Rocky peaks. Dense forest. Blue-green alpine lakes. Abundant wildlife. Glacier National Park is unique. Within Glacier National Park, which is in northwestern Montana just south of the Canadian border, there are approximately 730 miles of hiking trails.
Throughout the period of a week in the park, we tackled a whopping 70 of them, averaging 10 miles per day! In this guide, we’re going to share our perspective on the best hikes in Glacier National Park based on our personal experience hiking in the park. You’ll find family-friendly strolls, moderate walks through the forest, and strenuous climbs that end at alpine lakes, spectacular viewpoints, and even a glacier!
We’re going to focus extensively on the hikes we undertook in Glacier, which we largely found quite enjoyable. We’ll also provide you with some alternatives that we didn’t traverse, but had on our list and simply ran out of time to experience.
That itinerary for the Sicily road trip will likely meet most people`s needs, including ours, but it is worth openly addressing the implications of how we`ve structured it.
Sound good to you? Let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.
Table of Contents
Glacier National Park Geography: A Quick Primer
Glacier National Park is roughly divided into five or six regions, depending on who you ask. For most visitors to the park, there are really three main areas to focus on:
- West Glacier: Apgar Visitors Center to Logan Pass along Going-to-the-Sun Road
- East Glacier: From Logan Pass to the St. Mary Visitor Center along Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Many Glacier: West of the town of Babb, north of Going-to-the-Sun Road
For stays longer than 5-7 days in the park, adding Two Medicine Lake, Polebridge, or Goat Haunt to the itinerary could be considered. For 2-3 days, focusing on the three outlined would be advised.
For the purposes of this guide in particular, which is focused on hiking in the park, we’re going to simplify it even further. Below, you’ll find the best hikes along Going-to-the-Sun Road (from West to East), and then the best hikes in Many Glacier (from easiest to hardest).
When to Go Hiking in Glacier National Park
The misfortune of trekking lofty in the mountains is that the season is always disappointingly brief.
The best time to hike in the park is during the summer, which means roughly July through September. The road running west to east through the park – Going-to-the-Sun Road – opens in June and closes in October. That timing shifts depending on the year, but it’s a fairly safe bet that it will be open from sometime in June through September.
On many of the hiking trails in the park, particularly at higher elevations, snow lingers on the trail until late June some years, and returns sometime in October.
July and August carry flowering wildflowers to many of the alpine meadows at higher elevations, while September conveys fall hue thanks to the golden larch and aspens illuminating the valleys and hillsides (ordinarily mid-September).
Weather in late September and extending into October starts to become unpredictable, and you might end up with some early snow and temperatures below freezing point.
Tips for Hitting the Trail in Glacier
Grizzly Bears. Glacier is prime habitat for black bears and grizzlies – there are numerous trails (especially around Many Glacier) that pass directly through areas frequented by grizzlies. While grizzlies can be intimidating, we hiked over 40 kilometers in the park and saw zero bears on the paths. However, it`s wise to prepare appropriately. The best technique to avoid encounters is to make noise while traveling. Trek in groups. Produce lots of sound (I`ve been known to serenade the bears with improvised melodies matching popular tunes), particularly around blind corners. Also, be aware of your surroundings – tracks and scat indicate bears, and listen for grunting. Allow bears ample space, yielding the trail if one is present until it departs. Exercise extra caution near females and cubs.
Trail Access. Somewhat related to grizzly bears, the park temporarily restricts access to trails (or parts of trails) due to increased grizzly activity on a regular basis. During our visit, two trails were completely closed for a time, and a third had rangers at the trailhead providing a quick lesson on proper hiking conduct in grizzly bear habitat (as mentioned above regarding bears) owing to ripe huckleberry bushes along the route attracting the animals. It’s best to check in with a ranger early upon arrival to get updates on trail statuses and safety advice. Information can be found online, but we discovered the web version less straightforward than talking directly with staff.
The Effects of Altitude on the Human Body. Glacier National Park`s highest elevations are not as lofty as some other places in the United States. The apex that can be accessed by motor vehicle is Logan Pass at approximately 6,600 feet above sea level. Apgar village resides around 3,000 feet, with St. Mary and Many Glacier each possessing elevations near 4,500 feet. Give your body time to adjust before tackling the more demanding trails, particularly those situated at greater heights close to Logan Pass. Be familiar with the signs of altitude sickness, and immediately descend a minimum of 1,000 feet if anyone in your group exhibits symptoms.
