St. Mary, Montana
Grinnell Glacier
Glacier National Park's signature hike to a shrinking glacier in a cirque of peaks.
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Length
- 7.3 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 1,600 ft
- Duration
- 4–6
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Features
- Glacier, Turquoise lakes
About the trail
Grinnell Glacier is the hike that explains the park's name. From Many Glacier, the trail follows the Highline past Lake Josephine and Grinnell Lake, then climbs the Grinnell Granite through a cirque ringed by 9,000-foot walls. The glacier itself — the last remnant of a much larger ice field — calves into a milky turquoise lake. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and occasionally grizzlies use this corridor.
Trailhead map & directions
Trailhead: 48.7125, -113.7542Get directions →
Turn-by-turn route
- Take the Many Glacier boat shuttle across Swiftcurrent and Lake Josephine, or hike the 3 extra miles.
- Follow the Swiftcurrent Lake Shore Trail to the Grinnell Lake junction.
- Climb the switchbacks above Grinnell Lake through the granite cirque.
- Reach the glacier overlook and the ice-fed lake at the top.
- Return via the same route, or loop via the Ptarmigan Tunnel. Total: 7.3 miles.
Parking
Many Glacier lot near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn — fills before 8 a.m. in summer; shuttle or early arrival is essential.
Tips from the trail
- This is active grizzly country — carry spray, make noise, hike in groups.
- Dogs are not permitted on this trail.
- The trail holds snow into July; check park conditions before going.
- The boat shuttle saves 3 miles and a steep climb — book early.