Grinnell Glacier: The most Beautiful Trail in Glacier National Park

The trail to Grinnell Glacier is without a doubt one of the most breathtaking trails I have ever hiked. From walking lake side, to spotting wildlife, epic turquoise lakes and sweeping mountain views, this trail has it all. It is located within Glacier National Park in the northern area known as Many Glacier. This area was my favorite to camp and hike in as well.

Grinnell Glacier is the main attraction of this hike, but it is far from being the only breathtaking sight. The glacier lake is filled with icebergs floating, waterfalls falling across the lake and the most beautiful blue water. On the trail to Grinnell Glacier though you will be rewarded with sweeping views of Grinnell Lake and Grinnell Falls below. Every mile of this hike is an amazing treat. Just when you think it can’t get any better or more beautiful, you turn the corner and it does.

Although the trail has significant elevation and distance, it is a well maintained trail where there were people hiking of all ages and abilities. Locals and rangers refer to this trail as the Grinnell highway because it is so popular and highly traveled. Below I’ll share everything you need to know about hiking to Grinnell Glacier and how to get up before the crowds.

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Things to Know About Hiking to Grinnell Glacier

• Glacier National Park is bear country. It has grizzlies and black bears. You should always carry bear spray and know what to do in a bear encounter. I encountered multiple bears while on trail in the park, so expect to see one. Moose, rams and various ground mammals are also present around the lakes. Never touch, feed or approach wildlife! Give them plenty of space and allow them to move off trail if they are on trail. They are wild and will attack if they feel uncomfortable. Give wildlife a minimum of 25 yards and predators 100 yards of space. You can learn more about bear encounters through my guide, here, or through the national park’s site, here.

• Dogs are not allowed on the trails within Glacier National Park. They must remain on paved trails or campgrounds. If you have a furry friend, you’re best of leaving them at home for a trip to this national park.

• There is a boat that travels from Many Glacier Lodge across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. The cost is currently (2023) $38.10 and adult and $19.05 for children, making it a significant cost to save a few miles. There is a short .2 mile section you have to walk between the two lakes, but this option allows you to make the hike shorter if you’re concerned about the mileage. The boat cuts off the easier section of the hike, leaving most of the elevation for after the final boat dock still. If you’re able to do the difficult elevation but not the mileage, this is an option. You can learn more about the boat tours and how to book one here.

• Glacier National Pack is an extremely popular and busy park. There are constant closures, various permits and areas of the park to explore. It can be overwhelming planning a trip to the park with how much information there is. Be sure to check out my “Everything You Need to Know” guide before to help you plan out your trip. It’ll cover everything you need to know from shuttles, to food storage and safety, how to get permits and where to stay.

• Grinnell Glacier is a fragile alpine terrain. Always practice leave no trace principles when hiking, especially here. One step off the trail onto alpine dirt can take years to recover. It spends a majority of the year under snow. The vegetation has to work hard to grow and protecting them is so important to keep this area as beautiful as it is. If you have to step aside to let someone pass, do so by staying on the side of the trail or on a durable rock, not in the vegetation. Never pick wildflowers or take anything off the trail with you. Leave only footprints, take only photos.

• You do not need a permit to hike to Grinnell Glacier, but you do need a National Park Pass to enter the park. You can purchase passes at the park’s entrance stations. A seasonal pass for $80, which lets you go to any park within a year, or if this is you only park to visit during the year you can to a week pass for $35. You can also purchase a pass in advance at stores like REI or online, here. It is best to purchase ahead of time to save time waiting in lines and to get into the park easier.

Leave No Trace Principles

Be sure to know and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles on trail. It’s so important to help protect these beautiful places we love and enjoy. Make sure you know these principles before going out on a hike.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare: Always check for current weather updates and educate yourself on trail conditions prior to starting a hike. Look for recent reviews or call the local ranger station for up-to-date trail information like closures, recent wildlife and road conditions. 

