Grinnell Glacier was one of those hikes where I kept stopping to take pictures because every time I thought I’d seen the best view, I’d walk another ten minutes and find an even better one.

It’s in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, and if you’re trying to pick just a few hikes to do while you’re there, this one should be near the top of the list.

The full hike is around 10–11 miles round trip with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain. It’s not crazy difficult if you’re used to hiking, but it’s definitely not an easy walk either. There’s a decent amount of climbing, some exposed sections, and depending on the weather, the sun can make the climb feel a lot harder.

But the nice thing about this hike is that you don’t have to wait until the end for the good stuff.

The whole hike is good.

Starting in Many Glacier

You start in the Many Glacier area near Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, and right away the scenery is pretty ridiculous.

One thing that really stood out to me about hiking in Glacier is how different it feels from hiking back East.

In the Smokies, you can spend miles in the woods before you finally get to a viewpoint.

Glacier doesn’t really work like that.

The mountains are just THERE.

You’re walking beside lakes with these huge mountains surrounding you, and you can see where you’re headed for miles.

The Views Over Grinnell Lake

Once you get past Lake Josephine, the trail starts climbing up the mountainside.

This was probably my favorite part of the hike.

Eventually you’re looking down at Grinnell Lake, which has that crazy turquoise color you see in pictures of Glacier. Except it somehow looks even better in person.

There are waterfalls coming down the mountains around you, and at one point the trail actually goes right alongside one.

You’re probably going to get a little wet.

It’s worth it.

Honestly, this whole section of trail is worth slowing down for. Don’t get so focused on reaching the glacier that you forget to turn around and look behind you.

You’re in Grizzly Country

Many Glacier has a lot of wildlife, including grizzly bears.

Bear spray isn’t something I’d throw in the bottom of my backpack on this hike. Keep it somewhere you can actually grab it.

You may also see mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots, black bears, and plenty of smaller animals along the way.

Give everything space and pay attention to what’s going on around you. The trail was busy on the day I hiked, so the only wildlife I saw was the ground squirrels and chipmunks trying to steal hikers snacks! (I’ll write a post about wildlife later ;-))

The Last Part Gets Tougher

The higher you climb, the more the scenery changes.

The trees start disappearing. Everything gets rockier. You start feeling like you’ve left the valley behind and walked into a completely different place.

The last stretch to the glacier definitely made me work for it. My guide called it “The stupid hill”

Then you finally reach Upper Grinnell Lake.

This is where you’re going to want to sit down for a while.

The lake is this weird blue-green color with Grinnell Glacier sitting above it and huge rock walls surrounding everything.

Depending on the time of year, there may be chunks of ice floating in the water.

It’s one of those places where pictures really don’t do a great job of showing how big everything is.

So eat your lunch. Take your shoes off if you want. Sit on a rock. Watch out for the stealthy chipmunks.

You’ve earned it.

Unfortunately, Your Car Is Still Five Miles Away

Eventually you have to leave.

That’s the slightly rude part about hiking to Grinnell Glacier.

You get to this amazing place, sit there staring at it for a while, and then remember you still have about five miles of hiking to do.

At least most of it is downhill.

And honestly, the hike back is still beautiful because now you’re looking down the valley toward the lakes you passed earlier.

Your legs may be ready to be done before your eyes are.

How Hard Is It?

I’d call Grinnell Glacier moderate to strenuous.

If you regularly hike 10+ miles, you should be fine.

If you don’t hike much, this probably isn’t the trail I’d choose to suddenly discover whether I enjoy hiking 10 miles.

There are also some narrow sections and drop-offs that could bother someone who’s uncomfortable with heights.

And because a lot of the climb is exposed, a hot sunny day can make it feel considerably harder.

When Should You Go?

Summer into early fall is usually the best time, but conditions in Glacier can change fast.

Snow can hang around surprisingly late, and trails sometimes close because of bear activity.

Check the current trail conditions before you go.

I’d also start early.

Many Glacier gets busy, and I’d much rather do the climbing in cooler morning temperatures than under the afternoon sun.

What I’d Bring

Nothing unusual here, but I wouldn’t skip the basics- bear spray, plenty of water, snacks and lunch, sunscreen, sunglasses, rain jacket, extra layer, trekking poles, Good hiking shoes, Offline map, Phone or camera

If your knees hate downhill hiking, bring the trekking poles.

You’ll be glad you did.

Is Grinnell Glacier Worth It?

Yes.

Absolutely.

What surprised me most wasn’t actually the glacier.

It was everything leading up to it.

The lakes. The waterfalls. The mountains. The views down into the valley.

There really isn’t a boring part of this hike.

And that’s probably the best way I can describe Grinnell Glacier.

You’re not walking five miles just to see something cool at the end.

The entire hike is the reason to go!

If you are looking for a fully guided all inclusive hiking tour of Glacier National Park, I highly recommend Mt Sobek. Link: https://www.mtsobek.com/trips/north-america/national-parks/montana-glacier-national-park-hiking-adventure/

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