You don’t always have to hike a dozen miles to truly experience a national park. This is especially true in Glacier National Park, where several fun, short and easy hiking trails lead to spectacular views and through beautiful scenery.
There are easy hikes in Glacier National Park throughout the entire park, from Lake McDonald to Logan Pass, the St. Mary Lake area and Many Glacier.
Whether you’re looking for a short leg stretcher in the woods, a lakeshore stroll or a walk to a panoramic overlook, you’ll find an option (or two) in Glacier National Park.
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7 Awesome Short and Easy Hikes in Glacier National Park
This overview of the best easy hikes in Glacier includes a handful of trails along the ultra-popular Going-to-the-Sun Road, as well as a few phenomenal hikes in the glorious Many Glacier valley.
If your time in the park is limited, I suggest focusing on one of those general areas.
However, I do recommend giving yourself plenty of time to explore more of this magnificent national park in the Northern Rockies. After all, you probably don’t go to Glacier every year, so why not spend a couple of extra days there?
Information About Glacier National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Glacier National Park Hiking Trails
- Top Attractions on Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Best Panoramic Views on Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Top Things to Do at Many Glacier
- Top Things to Do at Lake McDonald
- Where to See Wildlife in Glacier National Park
- Accommodation
Easy Hikes on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
1. Johns Lake Loop Trail
The Johns Lake Loop is a great introduction to the verdant forests of Glacier’s west side. The trailhead is just over a mile north of Lake McDonald Lodge on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
You can either go for a quick 1.8-mile circuit around this tiny lake or—the option I personally recommend—opt for the longer loop around the area.
Explore a dense old-growth forest of hemlocks and red cedars, occasionally catching a glimpse of Johns Lake. Keep an eye out for moose as you walk along the lakeshore.
The loop continues on the other side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, where you’ll cross scenic McDonald Creek and hike past beautifully photogenic spots like the Sacred Dancing Cascades and McDonald Falls.
- Area: Lake McDonald (Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Side)
- Trailhead: Johns Lake Trailhead, 1.3 miles north of Lake McDonald Lodge
- Distance: 1.8 – 3 miles (loop)
- Elevation gain: –
2. Trail of the Cedars
One of the most popular easy hikes in Glacier National Park, the Trail of the Cedars starts at the extremely popular Avalanche Picnic Area. Make sure to get here as early in the morning as you can to find a parking spot.
(In spring, before the Going-to-the-Sun Road fully opens, the Avalanche Picnic Area is typically as far as you can drive up the road. As such, it can get very busy here.)
A wonderful loop, this trail is mainly a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that runs through a beautiful rain forest reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest.
There’s no elevation gain to speak of, making this a fantastic, easy hiking option for people with different abilities or less desire to take on the more challenging Glacier National Park trails.
As you stroll through a forest of towering 500-year-old red cedars, black cottonwoods and hemlocks, listen to the song of birds and take in the wonderful woodland scents.
The Trail of the Cedars also crosses two bridges across Avalanche Creek, which is especially stunning at Avalanche Gorge.
Although a very short and easy trail in Glacier National Park, this is one of the park’s top hikes, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in Glacier’s lush west side forests.
Additionally, for a longer hike, you can combine the Trail of the Cedars with the excellent Avalanche Lake Trail, which splits off from the trail about halfway around the loop.
- Area: Lake McDonald (Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Side)
- Trailhead: Avalanche Picnic Area
- Distance: 0.7 miles (loop)
- Elevation gain: –
3. Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
Often (partially) snow covered and marked by poles well into July, the Hidden Lake Overlook is an amazing hike. It is also very, very crowded, though, so it’s best done right after sunrise or just before sunset, which are also the best times for photography.
The trailhead is directly behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center. A boardwalk leads the way during the first half of the hike, protecting the fragile alpine meadows below. Stay on it!
As the trail climbs gradually to the Hidden Lake Overlook, you can enjoy panoramic views of Logan Pass and see ancient rock layers in the cliffs of Clements Mountain to your right.
The upper section of the trail features small waterfalls and reflective moraines, as well as excellent opportunities to see mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
The Hidden Lake Overlook Trail also runs straight through prime grizzly bear habitat. As such, it’s one of the best places to see wildlife in Glacier National Park.
From the platform at Hidden Lake Overlook, one of Glacier National Park’s most iconic landscapes sprawls before you: Hidden Lake backed by striking Bearhat Mountain.
Although the trail to Hidden Lake Overlook does have some elevation gain, it’s perfectly manageable for most people. The ascent is fairly gentle, with some short steeper sections here and there. Take your time, the alpine scenery is magnificent!
- Area: Logan Pass (Going-to-the-Sun Road)
- Trailhead: Logan Pass, behind the Visitor Center
- Distance: 2.8 miles (out and back)
- Elevation gain: 460 feet
4. St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail
There are few easy day hikes in Glacier National Park that lead to waterfalls and none are as great as the St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail. Depending on where you start this hike near the head of St. Mary Lake, distances vary. I’ll describe the shortest option below.
