18 Glacier National Park Hikes for Every Level

Glacier National Park sits like a crown jewel in northern Montana, where jagged peaks pierce the sky and pristine lakes mirror the wilderness above. This spectacular landscape offers more than just stunning views — it’s a hiker’s paradise with trails that cater to everyone from weekend warriors to seasoned mountaineers. Whether you’re looking for a gentle stroll around a lake or an epic backcountry adventure, Glacier delivers experiences that’ll stick with you long after you’ve hung up your boots.

The park’s trail system reads like a choose-your-own-adventure book, with each path offering its own unique rewards. From family-friendly boardwalks to challenging alpine routes that test your limits, there’s something here for every skill level and ambition.

Here is a list of 18 Glacier National Park hikes that showcase the best this incredible wilderness has to offer.

Hidden Lake Overlook

This popular trail starts right at Logan Pass and gives you a taste of Glacier’s alpine beauty without requiring superhuman endurance. The 2.9-mile round-trip journey takes you through meadows that explode with wildflowers in summer, creating a natural carpet that rivals any garden. You’ll likely spot mountain goats casually hanging out on the cliffs, acting like they own the place — which, frankly, they do. The overlook provides breathtaking views of Hidden Lake nestled in the valley below, surrounded by towering peaks that make you feel wonderfully small.

Avalanche Lake

Starting from the Avalanche Creek area, this 4.6-mile round-trip hike follows a well-maintained trail through some of the park’s most enchanting forest. The path winds alongside Avalanche Creek, where the sound of rushing water provides a natural soundtrack for your journey. Ancient cedars and hemlocks create a cathedral-like canopy overhead, filtering sunlight into dancing patterns on the forest floor. The trail culminates at Avalanche Lake, a pristine alpine gem surrounded by towering walls where waterfalls cascade down like curtains of light, creating a natural show.

Trail of the Cedars

Perfect for families or anyone wanting a taste of Glacier’s beauty without breaking a sweat, this 0.8-mile loop is mostly boardwalk and completely accessible. The trail meanders through an ancient forest where some cedars have been standing for over 500 years, making them living witnesses to centuries of history. You’ll cross Avalanche Creek on a sturdy bridge that offers great photo opportunities of the rushing water below. This easy stroll proves that sometimes the best adventures come in small packages, delivering maximum scenery with minimal effort.

Grinnell Glacier

This 10.6-mile round-trip adventure takes you deep into the heart of Glacier’s backcountry, where you can actually touch one of the park’s remaining glaciers. The trail starts at Many Glacier and follows a series of lakes, each more stunning than the last, like nature’s version of a progressive dinner party. You’ll gain about 1,600 feet in elevation, but the gradual incline makes it manageable for most hikers with decent fitness levels. The payoff is enormous — standing before Grinnell Glacier, you’re witnessing a piece of the ice age that’s slowly but surely making its exit from our planet.

Iceberg Lake

The 9.7-mile round-trip journey to Iceberg Lake starts from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn area and delivers exactly what its name promises. Even in the heat of summer, this high-altitude lake often contains floating chunks of ice that look like nature’s own cocktail accessories. The trail winds through diverse terrain, from meadows filled with beargrass to rocky alpine zones where pikas chirp from their rocky hideouts. The lake itself sits in a dramatic cirque, surrounded by towering cliffs that create a natural amphitheater of stone and sky.

Highline Trail

Starting at Logan Pass, this 11.8-mile point-to-point trail is Glacier’s crown jewel, offering what many consider the park’s most spectacular hiking experience. The path hugs the Continental Divide, providing continuous views that’ll have you stopping every few minutes to take photos. You’ll traverse through alpine meadows, cross mountain streams, and walk along cliff edges that offer bird’s-eye views of the valleys below. The trail can be shortened to various lengths, but going the full distance to Granite Park Chalet gives you bragging rights and memories that last a lifetime.

Apgar Lookout

This 5.2-mile round-trip hike near Apgar Village offers a moderate workout with a spectacular payoff at the summit. The trail climbs steadily through dense forest, gaining about 1,900 feet in elevation, which sounds intimidating but becomes manageable when broken into smaller chunks. You’ll switchback through lodgepole pines and Douglas firs, with occasional clearings that offer teaser views of what’s to come. The historic fire lookout at the top provides 360-degree views of Lake McDonald, the Flathead Valley, and the surrounding peaks that stretch to the horizon.

Swiftcurrent Pass

This challenging 13.8-mile round-trip hike starts from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and takes you into serious backcountry territory. The trail gains about 2,400 feet in elevation, testing your endurance while rewarding you with increasingly dramatic views. You’ll pass through multiple ecosystems, from lakeside forests to alpine meadows where wildflowers create a riot of color in summer. The pass itself offers panoramic views into both the U.S. and Canadian wilderness, making you feel like you’re on the edge of two countries.

Running Eagle Falls

Also known as Trick Falls, this easy 1.2-mile round-trip walk is perfect for families or anyone wanting a quick nature fix. The trail follows a mostly flat path through forest and meadows, making it accessible to hikers of all ages and abilities. The falls themselves are unique — during high water season, water pours over the top like a traditional waterfall, but as levels drop, the water flows through a cave behind the falls, creating a mysterious natural show. It’s like nature’s own magic trick that changes with the seasons.

