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I have been to almost every National Park on the west coast and Glacier National Park has to be my favorite. There’s so much beauty in this park and you don’t even have to try hard to see it. After spending a week here, I’m excited to share the most stunning hikes in Glacier National Park from easy to difficult.
Things To Know Before Visiting
- In 2023, a vehicle reservation or in park lodging & camping reservation is required to enter the Going To Sun Road during peak season. The park has not announced what they will do for 2024 but you can keep an eye on updates on the park website.
- Glacier National Park is in bear country. For everybody’s safety, make sure to maintain distance between yourself and wild animals, make noise when hiking, and carry bear spray.
- Parking lots fill up FAST. Make sure to arrive before 7am or closer to sunset to guarantee a parking spot.
Hiking Gear I Used on This Trip
- Waterproof Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab 3
- Rain Jacket: Merrell Whisper Rain Shell
- Water Filter: Grayl
- Day hike pack w/hydration bladder: Osprey Skimmer
Where To Stay In Glacier National Park
There are many areas you can base yourself in and out of the park. If your main goal is to hike to glaciers (longer hikes) stay in Many Glacier Campground, Many Glacier Lodge, and SwiftCurrent Inn. Babb town is also right outside of Many Glacier and has several lodging options.
Lake Mary is another scenic area within 30 minutes of Many Glacier with waterfalls and the scenic Lake Mary. This is also a good option if you want to be near hiking trails. Find Lodging Here
If you want to explore the western side of the park, Whitefish is a great option. It’s a fairly large city with lots of great lodging and food options. It is around 2 hours from the eastern side but you can still find stunning hikes here like Avalanche Lake. We stayed in Clydesdale Outpost while we were here and absolutely loved it. You can also find other hotels here.
The Best Easy Hikes in Glacier National Park
St. Mary and Virgin Falls
This hike was only 3 miles and 400+ ft of elevation. It’s a must stop in St. Mary. My favorite part was the contrast between the red rocks and the blue river. You also pass by multiple falls on your way to Virgin Falls making the hike feel more exciting than you’d expect. This is a great beginner and kid friendly hike in the park.
Hidden Lake Overlook
A HIGH reward low effort kind of hike. Hidden Lake Overlook is less than 3 miles round trip with over 500 feet of elevation. The way up is steady BUT there’s a boardwalk most of the way and never too steep. I did this hike during sunset and I highly recommend it! That’s when wildlife are most active and the parking was not an issue. Keep an eye out for mountain goats and keep in mind, this parking lot is one of the busiest in the park.
The Best Moderate to Difficult Hikes in Glacier National Park
Grinnell Glacier Trail
If you have time for ONE hike in Glacier, this should be it. The entire hike is scenic. You pass through several lakes and most of the trail overlooks the turquoise Grinnel Lake. The upper lake also has ice chunks in the lake year round. This hike is over 10 miles with 2,047 ft of elevation so expect to dedicate a good chunk of your day. Parking is also very limited and once the lot fills up at 7am, you will likely have to park far and add another 1-3 miles.
Tip: Stay in Many Glacier Campground or Swiftcurrent Inn if you don’t feel like dealing with parking. These two are just a short walk from the trailhead!
Avalanche Lake
I totally missed this one during my trip but I did see raving reviews for it so I think it’s worth sharing! This is a moderate hike with a stunning alpine lake at the end. It’s almost 6 miles with 757 ft of elevation gain. This will be the first one I check out next time I make it back to Glacier.
Iceberg Lake
Another stunning blue lake hike in Glacier, but way less effort than Grinnell Glacier. Iceberg lake is 9.6 miles round trip but the 1,459 ft is very gradual. Most of the hike actually felt flat. The trail starts out overlooking the mountain peaks and eventually leads you to a waterfall and the lake. In the summer you can find large chunks of ice hence the name.