Grinnell Glacier Trail: A Scenic Adventure in Glacier National Park

Embark on a journey through Glacier National Park's Grinnell Glacier Trail for an unforgettable experience of vibrant lakes, diverse wildlife, and majestic glacier views.

Last updated: May 2024

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Description

Embark on a journey through Glacier National Park's Grinnell Glacier Trail for an unforgettable experience of vibrant lakes, diverse wildlife, and majestic glacier views. The Grinnell Glacier Trail, nestled in the heart of Glacier National Park, offers an unparalleled hiking experience. This trail, stretching over 11 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet, presents hikers with the beauty of crystalline turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls, and towering peaks. The journey starts at the Many Glacier picnic area, winding through the serene shores of Swiftcurrent Lake and the rugged terrain of Lake Josephine, climaxing at the breathtaking Grinnell Glacier and Lake. The trail's moderate difficulty makes it accessible to a wide range of hikers, promising sightings of mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and possibly grizzlies. The trail's popularity, known as the "Grinnell highway," ensures a well-maintained path but also company along the way. For an alternate route, a boat shuttle from Many Glacier Hotel offers a shortcut, reducing the hike by 3.5 miles. This trail is a must-do for its stunning views and the chance to witness the grandeur of Grinnell Glacier up close.

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Itinerary

Start at the Many Glacier picnic area, following the trail along Swiftcurrent Lake.
Continue past Lake Josephine, with the trail gradually inclining.
Enjoy the open meadows with views of Grinnell Falls and the surrounding peaks.
Arrive at the picnic area near the trail's end for a rest before the final ascent.
Tackle the steep and rocky moraine leading to Grinnell Glacier and Lake.
Return via the same route or opt for the boat shuttle for a different perspective.

Location

Glacier National Park, Montana

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Packing List

Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
Bear spray for safety
Water and snacks for the journey
Sunscreen and sun protection gear
Camera to capture the breathtaking views
Rain gear, as weather can change rapidly

4.9 ● Google reviews

Though the trail is currently posted for clousure at the lake overview due to snow and ice it is still a beautiful hike with a noce ending. Started at the trailhead right off rte 3. The first part of the hike goes along the swift current lake and then out to lake Josephine and then it branches off to the right uphill to go to the overlook. Wonderful sights along the way.

This is probably the best hike in Glacier National Park and I have done the Highline trail as well. The trail head is usually packed so arrive as early as you can or you have park at near by lots and walk here which will add distance. The trail starts off flat till lake Josephine and gets steep and a little narrow over grinnell lake overlook. Past this and towards the glacier there are multiple switch backs that makes it harder but the view and the end is incredible. You will get an overview of the lakes on the way and its breath-taking. Definitely a doable trail and I would rare it as medium-hard. We saw some moose and wild goats on the way but the last mile of the hike is bear prone so please carry a bear spray. Definitely a must do hike in Glacier and you will love it.

Arrived at 6am with plenty of spots. By 7am it was almost full. Bathrooms were nice. Plenty of picnic tables to use. Hike was amazing out to the lake if you're looking for a nice long easy hike instead of to the glacier outlook.

I think that's the most beautiful trail we ever did, the views are simply stunning, we saw so many wildlife - a bear, a moose, elks, marmot and more. It is hands down the best trail in the park, I couldn't get enough of those stunning views!

If you are debating between Iceberg Trail and Grinnell Glacier Trail - Grinnell Glacier is the way to go without a doubt. You still get to see icebergs in water and the hike is absolutely worth the climb. It is definitely one of the more difficult trails with a heavy elevation gain (At least for us South Floridians). Make sure you pack plenty of water and snacks & a lunch for the top and you'll be okay. Definitely advise that if you're a novice hiker, budget at least 10 hours. This is not an easy one. We were able to do the entire thing in 5 hours and that was with a 2 mile detour since the trailhead was closed. We also didn't stop once on the way down & practically ran the return.

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