Parking at Trailheads. During the summer of 2021, when entry reservations were required for driving along Going-to-the-Sun Road between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm, the parking situation at trailheads along that road was hectic. Lots were completely full by 6:30 am, sometimes earlier. If you want to drive yourself to the trailhead (versus taking the shuttle – more on that below), then you’ll need to get up very early. Especially for the hikes at Logan Pass, where they completely closed off the parking lot to new cars by 9:30 am the day we took the shuttle up there. In Many Glacier, the situation was far less intense. Show up by 8:00 am or so to guarantee a parking spot (plus, most of the trailheads are walkable from the campground and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, two of the three places to stay in that part of the park).
Outwit the Large Groups. The primary hiking trails in Glacier National Park are often crowded. There is no avoiding this reality. One of the best ways to outwit the crowds is either to get an early start – we consistently began at 6:30am and usually saw very few individuals along the way up, and hordes of people along the way down – or to opt for a less popular trail. If you’re searching for a trail to escape the crowds, consider Siyeh Pass along Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Cracker Lake near Many Glacier. We encountered less than 20 people total on each of those trails (according to Alysha`s count), compared to the 20 people we witnessed about every 100 yards on some of the more traveled trails. Still, the popular trails are truly worth traversing. We would strongly, strongly recommend a pre-7:00 am departure to have them to yourselves (or as much exclusive access as you potentially can within a National Park).
Using the Park Shuttle
The shuttle service in Glacier National Park is a little less extensive than those found in places such as Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, but it provides useful transportation for hikers in Glacier.
There are two shuttle routes that travel the entirety of Going-to-the-Sun Road, the main artery through the park from west to east. One starts at the Apgar Visitors Center on the western end of the road, one starts at the St. Mary Visitor Center at the eastern end of the road. They both make many stops en route to Logan Pass, where both lines end.
The earliest shuttle of the day departs either Visitor Center at 7:00 am, and the last shuttle of the day leaves Logan Pass (heading back towards the Visitor Center) at 7:00 pm. If you want to end up on the first one, arrive at 6:30 am (earlier on weekends).
The shuttle is especially useful for hiking the Highline Trail, (spoiler alert) one of our favorite hikes in the park. That hike is best as a point-to-point hike, where you start at Logan Pass, hike out to the Granite Park Chalet, and descend down to the Loop where you can catch the shuttle back to the Visitor Center. The alternative is an out-and-back from Logan Pass, which is over four extra miles, and a lot more elevation gain.
The 10 Best Hikes in Glacier National Park: A Complete Guide
Now that we’ve outlined some things we believe you should know before hiking in Glacier, let’s delve into the trails themselves.
As we mentioned earlier, we’ve divided the guide into two sections: trails along Going-to-the-Sun Road, and paths near Many Glacier.
Hikes Along Going-to-the-Sun Road
This section is organized from west to east along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Avalanche Lake
- Day 8: Further experiences in Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge
- Elevation Gain: 750 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Trailhead Site: Avalanche Rest Area
This is considered one of the best family-friendly hikes in the park. It starts from the Trail of the Cedars Trailhead, six miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge, and shares the beginning section of trail. Be sure not to miss Avalanche Gorge!
We saw children as young as three or four on this trail. It’s not particularly difficult, though it does climb 700 feet over two miles or so.
The trail diverges from the Trail of the Cedars and begins an uphill journey, accompanying Avalanche Creek as it makes a gradual ascent through the hemlock and cedars on the way to Avalanche Lake. Visitors will achieve the lake`s northwest shore at 2.2 miles, from where there is a stunning vista across the crystal clear alpine lake to the mountains behind. If present in the early summer, there is an immense waterfall directly opposite the lake.
The downside of the hike`s accessibility is that it becomes very crowded on that section of shore. Venture further along the trail hugging the southwest shore to reach the opposite end of the lake. Various spots allow access to much less crowded sections of shore along the way.
