Many Glacier Hikes

Grinnell Lake and Iceberg Lake

Many Glacier was one of our favorite parts of Glacier National Park. Don’t get me wrong, Going to the Sun Road and the Highline Trail are amazing, but there is something special about this little section of the park.

It’s hard to get a reservation for Many Glacier. The lodges fill up fast, the campground sites go quick, and so do the road reservations. We made sure we got to Many Glacier because we read that this is where the bears were. And what we read was right. We were lucky enough to get two nights in the Many Glacier Campground. We stayed in site 103. It was a little close to some of the other sites, but we still enjoyed our stay. Something to note about the Many Glacier Campground is that bears frequent this area during the summer. If bears are frequenting the areas, NPS may shut down sites or restrict soft sided camping. Two weeks before we were supposed to arrive, we received an email that our site was restricted to only hard-sided camping. We tent camp, so this did throw us a small curve ball. Our plan was to just sleep in the back of our car, but it all worked out as the bears moved on. We found that the campground was quiet but allowed easy access to hiking trails and and the service areas by Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. The picture below shows two bears hiking along the shoreline not far from the campground. We saw these two on two different nights

Iceberg Lake

Our first hike in Many Glacier was to Iceberg Lake. You can access the trailhead at the rear of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn’s parking area. We walked over from our campsite so we didn’t have to worry about parking. This is a longer hike, about 9.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1459 feet. We didn’t mind the elevation gain and enjoyed the hike through some forested cover, open alpine areas, and along ridges. Much of the trail is open, so expect to get some sun.

Our first surprise interaction was about 1 mile into the hike. The scenery was beautiful, but of course I was on the lookout for a bear. As soon as I said “Where are all the bears?”, one popped up twenty feet off the trail out of the berry bushes. We were startled and didn’t stick around to get a good picture. On our way back down, we heard a few other groups talk about a similar bear encounter in the same spot, with likely the same bear.

We did see two other bears on the way back. Both were way off the trail and we could view them from a safe distance. However, another group did share that they had to use spray on a black bear on the trail. They had used all the other techniques like making noise, talking to the the bear, blowing a whistle, and trying to make themselves look big. None of those techniques worked so they had to give a quick bear spray and the bear retreated. Needless to say, it is important to practice bear safety on this trail.

As you wander the trail, you will get sweeping views of the surrounding peaks, the valleys below, and the meandering rivers. Take time to listen and see what is surrounding you. This hike truly exemplifies that value of the journey, not just the destination.

About 4+ miles into the hike, you will begin to get views of the lake. It builds anticipation of what is to come. When you finally arrive at Iceberg Lake you will be impressed. We went in late July so all the “icebergs” had melted for the season. This didn’t stop us from enjoying the amazing lake and the towering rock walls that surround it. Take time to enjoy the lake and give your feet a quick break in the cold water. We ate lunch at the side of the the lake and enjoyed every minute of it. Be prepared that sometimes the wind coming off the water can be chilly. Also be prepared to share the space. The lake can get crowded but we were able to easily find a quiet spot to sit.

Grinnell Lake

There are three ways to start the hike to Grinnell Lake. First, you can take the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail from the Many Glacier Picnic Area. Second, you could begin at Many Glacier Hotel and follow the Nature Trail back. Finally, you can also take the boat from the hotel to the southern end of Swiftcurrent Lake and then begin to hike. This option will cost you. If you are up for a more challenging hike, you can head to Grinnell Glacier.

We decided to start at Many Glacier Hotel and follow the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail along the east side of the lake. Here you will get great views of Grinnell Point. If you go in the morning, the sun creates amazing mirror images off of the lake.

The path around Swiftcurrent Lake is relatively flat and exposed to the sun. You will continue to follow the trail along Lake Josephine and there is more tree coverage. We also found that the trail became a little less crowded here. However, we tend to get up and out early to beat the crowds. Lake Josephine is just as peaceful and the views are just as great, despite the increased tree cover.

At the southern end of Lake Josephine, you will enter more tree cover and begin to follow a stream that connects Grinnell Lake and Lake Josephine. If there is a path, take a chance to check out the streaming water.

A mile after Lake Josephine, you will have a chance to take a detour to Hidden Falls. It’s a very short hike up the hill to the colorful falls carving out new rock formations.

After the falls, hike about a half mile more and cross the rope bridge. After that you will start to see the lake.

We saw evidence of moose all along the trail and expected one to pop out of the woods, but we never did. The lake is calm and restorative, just like the others in the Many Glacier area. Take time to sit and relax. Watch some of the falls cascading down from Upper Grinnell Lake and the Grinnell Glacier. If the water is calm, you can also get some great mirror images off the lakes.

On the way back, continue to check out the views of the high points and towering rock formations. You will not be disappointed. This trail is relatively flat so you can take time to enjoy the views without feeling like you are losing steam. If you want a different path, you can also explore the opposite sides of Lake Josephine and Swiftcurrent Lake. We stayed on the east side of the lakes but it would be easy to go over to the west side of the lakes without adding miles.

Don’t forget to pack

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Whenever we plan a hiking trip we use Falcon Guides Best Easy Day Hikes: Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks. We find these guides helps us pick hikes, know the route, and know what to look out for on the trail.

I always hike with a daypack. For this trip I used Osprey Stratos 34L Daypack. This pack was big enough to pack all our of our needed supplies, but also small enough to use as a carry-on. I have smaller pack too, but found this was the perfect size to carry our camera, lens, binoculars, and some layers. I always carry a first aid kit and some snacks. Water bottles are also a must. All of these fit in the Stratos. The pack is light, comfortable, and adjustable.