a hike in Glacier National Park you won’t want to miss

In the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park (eastern side) is Grinnell Glacier Trail. The trail is 10.6 miles out-and-back and starts from the trailhead near Many Glacier Hotel. You can also start at Many Glacier Hotel and take a shuttle boat across Swiftcurrent Lake and another across Lake Josephine to reduce the hike to 7.6 miles round trip.

This is a challenging, but rewarding hiking trail with an elevation gain of about 2,000 feet. It offers stunning panoramic views, steep switchbacks, alpine meadows, wildlife, and the most turquoise water you might ever see. Noteworthy sights are Grinnell Lake, Mount Gould, Grinnell Falls, and Grinnell Glacier at the top!

Someone told me, “don’t miss this hike.” She had a point.

The hike is extremely popular, so start when the sun comes up! Finding a parking spot can be an issue, especially during peak season, but it’s so worth the effort to get there. Just arrive as early as possible. Expect to the hike to take 4-6 hours if you are hiking at a steady pace and take a nice break to enjoy the destination and have a snack. Arriving early also ensures you aren’t hiking during the hottest part of the day. Wear layers, bring lots of water and snacks, and be sure to relax at the top and enjoy the cool glacial air. Because of frequent bear sightings, be aware of your surroundings, carry bear spray, and hike with other people if you can. I came to the trail alone and but found a small group of people to hike with - and I was glad as there were bear sightings off the trail quickly after we started hiking!