You head out and back along the same route, so you`ll return by reversing your path to arrive back at the starting point. It`s mostly downhill on the return journey.
The Highline
- Length: 11 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,550 ft.
- Trail Type: Point to Point
- Difficulty: Moderate / Hard
- Trailhead Location: Logan Pass
This is one of the most iconic hikes in the park. The path is probably most known for its first half mile, where the trail ascends 100 feet above Going-to-the-Sun Road. At spots, the trail is six feet wide or less with a steep drop off down to the roadway.
For the entire route, this hike hugs the Garden Wall along the Continental Divide, offering rocky peaks to the right, sweeping alpine meadows straight ahead, and breathtaking views of the valley and Going-to-the-Sun Road to the left.
The trailhead is at Logan Pass, which means parking is problematic. When we were there, the parking lot was full by around 6:30 am. If you want to do this hike and drive yourself, you`ll need to be willing to wake up early. Otherwise the park shuttle is a great option, and is truly how we’d recommend doing it. Why do you ask?
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The statistics above reflect this climb, which is the shortest and most manageable way to complete it. HOWEVER, it necessitates utilizing either two vehicles or the shuttle service, because you finish the climb at a different location than where you started.
An alternative is to do it as an out-and-back from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. That route makes it four miles longer since you must climb the pass twice over the course of the hike.
We strongly advise doing it one-way if possible. Taking the park shuttle (requiring 2021 reservations) made it easiest for us.
The initial seven miles of the trail take you out to the Granite Park Chalet, a remote chalet with several rooms where you can spend the night (if you reserve six months ahead of time, to the day – see here). It’s a nice spot for lunch, and there’s a small store selling items like sparkling water and snacks if something strikes your fancy.
The trail will descend 2,600 feet over the following four miles, making for a very steep downhill section. Hiking poles will help ease the descent. Trust that they will be useful for navigating this challenging portion safely.
I will note that I am wary of heights, and we actually skipped the last part of the Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park because it felt too precarious for me. This trail was much less challenging to handle.
A garden hose was attached to the mountainside that visitors could hold on to, if desired. Hugging the inner edge of the trail for the initial half mile or so would make the remainder of the hike worthwhile.
At 6.3 miles into the hike (0.8 miles before the Granite Park Chalet, coming from the Logan Pass Trailhead), there’s an offshoot that takes you up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. This trail is a big addition to an already challenging hike.
It ascends 900 feet in 0.6 miles, which is an insane pace. But the panorama is supposedly spectacular, so if you’ve got fuel in the tank and are up for an intense climb at this stage in the hike, do it!
We skipped it because we were already on pace for a 16 mile day, and felt the extra climbing may be slightly too much given we were planning on hiking over 70 miles during the course of a week.
We have a whole guide to covering hiking the Highline Trail so that you know exactly what to expect before you hit the trail.
It covers parking at the trailhead, using the park shuttle service to complete the hike, different route possibilities, and a play-by-play description of the hike from beginning to end.
Hidden Lake + Hidden Lake Overlook
- Length: 3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 600 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Trailhead Location: Logan Pass
This hike also leaves from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, heading behind the building to an overlook with stunning views of Hidden Lake and the surrounding basin. It’s a crowded trail, mostly because most of the first half of the trail is a boardwalk, and it’s relatively short.
But don`t be surprised to discover this hike is actually somewhat difficult. It climbs 600 feet in a mile and a half, scaling 400 feet per mile. That`s on the easier end of moderate.
There are two options for this trail. The first is heading up to the overlook, which is a short climb that is fairly accessible for hikers of all fitness and experience levels.
Reaching the overlook is worth the effort, providing a prime spot to observe wildlife. We saw a bear (from a distance on the opposing hillside), bighorn sheep, and mountain goats (also from far away) over the course of this brief excursion.
The second option continues past the overlook down to the shore of the lake. It’s a steep decline on the way down, which implies you have to do a lot of climbing to get back up. What descends must ascend once more.
This route roughly doubles both the distance and the elevation gain on this hike, making it a more taxing option.
The first half of the trail, as mentioned above, is a wooden walkway through alpine meadows filled with wildflowers of every hue in the early summer.