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to the trail. Avoid going off trail unless it’s to go to the bathroom. You can capture amazing photos from the trail. Do not cut switchbacks. Stepping off trail can cause years of damage with just one simple step. Camp in exciting campsites rather than over vegetation.  

• Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash and food scraps. Never toss food items on the ground. It is harmful to the wildlife. Properly dispose of human waste by digging a cat hole at least 6 inches deep and burying human waste. Bring a wag back to pack it out in fragile alpine terrain. Never leave toilet paper or feminine hygiene products behind because they should be disposed of on trail. Being a bag and pack them out to dispose of properly. Same goes for dog poop. Properly burry it or pack it back out to dispose of. Do not leave dog poop bags on the side of the trail. They are easy to forget, animals can get into them and other hikers don’t want to see them. 

• Leave What You Find: Do not take objects like plant off trail with you. Preserve nature by not marking on rocks or harming any natural objects. Never pick wildflowers. It is illegal in many states. 

• Minimize Campfire Impacts: Check and follow all local wildfire regulations. Use exciting fire rings and keep fires small. Put fires out properly by dousing will multiple gallons of water. Coals should be cool to the touch before walking away. 

• Respect Wildlife: Never touch, feed or approach wildlife. Give a minimum of 25 yards to all wildlife and a minimum or 100 yard for predators and larger wildlife. Wildlife are not like house pets. They can spook easily or feel threatened. Stay in your car if wildlife is near the road.

• Be Considerate of Others : Respect other hikers by allowing those that hike faster to pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way, so safely step aside for them to pass, unless they offer to stop first. Limit noise and use headphones. Keep groups under 8. Say hello to a fellow hiker!

Grinnell Glacier Trail Location

Grinnell Glacier trailhead is located in the east side of the park within the Many Glaciers area. The trailhead starts just west of Swiftcurrent Lake, to the left off route 3. There is a decent sized parking lot, but it will fill up quickly. If you are staying at the Many Glaciers campground you can walk from your campsite to the trailhead. Go early, before or as close to sunrise or be prepared to wait for a parking spot to open up. If you reach the ranger station, campground or Inn, you have gone too far. There are working toilets at the trailhead.

Best Time of Year to Hike Grinnell Glacier

The Grinnell Glacier trail is closed in winter and spring months. The best time of year to go is summer through fall, although every year will be different. The trail doesn’t open until it is clear of snow to travel on. One year this could be in June, the next August. If you’re flexible and can go last minute, you can go once the trail opens. If you’re trying to plan in advance, I’d suggest late summer or fall to be sure you don’t miss this hike due to closure.

Grinnell Glacier Trail Info

The trail to Grinnell Glacier starts out very easy. It is a mostly flat trek around the west side of Swiftcurrent Lake. When you reach the boat dock, there is a junction to continue around the lake or head to Lake Josephine. You’ll take a right and head up the paved trail to continue. As you approach Lake Josephine, you can go down to the boat dock to look out at the lake, but the trail continues to the right of the boat dock junction.

From the Lake Josephine dock junction, the trail starts to gain some elevation for the remainer of the trail to Grinnell Glacier. You’ll be up above Lake Josephine quickly where you can look out at people paddling, the boats going by and possibly a moose or two along the shoreline. I saw a moose and there was a bear in this section, so constantly be aware of your surroundings even if there’s a lot of other people on the trail with you.

As you reach the end of Lake Josephine there will be another junction where you can head down to the lake and boat dock or hike out to Grinnell Lake. If you hike to the lake it will be a little over 2.5 miles round trip addition to the Grinnell Glacier hike. The lake is beautiful turquoise, which you get to see for most of the hike after this point.

If you choose to skip the boat dock and Grinnell Lake addition, continue right up the trail. From here the trail really gains elevation. It is a constant uphill climb with beautiful wildflowers and sweeping views of Grinnell Lake below and Grinnell Falls. Be sure to stay on trail and do not walk in the meadow areas, which causes irreparable damage to the flowers.

