use this route. We began at 6:30 am and encountered less than 30 individuals on the ascent. Descending? We literally saw hundreds of hikers of all skill levels. It becomes slow when multiple groups of 15-20 crowd the descending path. Remember uphill hikers have precedence, so find a safe spot to stand aside and permit passing!
What to Pack for Your Hike
This hike is strenuous, and many individuals witnessed were… underprepared.
Any journey beyond 10 miles signifies you’re going to require two liters of water, at minimum. We each transport two 1L Platypus Collapsible Water Bottles, which we support – they’re genuinely the most suitable for hiking because they’re so lightweight! On longer journeys, I transport my 3L Hydration Pouch to share some additional water with Alysha.
One of the most crucial hiking gear, after water, consists of SNACKS. We carry a mix of sweet and salty snacks in our bags since sometimes you need a little salt on the trail. This principally relies on personal preference, but here are some of our favorites that you`ll generally find in our packs: Inka Crops Chili Plantain Chips. Spicy Pistachios. Tosi Bars. Frooze Balls (we came across these in New Zealand, and they recently arrived in the US!). Honey Stinger (gluten free) wafers. Taos Mountain Energy Bars and Picky Bars.
This hike involves considerable elevation gain and loss along with uneven, rocky terrain in places. Suitable footwear is quite important. Tennis shoes would likely result in regret for this hike. Get sturdy hiking boots to provide ankle support. Alysha finds the Columbia Newton Ridge boots comfortable and effective for a first pair of boots due to their quality and value. I myself am loyal to Salomon hiking boots.
What are thoughts on using hiking poles? It is strongly believed that poles should accompany all hikers. In years past when less experienced, poles seemed superfluous. “They`re for elderly and apparently Germans” was claimed as traversing New Zealand led to numerous Germans of varying ages observed using them. Descents down trails were achieved quickly without concern. However, knees and ankles started hurting after steep downhills, resulting in the realization that “are we… aging?!” Now, poles accompany every hike, especially with significant climbing. TheseREI hiking poles are preferred for being lightweight yet durable (though screws in the clamps tend to loosen overtime)
Here are some other things to pack for this trail.
- A light backpack suited for day hikes( ideally holding around 20 liters). Preferably with comfortable straps. We’ve used the REI Trail Pack 25, which provides good value for money. Alysha is fond of her Osprey Tempest 20 – a backpack customized for women’s anatomies (the men’s version is the Talon 22) – which merits the additional investment due to benefits like improved waist strap, better back ventilation, and Osprey’s famous quality guarantee. I have a Deuter 30L backpack to transport camera gear, which has proven its worth time and again.
- Layers of clothing. The cold wind blowing off the glacier is piercing. When one becomes sweaty from climbing exertions then sits down at the base of the glacier, they will rapidly feel freezing. Bring additional insulating garments like fleece as well as a rain jacket as minimum.
Hiking the Grinnell Glacier Trail: A Complete Trail Guide
Now, let`s provide a play-by-play description of the hike based on our personal experience hiking the trail in July of 2021, to give you a clear picture of exactly what to expect along the way.
To make consuming this information easier, we will separate this hike into five elements. They are:
- The Lakeshore
- The Ascent to the Valley
- The Ultimate Ascent
In the sections below, you’ll find a description of each portion of the trail, along with the distance covered and elevation gained in each section to help you understand what the hike resembles when you’re actually out there.
Note: The reason that the elevation gain numbers in the individual sections under don’t entirely add up to the one mentioned above is the fact that there’s considerable ups and downs throughout. The numbers in the sections below provide a decent approximation of the intensity of each portion, but aren’t exact as I don’t have an ideal way to measure that rise and fall in each individual segment of the hike.
The Lakeshore
Distance Covered: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
This early section of the hike serves as an excellent warmup for the remainder of the route. You`ll depart from the starting point and quickly enter a dense forested area. The trail winds through the woodland, crossing a bridge over the creek before reaching the southwestern shore of Swiftcurrent Lake.
