Full disclosure - I only hiked like 5 mins of this trail, but that's because it was closed for the…read morewinter still despite being Sunday June 29! The trail actually opened in full that Wednesday, so I came just slightly too early. That said, I hiked the loop trail up to the intersection of the highline trail, and walked along to near glacier junction. You can see the continuation of the trail in the distance and it is obviously a gorgeous trail - and quite challenging given the distance, although I'm told the incline is actually fairly gradual. Overall: I'm planning a trip back to glacier next summer a little bit later specifically to do this trail out to grinnell glacier overlook along the garden wall. My trip along the loop was absolutely stunning, so I want to make it out to granite peak chalet again another way. And while it likely won't come as a surprise to anyone planning to hike this trail, do bear in mind the warnings about safety including taking enough water/food, bear spray, and ideally going with someone else (particularly given doing this trail takes pretty much all day).

Difficult but great trail. We did the 3.5 mile each way stretch starting at Logan Pass and ending…read moreat Haystack pass, where we stopped for a picnic lunch. Lots of people made it more difficult, but the reviews were amazing. We even saw our first marmots too. I'd highly recommend this one while at Glacier.

The Hidden Lake Overlook Trail was my favorite activity that we did on our 2 week trip to Montana…read more The scenery is BEAUTIFUL the WHOLE WAY and not too challenging (a bunch of boardwalk steps at the beginning, but then it levels out with a gradual incline). My 4 year old handled it just fine. In late July there was a bunch of snow on the trail so parts were a little slippery/slower to maneuver through. There were a lot of wildlife to enjoy as well. Ground squirrels, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats (which is the first and only time I've seen mountain goats and are now a new favorite animal). While busy, it was not overwhelmingly so on the trail itself. NOTE: The trailhead is at the Logan Pass parking lot. Shuttle tickets are incredibly difficult to get. I logged on before they were available and within a minute all the tickets were gone with me luckless. I did this 2 months in advance and then the night before. We decided to chance it with the lot. Took us about 40 minutes to get a spot. You are only allowed 3 hours in that lot. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to do this trail comfortably. The rest of the time we used for the restroom and the small visitor center and gift shop. Besides the stress of the parking and tickets (that failed) this was definitely worth the time and effort. Loved it!

Beautiful views, animals and experience. Took several breaks but worth going down to the lake.read more

We were able to hike the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead through Many Glacier on the last day it was…read moreopen for the season (9/19/21) but unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side. It was a constant mist/rain the entire hike and then getting into Grinnell Glacier it was snowing! We arrived at the parking lot by 7AM and there were already 10 cars parked and we started the hike around 7:30. By the time we got back, around 1PM, the lot was full but the rain started coming down more so people were leaving. It's about a 10-11 mile hike RT. During the summer, you can opt to pay to take a boat across Lake Josephine to shorten the hike, but that was the easiest part. The part of the hike where you walk above Lake Josephine is probably the most picturesque - so gorgeous but a little foggy. When you finally get to the Glacier you're greeted with the bluest water bend and snow covered mountains. For this hike, the way back is easier and we were happy about that because we were cold and starting to feel miserable. Would love to do this hike again with better weather but it was still a beautiful one to do! We drove Going-to-the-Sun road and round the Rising Sun Boat Deck parking lot (which was empty during this time) and it was the perfect spot for a nap.

My friends and I hiked to Grinnell Overlook via the Granite park trail. The whole trail was out and…read moreback and a total of about 11.4 miles with around 3500 ft of elevation. Not gonna lie, the last stretch (the Garden Wall) was pretty rough as the trail was very narrow and incredibly rocky, and the wind was constantly screaming and whipping your face (definitely bring a windbreaker and protect your hats!!!). But despite the difficulty for us average hikers and the sad state of our feet afterwards, my friends and I absolutely loved the experience. It wasn't just about the view at the top for us. The entire trail was stunning and since we hiked late September, the red and golden foliage all around us made us feel like we were in another world. We saw various wildlife as well - mostly deer and chipmunks!

