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Grinnell Glacier in Glacier NP

Browning, Montana

5.0/5
based on 11 reviews

Details

Distance

11.33 miles

Elevation Gain

1840 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Michael Johnston

Take in beautiful views of Grinnell Glacier and several alpine lakes. Jump on the trail early in the day to get it all to yourself. If you have extra time, bring your fishing pole for some casts into Swiftcurrent Lake.

The Grinnel Glacier Hike begins at the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead just past the Many Glacier Lodge. A fee of $25 is required to enter Glacier National Park for a seven-day pass. The Many Glacier region is entered from the east side of the park from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

The Grinnell Glacier Hike is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world with beautiful views of the glacier, as well as the views of Swiftcurrent Lake, Lake Josephine, and Grinnell Lake. If you leave early enough, you’ll get there before the crowds. The glacier itself is absolutely breathtaking with views of the falls, and the lakes on the way.

Parking is located near the Many Glacier Hotel located on Swiftcurrent Lake. Parking can be very limited in the summer, so arriving earlier in the day is highly recommended. There are many hikes in the area, so be sure to follow the signs designating the trail to Grinnell Glacier so you don’t get lost. There is an optional boat that crosses Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine for a fee.

Once you're done, head to the bar and restaurant located at the Many Glacier Hotel with beautiful views of Swiftcurrent Lake. This is the perfect place to stop after the grueling yet beautiful hike to the lake.

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Features

Fishing
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Hiking
Lake

Grinnell Glacier in Glacier NP Reviews

The hike to Grinnell Glacier is a nice little butt-kicker and has an incredible reward at the end. It's surreal to see a glacier in the middle of summer. Sad to think that this may not be a glacier in 50 years or so. If you're ambitious, bring a bathing suit and take a 30-second plunge into the glacial lake, but make sure you do it as soon as you make it to the top when your body is still hot. It will feel refreshing for about 10 seconds, and then you'll start to feel the pain of a lake just above freezing temperatures :)

First boat out is a ranger led hike- you get some great info. Beautiful hike. Would recommend. We wanted to do it before there were no more glaciers. It was awesome

This one was a tough one, especially the last mile and a half. For someone coming from Florida, the altitude definitely had me feeling winded. We were there on a weekday in mid-September and the trail still had a solid flow of people on it. There was moments when we were by ourselves but it was usually only 3-4 minutes before we passed someone coming down or going up. The glacier is totally worth the hike though.

We got an early start to avoid crowds and were treated to lots of wildlife sightings -- including multiple moose and mountain goats. We ran into a few rangers on our way back to the trailhead who had just encountered a grizzly, but we didn't see any (be sure to bring your bear spray though, as grizzly sightings are common in Glacier National Park). Views from the trail are STUNNING with the aqua blue water below. Unfortunately we did this hike in early June and due to snow and ice we couldn't quite make it to the Glacier -- crampons and ice axes were recommended.

My fiancé and I hike a lot and this one has been on my bucket list for a while. We finally made it over and did it this past weekend. Gorgeous hike. We didn't take the boat and I think that's the way to go. Views start early and never stop. I didn't find it challenging physically; there is very little elevation gain and it's gradual up hill. There are tons of picture perfect moments and I would definitely give this hike 2 thumbs up. But go quick, there isn't much glacier left to see.

Amazing! The day we hiked it, the west side of Lake Josephine was closed due to bear activity. We decided to hike it taking the east trail. At the switchbacks that start your climb above lake Josephine we came across about 15 people walking back down the trail telling us they were being followed by a bear. We turned and hiked back down several yards and got several views of what later was recognized as a blonde haired black bear by a park ranger. He continued straight at one of the bends and we were able to complete the hike without any other encounters.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike to Grinnell Lake

Camp at Many Glacier Campground in Glacier National Park

Redrock Falls

Kayak Swiftcurrent Lake

Ptarmigan Tunnel

Glacier's North Circle Route (North East Section)