It’s gorgeous, and you have all sorts of amazing views on all sides thanks to the Garden Wall and Reynolds Mountain, among other peaks.
The trail ascends steadily to the outlook, where you’ll have a great view of Hidden Lake, with it’s brilliant blue water, and Bearhat Mountain looming ominously over its shores.
Be sure to check trail conditions at the Visitor Center before heading out – the second half of this trail (the part down to the lake) is often closed for a few weeks in mid-to-late July due to spawning fish in the lake, and the bears that come to feast on them.
If you’re doing both this hike and the Highline on the same day, first do the shorter hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook, skip the hike down to the lake and save your energy for the longer Highline Trail. That’s what we did, and it was a great day of hiking.
Siyeh Pass
- Length: 9.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,400 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Hard
- Starting Point:Piegan Pass Trailhead
Note: Significant smoke hindered views during our hike along the Siyeh Pass Trail, limiting how pictures conveyed the experience. This formed our initial major hike in the park, though visibility improved for remaining travels.
If you’re looking for an equally beautiful but far, far less traveled hike in the park, check out Siyeh Pass.
On the three previous hikes, we probably encountered roughly 100 people per mile. On this hike, we saw a total of 20 individuals. And since we began early (around 6:30 am), we only crossed paths with six people on the ascent. SIX! In a National Park!
Another aspect we appreciated about this hike is that, with the sole exception of the final mile of trail, it traverses a diverse range of landscapes like forest, alpine meadows, and ultimately rugged high alpine terrain.
The destination of the hike is Siyeh Pass, which has sweeping views overlooking the eastern side of the park with too numerous jagged rocky peaks to count.
Again, similar to numerous hikes in the park, there are multiple routes to do this hike. The best way to do it is one-way from the Siyeh Pass Trailhead down to Sunrift Gorge. Regrettably, because of decreased shuttle service in 2021, that route necessitated either two vehicles or hitchhiking.
One downside is that you must take the shuttle bus to access the trailhead, which is around three miles east of Logan Pass at Siyeh Bend (in 2021, unfortunately the shuttle did not even stop at the trailhead owing to reduced service levels).
While traversing the trail, keep an eye out for jackrabbits, ducks, herons, and other desert wildlife.
The approach to do this hike if you only have one vehicle and aren’t comfortable hitchhiking is to do it out and back from the Siyeh Pass Trailhead (you could also do the same from Sunrift Gorge, but we were told by a ranger that the better part of the hike is the part from Siyeh Bend up to the pass).
The beginning of the hike offers amazing views along the river, where the distant mountains come into view.
The trail veers right and begins a forested ascent lasting around a mile before reaching a fork. Head left and continue through the woods. The path alternates between forests and meadows for another 1.3 miles until another junction.
At this point, turning left heads upwards toward Piegan Pass, which is one of the routes to access and cross over to Many Glacier (that would make for a fantastic backpacking trip!). Turning right takes you up to Siyeh Pass.
You’ll pass through some grassy fields, where we actually noticed a moose! It crossed the trail around 20 yards or so in front of us, and then ambled its way up the hillside to the right and found a spot to rest among the trees.
This is where the climb begins. You start the ascent with a stream crossing followed by a set of steps that take you up and out of that meadowed area.
Right away you`ll likely observe that the landscape alters dramatically once arriving at the top of the stairs. Verdant meadows give way to craggy high mountain scenery, and you’ll see the trail winding ahead of you on its route upward.
It’s a tough, exposed climb, so make sure you have plenty of water and sun protection for this part of the hike (reapply!). You’ll climb 800 feet in a mile to reach the pass, and the views are spectacular.
From there, you go down based on the route you chose – either continue straight to head down to Sunrift Gorge if you’re doing it one-way, or head back the way you came if you’re heading back to your car at Siyeh Bend.
St. Mary + Virginia Falls
- Length: 3.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 500 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead Location: St. Mary Falls Parking Lot (or the shuttle stop)
To be fully upfront: We didn’t get an opportunity to do this hike because the parking situation at the trailhead was a nightmare (our mistake for showing up at noon on a Saturday, I suppose), but if you are looking for a pleasant and straightforward hike featuring multiple waterfalls in the eastern half of the park, this is your best choice!
