Contents
Many Glacier Region | Introduction
Glacier National Park is divided into five areas: Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, North Fork and Goat Haunt, St. Mary, and Two Medicine. The Many Glacier area is located in the northeast, part of East Glacier, and is a bit distant from Going-to-the-Sun Road. The most convenient way to get there is by car.
Although it's a bit remote, Many Glacier is often considered the heart of Glacier National Park because of its active glaciers, abundant wildlife, and the most beautiful hiking trails. The trails in Many Glacier are long, so if you want to hike all the famous trails, it’s best to plan a two to three-day itinerary. The area map can be seen at this link. Among the 12 attractions, the most beautiful are Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake, both of which require long hikes.
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How to get ready? Check out these on Amazon: hiking boots
Driving into Many Glacier does not require an entry reservation, but during peak times, the park may limit access due to limited parking, which might result in waiting for a few hours at the entrance. If you are not staying overnight in the Many Glacier area, it’s best to arrive early. When we entered Many Glacier, the entrance road was under construction. Although we arrived around 5 AM and there was no limit on entry, there was still traffic control, and we waited about forty minutes with the early arrivals before we could enter.
Many Glacier | Accommodation
If you want to stay in Many Glacier, the options are Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, as well as the Many Glacier Campground.
Many Glacier Hotel
Many Glacier Hotel is the upscale hotel in this area, built in 1914, designed to resemble a Swiss luxury ski resort. It is the largest hotel in the park with 208 rooms. Located on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake, the hotel has high-end restaurants and stores, and it’s also the starting point for water activities in the Many Glacier area.
Even if you’re not staying here, it’s worth visiting as a tourist attraction. Whether it’s walking by the lakeshore, enjoying a cocktail on the large terrace, or just visiting the luxurious Ptarmigan Dining Room, it’s very interesting. During the pandemic, there was a shortage of staff, so the restaurant currently only offers takeout, making it easier to get a good window seat with a lake view.
The scenery around the hotel is beautiful, and you can walk to the Lake Josephine Trail loop, which connects to the trail leading to Grinnell Glacier.
Not far from the hotel is a small but beautiful waterfall, Swiftcurrent Falls, right by the bridge before entering the hotel.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
The other hotel in this area is Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, also conveniently located. The trailheads to Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Falls are nearby, and the prices are more affordable.
Many Glacier | Attractions & Trails
Iceberg lake
The trail to Iceberg Lake starts at Iceberg-Ptarmigan Trailhead, behind Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. This trail is rated as moderate difficulty, and among the two most famous trails in Many Glacier, it’s considered easier. Although the gradient is relatively gentle and not hard to walk, the round trip is 9.6 miles, so you still need to consider your physical strength and time. The scenery along the way is stunning. After passing through the initial forest section, the middle and later sections offer open views with glacier meltwater and wildflowers, making it a very popular trail.
How to get ready? Check out these on Amazon: trekking pole
How to get ready? Check out these on Amazon: hiking boots
After trekking 4.9 miles, you finally reach Iceberg Lake. Even in midsummer, the lake still has some floating ice, and the water is a bright turquoise color. The wind around the lake is strong and cold, so it’s not easy to sit by the lake. We saw some visitors jump into the icy water, which was quite impressive.
Lake Josephine loop
Lake Josephine Loop is a figure-eight loop connecting Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine in front of Many Glacier Hotel, divided into North Shore and South Shore parts. Together, they form a loop around Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. This trail is very easy, so if you’re short on time, a loop around the lake is perfect. It’s also the necessary route to Grinnell Lake and Grinnell Glacier.
Grinnell glacier trail
To reach Grinnell Glacier, you need to follow the Josephine Lake Trail and connect to the Grinnell Glacier Trail. From the starting point of Lake Josephine Loop, the round trip is 11.2 miles. To save some steps, you can take the boat from Many Glacier Hotel to Josephine Lake, saving about 4 miles round trip. This section is relatively flat and easy, but the remaining hike is challenging.
The later part of Grinnell Glacier Trail is more difficult than the Iceberg Lake Trail, but the reward is the beautiful alpine lake scenery. Completing the entire Grinnell Glacier Trail requires favorable conditions: snowmelt in summer and manageable bear activity. If either condition is not met, the trail might be partially closed. When we visited, even in midsummer, only half of the trail was open.
Starting the ascent, you first see Grinnell Lake in the middle. There is also a route to the lakeshore of Grinnell Lake, which is worth visiting if you have time.
After two hours of climbing, the narrow, winding mountain path finally reveals the distant Grinnell Glacier and its downstream waterfall.
How to get ready? Check out these on Amazon: trekking pole
The most thrilling part of the trail is crossing a waterfall. In just two seconds, you’ll be soaked, and the path is narrow, allowing only one or two people to pass at a time. Everyone puts on waterproof clothing and quickly crosses.
How to get ready? Check out these on Amazon: hiking boots
The trail then becomes steeper, and the scenery more spectacular. From here, you can see three lakes from above: Grinnell Lake, Lake Josephine, and Swiftcurrent Lake.
Finally, you reach Grinnell Glacier. After a tough hike, most people quickly find a spot by the lake to sit and rest. It’s hard to imagine that decades ago, the lake where we’re sitting was a giant glacier 2 miles high. Now, most of it has melted into a glacial lake, with a few waterfalls formed by meltwater flowing down the rock face. We can still see remnants of the glacier now, but in a few years, it might retreat beyond visibility.
Fishercap lake
Next to Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, besides the Iceberg-Ptarmigan Trailhead, there is another trail leading to Fishercap Lake, Redrock Falls, and other attractions. Fishercap Lake is very close to the trailhead, about a five-minute walk. It’s a great place to see wildlife, and you might spot moose in the early morning or at dusk.
Further reading
- All Glacier National Park posts
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