Hiking the Grinnell Glacier Trail in Glacier National Park

The Grinnell Glacier Trail is a strenuous, mostly exposed hike: 5.0 miles one way to Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint with 2,596 feet of elevation gain, or 3.7 miles one way if you ride the concessioner boat from Many Glacier Hotel. Both routes finish at the same viewpoint, so the boat shortens the walk while leaving most of the climb in place.

Grinnell Glacier Trail at a Glance

Option A starts at Grinnell Glacier Trailhead, and Option B starts from a concessioner boat dropoff, with the figures below.

Both options are strenuous, and the trail climbs and also drops along the way. From the trailhead, 2,596 feet up minus 1,015 feet down leaves a net rise of 1,581 feet. From the boat dropoff, 2,461 feet up minus 871 feet down leaves a net rise of 1,590 feet.

The two net figures sit within 9 feet of each other, so the boat shortens the walk but leaves almost all of the climb. The boat removes 1.3 miles each way but only 135 feet of climbing. If you retrace your route, every downhill stretch becomes an uphill on the return, which is why the round-trip climbing in the table runs far above the one-way gain.

The Boat Shortcut from Many Glacier Hotel

The concessioner boat drops you 1.3 miles closer to Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint if you reserve tickets. Boats leave from Many Glacier Hotel, where boat cruises run alongside Red Bus tours, horseback rides and evening ranger programs.

Take the boat if distance is your main worry. Ask about departure times and the return trip when you book.

Skip the boat as a fix if the climb itself is what concerns you. The shorter option still gains more than 2,400 feet one way, packed into fewer miles. Divide one-way gain by one-way distance from the table and Option B averages about 665 feet of gain per mile, against about 520 for Option A, so the boat route is steeper on average.

Views along the Grinnell Glacier Trail

The Grinnell Glacier Trail passes wildflowers, mountains and glaciers, and most of the route is exposed. Expect long stretches in the open on the way up, with the turnaround at Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint for both options.

Boats leave from Many Glacier Hotel, which the Great Northern Railway built in 1914 and 1915 as the showplace of its chalets and hotels in the park. Most of its timber was logged nearby and milled at a sawmill on the Swiftcurrent Lake shore. The crew worked through below-zero winter temperatures to open the hotel on July 4, 1915, and it was partially renovated in 2016.

Bear Safety and Trail Conditions

Carry bear spray on the Grinnell Glacier hike and keep it where you can reach it fast. Bears are very active in spring, and in fall they spend more time foraging as they prepare for hibernation.

If you see a bear or any other animal, do not approach or feed it. Watch from a distance with binoculars, a spotting scope or a long telephoto lens.

The park asks every visitor to take extra care around water, steep dropoffs and wildlife, and you are responsible for your own safety. On a long, exposed climb, turn back if the weather turns or your legs give out before the viewpoint. Follow Leave No Trace by packing out everything you carry in, and see the Glacier National Park website for wildlife safety information.

Snow-Free Season on the Grinnell Glacier Hike

Plan the Grinnell Glacier hike for late June or later. Higher-elevation trails in Glacier can be dangerous and snow-covered until then, and this trail climbs more than 2,000 feet to its viewpoint.

The park's summer season, when most businesses and services are open, generally runs from late May through September. July and August are the busiest months of all.

September brings smaller crowds, though you can expect to pass many hikers. Trees start turning by mid-September, and the western larch turns yellow in mid-October. Later in the year, plan to be self-sufficient:

• Visitor centers close in late September and early October.
• Lodging inside the park is not available in fall.
• The Many Glacier Road closes the third weekend in November, weather permitting.

For a month-by-month view, read the guides to Glacier National Park weather and the best time to visit Glacier.

Planning Tips for Many Glacier Hikes

A good Grinnell Glacier day starts with a boat decision and an early alarm. Use this list before you leave:

• Reserve boat tickets ahead if you want the shorter Option B.
• Start early in July and August, the busiest months in the park.
• Carry bear spray and know how to use it before you reach the trailhead.
• Plan for the full distance back. From the trailhead, the round trip covers about 10 miles, with 1,015 feet of climbing on the return.
• Eat at Many Glacier Hotel afterward. Heidi's Snack Shop, the lakeside Ptarmigan Dining Room and the Swiss Lounge are all inside.

For more Many Glacier hikes and the rest of the park, start at the Glacier National Park guide. If you want a second big day on foot, the Highline Trail has its own guide.

A Gentler Walk at Many Glacier

The Grinnell Glacier Trail is the wrong pick if more than 2,000 feet of climbing is beyond what you want, and the boat will not change that. Walk the Swiftcurrent Lake loop instead: 2.6 miles with 258 feet of gain, starting from Grinnell Glacier Trailhead or Many Glacier Hotel.

Two sections of the lake loop are wheelchair accessible. One runs 0.9 miles one way from Many Glacier Hotel, and the other runs 0.75 miles one way from the Many Glacier Picnic Area.

If boat tickets are gone, hike Option A from the trailhead and budget for the extra distance. If the trail is still snow-covered, walk the lake loop that day and save Grinnell for late June or later.