You can start this hike from either the St. Mary Falls shuttle stop, which is closest but only an option using the shuttle, or the St. Mary Falls Trailhead, adding under a mile to your hike but better if driving.
You’ll begin with a brief hike down into the valley to reach St. Mary Falls, a two-tiered waterfall that you can hear before seeing. The pool beneath the falls lights up with an aquamarine hue when hit by sunlight, uniquely.
Continue on to Virginia Falls, which is a bit further and climbs back out of the valley, but is worth the effort. It’s much more impressive than St. Mary Falls – cascading off the rim of the cliff. The trail takes you right to the base of the falls.
Hikes near Many Glacier
We fell in love with Many Glacier and its abundance of wildlife, beautiful alpine lakes, and more relaxed atmosphere compared to the parts of the park along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
We hiked 40+ miles of trail in this neck of the woods. Here are our picks, from easiest to hardest.
Swiftcurrent Lake Loop
- Length: 2.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 250 ft.
- Trail Type: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead Starting Point: Either the Many Glacier Hotel or Grinnell Glacier Parking Area
This short hike surrounds Swiftcurrent Lake entirely. You can start from either the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead or the Many Glacier Hotel, and go around the whole lake before returning to the beginning. The path is essentially flat, and closely follows the shoreline for most of the distance.
This makes for a very pleasant afternoon walk, starting from the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead. From there, you’ll enter the forest and within a quarter mile, find yourself along the western shore of the lake.
Across the lake to your left is the Many Glacier Hotel, situated in a scenic location with an atmospherere, and to your right is the boat dock (which we’ll discuss below in the section on accessing the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead).
Continuing along the shore for a quarter mile, where you’ll reach a junction with trails leading to Lake Josephine and Grinnell Glacier branching off to the right, as well as the boat dock area angling left, while straight ahead lays the path skirting around the lake.
Continue circling the lake, stopping to admire the ever-changing perspectives as you go. Ultimately, you’ll make it to the Many Glacier Hotel, which is the perfect spot to stop and enjoy a beverage on the deck with scenic views of the water.
They have a store on the ground floor with a nice selection of beer, wine, and cider beverages, and a bar on the side of the hotel closest to the main road.
After your intermission, continue along the north shore of the lake, which basically tracks the primary road taken to access the park.
Fishercap Lake and Redrock Falls
- Length: 3.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 275 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Easy
Either wait in line for the famous product, find an alternative nearby that appeals to you, or head a half block down the street to Sgrano for a gluten free version made in a completely gluten free establishment.
This hike passes two lakes and ends at a multi-tiered waterfall. And it’s primarily flat, so it’s perfect for families and hikers who want a less vigorous option. The first part of the trail is a comparatively gentle, shaded climb through the forest, and then the trail levels out for the second half of the hike out to the falls.
Begin at the parking area of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and head west. Quite quickly – about a quarter mile in (the indicator says 0.7 miles, but we are somewhat hesitant), you’ll reach a turnoff down to Fishercap Lake.
This body of water is unique because it happens to be a wonderful place to spot moose! However, they mainly surface to forage for greens around dawn and dusk, so if you’re there midday, they might be resting and you’ll need to return at a different time.
Continue along the route, which gently ascends and descends until arriving at the shore of another body of water. Stroll along the north coastline and make your way to the western end of the lake, where Red Rock Falls can be found.
Take a moment to explore – there’s a nice viewpoint down and to the left of the falls, and then another one on the rocks basically in the center of the falls – then continue back the way you came to finish out the hike.
The path continues on to Bullhead Lake, ANOTHER mountain lake in this area, and eventually up to Swiftcurrent Pass, which is just above the Granite Park Chalet and serves as one of the passes that connects Many Glacier to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Iceberg Lake
- Length: 9.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,765 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Moderate / Hard
- Trailhead Location: the trailhead for Iceberg and Ptarmigan Trails
While this hike was satisfactory, its rating may be influenced by the subsequent two hikes – Cracker Lake and Grinnell Glacier – completing them consecutively in remarkable scenery and grandeur, with Iceberg Lake afterward building on those experiences.
