Five Hikes You Have To Do In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise. Here are five hikes you must do on your visit to the “Crown of the Continent”.
Located in northern Montana, Glacier National Park is aptly called the “Crown of the Continent” for good reason. Stunning mountain peaks, glistening glaciers and serene turquoise lakes create some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. I fell in love with Glacier National Park on my very first visit and have returned every summer since. Not one for ever choosing favorites, I can confidently say that this is my favorite national park. If you love hiking, alpine environments and close encounters with wildlife, you will love Glacier National Park. With over 700 miles of hiking trails, you can never run out of beautiful hikes to set off on. Here are five must-do hikes when you’re visiting.
Highline Trail
The quintessential and probably most popular hike in Glacier National Park, the Highline Trail offers stunning views from start to finish. Starting from Logan Pass (elevation 6646 feet) the trail carves along the side of the Garden Wall, a towering mass of rock on the Continental Divide. What makes this hike so popular is the ability to enjoy the views for as long as you want before turning around and heading back to the car. You can hike one mile or seven miles and have a great time. Starting at Logan Pass has the advantage of avoiding elevation gain on foot, making this a great hike for people of all hiking abilities. If you have the energy, hike up to the Grinnell Glacier overlook for views of Grinnell Glacier on the other side of the Garden Wall.
Siyeh Pass
Passing through quite possibly one of the most beautiful alpine meadows, Siyeh Pass is a rewarding full day of hiking. To me, the highlight is hiking through Preston Park, a stunning glacial carved valley complete with abundant wildflowers; even hiking just to Preston Park for a picnic is well worth it. From Siyeh Pass (elevation 8100 feet) the views in all directions are outstanding, after all, it is one of the highest-maintained trails in the park. On your descent from the pass, you’ll have commanding views of Sexton Glacier. Hiking Siyeh Pass might require a little advance planning. If you finish coming out through Sunrift Gorge (as most do) you will have to take one of the park’s free shuttles back to your car at the trailhead. I recommend doing this as it saves you extra mileage and unnecessary elevation gain.
Two Medicine Pass
I had no expectations the first time I hiked to Two Medicine Pass and was blown away. I quickly declared it one of my favorite hikes. This hike has it all: a waterfall, a beautiful lake, alpine meadows and a long ridge walk with expansive views. The trail passes by Rockwell Falls before climbing up to Cobalt Lake, a fantastic spot for a break. Next, you’ll climb more than 950 feet through stunning scenery to arrive on the ridge. Hiking along the ridge for about a mile will provide you with some of the most breathtaking views down into multiple glacially carved valleys. Technically, you don’t need to proceed all the way to Two Medicine Pass to fully enjoy the views. If you keep walking you’ll eventually pass over the flat peak of Chief Lodgepole Mountain, you can check off the technicality of summiting a mountain on this hike!
Grinnell Glacier
This is your chance to get close to a glacier in Glacier National Park. The hike can be shortened by taking the boat from the Many Glacier Hotel across Swiftcurrent Lake and a second boat across Lake Josephine. I skipped the boat rides and did the whole thing on foot enjoying the hike through prime moose habitat. After a bit of climbing, the views of Grinnell Glacier are stunning; you also have the chance to see Salamander Glacier and Gem Glacier (the smallest named glacier in the park). The glaciers in the park are rapidly retreating and the changes are noticeable year after year. It’s not very often you can sit and enjoy lunch beside a glacier!
Dawson Pass- Pitamakan Pass Loop
My favorite hike is for the adventurous. At 18 miles and over 2900 feet of elevation gain, this hike is a huge undertaking. However, it’s well worth the effort for some of the best views in the country. There is lots of debate and plenty of opinions on the best direction to do this hike, clockwise or counterclockwise, but whichever way you choose to hike will result in a magnificent day. I did the hike counterclockwise starting by hiking up to Dawson Pass. Doing the hike in this direction allows you to get most of your climbing done early and you can coast on the way back. From Dawson Pass, you follow a goat trail along the continental divide offering you some of the most amazing views possible. Try not to let the views distract you too much as this trail is narrow and the drop-off steep. More views await you at Upper Pitamakan Pass and Pitamakan Pass where you’ll be looking down over multiple stunning blue lakes. This hike is a big undertaking and I didn’t want to leave the pass but knew I had to in order to make it back before dark. Make sure you start early, ideally at first light, to enjoy the maximum time up on the passes.
It’s almost impossible to just pick five amazing hikes in Glacier National Park, there are simply so many to discover. If you have a chance, be sure to also check out: Cracker Lake, Swiftcurrent Lookout, Piegan Pass, Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Tunnel. With some of the most pristine, beautiful scenery in the country, Glacier National Park is best explored on foot. Let me know in the comments what your favorite hikes are!
Richard Philion is a Canadian-born dancer living in Brooklyn, New York. When not dancing he is either traveling, cooking or writing about it.
