Hiking Grinnell Glacier Trail: All You Need To Know

Grinnell Glacier Trail is one of the three most popular hikes in Glacier National Park, seeing about 700 hikers a day (according to a Many Glacier Park ranger). 

It is a strenuous hike, especially in the sun, but the views are entirely worth it! 

Before hiking Grinnell Glacier, there are a few things you should know so you can enjoy this hike and not give up ½ way through or struggle down wishing you had done something different.

Grinnell Glacier Hiking Stats:

• Length: 10 miles
• Average Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Type: Out and Back
• Elevation Gain: 2,047
• Trailhead Coordinates: 48.79721, -113.66843
• Parking: There is a large parking lot at the trailhead. It usually fills up before 7 a.m. You can also park at Many Glacier Hotel; this option adds an additional two miles (round trip) to the hike.

Hiking Grinnell Glacier Trail Summary

First of all, despite its difficulty, this hike is truly worth it! The views overlooking Swiftcurrent, Josephine, and Grinnell lakes are spectacular- even better than the glacier itself. With the sun shining, the lake water will sparkle in vibrant hues of teal, contrasting beautifully with the deep forest green. You’ll see stunning views of the Lewis Mountain range, a few waterfalls and, if you are lucky, some wildlife as well. Hikers regularly see deer, big-horned sheep, snakes, mountain goats and bears.

Terrian & Trail Conditions

The trail terrain is a mix of packed and loose gravel with exposed roots and plenty of dust along the way. The first mile offers shade, but the rest of the hike is in direct sun, with only a little bit of shade at the Grinnell Glacier picnic area (about 4.5 miles into the hike). Any other shady areas are one offs- sporadically located around a few boulders along the trail- nothing to depend on.

There were a number of people along the trail on my way down who were exhausted and contemplating turning back. Some had already decided to sit and wait for their group to return, not being able to complete the hike up in the heat. A few people ran out of water not expecting to need as much as they did. Most of these people started the hike around 11 or 12 p.m, so they wound up hiking in the hottest time of the day.

Hiking down in the direct sun was intense. I felt like the hike down would never end. I actually enjoyed the hike up a little more, and I think that is in part due to how crowded it was on the way down and how warm it was on the shadeless trail. The morning glow, cool temperatures, and the empty trail were a lot more enjoyable.

Once at the glacier, there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy some food. Again, there is no shade. There are no facilities at the glacier, but there are pit toilets and two benches at the picnic area, about 0.4 miles from the glacier. There are plenty of large rocks and boulders to sit on, but no other benches or picnic tables. The water was freezing, but it felt so refreshing when I splashed a little bit on my sweltering limbs and dipped my toes in.

Overall, I didn’t think the trail was that excruciating. It’s challenging, but when done in cool weather & with proper sun protection and supplies, it is very manageable. Don’t get me wrong, it is still hard and should not be attempted by anyone not familiar with strenuous hiking.

Route

The actual Grinnell Glacier trail starts on the North side of Lake Josephine. From the trailhead parking lot, you will need to take the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail and then turn right onto the North Shore Josephine Lake Trail to get to the Grinnell Glacier trailhead. The turn onto the North Shore Lake Josephine Trail is less than 0.5 miles from the parking lot. The path is clearly marked with a sign and a well-worn trail. The round trip (out and back) hike is 10 miles from the start of the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail.

The first two miles of the trail are pretty easy. Once you get to Grinnell Glacier Trail you will start the gradual incline. The last 0.4 miles are the toughest, with the steepest incline, switchbacks, and stairs.

This is one hike I would absolutely do again but with hiking poles. The descent really had my knees hurting by the end. It took me close to 3 hours to reach the glacier (including stops for photos and snacks) and about 2.5 hours to hike down. I spent around 45 minutes at the glacier. 

Hiking Grinnell Glacier Tips

There are a few things to know before hiking Grinnell Glacier to help you make the most of your time and have the best experience.

Get an Early Start

I recommend starting your hike by 7 a.m. at the latest, not only for parking but also because of the sun.

If it is going to be a warm, sunny day, you will have a much better experience hiking some of the trail before the sun is at its hottest. The rising sun provides a lovely glow on the surrounding wilderness, but once it rises above the mountain peaks, it gets hot fast. 

Bring Plenty of Water

I brought 2 liters + 16 oz and still had about a liter left. You will definitely need more water than expected if you are hiking in the afternoon in intense heat. 

Bring Food

Snacks like energy bars, gel pouches, sandwiches, and trail mix are all good options. You will definitely want to take a few breaks along the trail and fuel up with a good hiking lunch before heading back down. 

Use Hiking Poles

I rarely use hiking poles, but on this long hike, I really wish I had. The descent really made my knees sore. I could feel fatigue in my legs, and I had to rest them the next day. I am not an expert hiker, but I am in decent shape, so I was surprised at how sore my knees were after the hike. Poles would have made this hike more enjoyable for me. 

Many Glacier Motor Inn

After the hike, you can head to the Motor Inn, where you can dine at the restaurant, have some huckleberry ice cream, buy a souvenir in the gift shop, and even take advantage of the public showers. They charge $4 for 8 minutes. It is located a 3-minute drive away from the trailhead near the Many Glacier Campsite.

Parking at Grinnell Glacier Trailhead

The best lot to park in is the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead parking lot located in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, which is accessible through the Many Glacier entrance. You have to have either a campsite reservation or a timed entry reservation to enter the park from this entrance between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Parking can be tricky at the trailhead since the timed entry reservation system started. Many cars arrive prior to 6 a.m., so if you do not have a reservation, make sure to arrive early to ensure you can enter the park and get a parking spot.

I arrived at the parking lot at 6:15 a.m. after staying the night in Many Glacier Campground. I was shocked at how many cars there were that early in the morning. 

The parking lot is big. I didn’t count the parking spots, but it has to be somewhere around 40-50 spaces. Once it is full, people park along the road.

You can also park at the Many Glacier Hotel, it’s about 1 mile away from the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead parking lot, so this will add at least two miles to your hike.

Alternate Way to Get to Grinnell Glacier Trail

Take a boat from Many Glacier Hotel to cut your hike to Grinnell Glacier by four miles. Boat tours are available starting July 1st, with the first tour at 8:30 a.m. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the drop-off point for the Grinnell Glacier hike from the departure point. 

You can also book a one-way return ticket if you want to start your hike earlier than the boat tour allows, with the final return trip leaving at 5:45 p.m

While the boat option does save you some mileage, the two miles (each way) the boat allows you to skip are the easiest of the trail. You may experience boat delays and wait up to an hour for your return trip.

These boat tours get sold out months in advance, so advance planning is required. 

Gear Checklist:

• Sun protection
  • Lightweight clothing to cover the neck, arms, legs
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
• Hiking Poles
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Lunch + Snacks
• Hand Sanitizer
• 2L-3L of water
• Lightweight Camera
• Backup batteries or portable power device
• Offline GPS
• Bear Spray
• TP for the vault toilets at the picnic area. There are flush toilets at the trailhead.
• Towel for wiping dust off your butt and sweat
• Binoculars for spotting wildlife
• Sandals to let your feet breath after a long hike

I like to put all of my day hiking gear in my Osprey Sportlite 25 pack with a water reservoir to make staying hydrated on long hikes so much easier!