While the accessibility of this hike helps make it attractive for some walkers seeking a reasonable length route without extreme ascents, the trail itself is not particularly distinctive or compelling. At approximately 10 miles long, it provides a solid workout without being overly taxing, yet the journey lacks special features that could enrich the experience.
The anticipated reward, as you may have envisioned dependent on the moniker, is an expansive body of water containing drifting sheets of ice
We were pleasantly surprised by the reality that there were, indeed, icebergs in it despite record heat and record low precipitation in the winter. It’s tucked away into a basin, and you really don’t get your initial glimpse of the lake until you’re basically on top of it.
The sunlight bathes the water in a bright blue hue, making it difficult to understand how the icebergs remain when the summer day reaches temperatures over 80 degrees.
The hike departs from the Iceberg / Ptarmigan Trailhead, which is situated behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. There are ~10-15 parking spots for vehicles at the trailhead here, and if it’s complete you can park in the bigger lot in front of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, which adds a negligible distance to your hike.
One thing to know – the first mile or so of this trail is lined with berry bushes that ripen in the summer, which means it’s prime grizzly territory
We were there around the third week of July, and there was an advisory about a “bear in the area” on the trail which meant a pair of rangers at the trailhead providing people with tips on how to avoid encountering a grizzly bear, a bad situation for both human and animal (make noise so the bear is aware of your presence, yield the trail and keep your distance from the bear, and pay attention to your surroundings).
They mentioned that they may be closing the trail in the near future, so make sure to check the trail status at the ranger station before setting out.
You’ll start with a climb across a brush-heavy mountainside (where grizzly bears favor the berry bushes), and emerge onto a ridge with magnificent views of the valley.
Then the trail enters the woodland, and you’ll arrive at Ptarmigan Falls at roughly the midpoint.
Sadly, you can’t really get a good vista of the falls due to the terrain and the foliage. Straightaway after the falls is the junction to Ptarmigan Lake. It’s well-signposted, but you must stay left (or continue straight) towards Iceberg Lake.
The trail emerges from the forest back onto a mountainside, and you begin to see where Iceberg Lake is located as you ascend.
While the Sherburne Trail offers scenic views of Lake Sherburne, the finest panoramas are only visible once walkers arrive at the shoreline. Along the path ahead of reaching the lake, travelers will encounter lovely wildflowers blooming across the surrounding meadows, especially just before the water`s edge comes into sight
There are also two pit toilets located along the way, with one situated right before Ptarmigan Falls, and another near Iceberg Lake.
Cracker Lake
- Length: 12.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,975 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Moderate / Hard
We enjoyed this hike, and one of the best aspects is the lack of people on the trail. We saw a total of exactly 20 people – excluding backpackers who were already up there – on the entire hike up and down.
To provide context, we observed at least 10 groups consisting of 15-20 people along the Grinnell Glacier Trail the day before, without counting the continuous swarms of smaller groups in between.
If you’re seeking a less-crowded hike of equal splendor in the Many Glacier area, look at Cracker Lake. It offers a great payoff with fewer people, similar to Siyeh Pass.
The hike begins from the parking area behind the Many Glacier Hotel, sharing the initial part of the trail with horses as evidenced by the significant amount of horse excrement found especially in the first half of the route.
The trail begins with a winding route through the forest prior to emerging on the western tip of Lake Sherburne, passing through a region known as Cracker Flats. There are some lovely views of the lake starting at approximately 0.8 miles in.
From there, the path keeps ascending. Around 1.5 miles in, after losing sight of the lake, the trail incorporates switchbacks for a brief time – roughly a mile – prior to reaching a ridge. From that ridge, there is a great view of the creek below on the left side, with a peak rising thousands of feet above it.
From that point, the trail levels out for nearly a single mile before the landscape begins changing from forest to a more rocky alpine terrain.
The trail surface gradually changes from loose soil to small rocks (and then back again), passing through a few boulder fields where one should watch carefully for pikas, little rabbit-like animals that live within the crevices in the rock piles and are incredibly adorable. If traversing an area with rocks and a high-pitched squeak is heard, keep your eyes open for pikas.
Once more, you briefly enter the forest before you reach the home stretch, which involves a winding, climbing trail that crosses the mountainside on its way into a valley enclosed by three walls of towering rocky peaks.