For me, Grinnell Lake gets 4.5 stars. The ONLY REASON why I didn't give it 5 stars is because when…read moreI visited in the afternoon, the magnificent backdrop was set against the sun....and admiring this setting against the sun prevented me from capturing the perfect photos. This was quite frustrating! I had read and heard wonderful reviews about this place...the lake and the hike to get here in general. Unfortunately, when I arrived about 3pm, you could pretty much say the sun was a huge obstacle and quite a hindrance on my memories from here. Ultimately, I had to wait for clouds and or move myself to different spots to avoid the sun's beams. Regardless.....everything about this hike was pretty good. Grinnell Lake is located in the more secluded section of the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. When I visited last month, I had to wait in a line of cars just to gain access to Many Glacier. Because this popular part of Glacier NP is quite small in circumference....park rangers were only permitting a limited amount of visitors. Wow, that was quite annoying. Fortunately for me, since I planned my itinerary ahead of time, I was spending the evening here in Many Glacier and told the park ranger that I was sleeping the night at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, (which was the actual truth)...so he allowed me to pass. The trail for Grinnell Lake starts right next door on the grounds of Many Glacier Hotel. You can park wherever...on the side of the streets or in the parking lot. If you have a free moment, absolutely venture inside Many Glacier Hotel and along the grounds as the hotel exudes a rustic/European style - Swiss chalet - certainly lending itself to the heart of this outdoorsy - natural - setting along Josephine Lake. For Grinnell Lake, look for signs for the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail. Here is where you want to go. It's situated towards the rear of Many Glacier Hotel. Ask someone inside the lodge if you need assistance finding the trailhead. From the Swiftcurrent Foot Trail, Grinnell Lake is 3.4 miles EACH WAY! Yes...that's almost 7 miles round trip! And, you could venture further towards Grinnell Glacier....another fantastically recommended trail, but....to Grinnell Glacier, it's 5.9 miles EACH WAY, - and for me....this was too far and took too much time out of the day. Also, it's mentioned in your park's map guide that Grinnell Glacier is a STRENUOUS TRAIL....where - as just hiking to Grinnell Lake is a moderately navigated passageway. Upon trekking beside Josephine Lake making my way towards Grinnell Lake, there were plenty of photo opportunities as the lake was quite picturesque, especially when the sun was at my back. Past Josephine Lake, the surroundings were just alright. Please understand though, this trail is great for those looking to get away and immerse themselves in the back country woods. You can find an easier way to arrive at Grinnell Lake by taking a boat towards the other end of Josephine Lake, getting out and then trekking the remaining distance on. For me, I was okay simply hiking as I didn't want to pay a fee and then wait for a boat to launch. Finally coming upon Grinnell Lake, yes...the hike was worth it. The calm waters here were immaculate. Absolutely perfect....colorful blue/green and turquoise. Along with the majestic and scenic background....you're confronted with a lush green mountain carved away with a running waterfall centered in the heart of it all. This spot and panoramic view was worth it all! All the time spent hiking and traversing my way, coming here made for witnessing this grand view. I was totally impressed! Yeah...leisurely, unobtrusively sitting down and appreciating this landscape is the reason why you come here. I spent a good 45 minutes just relaxing, taking photos and reflecting on how beautiful this place was. And like I mentioned earlier, had it not been for the sun in my way, Grinnell Lake absolutely would have been 5 stars. Lol....so when all is said and done....I HAVE TO RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS....HIKE TO GRINNELL LAKE IN THE MORNING!!! And although from here, it's only a couple more miles along towards Grinnell Glacier (which was highly recommended), I was satisfied that I had explored enough and ventured back towards the Many Glacier Lodge. In all, I spent about 4 - 5 hours hiking over to Grinnell Lake. If you're spending time in this Many Glacier section of Glacier National Park, Grinnell Lake is quite the highlight and should not be missed.

This is an absolutely must-do experience on your trip. We saw incredible wildlife in the area…read moreincluding grizzly bears, deer, Rocky Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, hoary marmots, and Columbia Falls ground squirrels. It was a major highlight of our visit. A few practical notes for future visitors: the lower bathrooms closer to the parking lot were in poor condition--doors didn't close properly, locks felt unreliable, and there was a strong odor. The bathrooms near the gift shop were noticeably better, though still not great. Parking is limited to 3 hours and heavily enforced. I saw many vehicles with violation tags, so be mindful of your time. Conditions up at higher elevations are still very icy and snowy. Do not attempt hiking without proper gear such as ice cleats, sturdy boots, and trekking poles. It can be very dangerous. We were also concerned by visitor behavior around wildlife. At both the boardwalk area and near the parking lot at Logan Pass, people were leaving designated paths and approaching animals like bighorn sheep and mountain goats. This stressed the wildlife and created potentially dangerous situations. More enforcement and visitor education are needed, as it only takes one serious incident for something to go wrong. Overall, the scenery and wildlife were unforgettable, but safety and respect for nature need to be taken seriously by all visitors.

