Cracker Lake: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Cracker Lake is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes I have ever seen. Photos will never do the colors of this lake justice. The lake is a bright turquoise surrounded by bright green shrubbery, rusty red rocks and jagged mountain peaks. It sits at the base of Mount Siyeh, which towers over the lake with its surrounding ridges. Cracker Lake was easily one of my favorite trails in the park and one I can’t wait to do again someday.

Hikers can enjoy this lake either by day hiking, or if you’re lucky, obtaining a coveted backpacking permit. The trail is a longer day hiking trek or a short backpacking trip. It isn’t a difficult trail and not as busy as some of the others in the park despite the beauty of Cracker Lake. I was lucky enough to obtain a permit to camp here and will share everything you need to know about day hiking or backpacking to the Glacier National Park gem.

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Things to Know About Cracker Lake Trail

• There are bears along with other large animals within Glacier National Park. I encountered a moose and bear along this trail. Go prepared for a bear encounter and know what to do if you see one on trail. Always carry bear spray and make your presence known on trail by making noise. You can learn more about wildlife in Glacier in my “Glacier National Park” guide.

• This trail is located inside of Glacier National Park. You must have a National Park Pass to enter the park. You can purchase a $80 yearly America the Beautiful Pass prior to going online, at your local recreation store or at the park entrance. There is also a week pass for $30 if you don’t want the yearly pass. The yearly pass is the best option if you want to visit other National Parks as well.

• There are only three campsites available at Cracker Lake and each site can accommodate two small tents. You must obtain a permit through advanced reservations or at the backcountry permit station prior to camping here. You can learn more about this process below.

• The first 1.7 miles of this trail is shared with recurring horse tour traffic. A few sections of the trail can be very narrow, but the horses have the right of way, so do your best to step aside and let them pass. I was almost knocked over by a horse at one point because I couldn’t go any farther of the trail and they had limited space to pass. There will be horse poop along the entire trail since they can go to the lake as well, but they mostly stay below. Learn more about booking a horse excursion here.

• There is a vaulted toilet at Cracker Lake. Always use vaulted toilets when they are provided. Animals will seek out the salt in human pee and will eat any vegetation you pee on. If you must pee away from the vaulted toilets, be sure to pee on rocks and at least 200 feet away from any water source. Only put toilet paper in the vaulted toilets. All garbage and feminine products should be packed back out to dispose of later. Never leave toilet paper in nature.

• Never drink glacier water (or any water source in nature) without properly filtering first. The water may look pretty but is full of minerals from the melting glacier that are harmful. I had to let a group borrow my filter because they didn’t realize it was unsafe to drink and were filling bottles straight from the lake. Unfiltered water can make you terribly sick.

• My Garmin watch clocked 6.4 miles each way or 12.8 miles round trip to the campground. It also clocked closer to 1,800 feet. Overall the mileage and elevation was pretty close to the expected amount.

• Fun Fact: There is some remnants for an old mine at the far end of Cracker Lake just behind the beach area. The mine was established in 1898 after copper ore was discovered near the lake. This area was once owned by the Blackfeet Indian tribe, who sold their stake in the land to the United States in 1896. The mine was mostly shut down by 1905. Entry into the mineshaft is prohibited, so do not enter if you find it.

Cracker Lake Location

Cracker Lake is located in the northeast side of Glacier National Park. It is in an area of the park known as Many Glacier. Cracker Lake Trailhead is located 30 minutes north of Saint Mary, Montana. From Highway 89, turn left on Rte 3 and through the Many Glacier Entrance into the park.

Rte 3 follows Swiftcurrent Creek to Sherburne Lake. Just after Sherburne Lake is the Many Glacier Hotel that sits on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake. The Cracker Lake trailhead share a parking lot with the hotel. You will turn left towards the hotel. The road circles past the hotel and above to an upper parking lot. The trailhead is on the south end of the lot, but you can park anywhere there is a spot. There is a vaulted toilet in the middle of the parking lot, next to the horse stables.

Best Time of Year to Visit

Cracker Lake Trail Info

Learn more about the trail through the AllTrails guide.

The trailhead to Cracker Lake starts at the south side of the Many Glacier Lodge parking lot. If you’re looking at the horse stables, it is to the right. The trail starts as a fairly level to gradual forest trail. The first 1.7 miles of the trail around Sherburne Lake is regularly trafficked by horse excursion tours. There will be a lot of horse poop through this section and you may need to carefully step to the side of the trail to let a group on horse pass. Horses always have the right of way on trail so give them plenty of space.

