My Top 5 Favorite Hikes in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise. With rugged alpine scenery, glacial lakes, and wildlife around every corner, it’s no surprise this place has captured my heart. Over the years, I’ve hiked countless trails in the park, but a few stand out as my absolute favorites. Whether you're planning your first trip or looking for inspiration for your next adventure, here are my top five hikes in Glacier:

1. Grinnell Glacier Trail

This hike is the one. I've done it twice now — and honestly, I’d do it again tomorrow if I could. Both times we started early, parking at the Many Glacier Hotel right as the sun was coming up. Pro tip: get there early. The parking fills up fast, and hiking early means fewer people on the trail and cooler temps. Plus, watching the sunrise light up the peaks from the hotel is something else.

We grabbed a coffee from the hotel café, refilled our water bottles, hit the restroom, and set off. The trail starts out fairly flat, tracing the shoreline of Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. But don’t get too comfortable — the climb begins soon after, and it’s a steady incline most of the way up to the glacier.

We never saw bears on this hike, but bear spray is a must. We did spot a moose though, just off the trail, which was absolutely surreal. Bring layers, even in summer — it gets windy and cold up at the glacier. We packed sandwiches and ate them at the top, bundled up against the chill and soaking in the stunning views of the glacier and its turquoise meltwater below.

The hike back is the same route you came up, which means you get to see the scenery from a new perspective. All in, it’s about 11 miles round-trip if you skip the boat ride (which we did). We capped off both hikes the same way — with a cold beer on the balcony of the Many Glacier Hotel, overlooking the lake and mountains.

2. Highline Trail

I’ve also done the Highline Trail twice, and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. This is the kind of trail that makes you feel like you’re walking on the edge of the world. But first: parking at Logan Pass is no joke — you have to be up super early if you want a spot. It fills up fast, especially in peak season.

There are two ways to do this hike, and I’ve done both. The first time, we hiked the full trail from Logan Pass to The Loop and took the shuttle back to our car. It’s about 13 miles and absolutely worth it — but also tough.

About halfway in, we decided to add the side hike to Grinnell Glacier Overlook. Let me just say — this was the hardest uphill climb I’ve ever done. It’s straight up for about 20 relentless minutes. Brutal, but worth it. The view from the top is insane — you can see Grinnell Glacier from above and the valley stretching out below. We ate lunch up there, but it was crazy windy, so again, bring layers.

After that, we descended back to the main trail and continued on to The Loop. The last 3 miles are almost entirely downhill, and they were rough. Our knees were killing us by the end. To top it off, we had a grizzly encounter in the last half-mile — it didn’t want to share the trail and actually started following us for a bit. That was... intense. Bring bear spray and know how to use it.

The second time, we decided to keep things a little simpler. We hiked out to Granite Park Chalet, had lunch at one of the picnic tables there, and then turned around and hiked back the way we came. I actually recommend this option:

• A) You don’t have to rely on the shuttle

• B) You skip the not-so-scenic (and knee-destroying) final descent to The Loop

• C) You still get all the epic views without the extra miles

Either way you choose to do it, this hike is incredible. Wildflowers, sweeping views of the valley, wildlife sightings — it's Glacier at its best.

3. Avalanche Lake

We did Avalanche Lake one afternoon after work when we were living in Montana — and honestly, it was the perfect late afternoon adventure. This trail is located on the west side of Glacier, which makes it super accessible if you're coming from Whitefish or Kalispell. That convenience alone makes it one of the best bang-for-your-buck hikes in the park.

It’s a moderate hike, about 4.5 miles round trip, with a gentle incline and just enough uphill to get your heart rate up. The trail begins on the Trail of the Cedars, a flat and peaceful boardwalk through old-growth forest — a destination in itself — before following Avalanche Creek up toward the lake.

The highlight, of course, is Avalanche Lake. Tucked beneath towering cliffs with multiple waterfalls cascading down into its glacial-blue waters, the view at the end is nothing short of stunning. We brought sandwiches (sensing a theme here?) and sat by the shoreline soaking it all in. Whether you want to lounge by the water, dip your feet in, or just sit quietly and take in the scene, it's an incredibly peaceful spot.

What I love most about this hike is that it’s not a full-day commitment. You can knock it out in a few hours, which makes it ideal if you're short on time, easing into Glacier hikes, or just want a laid-back afternoon in nature. Despite being easier and shorter than the big-name trails, it still offers that classic Glacier National Park wow factor.

4. Hidden Lake Overlook

For this one, you’ll start at Logan Pass, which is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road. The parking lot here is tiny and fills up fast, so early arrival is key. There's a ranger station with helpful maps and info, plus restrooms if you need to gear up before heading out.

The trail begins on a boardwalk that winds through an alpine meadow — absolutely stunning when the wildflowers are in bloom. It’s a relatively short and easy hike, about 2.7 miles round trip, and makes for the perfect leg-stretch if you’ve been driving through the park all day.

Eventually, you’ll reach a wooden overlook platform that offers one of the best views in Glacier — Hidden Lake glistening below with Bearhat Mountain rising dramatically behind it. It looks like a painting.

You can technically hike down to the lake, but both times I visited, the trail beyond the overlook was closed due to Grizzly activity — a common occurrence in this area. Honestly though, even just hiking to the overlook makes this trail totally worth it.

If you’re short on time, easing into hiking, or just want something low-effort with a massive scenic payoff, this is your trail. It’s also a great one to pair with another short hike or scenic drive on the same day.

5. St. Mary Falls

This one’s another short and easy hike, which makes it great if you’re short on time or just looking for a mellow afternoon trail. We actually did this after work one day and brought along a picnic — it turned into a really fun evening.

The trail is around 1.7 miles round trip, with only mild elevation change. You hike through a forest that’s recovering from past fires, which gives the landscape an open, sun-soaked feel. Eventually, you reach St. Mary Falls, a beautiful double waterfall spilling into a vibrant blue-green pool.

We kept it simple: hiked to the falls, hung out for a bit, and hiked back. There’s a river crossing near the start of the trail, and we couldn’t resist jumping in — it was freezing, but totally worth it for the rush.

Afterward, we spread out towels near the river and pulled out a sunset picnic: charcuterie, rosé, and good company. It was relaxed, beautiful, and a reminder that not every great Glacier memory needs to be a 13-mile grind.

That said, if you're only in the park for a short time and need to choose just a couple hikes, I probably wouldn’t prioritize this one over something like Grinnell or Highline. But if you’ve got time for an easy hike with a solid reward and a great setting for a picnic, this one’s a winner.