Last summer, we decided to be adventurous, and hit two national parks in one go!

One of my favorite adventures so far is the day we spent in Glacier National Park. Sadly, we overestimated ourselves and didn’t have time to camp in Glacier’s backcountry, but you can read about our backcountry camping experience in Yellowstone.

We did, however, have plenty of time to enjoy a few hiking trails, all while soaking in the wild beauty of Glacier. You’ll never guess what we ran into along the way!

 

Swiftcurrent Nature Trail

The first trail we explored in Glacier was the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail, an easy hike with beautiful lake views and mountain scenery. Add this hike to your list!

The Swiftcurrent Nature Trail loops around Swiftcurrent Lake for about 2.5 miles. The trail is easy and absolutely stunning, with mountains all around.

Access this trail from one of two trailheads: either the Many Glacier Hotel boat dock or the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead near the Many Glacier picnic area. About three quarters of a mile north from the boat dock you’ll pass the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead; continue to the left to rejoin the trail.

Views of the surrounding mountains and the Many Glacier Hotel follow you on this hike; I can only imagine the wonderful views from those hotel rooms! Several trails shoot off from the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail, taking you to different parts of the Many Glacier area of the park. They all look beautiful, and definitely made it on our bucket list!

 

Grinell Lake Trail

One of the trails off of the Swiftcurrent loop leads to Grinell Lake. The Grinell Lake Trail is 7.5 mile out and back (including a portion of the Swiftcurrent loop) with about 300 ft elevation gain.

There are three different ways to hike towards Grinell Lake. The trail takes you either north or south of Lake Josephine, adding a loop to the trail. The third option is to take the shuttle boat across Lake Josephine, which cuts about three miles off of your trek. If the shuttle boat is your thing, have at it! But I would definitely recommend the hike around the lake; it’s absolutely incredible.

First, we tried going around the south side of Lake Joesphine, when suddenly we saw some movement about twenty yards to our left.

There sat a baby black bear! He ran away at the sight of us, and we hurried along the trail… only to find that the south side was closed due to bear activity. Go figure.

We did not want to meet mama, so we all but ran back to the Swiftcurrent loop, and made our way around the north side of the lake.

There’s so many fun things to see along the trail! You can see a rainbow of pebbles in the lakes and streams and even cross a suspension bridge!

Grinell Lake itself features a beautiful waterfall. I suggest making the trek earlier in the day; by the time we arrived, the sun was going down, making it hard to see.

 

Finishing the Loop

We crossed back over the north side of Lake Josephine and made our way back towards Swiftcurrent Lake.

Suddenly, we heard a noise, and turned the corner to see a mama moose and her calf only a few feet in front of us! We stood in awe and let them cross the trail and splash into the lake. It was my first time ever seeing a moose; I didn’t expect to see one so close!

After the moose were several yards away, we continued along the loop. Always give animals a wide berth and follow Leave No Trace guidelines. As we approached the Many Glacier Hotel, we spotted a large gathering of people pointing at the mountainside.

What were they pointing at? Two grazing grizzlies! We watched them for a while before they disappeared, then we hopped back in the car to start the long drive home.

 

What I Learned

For one, I wouldn’t suggest trying to cram multiple parks into one trip, unless you’re vacationing for several weeks. Eight days just wasn’t enough time to experience all that we wanted to in both destinations.

Also, stretching is so important! We basically woke up at our KOA in Missoula and crammed into the car, drove for almost five hours, and immediately hit the trail. By the time we were halfway to Grinell Lake, I experienced some hip pain that greatly slowed down our group and left us with even less time! It even prevented us from traveling deeper into the park to the Grinell Glacier (but no worries, we’ll go back and see it next time!). Honestly, take the time to prepare for your hike. We’re all excited to hit the trail, but your body will thank you if you take time to take care of it.

We saw more wildlife in one day than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. Glacier is definitely an area where you need to take backcountry regulations seriously if you plan to spend the night. If planning a trip, be sure to read the National Park Service’s Backcountry Regulations and Suggested Gear List here.

Overall, Glacier was one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. We’ll be back!

Have you ever been to Glacier National Park? I’d love to hear about your experiences!