5 Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is one of our all-time favorite National Parks. There are so many trails in this park that it’s hard to decide where to begin your Glacier NP adventure. The trails in this hiking guide are all off the Going to the Sun Road, and most start at the Logan Pass visitor center, which is worth visiting on its own if you aren't going to hit the trails. We will note that we started all our Glacier hikes very, very early, sometimes at dark. This is a bustling park, and you will be glad you got up early and still barely snagged a spot at the Logan Pass Visitor Center parking.
Also, on all hikes in Glacier National Park, you’ll want to carry plenty of water, bear spray, sunscreen, and sun apparel (hats, SPF shirts)
Dragons Tail (5.4 Miles - Dangerous, Difficult)
Dragons Tail is not for the faint of heart, and like many Glacier NP trails, people die on this trail almost every year. Please consider that this is a very exposed hike where you will climb a ridge with a sheer drop on both sides. With all that being said, this was by far our favorite hike in Glacier. It’s shorter than the other hikes, and the scrambling and exposure are actually really amazing. It’s one of the most scenic hikes we’ve ever been on. For a safer experience on Dragons Tail, you can always hike up to the gap in the ridge. You’ll know when you’ve reached it and turn back. You can also combine this hike with Hidden Lake and knock out two hikes in one, making it about an 8-mile round trip hike. You’ll start this trail at Logans Pass, and you will take the Hidden Lake trail till you see a climbers trail that takes you to either Dragons Tail or Mt. Reynolds Peak.
Highline Trail to Grinnell Overlook (15.5 Miles - Hard)
The Highline trail is one of the busiest and most scenic hikes in the park. The trail starts from the Logan Pass Visitor Center. This trail can be made in so many different ways. On a non-COVID Year, when the shuttles are running, you can hike it through-hike to “The Loop” and take the shuttle back to the car and make this a much shorter hike. We did it as an out and back, and it really wore us out! The highland trail is a must-do for everyone visiting Glacier National Park. Even if you walk a few miles on it and turn around, you will be in awe the whole time. If you are doing the Highline Trail, we recommend adding the additional climb up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. You won’t be disappointed. This is another mind-blowing vista that you come to expect at Glacier National Park.
Siyeh Pass Trail (9.7 Miles - Hard)
This trail starts off the side of the Going to the Sun Road, at “Siyeh Bend.” You’ll find parking easier over there, and this is also a less used trail, but it still has its fair share of people on it. Another Glacier gem, this trail meanders through a forest and continues to climb up through glacially vandalized valleys and peaks until you come to Siyeh Pass. Once again, per Glacier NP standards, this hike delivers all that you would want and more. Once you top out, you'll be high up in the alpine. The views are incredible! You’ll be looking at Going to the Sun Mountain, Siyeh Peak, and St. Mary’s Lake below. If you get to Logan Pass too late to find parking, you’ll most likely be able to park somewhere near the “Siyeh Bend.”
Lincoln Peak (15 Miles - Hard)
The climb up to Lincoln Peak begins at the Lake McDonald Lodge. You’ll use the Sperry Chalet Trail to approach the summit. This has been said to be a family-friendly peak, but it’s a fairly strenuous climb. If you don’t want to make the climb up to the peak, the Sperry Chalet is a great place to stop for a snack. The peak is just over an additional mile of climbing from the Chalet, but it’s more difficult terrain than you have been hiking on to get to Sperry Chalet. It’s worth the climb. There’s an amazing view of Lake Ellen Wilson overflowing to a 500-foot waterfall that spills into Sperry Lake. We were really happy we added Lincoln Peak to our Sperry Chalet adventure. I will note that the hike up to Sperry Chalet is through a burn area, and there is little sun protection, so you will want to start this hike early to prevent sun exposure and overheating if you are here in the summer.
Hidden Lake (2.9 Miles - Moderate)
If you have skimmed through all these hikes and they seem too difficult, or you are short on time. A must-do shorter, moderate hike is up to the Hidden Lake Lookout. This is an amazing short hike along a boardwalk that is littered with wildflowers and glacier valleys in all directions. This was a very popular hike. When we did it, we started at dark and watched the sunrise and light up the glacier-carved peaks. When we were here, there was a lot of bear activity. So, be prepared with Bear Spray and be on the lookout for mountain goats; we saw a few on this trail.
We hope this helps you get a better plan together of how to plan your Glacier NP getaway. We will note that all the other park areas, Two Medicine Hat and Many Glacier, were closed due to COVID, so we didn't get to explore these areas. Happy Trails!