Just before the 1.7 miles horse loop junction, there is a small creek you can easily cross without getting wet. There are a few logs you can balance on, but bring poles for balance if you need them. Just after the horse loop junction the trail begins to climb. There will be a few switchbacks before the trail goes along a ridge. The ridge is a very short section of the trail before the climb begins again through more switchbacks.

As the switchbacks end, the trail will enter some heavy overgrowth areas and loose rock. You’ll want long pants if you don’t like overgrowth touching you, but it didn’t bother me in shorts. The trail is easy to follow through the rocks, but have a downloaded GPS map you can refer to if you need it. Just after a large boulder field is a river crossing. Be sure to cross over the bridge here and connect with the trail on the other side.

From the bridge I clocked 2.7 miles to the campground at Cracker Lake. The trail is a constant uphill from the river, but relatively gradual. There will be a few switchbacks just after the river and then a long straight section through trees and overgrowth. Be sure to make plenty of noise so any bears in the area will know you’re there. As you approach Cracker Lake, the forest turns to open meadows. Once you reach the first viewpoint of the lake you’ll have a few options.

Remember to always stay on one of the designated and established trails to keep Cracker Lake beautiful. As you walk the trail down the lake towards the campground, there is a small beach with a trail down to it many hikers stop at. A little past the first beach is the vaulted toilet and wood posts to tie horses and pack animals.

There is also a small trail down to the lake there. At this junction the trail hits a large boulder. In order to reach camp and the far end of the lake, hike up the trail to the left of the boulder. At the top is a sign down to the campground. Head into camp if you’re backpacking or continue straight to reach the beach at the far end of the lake.

There is not a trail around the lake, so do not walk past the beach at the far end of Cracker Lake. The copper mine remnants are located just behind the beach area along the rocks. I’d recommend walking the entire length of the lake if you are day hiking. Every angle and viewpoint is so beautiful. From the junction down to camp, hikers can also walk across the large boulder rocks for a higher view of Cracker Lake.

Backpacking Cracker Lake

Cracker Lake is one of my favorite place to have ever backpacked to! It is truly a special place to sleep because of the limited amount of fellow campers and the absolute beauty that surrounds camp. Below I’ll share everything you need to know about camping here.

Once you obtain your walk up or advanced reservation permit, be sure to keep it accessible and on your person while on trail. Rangers will ask to see it if you cross paths. If you want to learn about backpacking permits and lotteries prior to applying for a Cracker Lake permit, be sure to check out my “Backpacking Permits and Lotteries Explained” guide to learn more.

Cracker Lake Backpacking Permit

You must have a backcountry permit for Cracker Lake in order to camp at the lake. There are two ways to obtain a permit. The first is though the advance reservation that begins in March. The second option is with a walk up permit at the backcountry permit station located within the park.

Advanced Permits

Two of the three campsites are available for early reservation through the pay.gov reservation site. You can submit an application to the date(s) you want starting March 15th. All permits received on March 15th are given out in random order while all permits applied for after March 15th will be given in the order received. For the best chance at getting a permit, submit an application on March 15th.

If you can be flexible with the dates you’ll increase you chances of winning a permit. Be sure to check out my permit guide linked above to learned more about this if it’s new to you. Unfortunately there is no set date where permit winners are announced. Applications will begin being processed mid-April and you’ll want to keep your eye out for an email in the coming month or so for your results. If you’re unable to win an advanced permit, don’t fret! Read below to see how you can try for a walk up permit.

Walk up Permits

If you’re unable to win an advanced reservation or you’re going on a last minute trip, you can still try to camp at Cracker Lake. One of the three campsites is saved for walk up permits every night. In order to obtain that site or the potential of a canceled sight, you must get a permit at a permit station. You can find their locations here.

The permits are available the day prior and the day of. For the best chance you’ll want to get to a station the day prior to try and obtain a permit. The earlier you can get to a station the better chance you will have. All permits must be claimed no later than 4:30pm or you’ll have to wait for the next day.

Where to Camp at Cracker Lake

There are only three designated campsite at Cracker Lake. They are located almost near the end of the lake, just after a steep uphill climb near a large boulder. The vaulted toilet is located just before the rock. There is a sign before the trail down to camp showing where to eat, store food and the location of the three campsites.

The three sites are extremely easy to spot. They are the only three areas below without vegetation and are clear gravel sites. Do not camp outside of these sites to prevent damage to the surrounding meadows.

Food Storage and Designated Eating Space

There is a bear hang pole located just as you enter the camp area. It is a large metal arch where you can throw rope and hang all scented items. This should be your first stop when you arrive. Do not carry any food or scented items down to the campsites to prevent bears from entering your tent site. The poles have areas to easily tie your rope to as well, making it easy to get your bag up and down.