The trail winds around Swiftcurrent Lake, guiding travelers to its southwest tip, where the boat dock is located at 0.7 miles into the hike. Upon reaching the boat dock, hikers will also come to a trail intersection. They will want to turn right and head up toward Lake Josephine. For those arriving from the Many Glacier Hotel, this is the point where the main trail is encountered – continuing straight ahead guides walkers around the lake back to the hotel.
The brief 0.2 mile associate trail between Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine climbs to a highlight, then descends back to the beginning level. At the end of that fall is the Lake Josephine boat stop, which is where you would get the second boat shuttle to cross Lake Josephine if that was the choice you picked.
As stated earlier, the trail here is so easy that you may not save much effort by paying the $35 for the boat shuttle. However, your perspective could differ.
After reaching Lake Josephine, the trail follows the northern shoreline (the right side when hiking). The path essentially involves a series of rolling hills, with a gentle climbing and descending pattern all around the lake, ending at the northwest corner of Lake Josephine.
The trail branches here – up and to the right is the path you want to follow, which takes you up towards the glacier. The left fork takes you down to the second Lake Josephine Boat Dock, which you can see from the trail once you begin climbing.
The Main Climb Into the Valley
Distance Covered: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
This is the section of the trail where the majority of the climbing occurs. Take a moment before beginning the ascent to refuel with a snack, hydrate with water, and shed extra layers.
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At 2.8 miles into the hike – just over halfway to the glacier – you’ll reach a set of switchbacks that climb pretty vigorously. This is the part of the hike where you’ll start to notice the landscape changing from forested hillsides to rocky, to alpine terrain. In the summer, the wildflowers here are gorgeous.
Upon reaching the top of the switchbacks, keep moving upward. A small stream tumbling down the hillside will be passed before arriving at the notable feature along this trail segment at 3.5 miles – the waterfall.
We embarked on this hike completely unaware that a waterfall crossed the trail. Later in summer, it diminishes to a smaller obstacle, but in early summer the cascading falls plummet from an edge right above the trail, soaking anyone who passes below it.
Well, that`s what we assumed at first. My arm and leg got a bit damp, but it isn`t nearly as bad as it appears. We were mostly worried about the rocks below the cascade being slippery, but were pleasantly surprised that wasn`t an issue whatsoever. There is a route others had crafted that heads down and to the left side, but it`s rocky, slick, and steeply sloped, and we saw a few having problems navigating it.
Our suggestion? Bring a rain jacket if possible, keep electronics safely stored, and take the main trail through the falls.
From here, the climb becomes steeper and rockier, turning into a narrow, exposed ledge above the valley below for a brief moment before widening again. The views down to the lake and the cascading waterfall coming off the glacier – Grinnell Falls – continue to be spectacular from this point.
The trail levels out somewhat at 3.8 miles, and continues to gently rise and fall before encountering a single switchback that places you in a clearing where you`ll find a pit toilet and several benches. Take a moment to rejuvenate, refuel, and then you`re ready for the final ascent to the glacier.
The Final Ascent
Distance Covered: 1 mile
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
This brief but demanding segment of the hike mainly involves steep, rocky steps carved into the hillside along with switchbacks. Take time going up and you`ll be fine. Expect a chilling breeze coming off the glacier, which you`ll appreciate since this area of the trail has little shade.
At the top, you’ll immediately be in awe of the blue-green glacial pool at the foot of a towering cascade, with Grinnell Glacier in all its majesty. Rising thousands of feet above the lake is the Garden Wall, which marks the Continental Divide. If you already did the Highline Trail and the Grinnell Glacier Overlook offshoot, you can look up and to the right to see that vantage point (usually you’ll see a few people up there, but they’ll be tiny).
Regrettably, the glacier is diminishing at an alarming rate as the weather becomes warmer and drier year after year.
Proceed down and to the left toward the shore of the lake body of water, find a suitable vantage point with a nice view, and take in the scenery all at once. The pathway returns by the same route when ready to begin descending downhill.
Hey travel enthusiast! Planning a trip to Glacier National Park? Be sure to check out our other Glacier travel guides to assist you with planning an incredible trip.
