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    Grinnell Glacier

    4.8 (9 reviews)

    Grinnell Glacier Photos

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    Spencer Q.

    This is a pretty long hike but well worth it. If you want to shave a few miles off the trail then you can take the boat at the lakes down below. We walked the whole way up and down in about 6 hours and the views were quite spectacular. Definitely one of the best hikes in the park with some very awesome landscape views.

    The glacier
    Robert C.

    1. Ever hiked to a glacier? 2. We hiked the Swiftcurrent Nature walk, the hike to Grinnell lake, and a hike to Akipuni falls, from the Many Glacier Hotel our first 3 days in GNP. Temps were in the 80s -too hot to try Grinnell Glacier. 3. A ranger guided hike daily at 830am to the Grinnell Glacier, at Many Glacier Hotel. Advance reservations required for the 830am boat transportation. 4. The 4th day it rained with high winds pushing the rains like hail into our faces, so no hiking. I signed up at the boat dock and get on the wait list on the 8:30am ride the next day. 5. On the day of the hike, the weather was cloudy with the ground still wet from overnight rains. We get 20 oz Sport drinks from Heidi's shop in the hotel across from the boat dock. They have sandwiches, trail mix, beef jerky, and trail guides. 6. The boat trip costs $25 per adult round trip, and reduces the round trip hike from 13 miles to 11 miles. Many people didn't like the weather and did not show up, so we got 2 of the 40 seats on the boat trip. 7. The boat goes across Swiftcurrent lake. We hike over a 0.2 mile path up and down a hill, to the second boat, which crosses Lake Josephine. 8. After Lake Josephine, we cross 200 yards of narrow board walk, over marshland. We go up a very steep narrow dirt trail, for half a mile through heavy brush to the main trail. 9. The main trail stretches from the Grinnell Glacier trailhead three miles back on Many Glacier road. 10. The trail goes through dense forests of cedar and pine, with panoramic hilltop views of Swiftcurrent Lake, then Lake Josephine, both bright blue in color. 11. Over a rise we go through the woods, and then a panoramic view of Grinnell Lake. The lake's green color comes from sediment and rocks pushed down from Grinnell Glacier. 12. We hike uphill, over rocky terrain, with panoramic views of the valley below. In the far distance we can actually see the Salomander Glacier, which was once connected to Grinnell Glacier. Waterfalls from the glaciers flow down the mountain slopes. 13. We reach the traverse areas, and follow a zigzag path up the slopes. The forests recede, and we are in alpine country. Big horn sheep rest a 100 yards away. 14. We look down on three lakes, from a narrow trail, barely wide enough for two people. In some areas the trail narrows to single person width, with walls of stone on one side, and a cliff edge on the other side. Not for people afraid of heights! 15. One area has a cliff stairway, where a gentle waterfall runs down the wall onto hikers below. And you thought you had a bad hair day! 16. At this point all the trees are gone, and we are hiking hundreds of feet above Grinnell Lake on a rim trail going around the cliffs above the lake. 17. The wife and I are on our last breath, being passed by all 24 people in the group, and seemingly everyone in the state of Montana! 18. The trail levels out, and in a distance we can see the snows of the glaciers, and the waterfalls, coming closer and closer. 19. We reach a rest area 0.4 miles from the outlook, complete with benches and 2 pit toilet outhouses. No lights in those phone booth size outhouses, so my aim wasn't optimal -sorry ladies! And you better hold your breath, as no ventilating the odors. 20. We have a lunch of steak nuggets jerky, trail mix, and fruit strips -all from Costco. I also bring fruit cups from Kalispell Super 8 continental breakfast. 21. The hike from the rest area to the outlook is 0.4 miles but it takes half an hour over steep rocky alpine terrain trails, above the forest line. 22. Over a rise, we see a huge layer of ice in the background, with a green lake of icebergs in and out of the moving mist and fog. 23. 12:30pm, after 6 miles and a 1600 foot elevation gain, we are at the glacier outlook. Walking 20 minutes around the lake, and through columns of boulders and rocks, we touch Grinnell Glacier resting on the side of the mountain. 24. Sign says no walking on the lake ice nor the glacier. Got your life insurance in order? Hidden crevasses lurk below! 25 1:30pm we start back down the steep rocky trail. We meet teenage girls in short shorts and Chako sports sandals going up. Showing off those legs and painted toenails! Can't stop to oogle as the wife is right behind me! 26. Tough going down with tired legs, and I have a tendency not to lift my feet, and my boots catch the tops of rocks, shooting pains up my toes. 27. 3:55pm we reach the boat dock on Lake Josephine, well in time for the 4:15pm boat back to the hotel -last boat leaves at 5:15pm. but will have a 2nd boat if people still waiting. 28. At the hotel I pull off my hiking boots, and the entire bottom sole becomes unglued. I survived the Grinnell Glacier hike, but my boots didn't! 29. The next 3 days I hike in my Chako women's sport sandals, with glances from a lot of the ladies! 30. A week later on Labor Day weekend it snows heavily, requiring crampons to hike the trail!