Next to the food hang pole is a designated eating space. It has four small benches and a rock in the middle for a table-it is such a great little dining space! This is the only area you should prepare and eat food in. When you’re ready to eat or use any scented products, remove your bag and carry it to this area. Prepare and rinse all items here before rehanging your bag when you’re done. It is a shared space with the other campers so be respectful and share the space.

What to Bring Hiking to Cracker Lake

The 10 Essentials

No matter the length or difficulty of a hike, you should always carry a backpack with the 10 essentials. You can learn more about these item in my “The 10 Essentials” guide. This hike is very exposed at the end and mountain terrain weather can change quickly. Be sure to pack extra clothing layers and plenty of snacks.

Bear Spray and Bear Bell

Always carry bear spray in an easy to access location when hiking in bear country. The front chest strap or belt strap of your backpack is the best location. I used an elastic bear spray holder so my spray was easy to attach to my bag and still easy to access quickly if needed. And I did have to get it out on this trail quickly but thankfully didn’t need to use it. A bear bell can be a great option if you’re solo hiking or want to make sure you’re making plenty of noise to make your presence known.

Backpack

Every person hiking should always have their own backpack with water, the 10 essentials and food. Never rely on someone else to carry your gear because if there is an emergency, everyone should be individually prepared.

Water and water filter

Always carry enough water for your hike as well as a water filter to resupply at the creek or lake. Plan to have one liter of water per 2 hours of hiking, but because this is a difficult hike, carry at least an extra .5 per two hours. An insulated water bottle is a great choice to keep the water cold. A water bladder is another great option to be able to carry a larger amount of water and easily be able to drink throughout the hike.

Hiking Shoes

Always wear proper shoes when hiking. This means trail runners or hiking boots because they will provide the best traction over rocks and loose terrain. Sandals and tennis shoes are not great footwear for the trail. The trail was free of snow when I went so I did not need waterproof shoes. I chose my trail runners below, but hiking boots are a great option for ankle stability. If you’re hiking in early summer and there is still snow on the trail, a waterproof shoe will be best.

Bug Spray

Hiking to an alpine lake always comes with mosquitoes. Hiking in the fall will reduce how many mosquitoes are at the lake, but there is always a mosquito presence, so go prepared. Carry bug spray for your clothes and skin. If it’s early in the summer season, consider extra clothing layers to keep them off your skin and a bug net for you head. The snowfields are also a breeding ground for them. You can learn more about insect repellents and gear in my guide here. I hiked mid-August and had zero issues and never needed it thankfully. Remember, every year will be different.

Backpacking Gear

If you are lucky enough to backpack to Cracker Lake, be sure to check out my “Backpacking Gear” guide to learn everything you need for a successful backpacking trip. Below is a list of the gear I took with me.

• REI Half Dome tent
• Half Dome footprint
• Klymit double sleeping pad
• REI Magma Sleeping bag
• Jetboil
• Long sporks
• Collapsible mug
• Bear hang bag
• 25ft string and carabiner
• Water filter
• Backpacking backpack
• Hiking Poles
• Bear Spray
• Seat cushion
• Dinner, breakfast and snacks
• Camp clothes: Long pants, socks, underwear fleece, down jacket, hat and gloves
• Camp shoes
• Skip-Bo game
• Battery pack and phone charger

Reminders

• Always practice the Leave No Trace Principles while on trail. This means stay on the established trails and off vegetation. Pack out all your garbage, store food properly, camp in designated campsites and use the vaulted toilets whenever possible.

• Always go prepared for wildlife encounters. Wear a bear bell or make your presence known while on trails. Always carry bear spray in an easy to access location like the front of your backpack. Learn what to do in a bear encounter because knowledge could save your life. Always stay 100 yards or more from wildlife. Never get out of you car and approach them on the side of the road. Learn more about bear encounters in my “Glacier National Park” guide.

• Stay on trail. Help protect the pristine beauty around Cracker Lake by sticking to the established trails. Stepping on vegetation will cause irreparable damage to the fragile mountain terrain. If a few people here and there step off trail, eventually the bright green vegetation surrounding the lake will begin to die off.

• Camping at the lake is prohibited unless you obtain a backcountry permit prior to hiking. Permits can be obtained in two ways, as mentioned above. If you do not have a permit, you cannot camp in one of the three designated sites or outside of the campground. If a ranger sees you camping outside the campgrounds, they could fine you and will ask you to leave.

Cracker Lake is such a magical place. Being able to see the turquoise water with your own eyes is an experience everyone should be able to enjoy. This hike isn’t difficult, although a longer alpine lake hike in the area. Out of the three trails I hiked in Many Glacier, it was the least busy trail so it provided some solitude. Whether you choose to day hike or backpack to Cracker Lake, you’re in for an amazing treat here!

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