Cracker Lake Trail

Cracker Lake Trail
   6.1 miles elevation gain 1,400 feet
   Limited Shuttle Service
   The first couple of miles of this trail is a heavily used horse trail
   Scenic hike
   Strenuous hike based on length

Cracker Lake July 2008

NPS Trail Report as of 8-17-11
Cracker Lake Trail

Trail free of snow and trees, 8/15/11

Snow coverage remains around 10% the last two miles,
with several potentially hazardous snow bridges. 7/15/11
TRAIL POSTED: 7/12/11 for bear frequenting
Trailhead at Hotel to Cracker Lake Campground/ 6.1 mi
Initial clearing scheduled for: 7/1/11
Trail is very muddy, 20% snow covered until the Canyon Creek Bridge,
Creek is running over and around what's left of existing bridge.
Water is muddy and fast moving as stated below 6/30/11

WATER HAZARD: 6/24/11 1.5 miles from trailhead Allen Creek Bridge is damaged and out creating a Hazardous Water Crossing.
Trail is cleared of trees for the first mile and a half from the trailhead to the bridge and the snowfield is gone: 6/28/2011
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Cracker Lake Trail is muddy at the start. I hiked to the base of Swiftcurrent Mountain and a little ways up on 7-28-11 and based on wildflower conditions on that trail and the still lingering snow conditions for the last mile on the Cracker Lake Trail, this trail will be a great wildflower trail in August. It is currently hikeable if you are experienced with crossing snow and have the knowledge for what hazards to look out for.
The Cracker Lake Trail starts at the south west end of the upper parking lot for Many Glacier Hotel. The trail drops down to follow above the shoreline of Lake Sherbourne, during 2008 Lake Sherbourne (reservoir) was at full pool and very picturesque. The Cracker Lake Trail starts a gradual climb near Allen Creek. Shortly after starting the climb to Cracker Lake the horse trail is thankfully left behind. The Cracker Lake Trail takes the right fork on BOTH trail intersections. NOTE: There is a trail junction which only has a sign for the horse trail, take the right unsigned fork to Cracker Lake!

cracker flats sign

The first mile or so of this trail is shared with horses, that part of the trail can be very buggy, messy, and odiferous! At this point Cracker Lake Trail is above and to the south of the outflow from Swiftcurrent Lake. Cracker Lake Trail then passes above the shore of Lake Sherbourne, most times this would be above muddy flats but during the summer of 2008 the water was at its highest level and the trail provides nice views across the surface of Lake Sherbourne. The red mountain, to the north, across Lake Sherbourne is Apakuni Mountain.

Cracker Lake Trail (see Google Map of Cracker Lake Trail) turns away from Lake Sherbourne and begins its first climb between Allen Creek and Canyon Creek. The Terrain View in the Google Map of Cracker Lake Trail is your best source of information regarding the layout of the actual trail. The bonus is the Hybrid View allows you to see the entire trail from a big birds eye view.

After the last of the lower switchbacks the trail pulls away from Allen Creek and rises a few hundred feet above Canyon Creek. Wynn Mountain (8,402 feet) is visible through the trees across the canyon.

Unlike many of the heavily forested trails in Glacier National Park, Cracker Lake Trail has frequent, spectacular, glimpses of the surrounding mountains. Snow clears from the Cracker Lake Trail early in the season. On a warm, sunny day this trail can get hot when, bring extra water or a water filter.

Cracker Lake is not visible until you are near the shoreline. The distinctive turquoise color of a glacier fed lake is visible from the shoreline as well as from points above the lake. The vibrant turquoise color of Cracker Lake is the most distinct of any of the glacier fed lakes that I have hiked to in Glacier National Park. The Cracker Lake Trail has been listed as one of the top five things to do in Glacier National Park by several large organizations so expect bigger crowds on the trail this year.

Siyeh Glacier has melted, a small permanent snow field is all that remains of this glacier. If anyone knows of a source for public domain photos of Siyeh Glacier please contact me.

cracker from siyeh Glacier National Park

Cracker Lake from the top of Mount Siyeh! This view point is 4,000 feet above Cracker Lake.

View on leaving Cracker Lake and returning to Many Glacier. Entering a grove of sub alpine fir. The sub alpine fir on this trail is frequently scoured by avalanches.

horse pack train arrow lake glacier park 1913

The horse pack train pictured above taken during the summer 1913 in Glacier National Park is representative of what you would have seen along Cracker Lake Trail during the early years when nearly all trails were explored on horseback. Cracker Lake Trail is one of the few remaining horse trails in Glacier National Park.

Cracker Lake Trail dries out early and has a diverse collection of wildflowers. In the past I have avoided Cracker Lake Trail, due to the heavy horse traffic, but after hiking it in the summer of 2008 Cracker Lake Trail has now been added to my list of trails that I want to do again. There is no longer a glacier above Cracker Lake, now there is only a small permanent snow field.

The abundance, or conversely the absence of wildflowers on the Cracker Lake Trail is subject to the whims of rain, snow and drought. 2008 joins 2005 as a great wildflower year. Wildflowers generally bloom shortly after the snow melts. Some hikers are what I call ticket punchers, they gather a list of trials to hike, they hike in stay for five minutes and then hike out. One more hike checked off there list. Not my style of hiking! One of the advantages of being a slow hiking is to enjoy the views, the wildlife, the tranquility and to stop and smell the flowers.

A slow hikers guide™ to Cracker Lake Trail Glacier National Park

Cracker Lake Trail