    Grinnell Lake
    Vivian W.

    Grinnell Glacier is amazinggggggggg! The lakes were so clear and blue and Grinnell Glacier was beautiful despite what's left of it :( The crystal blue water was insane. Enjoy seeing this glacier because it's going to be gone in a couple years D: Grinnell Glacier Trailhead is located in the Many Glacier area, near the Many Glacier Hotel. On the hike, you pass by three lakes (Swiftcurrent Lake, Josephine Lake, and Grinnell Lake). If you want to shave off about 3.4 miles roundtrip, you can take two shuttle boats across Swiftcurrent Lake and Josephine Lake. Note, there is a fee to take those boats. Along the hike, you see beautiful landscape of mountains, alpine lakes, bighorn sheep, and of course at the end, Grinnell Glacier. Everywhere you turn it's a picture perfect moment. This is a popular hike so get here early since parking can be difficult. This hike is roughly 7.6 miles roundtrip and is marked as strenuous. The elevation gain is 1840 feet. We started the hike around 7:30am and got back around 2pm after snacking and taking breaks throughout the hike and chilling at Grinnell Glacier. It was shady going to the glacier and sunny on the way back. We saw a group of bighorn sheep just before we got to Grinnell Glacier! It was pretty cool. There's also a pit toilet just before the glacier part. This is hike is a bear-frequenting area so make sure you hike with a group of three or more, make noise, and carry bear spray!

    Bear grass in bloom

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    Glacier National Park - Avalanche Lake trail

    Glacier National Park

    4.6(350 reviews)
    0.9 km

    Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The scenery is unreal,…read moreespecially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. For the best experience, definitely get there early and allow plenty of extra time for activities if you're staying outside the park, as traffic can become heavy, especially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. If you're new to the park, I also recommend booking one of the Red Bus Tours. It was a great way to experience the park without the stress of driving or parking, and the guide was very knowledgeable. The Apgar Visitor Center staff were also very helpful and gave great recommendations and information for navigating the park. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and somewhere I would absolutely visit again.

    "In string theory, all particles are vibrations on a tiny rubber band; physics is the harmonies on…read morethe string; chemistry is the melodies we play on vibrating strings; the universe is a symphony of strings, and the 'Mind of God' is cosmic music resonating in 11-dimensional hyperspace." Yeah... I repeated that for a while dragging myself up one of Glacier's long, soul-crushingly gorgeous hikes. The views? Unreal. The vibe? Humbling. The legs? Suffering. This park makes you feel small in the best possible way, like the universe is laughing with you, not at you. Sadly, no bear sightings (which honestly feels like Glacier's version of a refund). But I did snag a sweater at the visitor center, staff were so kind I half expected them to adopt me. And let's be real: you'll probably run into a crew of hot Canadians wandering over the border like it's no big deal. Glacier has everything, cosmic philosophy, scenery that'll fry your brain circuits, kind staff, and bonus eye candy from the north. 11/10, would string-theory again.

    Photos
    Glacier National Park - Near St Mary lake

    Near St Mary lake

    Glacier National Park - We found him!

    We found him!

    Glacier National Park - Avalanche Lake

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    Avalanche Lake

    Glacier Guides and Montana Raft - Scenic float bus

    Glacier Guides and Montana Raft

    4.8(139 reviews)
    7.8 km

    Perfect rafting trip!!!! So affordable ($80 adult & $60 kids) but really fun and safe. Econ was our…read moreguide and he knew the river like the back of his hand. Check in was easy & very clearly explained, transport to the launch site was fun and we all had a blast. We went in mid-August but it sounds like early summer and spring is when the river is really flowing when the snowcap is melting. Would HIGHLY recommend!