Bowman Lake

This 7.4-mile round-trip hike to the head of Bowman Lake offers solitude and stunning mountain reflections in a more remote part of the park. The trail follows the shoreline of this pristine lake, where the water is so clear you can see trout swimming in the depths. You’ll walk through old-growth forests where the silence is broken only by the gentle lapping of waves and the occasional call of a loon. The head of the lake provides dramatic views of mountain peaks reflected in the still water, creating a mirror image that photographers dream about.

Ptarmigan Tunnel

This 10.8-mile round-trip hike takes you through one of the park’s most unique features — a tunnel blasted through solid rock that opens to spectacular views on the other side. The trail starts at Swiftcurrent and climbs steadily through alpine terrain, gaining about 2,300 feet in elevation. You’ll pass through meadows where ptarmigan (the tunnel’s namesake) might be spotted, along with mountain goats and bighorn sheep. The tunnel itself is a marvel of 1930s engineering, and stepping through it feels like entering a secret gateway to another world.

Lake McDonald

The 6.8-mile round-trip trail along Lake McDonald’s northern shore offers a gentle introduction to the park’s largest lake. This relatively flat path follows the shoreline through dense forest, where the scent of cedar and pine fills the air. You’ll have multiple opportunities to access the lake’s rocky beaches, perfect for skipping stones or simply sitting and absorbing the peaceful atmosphere. The trail offers stunning views across the water to the peaks beyond, especially beautiful during sunrise and sunset when the mountains glow like they’re lit from within.

Granite Park Chalet

This 8.2-mile round-trip hike from Logan Pass takes you to one of the park’s historic backcountry chalets, built in 1914 and still welcoming visitors today. The trail follows part of the famous Highline Trail, offering spectacular views along the Continental Divide. You’ll traverse through alpine meadows that burst with wildflowers in summer, creating a natural garden that stretches for miles. The chalet itself sits in a dramatic location surrounded by peaks, and while it’s not a luxury hotel, it provides a unique backcountry experience that connects you to the park’s early tourism history.

Cracker Lake

This 12.2-mile round-trip adventure takes you to one of Glacier’s most uniquely colored lakes, where glacial flour creates an otherworldly turquoise color that looks almost artificial. The trail starts from Many Glacier and follows Cracker Creek through diverse terrain, from dense forest to open meadows. You’ll gain about 1,400 feet in elevation, but the grade is gentle enough that most hikers can handle it with proper preparation. The lake sits in a dramatic cirque surrounded by towering peaks, and the color of the water is so striking that it looks like someone dumped food coloring into a mountain lake.

Sperry Glacier

This challenging 12.8-mile round-trip hike takes you to one of the park’s most accessible glaciers, though ‘accessible’ is relative when you’re talking about gaining 3,400 feet in elevation. The trail starts at Lake McDonald Lodge and climbs relentlessly through switchbacks that test your endurance and determination. You’ll pass through multiple climate zones, from lakeside forests to alpine terrain where only the hardiest plants survive. The glacier itself is a remnant of the ice age, and standing before it gives you a tangible connection to the planet’s climate history.

Dawson Pass

This strenuous 15.6-mile round-trip hike starts from the Two Medicine area and takes you over one of the park’s most challenging passes. The trail gains about 2,800 feet in elevation, testing your fitness while rewarding you with some of the park’s most spectacular backcountry views. You’ll cross multiple ecosystems, from lakeside forests to alpine meadows where wildflowers create a carpet of color. The pass itself offers panoramic views that stretch for miles in every direction, making you feel like you’re at the center of the continent.

Siyeh Pass

This epic 10.4-mile point-to-point hike connects Siyeh Bend to Sunrift Gorge, taking you over one of the park’s most scenic high-altitude passes. The trail gains about 2,200 feet in elevation, but the views along the way make every step worthwhile. You’ll walk through alpine meadows where mountain goats graze peacefully, seemingly unbothered by the dramatic drop-offs nearby. The pass itself offers spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and valleys, and on clear days, you can see for miles across the wilderness that stretches to the horizon.

Belly River

This moderate 6.2-mile round-trip hike in the park’s remote northern section takes you to pristine Elizabeth Lake along the Belly River. The trail follows an old mining road, making for easy walking through diverse terrain that includes forests, meadows, and rocky areas. You’ll have excellent chances of spotting wildlife, including moose, bears, and various bird species that call this less-visited area home. The lake itself is a peaceful alpine gem surrounded by peaks, offering a sense of solitude that’s increasingly rare in our connected world.

A Legacy Written in Stone and Sky

These 18 trails represent more than just hiking opportunities — they’re pathways into a landscape that has remained largely unchanged for thousands of years. Each step connects you to the same wilderness that indigenous peoples knew intimately, that early explorers marveled at, and that continues to inspire visitors from around the world.

The park’s trail system serves as a bridge between our modern lives and the timeless rhythms of the natural world, offering experiences that remind us what truly matters. Whether you tackle one trail or all eighteen, you’re participating in a tradition of exploration and discovery that links past, present, and future in the most beautiful way possible.