10 Best Hiking Trails In Glacier National Park, USA

Anne
Contributing Writer
Published
| 5 min read
hiking in glacier national park

Spanning 1,583 sq mi (4,100 sq km), the Glacier National Park, in northwest Montana, consists of beautiful valleys and peaks, running through to the Canadian border and is crossed by the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The park offers some 700 mi (1,126 km) of trails suitable for hiking and cycling, plus it is also ideal for backpacking, picnicking and camping. Along the way, you’ll come across some of the gorgeous wildlife. Be on the lookout for grizzly bears, mountain goats and elk that call the area home. Experience the park by learning about the best hiking trails in Glacier National Park, USA. Scroll below to read about our top picks.

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1. The Highline Trail

Highline Trail trailhead
Source: Photo by user daveynin used under CC BY 2.0

The Highline Trail runs for 7.6 mi (12.2 km) starting at Logan Pass and ending at Granite Park Chalet. From there, a further trail runs for 11.9 mi (19 km) to Fifty Mountain Campground. To reach the trailhead, start at Logan Pass, which is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road. You will find the loop 7.75 mi (12.5 km) down that road on the west side of the Continental Divide. The trail offers beautiful views, along with Alpine meadows filled with flowers. Hikers should note that it is a strenuous trail and requires the highest fitness level.

The Highline Trail

Address: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Website: The Highline Trail

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2. Grinnell Glacier Overlook

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park, Montana (USA) - Aug 2017
Source: Photo by user SridharSaraf used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Grinnell Glacier Overlook trail starts at the Highline Trailhead. It is one of the famous trails in the region, but a bit more arduous than others. At around a quarter of a mile from the trailhead, there’s a ledge which is known to be scary for anyone with a fear of heights. However, a hand cable has been installed by park management for safety. The ledge is between 6 - 8 ft (1.8 – 2.4 m) in width, with drop-offs of around 100 ft (30.4 m) down to the Going-to-the-Sun road below. The trail is among the most scenic in the USA, with views of alpine meadows.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook

Address: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Website: Grinnell Glacier Overlook

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3. Pitamakan-Dawson Loop

Hikers at Pitamakan Pass
Source: Photo by user GlacierNPS used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Starting at the North Shore trailhead in the Two Medicine campground, the hike to Pitamakan Pass is a strenuous hike with beautiful mountain and lake views. To start the hike, get to the campground and go 0.5 mi (0.8 km) along the road. There is a parking area here. Hikers will then head out, crossing a footbridge and then proceed a short distance before reaching a trail junction. Here, hikers wishing to go to Dawson Pass will take the path to the left. The looped trail travels 17.2 mi (27.7 km) near the East Glacier Park Village. The trail features a lake and is recommended for experienced hikers only.

Pitamakan-Dawson Loop

Address: Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Website: Pitamakan-Dawson Loop

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4. Iceberg Lake Trail

Iceberg Lake
Source: Photo by user NPS Natural Resou... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Iceberg Lake Trail starts from the trailhead behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn in the Many Glacier section of the park. The trail runs for 9.3 mi (15 km) with a back trail near Babb, which has a lake. The first portion is steep, climbing around 250 ft (76.2 m) within 1 mi (1.6 km). However, the remaining trail is relatively easy. At 2.8 mi (4.5 km), a trail junction for the Ptarmigan Trail is located just past the Ptarmigan Falls. This is considered a good place for rest and there is an outhouse just off the trail. Panoramic views can be enjoyed throughout the hike and the trail ends at Iceberg Lake. This area is great for grizzly bear spotting. The trail is considered as easy to moderate hike and is mostly used for walking, hiking, bird watching and nature trips between June and September.

Iceberg Lake Trail

Address: Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Website: Iceberg Lake Trail

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5. Hidden Lake Overlook

Hidden Lake Overlook Trail (4454809097)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user GlacierNPS used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Hidden Lake Overlook is a 2.8 mi (4.5 km) out and back trail, with an elevation of 580 ft (177 m) close to Siyeh Bend, Montana. The trail is rated as moderate and features a pretty lake. Mountain goats are often spotted along the trail, which is mainly for walking, hiking and nature trips. The trail is considered kid-friendly. The best time to visit is between May and October. However, some of the sections of the trail are closed due to heavy bear activity, so check the park’s website before visiting.

