At the beginning of August, we spent one week in the famous Glacier National Park. Often referred to as one of the most beautiful places on the planet, this national park has a lot to offer, especially in terms of fishing, climbing, and hiking. The latter of these is specifically why most people travel to Glacier National Park. While in the park, we spent most of our time hiking along these trails and taking in the breathtaking views that Glacier has to offer. Here are our top 3 hikes we recommend you do in Glacier National Park:
3. Avalanche Lake
This trail is approximately 6 miles round trip with about 760 feet of elevation gain. At the start, you walk along the Trail of the Cedars which is a raised boardwalk that takes you through a gorgeous forest with occasional informational signs about the surrounding plants and area. At the end of the boardwalk, you walk across a bridge that stretches over the aquamarine blue Avalanche Creek. Shortly after this, you depart the Trail of the Cedars to walk along the creek for a while until you reach the lake. It has multiple sandbars and beaches along the trail that follows the right side of the lake and even at the opposite end.
The views are stunning as the towering mountains with their multiple raging waterfalls create the perfect background for the majestically navy blue lake. On either side are dense forests teeming with life. The sight is, for lack of a better word, picturesque. If you ever plan to go to Glacier National Park, this one should definitely be on your list.
2. The Highline Trail
This trail is approximately 15 miles round trip with about 2,630 feet of elevation gain. It is also one of the most famous trails in the country and for good reason. There isn’t a single moment along the entire hike where the view isn’t stunning. Near the beginning of the trail, you walk through some forested sections that offer cover from the sun with periodic openings that allow you to take in the view of the valley. After this, the trail completely opens up and with a steep drop off on your left and the face of a mountain to your right. Though this only lasts for a short time, it is certainly memorable. Around 4 miles in, you reach a saddle behind the famous Haystack Butte after traversing one large switchback. Many people rest here as it overlooks part of the valley and Mount Oberlin. The rest of the trail has little cover which allows it to showcase the breathtaking landscape of the park including Heavens Peak, Mount Cannon, Logan Creek, Lake McDonald, and countless other beautiful features the park has to offer. Don’t forget to look around for wildlife! While there, we saw a black bear, a grizzly and her cubs, marmots, squirrels, chipmunks, rams, mountain goats, and plenty of other animals.
Around 6.6 miles in, there is an optional 1.2 mile detour that takes you to an overlook of Grinnell Glacier. This detour is hard due to its gradient but the view is well worth it. Once you get to the Chalet at the end, you can use the restrooms and have some snacks at the picnic tables while soaking in the spectacular views. Every direction you look is met with giant mountains who stand watch over the valley. On the peaks of those mountains lie patches of snow, a reminder of the previous season. The forests blanket the land with their lush greenery which sway back and forth in the light summer breeze. The scene is enchantingly mesmerizing and well worth the trek.
1. Grinnell Glacier Trail
This trail is approximately 11 miles round trip with about 2,100 feet of elevation gain. This trail easily is the best trail in all of Glacier National Park. From the wildlife to the views to the trail quality, everything is pure excellence. Before you even start the hike, you must get permits for the hikers shuttle in order to enter Many Glacier. Once you get dropped off at the Many Glacier Hotel, you immediately are greeted with the stunning view of Swiftcurrent Lake and the soaring peaks of glacially carved mountains. The first section of the trail has you walking through a forested trail along Lake Josephine with minimal incline. The deep turquoise colored lake provides the perfect foreground for the high range which the trail leads up to. Shortly after Lake Josephine, the real incline starts. Most of the trail is exposed to the sun but is cooled down by a smooth breeze coming down from the mountains. After about another mile, the view of the lower Grinnell Lake is in full sight. Its bright aquamarine water makes it shine as a pristine gem of the valley. The farther up you hike, the more idyllic the sites become. Wildflowers coat the mountain side to your right along with streams and waterfalls. To your left is the green valley with its alpine lakes and imposing mountains.
After more incline, and a particularly difficult small section right before the end, you will have finally reached Upper Grinnell Lake where the ancient Grinnell Glacier is. The lake itself also boasts the radiant aquamarine blue and is surrounded, almost like it’s in a bowl, by large, seemingly vertical peaks. The water is peppered with floating chunks of ice that sail with the turning winds. All along the shoreline are flat rocks that offer perfect places to rest and enjoy the view while having something to eat. Grinnell Glacier, though only a shadow of its former self, is grand and incredible. Its white and blue sheets of ice create layers that are remnants of a distant past that tell the story of the park.
I have been on some incredible trails during my time as a hiker and mountaineer, but I’m hesitant to say if anything will be able to top this one. The alpine lakes, forests, mountains, and wildlife all create a majestic scene that is truly a sight to behold.
