We elected to do the hike/boat ride combination, which also meant that we got to go on a guided hike – the only one we did in the park. The other way, and the way we chose to hike here, is through combining the Glacier Boat Tour with the hike.
One is directly from the Many Glacier Hotel area this makes for a 7.1 mile hike. There are a couple of ways to hike to Grinnell Lake. While standing at the visitor’s center, look across the parking lot to the scree. This trail starts up in the alpine meadows at Logan Pass putting visitors into the heart of Glacier’s high country. Alternatively, if you’re staying at the Many Glacier campground, you can also add on the walk from the campground directly to the trailhead (adds about 1 mile to your distance on either end of the trail). One of the most popular hike in Glacier National Park is the trail off of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road called Hidden Lake. Parking was easy – there is a large parking lot at the Many Glacier Hotel where you can park for this hike. Trail views: Mountains, waterfalls, streams, lakes Length & elevation: 3 miles, 220 feet elevation gain With over 700 miles of trails in Glacier providing outstanding opportunities for both short hikes and extended backpacking trips, there’s something for everyone. Grinnell Lake HikeĪccessibility: The road to the Many Glacier area was under construction during our visit and involved about 40 minutes on gravel road. This is definitely one of my favorite hikes in Glacier National.
But I think Grinnell Lake made for a fantastic little hike and one I’m glad we did. From the beauty of Hidden Lake, to all the big horn sheep and mountain goats along the trail. It’s less popular than the Grinnell Glacier Trail - many people want to get up close and personal with a glacier.