Outbound Collective logo

Whitefish, Montana

Looking for the best hiking in Whitefish? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Whitefish. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Whitefish

  • Browning, Montana

    Iceberg Lake

    4.9
    9.7 mi / 1200 ft gain
    The 9.7-mile out-and-back trail starts in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. The trailhead is easy to find at the northwest corner of the Inn area and the trail is well marked the whole way. The trail heads northwest almost the entire time except for ...
    Read more
  • Glacier County, Montana

    Ptarmigan Falls

    5.0
    5.11 mi / 768 ft gain
    ...The hike to Ptarmigan Falls begins next to the cabins near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. There’s enough parking for about 10-16 vehicles in the lot next to the trailhead. This is a heavily trafficked area, so extra parking is available in front of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. This is where I park...
    Read more
  • Swiftcurrent, Montana

    Glacier's North Circle Route (North East Section)

    9.7 mi
    Planning & Preparations As amazing as this trek is, it's certainly not without its challenges, and the first one you will run into is obtaining a backcountry permit for camping.  As it absolutely should, backcountry camping is very regulated.  Essentially, you request permits and multiple da...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Ptarmigan Tunnel

    5.0
    10.68 mi / 2713 ft gain
    This amazing 11 mile hike with 2,300 feet of vertial gain begins behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn cabins. If you start early enough you can park by the trailhead, but if you get a little later start you may need to park in the main lot of the Motor Inn. As you begin your hike, you will pass the...
    Read more
  • Glacier County, Montana

    Ptarmigan Lake Trail

    8.78 mi
    Ptarmigan Lake Trail is an 8.6 mile out and back hike that takes you by a waterfall located near Babb, Montana in Glacier National Park.
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Grinnell Lake

    5.0
    7.15 mi / 230 ft gain
    The hike to Grinnell Lake begins at the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead, approximately 0.5 miles past Many Glacier Hotel in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. For folks staying in the hotel, there is an optional trailhead just south of the building. There is also is a boat shuttle for tho...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Grinnell Glacier in Glacier NP

    5.0
    11.33 mi / 1840 ft gain
    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 Grinnel...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Hike the Skyline Experience

    12.62 mi / 6500 ft gain
    The route starts from Many Glacier at the Cracker Lake Trailhead, about 5000 feet. Hike the trail about 2 miles until you come to a fork, stay right here to keep your approach hike a little shorter. Hikers wind through switchbacks and beautiful meadows and forests on the way to a crossing of Crac...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Cracker Lake

    5.0
    12.71 mi / 2001 ft gain
    The 6.1 mile (12.2 roundtrip), hike to Cracker Lake includes wooded forests, grand views of lakes and mountains, creek crossings, distant waterfalls, mining ruins, possible wildflowers and wildlife, and a swim in turquoise water. At 1400ft elevation gain, the trail never gets too taxing. The view...
    Read more
  • Browning, Montana

    Walk the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail, Glacier National Park

    5.0
    2.66 mi / 135 ft gain
    Walking in either direction, the trail is easy to follow. If you take the loop counter-clockwise, you will reach the Grinnell Glacier parking area in just over a half mile (which is an alternate starting point for this trail). Follow the signs and continue left to rejoin the trail. About a mile l...
    Read more
  • Bigfork, Montana

    Hike to Bond Lake

    5.0
    11.6 mi / 2300 ft gain
    From Kalispell, head south towards Swan Lake along Highway 83 until a sign for Bond Creek Trailhead is located on the east side oft the road near mile marker 71. Turning onto Forest Service Road #680 and after 1.5 miles, turning on FS Road #9507, the trailhead will be 2.3 miles after the intersec...
    Read more
  • Swiftcurrent, Montana

    Hike to Apikuni Falls at Glacier National Park

    5.0
    1.92 mi / 670 ft gain
    From the parking lot follow the trail to the left to Apikuni Falls. The first 1/4 mile of the trail is an easy stroll through an open field before entering an aspen forest where the trail ascends more than 500 feet in less than 1/2 mile. The falls won't be visible until the final 1/8 mile of the...
    Read more
  • Waterton, Alberta

    Backpack the Alderson-Carthew Trail

    5.0
    12.4 mi / 4101.1 ft gain
    Take the Akamina Parkway in Wateron Lakes National Park to its terminus at Cameron Lake. Your hike will start from here. If you’re through-hiking either drop another vehicle off at Cameron Falls in the town site, or be prepared to hitch a ride back to Cameron Lake, due to heavy traffic this is ...
    Read more
  • Glacier County, Montana

    Explore Two Medicine Lake

    5.0
    Two Medicine Lake sits in the southeastern part of Glacier NP away from the more popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. The 2-mile long lake has a 100 site campground that serves visitors on a first-come-first-serve basis; the campground opens mid-April and closes in November. From the main parking area...
    Read more
  • Glacier County, Montana

    Hike to Two Medicine Pass

    7.9 mi / 2350 ft gain
    Starting at the South Shore trailhead on Two Medicine Lake (parking available), you'll follow the lake through alternating forest and meadows and eventually cross a small suspension bridge.  Afterwards the trail forks. Take the "Two Medicine Pass" trail on the left rather than the Twin Falls/Upp...
    Read more
  • East Glacier Park, Montana

    Dawson Pass

    5.0
    12.01 mi / 2450 ft gain
    This is a somewhat strenuous but extremely rewarding hike in Glacier National Park. It is much less crowded than the more popular Logan Pass and High Line trails, and in my opinion, more rewarding. Dawson Pass is on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 7,598 feet. It sits between Mt. Helen ...
    Read more