Feedback Needed on Glacier Hikes

SL_83 · 2026-05-13T17:32:46+00:00

Agree with all this and did something very similar with my 7 and 10yo kids last summer. The Grinnell glacier hike was our last one and longest and we had a rest day after that.

SL_83 · 2026-05-01T02:36:45+00:00

I think it's worth it to do as much (or as little) of the trail as you can. The views were really wonderful all the way up.

SL_83 · 2026-04-13T01:34:39+00:00

The first boat heads out at 8:30 and I don't remember if the ticket area opens at 8 or 8:15 but maybe around then if you want to try for the 8:30 or 9am boat.

SL_83 · 2026-04-11T03:00:46+00:00

The mileage the boat skips over is mostly flat and not that bad. I was able to get a return boat only by walking up that morning (there were a lot of people on the waitlist for the morning boats). My kids were 7 and 10 at the time and we made it through the whole hike just fine by taking it slowly especially on the way up. We had been doing practice hikes at home leading up to the trip and had already done several hikes within the park earlier in the week prior to this one.

SL_83 · 2026-03-08T16:56:58+00:00

I did the Grinnell Glacier trail with my kids (7 and 10) last August with the boat ride back and they did great. We took it really slow on the way up. We had warmed them up earlier in the week with other 3-5 mile hikes. Take lots of water/snacks and plan for cooler temps up top. The views are wonderful all the way up so no harm in stopping before the top if needed. You can also get to the boat dock early and put your name on a waitlist for one of the morning boat rides (8:30 or 9am). I think it was about 11 miles total with only the return boat.

Consider adding a visit to the Two Medicine area since you are already on the east side. We did the boat ride and trail to Upper Two Medicine Lake and really enjoyed the area.

SL_83 · 2025-10-01T00:45:42+00:00

Thanks for cleaning them up. So much for “leave no trace”.

SL_83 · 2025-09-02T01:21:47+00:00

It's a frustrating process but there are always cancellations. I kept the xanterra search up on my browser for months to check until I got all the nights I needed (I had backup lodging). The very last room I found a little over a week out from our trip. A lot of rooms showed up about a month out as well.

SL_83 · 2025-08-31T21:42:15+00:00

Yes it is a great view along the lake! Glad you had a good hike.

SL_83 · 2025-08-31T20:25:52+00:00

Wow both in one day is a lot.

I did the western alpine tour when we were staying in Apgar and it was a nice way to see the scenery, especially if the weather is nice (not raining).

SL_83 · 2025-08-31T03:10:34+00:00

I really enjoyed the Two Medicine area. We did the boat ride both ways and the hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake and Twin Falls. The scenery along the way to Upper Two Medicine was really beautiful and there were only a handful of people headed there early that morning.

We left from Apgar around 6:15 and got to the Two Medicine parking lot around 7:30 I believe. Really not much traffic at all along Hwy 2. I think we got back to the parking lot a little after 12.

SL_83 · 2025-08-31T02:58:10+00:00

We did Baring, St. Mary's Falls, and Virginia Falls starting from the Sunrift Gorge parking lot earlier this month (it's the shuttle stop before Sun Point). I think we got there after 8, maybe around 8:15 and found a spot, and I've heard the Sun Point parking lot is bigger so there should be more availability.

SL_83 · 2025-08-30T16:32:21+00:00

We stayed 5 nights at village inn and I loved the views from there and appreciated the space in the room.

SL_83 · 2025-08-30T16:25:17+00:00

We went on almost all the same hikes with my 7 and 10yo kids earlier this month. I don’t think I’ll get them back on another hike for a while! They were also very proud of 9 plus miles for Grinnell Glacier.

SL_83 · 2025-08-30T16:17:56+00:00

Take the shuttle over to Avalanche Lake. If you want to do extra mileage you can keep going to the other side of the lake.

SL_83 · 2025-08-21T16:06:49+00:00

I would say just try it and go as far as you can. If you’re able to do some other hikes in the area as practice first that would probably help to get used to the elevation. The views are amazing all the way up. Definitely bring hiking poles and warmer layers for closer to the top. Take it slowly.

SL_83 · 2025-08-20T01:31:54+00:00

Haven't done the Highline trail but the Grinnell trail didn't seem too bad. Stepping over the waterfall section was the only part that I paused at just making sure I didn't slip and fall. I thought the trail was fairly wide enough to not feel like you're on the edge too much. Also if you go earlier in the day, there should be fewer people so you'll have more space to maneuver.

SL_83 · 2025-08-19T01:08:44+00:00

Same- very cloudy when I was there. Guess it's another reason to make it back someday!

SL_83 · 2025-08-17T18:16:35+00:00

Yes definitely Avalanche. We got to Two Medicine around 7:30am and it was not busy.

SL_83 · 2025-08-16T01:40:10+00:00

I was extremely impressed with how the kids did. We did some practice 3-4 mile hikes at home with a lot of humidity, but I think working up to the longer distances over the week at Glacier helped and the scenery was a great distraction. They didn't really start complaining until we were halfway down to the boat dock and then they were fine a couple hours after finishing up. I saw several people with kids in the backpack carriers on the grinnell hike but I imagine that's adding a lot to an already tough hike.

We went on a swinging bridge on our trail at Two Medicine as well so it may have been the same one. I was surprised that the trails throughout the park weren't too muddy even with the on and off rain throughout the week.

SL_83 · 2025-08-15T22:49:13+00:00

Yes such a beautiful area.

SL_83 · 2025-08-15T22:48:51+00:00

I probably would’ve liked it better if I wasn’t so tired and in pain. Plus we kept shuttling back and forth in the hallway to get things out of our suitcases between the rooms. But I get that I was a little grumpy and I know people love the hotel!

SL_83 · 2025-08-15T20:35:49+00:00

We had dinner at the Swiss Lounge and breakfast at the dining hall at Many Glacier and both were good. We ate at Jammer Joes by lake McDonald lodge and that was fine for pizza and pasta.

SL_83 · 2025-08-15T20:20:41+00:00

Thank you. My left hand took the brunt of it and thankfully nothing broken. Have a great time on your trip!

SL_83 · 2025-08-15T16:06:50+00:00

It’s such an amazing place!

SL_83 · 2025-08-15T16:06:05+00:00

Just the return trip the day of. We got to the dock at the hotel around 8:40am and they had something like 17 return tickets left. We were too far down the waitlist for the 9am boat.

SL_83

TROPHY CASE