    For 30 years, I have dreamed of floating down the Flathead river along the legendary snow-capped…read moremountain peaks of Glacier National Park. Over the years, I have looked at dozens (OK, hundreds) of photos of the wet, smiling faces of the boaters splashing and paddling through the whitewater rapids. They always look so happy and excited! Oh, how I wanted to be "that guy" in the photo. In 2024, I decided I had waited long enough and pulled the trigger. With a gentle nudge from my best friend, I booked a 2-day whitewater rafting adventure with Glacier Guides and Montana Raft. It was time- and it was now my turn! We made our way north in June, 2025 crossing through 8 states and into Montana. A day before we arrived at the Glacier Guide office, I received a call from our rafting guide, Zack. He sounded as excited as we were and walked us through the itinerary and what we could expect when we arrived. Very professional! The day had come! When we arrived at the Glacier Guide Office, we were greeted by our guides, Zack and Abby who are absolute Rock Stars and clearly love what they do. They made sure we had all the recommended gear and helped us re-pack our gear into waterproof bags for our Rocky Mountain adventure. We met the others assigned to our boat and got fitted for wet suits, life jackets and helmets. Within an hour, we loaded into our bus and headed north- 2 big, blue rafts in tow. The first day was spent easing down the Flathead River along the banks of Glacier National Park. The views were just beautiful. Our guide on the first day was Abby, who was as funny as she was skilled at navigating the Class II river. Zack floated ahead of us in the "gear boat" which carried all our tents, food and camping gear. We stopped for lunch around noon which gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs and get to know the other members of our party. Bald eagles were observed every so often, as were momma ducks with their babies close by. Everyone was on the lookout for grizzly bears that are common in Glacier, but unfortunately none were seen on our trip. After lunch, we continued down the river for several hours until Zack found a good spot to call "home" for the night. We had a few hours before nightfall and spent our time making camp, hanging wet clothes and enjoying some of the most beautiful mountain views in the world. We helped the guides unload the gear boat before enjoying grilled steak and salmon for dinner. The food was fantastic, as was the fellowship! After dinner, we sat around a little campfire and relaxed with our new friends. Tired from a long day on the water, we all headed to our tents around 10:00 PM. 6:00 AM, daylight and the smell of coffee and bacon stirred us from our tents. With the sounds of the river flowing below, we eased into the new day with a great breakfast before we broke camp, donned our protective gear and loaded our raft. We changed captains and Zack guided us down the river after a safety brief, Abby navigated the "gear boat" a safe distance behind. Another glorious Montana day on the river. The closer we got to the entrance of Glacier Park, the more dramatic the views and more challenging the whitewater became. Zack expertly and safely navigated the Class III rapids, all while we paddled like crazy when the order "All forward!" was given. The last stretch of water had 8 named rapids like "Bone Crusher," "Pinball" and "The Big Squeeze." All of us got drenched to the bone and wouldn't have it any other way. It was the Montana trip of a lifetime and everything I hoped it would be. As our 2-day, overnight adventure came to an end, our guides "high-fived" us and thanked us for joining them. I was sad to leave, I cannot lie. Zack and Abby with Glacier Guides knocked it out of the park- true professionals and an absolute pleasure to be around. I will never forget my Rocky Mountain adventure and am so grateful for the staff of Glacier Guides that helped make a dream come true. I can confidently recommend Glacier Guides to anyone. ~David T. Leuba

    Photos
    Glacier Guides and Montana Raft - Bone crusher and just a blast!

    Bone crusher and just a blast!

    Glacier Guides and Montana Raft
    Glacier Guides and Montana Raft - Nature walk van

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    Nature walk van

    Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls - Sacred Dancing Cascades viewed from a wooden bridge

    Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls

    5.0(1 review)
    3.8 km

    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.

    Photos
    Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls - Easy access to Sacred Dancing Cascades

    Easy access to Sacred Dancing Cascades

    Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls
    Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls

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    Glacier Raft Company - Waiting for the trip

    Glacier Raft Company

    4.8(204 reviews)
    0.2 km

    We were up for site seeing, not adventure, so we chose the scenic float. It was fabulous…read more You meet at their offices and get your life vest. They bus you to the start of the journey. You can paddle if you want but not required. There were 4 boats in our group. We floated down the Flathead Middle Fork River. The current keeps you moving so while you are floating, you are making decent time down the river. A few mild rapids make it fun. The guides were wonderful. They worked so well as a team and their camaraderie was fun to watch. Ella was the lead person and she was the guide of our boat. She told us interesting facts and answered tons of questions from us. I felt like we were in the adult boat because it was all older couples and not kids which was awesome. They give you a chance to jump in if you'd like. Our boat passed on getting wet, but the others had kids and family members that made the cold plunge. Eagles and Osprey were the wild life we saw. oh and lots of fish. This was a great experience. Highly recommend it.

    Wonderful experience all around! The staff was so nice and knowledgeable. We had Aaron S as our…read moreguide in a raft of 10, including Aaron. He provided us clear and strong direction every step of the way, ensuring we were safe but also had the FUNNEST experience. I came into the experience very nervous since I can't swim, but his preparedness, rafting skills, and clear direction helped me trust him throughout the full process. 10000% recommend!!!