The trail will go from meadow switchbacks to a cliffside trail. It is plenty wide enough to have people walking in both directions and not feel like you’re near an edge. At one point in this section there will be a waterfall section where you will most likely get wet. You will have to climb up a section of larger boulders, where you will want to take turns with returning traffic to go one at a time. It is plenty wide, but wet rock can be slick and if you want to get the least wet, you’ll want to be mindful of where you walk. The mist from the water felt good at the time, but a raincoat would help keep you dry through here.

The last section of the trail is the steepest with more loose rock. There is a flat section with a bathroom before one more section of rocky, steep switchbacks. The area around Grinnell Glacier is extremely fragile so be sure to use the restroom provided before going up if you need to and practice leave no trace bathroom principles. From the bathroom it is just a short climb up more narrow, rocky switchbacks.

As the trail levels out, be on the lookout for ram herds near the lake and give them plenty of space if you do see them. There were a few herds up there, close to the trail. In order you reach the lake edge you will have to hike down a steep section to the lake. Most people seem to gather on a large rock area straight ahead when you arrive. You can go explore around the lake and the farther south (to the left) I went the less people I saw. There is rock all around the lake, so try to stick to an established trail or walk on a durable rock surface to not disrupt the fragile alpine terrain. From the top you can also explore the creek area that leads to Grinnell Falls.

Depending on the time of year you go and the winter’s snowfall, the lake will have various levels of snow and iceburgs in the lake. There is also a waterfall or two you will spot across the lake! It is truly a stunning sight to see. Hiking to Grinnell Glacier is without a doubt one of the most stunning trails I’ve ever done from start to finish.

What to Bring Hiking to Grinnell Glacier

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 and mountain terrain weather can change quickly. Be sure to pack extra clothing layers and plenty of snacks.

Bear Spray

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. Never put bear spray inside your backpack or it won’t be quickly accessible in an encounter. Using a ” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>ster can help you keep the bear spray within reach easier. 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.

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. A water bladder is a great option to be able to carry a larger amount of water and easily be able to drink throughout the hike. If you do not have a water bladder, use a reusable water bottle large enough to hold enough water. Alpine lake water is beautiful, but never drink unfiltered water. If you need to resupply your water, use a water filter.

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, like my boots, will be best. This is a longer hike so having good insole will help your feet still feet good after the hike.

Insect Repellant

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. I carry a bug bite thing in my first aid kit to help post bite.

Sun Protection

This trail has a lot of exposure an is at a higher elevation, leaving you more likely to sunburn. It was already extremely hot early morning when I backpacked in. Consider clothing that will cover your skin like a sun shirt, sun hats, sunglasses and anything else you prefer to use to protect you from harmful sun rays. Be sure to apply and reapply sunscreen as needed.

Reminders

• Be bear aware when hiking in bear country. Make noise by talking, tapping your poles or clapping regularly. Carry a bear bell if you want. Keep you bear spray easily accessible and know how to use it. Always check your surroundings as you hike and stay calm if you see a bear. You can learn more about bear encounters through my guide, here, or through the national park’s site, here. Give all wildlife a minimum of 25 yards and predators 100 yards.

• Check the weather before going this hike. Summer thunderstorms can happen quickly and this trail is exposed and at a high elevation. You would not want to be up at Grinnell Glacier if one rolls in. If you’re unsure about when is a safe time to do, stop by a ranger station and get up to date information.

• This is a long and hard hike, so give yourself grace and plenty of time. Not only should you allow time for breaks if you think you will need it, but account for the amount of time you want to spend enjoying the beauty, wildlife and endless views of this trail. Start early so you can get a parking spot and not feel rushed.

I hope this guide helps you with your adventure to Grinnell Glacier! If you have any further questions or want to share your experience after, please leave a comment below!

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