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: Mar 2024

Visit Website

Free with National Park Pass
More than 500 Miles from you
National Star: Exceptional experiences within the country that are must-dos for adventurers
Learn more

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.

Perfect for

For solo

For two

For groups

Outdoorsy

Challenging

TikTok videos

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

Show directions

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

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.

Absolutely amazing hike! I’ve done it several times and am never disappointed. Well worth the hike and climb to the top. Breathtaking views of lakes the whole way up, also with high chance of wildlife!

This is bit of a long hike but not extremely hard. The glacier at the end of the hike is totally worth it. Must do hike in glacier national park. note: the photos are from September last year.

BEAUTIFUL Did the grinned glacier hike, this is a 10.6 mile out and back hike. The view gets better and better the further you go up. Even if you aren’t doing the full hike, it is worth going up. The hike at the end to the glacier is really steep with lots of rock steps to take you up. We spent 7 hours on the trail, not moving very fast or very slow. Bring lots of snacks and water, it can get hot up there. THE VIEW! It is hard to believe. The best hike I ever done. If you do one hike in the park, it should be this one. Saw wildlife too! Moose directly on the trail, a ram, snakes, larger birds, pika’s and many chipmunks.

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.

Show all 217 reviews