At the base of those craggy peaks is a luminous lake with a turquoise hue that must be seen to be believed. The color is especially dazzling when the sun is high overhead, and in the early summer the meadows above the lake are blanketed with all manner of wild blooms.
Continue up to the bluff ahead, passing a pit toilet along the way that is literally right on the trail with a clear window, and be astonished at the 270-degree perspectives of the lake and the valley.
There`s a low-cost outdoor camping area here, making it a wonderful option for spending the night so you can experience the lake at sunrise and sunset.
Grinnell Glacier
- Length: 10.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,600 ft.
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Hard
- Starting Point: Many Glacier Hotel or Grinnell Glacier Parking Lot
This is regarded as the most difficult hike featured on this list, but the rewards vastly outweigh the efforts necessary to arrive there. You chose to visit Glacier National Park, so you likely desired to see glimpses of glaciers. And this trail presents one of the better opportunities in the entire park to do just that.
There are a couple recommendations we’d offer before embarking on this hike.
- It’s crowded. Starting as early in the morning as possible will help guarantee obtaining a parking space and allow experiencing the trail when visitor numbers are lowest with the optimal lighting conditions. 7:00 am or earlier is most advisable.
- You have the option to shorten your hike around Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine by 3.4 miles by taking a boat shuttle from the Many Glacier Hotel, which costs $35. You would disembark and board boats to cross the lakes, cutting off the scenic but flat trail section along the shorelines. However, the shuttle does not run very early and paying that cost minimizes the hike. While this trims distance, it bypasses a relaxing part of the route. But the choice is yours, of course.
- This hike can be done beginning either from the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead or from the Many Glacier Hotel. Basically the same hike – both trails meet at the junction near the boat dock at the far end of Swiftcurrent Lake, following the same route upwards. Parking is marginally easier at the lot behind the hotel.
The difference between this hike and one such as Iceberg Lake lies in the fact that each second of the final three miles of the climb to the foot of the glacier offers an outright spectacular view. First, you ascend a ridge where you are greeted by incredible views of the turquoise waters of Grinnell Lake in the valley below, with the rocky face of Angel`s Wing rising above it. This view continues to improve more and more the higher you climb on the trail.
Then the walk emerges onto the mountainside, with alpine meadows full of wildflowers in the summer. The trail winds ahead of you, and you can start to see views of the glacier as you approach.
The trickiest part of this hike is a waterfall crossing, which is really only an issue in the early summer when there’s enough water to make it bothersome.
We were pleasantly amazed that the rocks under the waterfall weren`t actually slippery at all, and the best choice is to put your electronics away and take the main path, instead of trying to take the steep and slippery workaround that some people have tried to use down and to the left.
After the waterfall, the trail gets narrow and there’s a pretty steep dropoff at points, but it`s short-lived.
You’ll encounter a single, steep switchback, finding yourself at a nice shaded area with picnic benches and a pit toilet. This is the starting point for the final ascent to the glacier.
The final stretch of this trail is brief but intense. You’ll ascend a series of steep, rocky steps that wind their way up the mountain.
Upon reaching the summit, the reasons for enjoying this hike become clear. What comes into view includes the expansive blue-green glacial pool, various glaciers, a dramatic waterfall, and the so-called Garden Wall – all impressive sights that words alone struggle to capture adequately. Some photographs are included to help convey the scene.
The trail descends back along the original route. If you began early, be prepared for long waits as endless groups of people make their way up the path. Those climbing have the right-of-way!
They also offer weekly limited-time specials available for just a couple days that look wonderful. You can see the upcoming schedule here on their website.
Other Glacier National Park Hikes to Consider
Many Glacier was our preferred part of the park, mostly because of the wealth of amazing hikes to choose from. There were so many that we didn’t make it to every trail on our list (we managed almost 40 miles in three days though!).
For those with extra time in the area or seeking an alternative activity, here are some other worthwhile hikes in the vicinity of Many Glacier to consider.
- Ptarmigan Lake hiking trail
- Apikuni Falls waterfall trail accessible by Appekunny Creek Trail
- The water body within Glacier National Park known as Grinnell Lake
- Bullhead Lake
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.