The most direct routes to St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls start at the St. Mary Falls Shuttle Stop or Trailhead on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The total distance from these starting points is respectively 3.2 and 3.6 miles. (Other places where you can start this hike are Sunrift Gorge and Sun Point, both of which add several miles to its total distance.)
From either the shuttle stop or trailhead, this extremely popular Glacier National Park trail first descends for about 1 mile toward St. Mary Falls, a picturesque multi-tiered waterfall in a small gorge. On a hot summer’s day, you’ll certainly relish the cooler temperatures at the falls.
Cross the wooden bridge across the stream and climb about 0.7 miles to beautiful Virginia Falls.
This large and wide waterfall makes for a great picnic spot. Often windy, there’s a constant spray of droplets coming from the waterfall, a welcome way to cool off when it’s hot.
- Area: St. Mary Lake (Going-to-the-Sun Road, East Side)
- Trailhead: St. Mary Falls Trailhead or Shuttle Stop
- Distance: 3.2 – 3.6 miles (out and back)
- Elevation gain: 260 feet loss, then 285 feet gain
Easy Hikes in the Many Glacier Area of Glacier National Park
5. Swiftcurrent Nature Trail
Partly wheelchair-accessible, the scenic Swiftcurrent Nature Trail is an easy 2.3-mile circuit around beautiful Swiftcurrent Lake in Many Glacier. It’s both one of the most photogenic and easiest trails in Glacier National Park.
You can start this hike—it’s more of a stroll, really—at the Swiftcurrent Picnic Area or Many Glacier Hotel.
While walking along the lakeshore, watch people kayaking and canoeing, keep your eyes out for moose and bears, and enjoy superb views of the iconic Many Glacier Hotel, striking Grinnell Point and other spectacular natural features.
- Area: Many Glacier
- Trailhead: Swiftcurrent Picnic Area or Many Glacier Hotel
- Distance: 2.3 miles (loop)
- Elevation gain: –
6. Fishercap Lake and Redrock Falls Trail
An easy journey into the scenic Swiftcurrent Valley at Many Glacier, Redrock Falls is a fun outing to two shimmering lakes and a beautiful waterfall. It’s one of the most popular short hikes in Glacier National Park to do with kids.
Start at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and follow the trail into the forest. You’ll quickly get to a spur trail to the shore of Fishercap Lake, where it’s not unusual to spot a moose.
The trail continues parallel to a bubbling creek toward Redrock Lake, at the end of which you’ll arrive at photogenic Redrock Falls, a nice picnic spot and popular among children.
Bring your binoculars and scan the surrounding hillsides for bears from the top of the falls, before returning the same way you came.
- Area: Many Glacier
- Trailhead: Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
- Distance: 3.6 miles (out and back)
- Elevation gain: 100 feet
7. Grinnell Lake Trail
After hiking a part of the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail in Many Glacier, head deeper into the wildlife-rich wilderness of Many Glacier on the Lake Josephine Trail.
Cross the small hill behind Swiftcurrent Lake and follow the north shore of Josephine Lake to the boat dock at its far end.
At the trail junction, follow the Grinnell Lake Trail to this beautiful turquoise lake. Rest your legs and take in the glorious landscape before retracing your steps back to the boat dock, along Lake Josephine and all the way back to the trailhead.
This is the longest option to the hike to Grinnell Lake, a 6.8-mile roundtrip hike, which is still relatively easy.
Another option is to catch the tour boat back from the dock at the far end of Lake Josephine. It’s important to know, however, that people who have boat reservations have priority.
When it’s busy, you may have to wait a while to find a seat on a tour boat, or you may not find a seat at all. It’s best to plan this hike in advance if you’d like to combine it with a tour boat trip—buy tickets, in other words.
The shortest option to hike to Grinnell Lake is to take a complete out-and-back boat tour from Many Glacier Hotel to the furthest dock, and hike from the dock to the lake. This roundtrip distance is 2.2 miles.
- Area: Many Glacier
- Trailhead: Swiftcurrent Picnic Area, Many Glacier Hotel or boat dock at the far end of Lake Josephine
- Distance: 2.2 – 6.8 miles (out and back)
- Elevation gain: 60 feet
Wildlife Safety
Note: The Many Glacier area is famous for its rich wildlife. It’s home to a very dense population of both black bears and grizzly bears, as well as moose. Keep an eye out while hiking, even if it’s on busy and easy trails in Glacier National Park. Hike in groups of three people or more, make noise and always bring bear spray.
Remember that you might run into a (large) wild animal anywhere in the park, from Lake McDonald to Logan Pass, St. Mary and Many Glacier.
- Learn what to do when encountering black bears here
- Learn what to do when encountering grizzly bears here
- Learn how to use bear spray correctly here
- Learn what to do when encountering moose here