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    Glacier Raft Company
    Glacier Raft Company - Before the White Water Rafting.

    Before the White Water Rafting.

    Glacier Raft Company

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    Glacier Outfitters - Kayaks

    Glacier Outfitters

    4.7(51 reviews)
    3.7 km

    Views views views!…read more Great change of pace after days of hiking. I rented a 1 seater kayak from glacier outfitters. It may look like a far walk but it isn't! Totally doable. The staff was very nice to explain everything to me. They showed me the lake map and where to go and not go, etc. Instructions were very clear. I rented 2 hours (they have you 15 mins for the round trip walk). The walk from the rental to the lake I thought was a bit of a walk but it was not bad to haul the kayak there, they are on wheels so it is not bad. You leave the wheels near the trees. Returning the kayak was fairly easy as well. There are lockers available that you can put your stuff if you don't want to take it with you. The minimum number of hours is 2 hours and it was 40 something. Overall it was a good experience! Everything was great. Would recommend and use service again.

    We made reservations at Glacier Outfitters for kayaks for the day. (highly recommend reservations)…read more There is a small parking lot and some street parking but it was not a busy day and it was full. We had people waiting for our parking spot when we returned to the car. I'm not sure where people would park when it gets very busy. Perhaps there is another parking lot I didn't see. When you walk up to G.O. you sign waivers, pay the fee and are gathered in an area for instructions. The man who provided the instructions was very informative. Advised us of areas in Flathead Lake to avoid including a rough water area and a few bald eagle's nests as they recently laid eggs. After instructions, you are provided with the kayak, paddle, life jacket and a cart to roll the kayak down to the lake. Now, I'm pretty strong but the kayaks are heavy. I did think to myself, how would someone with less strength get this kayak down to the lake? Something to ask about if you are renting as it is several yards to walk with a heavy kayak. The carts were easy to remove and stash while we spent the day in the lake. When you finish kayaking, you simply load the kayak back on the cart and roll it back to G.O., drop off gear and you are done. We had a great experience with Glacier Outfitters and would use them again.

    Photos
    Glacier Outfitters - 2025 August

    2025 August

    Glacier Outfitters - 2025 August

    2025 August

    Glacier Outfitters - 2025 August

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    2025 August

    Sky Eco Rentals

    Sky Eco Rentals

    4.9(13 reviews)
    7.8 km

    Rented E-bikes to do GTTSR in Glacier Natl Park. Rental was very easy to book online, when we…read morearrived at the shop, everything was ready to go. How to use the e-bikes was thoroughly explained. Price was the best we found, and included the helmet & bike locks too. Bikes were in excellent condition & worked great! We had a great time & highly recommend Sky Eco Rentals! The gentleman who helped us was knowledgeable & was very friendly.

    Hands down I would absolutely recommend this place for stay if you're coming to glacier. I'll admit…read moreI was a little bit hesitant in the beginning. Because usually I camp and I don't stay at a hotel/motel/bnb. However with that being said there's a full-on grocery store downstairs. There are cute cabins that I will in the future absolutely be renting. And I am staying in what they call the bluebird. It is a cute quaint little residence. It does not have a kitchenette however I intend on eating out while I'm here so I don't need a kitchenette. The bed is beautiful it's an old wooden type bed. It looks like it's from The Log Cabin era they're keeping it inform with the whole glacier National Park theme. Huge massive TV set in case you desire at the end of a day to kick back relax and watch them tv. It has a window that looks out into the forest area. And a cute little table set that actually has two stools in it and I like it so much I may buy something like that for my own residence. The accommodations are more than adequate. There's a futon couch in case you want to sleep four people in here. It comes with a bathtub and a shower and the air conditioning unit ductwork goes immediately to the outside so it's not one of those window units where you have to pull the window down and pin it in between and hope that the bugs don't come in it's not anything even close to that it literally goes to the outside and it's part of the wall. It's an upstairs unit which works fantastic for me. And it has a little patio area out front which I sit and have my coffee and watch the wildlife. The outside Courtyard area is super cute they really took a lot of time for attention and detail. Parking could not be any more convenient you're literally right in front of your own cabin. ADDITIONAL // They have Tesla charging stations here!! I believe they're the only one in Glacier that has this amenity. In addition, they have Tesla's that are brand spanking new and extremely clean inside that you can rent. How awesome is that!

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    Sky Eco Rentals - Fun Paddleboarding

    Fun Paddleboarding

    Sky Eco Rentals - Cabins and Studios!

    Cabins and Studios!

    Sky Eco Rentals

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    Grinnell Glacier - hiking - Updated May 2026

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