Glacier Adventure Trip
Game Plan
While you'd be hard-pressed to come up with any bad hikes in Glacier, the best ones are generally up on the Continental Divide. Case in point: the four-day, 21-mile trek from Cut Bank trailhead to Two Medicine in the southeast of the park. From Cut Bank, hike four miles to Atlantic Creek Campground and do some fishing in Medicine Grizzly Lake. If you're lucky, you'll come away with a dinner of rainbow trout. Take a layover day to hike three miles to Triple Divide Pass; the peak directly southwest is the only place in the nation where water drains into the Atlantic, Pacific, and north into Hudson Bay. From there, proceed along talus slopes to Morning Star Campground. Day three takes you over Pitamakan Pass and Dawson Pass, where you should ditch your load to dash up nearby Flinsch Peak (9,225 feet). End the day at No Name Lake. The final hike out to the Two Medicine North Shore trailhead traces the edge of Two Medicine Lake, where you have the option of snagging a lift on a tour boat ($11.25) for the final few miles. After all, you've earned it.
Vitals
Backcountry permits are required for overnight hikes ($5), and campsite reservations are recommended ($30; nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm has forms). Glacier Park Boat Co. runs ferries on Two Medicine Lake (glacierparkboats.com).
The Must-Do
If the dire projections are correct, Glacier National Park will be bereft of glaciers by 2030. So get going. High above the milky waters of Grinnell Lake, Grinnell Glacier is the most stunning in the park. It's accessible via a boat trip across Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes, then a 3.8-mile hike.
Base Camp
Due to its Matterhorn-like peaks, the park's Many Glacier area has been dubbed the "Swiss Alps of America"—a theme the Many Glacier Hotel runs with. The chalet-style lodge lays on such touches as afternoon fondue and a Heidi-themed gift shop. Frankly, the overly Alpine atmosphere can be a bit cloying, but you can't argue with good rooms in a great location (doubles from $142; glacierparkinc.com).
Related Topics
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
Science
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
- The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and MounjaroThe unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro
- Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.
Travel
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
- On the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migrationOn the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migration
- Everything you need to know about Everglades National ParkEverything you need to know about Everglades National Park