Second day of Going to the Sun Road being open. Great service by Park Rangers who directed us to…read moremotorcycle parking. Very happy with motorcycle parking as parking lot was full. Beautiful scenery. Deer and Big Horn Sheep within 100 yards of the Visitor Center, easy level walk.

After a day of long strenuous hikes I wanted to end it with a nice and easy hike. I came here at…read morearound 8pm on a Saturday and there were lots of parking spots in the small parking lot. This trail is closer to the St. Mary entrance of the park but if you're driving through the entirety of the Going-to-the-Sun Road you'll stop by this trailhead. The trail to the St. Mary waterfall is only about 1 mile from the parking lot and there's no elevation at all which makes for a very easy hike. From the St. Mary waterfall you can continue on to the Virginia Falls but I chose not to as the sun was going down and I didn't want to be out on a hike by myself in the near darkness, but the hike to Virginia Falls is not that much further or harder.

A fairly easy hike through the woods that's filled with burned wood (i think) and then opens up to…read morea bridge overlooking the St. Mary's Falls. We were looking for something quick as the weather was rainy and this was a nice hike to do. You can make it longer by continuing on to the next two falls but we decided to skip that. Ample parking around this hike too.

This place was really cool and I would recommend going. I went when it was raining and apparently…read morethat means that the waterfalls look better so I guess you should go when it's raining. Or at least that's what they said. If you're there on a busier day I would recommend going early cuz the parking was pretty minimal. Honestly a must visit at Glacier National Park

Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls is a magical West Glacier waterfall. You can access this waterfall…read moreeasily from a footbridge spanning McDonald Creek. Even though there were more rapids and cascades further upstream of this falls, I wanted to check out why the local Native-Americans revere this particular waterfall. Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls is accessible to the eyes from the road. Looking up from the Red Tour Bus, you can gaze up the mountain and see several streaming walls of water. After pulling off the road into a large parking lot, it is a quick walk to the footbridge over the Creek, and after a hike, you will be close enough to where a great view of the cascade can be found, For the local indigenous peoples, this Sacred Waterfall is a spiritual holy place. The mists that rise from the base of the waterfall are thought to connect heaven and earth. They are also thought to be a conduit of our earthly prayers to the Great Creator and where the First Man & First Woman were created by the Moon Transformer. A local tribe member once explained the importance of the Falls by saying the waterfall is a symbol to them of "the cycle of water which renews us for it is the cycle of life." The Sacred Falls is a glorious thing to experience. When you get closer up, seeing the smooth layers of rock scrubbed down by years of powerful water tumbling over it is thrilling. Sacred Dancing Cascade Fall makes you realize the incredible force of water and why the Indians are right to revere such a place as this.

Blackfeet Outfitters is simply the best way to experience Montana life. Offering hunting, fishing,…read moreand jeep tours, this outfitter is the tops in exploring the backcountry of the Blackfeet Reservation near Babb. Words of warning: activities with Algers, your wonderful guide, are not for the tame, but those with an adventurous spirit seeking some guidance from a backcountry expert. This is not safari, just time spent enjoying being alive in a beautiful place. My boyfriend and I chose to do a Jeep Tour with Blackfeet Outfits. Normally, I don't splurge on things I deem to be "touristy," as I hail from a resort town myself and am fairly comfortable outdoors. But, it was September, high bear season, a last minute trip and yadayadayada, so a jeep tour sounded safer. I am SO glad I didn't miss out on the Jeep Tour experience! Other than tranquil Glacier National Park, the time spent with Algers of Blackfeet Outfitters was the highlight of our Montana Excursion. I'm already looking forward to going back next year for fly-fishing, and renting one of the awesome cabins on the property. I saw some mixed reviews online of his lodging. I'm not sure where that stems from, although I assume it's because Babb isn't as glamorous as staying in the Park itself. It is however way more comfortable and a short drive to the Many Glaciers entrance of GNP. For those with RVs, he also has 17 hook ups on site. Best time ever.

Had a great fishing trip it was a great time. The fishing was good but the sight seeing was amazing.read more