5 Best Short and Easy Hikes in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is a spectacular place full of majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and impressive glaciers. Hiking is a special way to experience the magic of this national park, and this article is here to help you find the best easy hikes in Glacier!

No matter your age, ability, or skill level, there is a fabulous hike in Glacier for you. The best easy hikes in Glacier are St. Mary Falls, Grinnell Lake, Hidden Lake Overlook, Fishercap Lake, and the Trail of the Cedars.

My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I think that this park is best seen from the trail, which is why I’m so excited to share the best easy hikes in Glacier with you. Let’s talk about your hiking options!

---

What are the Best Easy Hikes in Glacier?

Glacier has many easy hiking options, and each one provides a unique experience to see the park’s famous mountains and waterfalls.

If a trail is less than three miles, doesn’t have more than 500 feet of elevation gain, and is somewhere I take my own small children, it’s included in this list of the best easy hiking trails in Glacier.

St. Mary Falls

St. Mary Falls is one of the most powerful and beautiful waterfalls in the park, and its vibrant blue color is unforgettable. The hike itself isn’t anything to write home about, but seeing the falls makes it all worth it!

St. Mary Falls Trail Information

Distance: 1.7 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 260 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No

There are several different ways to reach the trail to St. Mary Falls. The main trailhead is a small parking lot along the Going-to-the-Sun Road where you can park your personal vehicle. If you don’t want to deal with trying to find parking here, you can take the free park shuttle to the St. Mary Falls Trailhead. The park shuttle stop is about 0.25 miles from the trailhead parking lot and will make your hike a little shorter. You can also access St. Mary Falls from Sunrift Gorge or Sun Point, but it will add mileage to your hike.

The trail to St. Mary Falls goes down in elevation to reach the waterfall, so you’ll be hiking uphill on your way out. This area was burned by a wildfire in 2015 and is still recovering, so expect very little shade as you hike to the falls.

After enjoying the spray of St. Mary Falls, turn around and return the way you came. If you can hike a little further, I highly recommend continuing on to Virginia Falls (which will add about 1.4 miles to your hike round trip).

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include Baring Falls, Sunrift Gorge, and Sun Point.

Location

The St. Mary Falls trailhead parking is located about 5 miles west of Rising Sun on the east side of the park.

Grinnell Lake

The Grinnell Lake Trail is a short and easy hike that leads to a sparkling lake tucked between the mountains. I love this hike because you get to ride on two boats through one of the most wildlife-dense areas of the park to reach the trailhead. Add in a fun suspension bridge and a shallow lake with waterfalls and cliffs, and your whole family will feel like they just went on a grand adventure!

Grinnell Lake Trail Information

Distance: 2 miles roundtrip with the boat tour
Elevation: 40 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This trail begins at the historic Many Glacier Hotel, where you’ll catch a boat across Swiftcurrent Lake. After taking the boat across the lake, you’ll get out and hike about 0.25 miles to the shore of Lake Josephine, where you’ll then catch another boat ride to the Grinnell Lake Trailhead. We almost always see moose while we’re taking the boats across the lakes!

Note: if you don’t take the boat tour, you can hike around the lakes to reach the trailhead, but it will add 5 miles to your hike.

When you disembark the boat after reaching the other end of Lake Josephine, you’ll start hiking! The trail is mostly flat as it travels through the forest and over a fun suspension bridge to the shores of Grinnell Lake.

Bring snacks or a picnic and enjoy your time soaking in the views before hiking back to the boat dock. You can stay out here as long as you want — just be sure you don’t miss the last boat back to the Many Glacier Hotel.

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail and Redrock Falls.

Location

The Grinnell Lake Trail begins at the Many Glacier Hotel on the east side of the park.

Hidden Lake Overlook

When you reach Logan Pass at the top of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, you’ll find some of the most spectacular views! The Hidden Lake Overlook Trail is one of the easiest ways to see Glacier’s amazing high alpine landscape from the trail.

Hidden Lake Overlook Trail Information

Distance: 2.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 460 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This trail is the most challenging hike on this list due to the elevation gain and length, but it’s still a great, family-friendly option.

You’ll hike through a beautiful alpine meadow, a fragile area where you’ll often find wildflowers and wildlife. To protect the meadow, you’ll hike primarily on boardwalks so please stay on the trail.

Snow usually remains on this trail well into July, and you’ll typically see wildflowers from July to September. Mountain goats are common along this trail, so have your camera ready and give them their space!

You’ll gradually gain elevation as you work your way to the overlook. When you reach the overlook, you’ll see the dramatic Bearhat Mountain in front of you and Hidden Lake below you. The overlook marks the end of the easy portion of the trail, but you can continue on to the lakeshore if you’re willing to lose 780 feet of elevation and add another 2.4 miles to your hike.

Location

The Hidden Lake Overlook Trail is located at Logan Pass along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Take a look at this itinerary if you’re hoping to find parking and avoid some of the big crowding issues common in this area.

Fishercap Lake

Even though Fishercap Lake is small and unassuming, it’s one of my favorite short and easy hikes in Glacier. This is one of the best places to look for a moose!