Hidden Lake Overlook

Address: West Glacier, Montana, USA

Website: Hidden Lake Overlook

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6. Ptarmigan Tunnel

View from north end Ptarmigan Tunnel - Glacier National Park
Source: Photo by user David Taylor used under CC BY 2.0

The Ptarmigan Tunnel is 250 ft (76.2 m) in length and gives hikers the chance to avoid a strenuous climb over steep terrain when hiking from Many Glacier to the Belly River Valley. The tunnel was built in 1930 through the Ptarmigan Wall and is located at an elevation of 7,200 ft (2,195 m). The hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel is tough and starts behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. Just after passing Iceberg Lake, hikers reach a junction where they will turn right to access the tunnel. The connector trail is reasonably steep, but once on the Ptarmigan Trail, the trail is relatively moderate. The round trip is 10.7 mi (17.2 km).

Ptarmigan Tunnel

Address: Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Website: Ptarmigan Tunnel

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7. Siyeh Pass

Siyeh Glacier
Source: Pxfuel

Siyeh Pass is considered a strenuous hike, which starts off at Siyeh Bend Trailhead, 2.2 mi (3.5 km) from the Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass. Initially, the trail takes hikers along the side of the Siyeh Creek, before turning right and heading into the forest. Piegan Pass Trail junction is located at around 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from the trailhead. Here, hikers should turn left to continue to Siyeh Pass, where they will hike through dense forest, followed by meadows.

Siyeh Pass

Address: Siyeh Pass Trail, Glacier Rte 1 Rd, Browning, Montana, USA

Website: Siyeh Pass

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8. Fishercap Lake - Redrock Falls

Red Rock Falls
Source: Photo by user Lee Coursey used under CC BY 2.0

This easy hike offers beautiful waterfalls and lakes, and initially starts off at Swiftcurrent Pass Trailhead in Many Glacier valley. Shortly after starting the trail, you’ll come to a side trail that culminates at Fishercap Lake. After a short walk from there, you will come to a lakeshore, which is a perfect place to relax with a picnic and often moose are spotted here. Leaving Fishercap Lake, the trail heads through a stretch of aspens towards Redrock Falls. Along the way, there are many viewpoints with lovely views. At the 1.7 mi (2.7 km) mark, hikers will arrive at Redrock Lake.

Fishercap Lake - Redrock Falls

Address: Fishercap Lake, Montana, USA

Website: Fishercap Lake - Redrock Falls

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9. St. Mary and Virginia Falls

Virginia falls
Source: Photo by user Navin75 used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The St. Mary and Virginia Falls trail is suitable for all skill levels. The 2.9 mi (3.4 km) out-and-back trail starts near the East Glacier Park Village. The trail includes forested areas, with viewpoints in between, and ends at a beautiful waterfall. The best time for hiking the St. Mary and Virginia Falls trail is between January and September.

St. Mary and Virginia Falls

Address: East Glacier Park Village, Montana, USA

Website: St. Mary and Virginia Falls

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10. Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake
Source: Pxfuel

The trek to Avalanche Lake goes through the Trail of the Cedars. This out-and-back trail is 5.7 mi (9.2 km) in length and starts from the Lake McDonald, Montana. Then, go south of the Avalanche Gorge Footbridge on the Trail of Cedars. There will be a gradual climb, heading through a hemlock forest and old-growth cedars and alongside a stream. When you reach the lake, you’ll most likely spot bear and deer. The trail is rated as moderate and the ideal time for hiking is between May and October.

Avalanche Lake

Address: Glacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana, USA

Website: Avalanche Lake

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Take a hike in nature

Experience the best of this stunning park, with its snow-topped craggy mountains, lush green forests, gorgeous lakes and waterfalls that form part of the wonderfully scenic landscape. The ideal way to enjoy all this beauty upfront is to head out on some of the best hiking trails in the Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.

Tip from Content Creator

Glacier National Park

Would you rather spend a day on the lake or a day in the mountains? Being from Minnesota, I have to choose a day on the lake, but my favorite thing about Glacier National Park is that you don’t have to choose!

Aside from hiking, The Crown of the Continent is perfect for kayaking or boating on Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park. If you plan to check out this park in the summer, here are a few things I’d recommend:

- Get there early, or make your reservations in advance, especially for water activities. I ended up using a kiddie kayak because this was all they had left by the time I got there.

- Check the trails ahead of time. A lot of hikes I wanted to do were closed due to bear activity or unsafe conditions on the trail, so make sure the route you have planned is actually open to the public.

- Plan to spend between three to five days exploring Glacier. I only had time for two days, and I wish I had dedicated more time to this park as there’s really just so much amazing scenery to explore!

Do note that many of the mountain passes close from fall to spring, so make sure to check ahead of time what's open if you're planning to visit outside of the warmer months.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anne Sewell was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Africa - Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa - and now resides on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain. She loves writing...Read more

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