Fishercap Lake Trail Information

Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 15 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

There isn’t much to this trail — it’s short and flat, and you’ll get to the lake in no time. The trickiest part is finding the small spur trail that leaves the main trail and takes you down to the lakeshore. As you hike, you’ll want to look for an obvious side trail to your left beyond the bridge that crosses over the stream.

Moose really like feeding on the plants in this lake, but often, you’ll have to sit and wait. Try visiting around dawn or dusk when the animals are most active. I’ve also seen mountain goats climbing up the nearby mountains and bears on the trail, so you never know what you’ll encounter!

If you’d like to further explore this area, you can continue hiking to Redrock Falls, which adds about 200 feet of elevation and 3.1 miles as you pass by another lake to reach the falls.

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail and Grinnell Lake.

Location

The Fishercap Lake Trail starts at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn in the Many Glacier area of the park.

Trail of the Cedars

The Trail of the Cedars is a flat, wheelchair-friendly boardwalk trail that meanders through a beautiful old-growth stand of trees. You’ll love the moodiness of the forest here, and there’s a beautiful surprise waiting as you walk along this trail!

Trail of the Cedars Trail Information

Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Elevation: 0 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This trail loops through a quiet and peaceful old-growth forest along a boardwalk. As you walk, you can learn about the trees by reading the informational panels along the way.

As you reach the halfway point of the loop, you’ll go over a bridge that spans Avalanche Gorge. Admire the powerful and vibrant water as it carves its way through the colorful gorge!

Just a few steps from Avalanche Gorge, you’ll see the Avalanche Lake Trail making its way up the hill. Avalanche Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier, and it will add another 3.6 miles and 500 feet of elevation to your hike. If you don’t want to hike all the way to Avalanche Lake, you can hike up the hill for a moment for birds-eye views of Avalanche Gorge.

(ALTERNATIVE) Other easy hikes in the area include the Johns Lake Loop and the Apgar Bike Path.

Location

The Trail of the Cedars starts across the street from the Avalanche Creek Picnic Area, about 5 miles north of the Lake McDonald Lodge.

What are the Best Wheelchair-Friendly Trails in Glacier?

Glacier has several lovely wheelchair-friendly trails! You can find more specific and detailed information on the park’s website, but here are my picks for the top trails with the best views or most interesting features.

McDonald Falls — this waterfall is just off the Going-to-the-Sun Road near the Lake McDonald Lodge. The Upper McDonald Creek pathway leads to an overlook of this charming area.

Trail of the Cedars — this trail is about 1-mile roundtrip and travels through a beautiful forest of old cedar trees. More details about this trail are outlined in the section above.

Oberlin Bend — this pathway leads to a dramatic view of the mountains from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Running Eagle Falls — if you find yourself in the Two Medicine area of the park, be sure to visit this unique waterfall. This trail is not accessible all the way to the waterfall. If you have assistance, you may be able to go far enough to get a view of the waterfall from a distance.

Swiftcurrent Nature Trail — the first 0.25 miles of the nature trail is wheelchair-friendly as it travels along the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake.

Apgar Bike Path — you’ll find this accessible paved pathway from Apgar Village to the West Entrance, which travels through the forest and is about 2 miles each way.

Glacier Hiking Regulations

To protect this beautiful place and leave it better than you found it, please follow these regulations:

• Don’t take anything. Rocks, flowers, sticks, antlers, etc., must stay in the national park. If you find something cool, take a picture of it, but please don’t remove it.

• Stay on the trail. Please don’t make your own trail or follow trails that other people have made. This is for your own safety and to prevent soil erosion and stomping of plants.

• Don’t feed the wildlife. These animals need to be able to find food on their own in order to survive the harsh winters. They often become aggressive and transmit diseases to humans if fed. Maintain a safe distance from the park’s wildlife to avoid injury or death.

• Don’t leave food or backpacks unattended, even for a quick minute. Always keep your pack within arms reach while hiking or camping in Glacier National Park to avoid unwanted wildlife encounters.

• Pets are not allowed on any park trails. See where you can take your pets if you bring them to the park.

What are the Best Longer Day Hikes in Glacier?

If you’re able to hike longer distances and are feeling extra adventurous, Glacier has many phenomenal longer trails that travel to places most people never see. These trails are definitely not easy, but if you’re looking for a challenge, consider hiking to Avalanche Lake, Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, or along the Highline Trail.

Avalanche Lake

The hike to Avalanche Lake is the park’s best-known longer dayhike, but it’s not too hard or too long (I take my young kids on it all the time)! You won’t have this trail to yourself, but you’ll enjoy the lake with its dramatic waterfalls.

Grinnell Glacier

If you’re hoping to see a glacier while you’re in Glacier, hiking the Grinnell Glacier Trail is an amazing way to see one up close. This trail is exciting and adventurous, with amazing views and wildlife sighting opportunities.

Iceberg Lake

Iceberg Lake is a stunning lake in one of the most wildlife-rich areas of the park.

Highline Trail

This is Glacier’s premier dayhike, and it deserves every accolade it receives! If you love to hike, you haven’t been to Glacier until you’ve completed the Highline Trail.

This park has so many magnificent hikes to accomplish. I hope you enjoy these easy trails in Glacier National Park — happy hiking!

This post may contain affiliate links. Dirt In My Shoes gets paid a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you purchase from these links. Thanks for your support!