Grinnell Lake Trail
NPS Trail Crew Report 9-30-11
Cataract Creek Suspension Bridge: Removed 9/28/11
Oastler Shelter to Grinnell Lake (also Hidden Falls) 1.0 mi.
Cataract Creek Suspension Bridge: Installed 6/28/11.
Trail has patchy snow. 6/28/2011
- Grinnell Lake Trail
3.4 miles from Many Glacier Hotel
0.9 miles from the head of Josephine Lake
by way of Glacier Boat.
This trail suffered extensive damage during
'The Pineapple Express' in November of 2006.
Limited Shuttle Service
Easy hike
Grinnell Lake late summer with a view of
Salamander Glacier nestled in the mountains.
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| You can see Salamander Glacier from Grinnel Lake but you cannot see Grinnell Glacier from Grinnell Lake. You can see all three glaciers from Apikuni Falls Trail, although you can't see all of Grinnell Glacier anywhere except for Grinnell Glacier Overlook or from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook which is a spur trail of the Highline Trail. (well you see see Grinnell Glacier from the tops of several mountains, but there are no designated trails to their summits.
The Grinnel Lake Trail is one of the easiest hikes in Glacier Park, particularly if you take Glacier Boat from Many Glacier Hotel.
For a much more challenging approach you can also reach the shore of Grinnell Lake by crossing the continental divide hiking the Piegan Pass Trail. From the current snow conditions hiking from Siyeh Bend on The Going To The Sun Road across Piegan Pass and down to Grinnell Lake won't be clear of snow until the middle of August, 2011.
NPS Trail Crew Reports changed radically for Grinnell Lake hike over a very short period of time but this trail is 2,500 feet lower then Piegan Pass. The most populat method of getting to Grinnell Lake is by way of Glacier Boat, then on to Grinnell Lake through the woods, which will most likely be wet and muddy for sometime.
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I remember first seeing a print of Grinnell Lake in a photo taken from the Grinnell Glacier Trail & thinking what a poor color reproduction the print was of the color of the water in the lake. Well if you hike the Grinnell Glacier Trail you can see for yourself that glacier flur from Grinnell Glacier transforms the lake surface into an emerald color. From the shores of Grinnell Lake the emerald color of the water is not readily apparent. Cracker Lake water is a brilliant emerald color from the shore as well as from 4,000 feet above. Grinnel Lake Trail gets lots of hikers arriving in large groups by horse back and by boat. These group hikers arrive in waves and genrally don't linger long at the lake shore.
You can see Grinnell Lake and Gem Glacier from a short distance up the Grinnell Glacier Trail. It's well worth the extra effort to add this jaunt to the Grinnell Lake Trail. When you come back to the boat launch follow the board walk and then take the switch backs up to the Grinnell Glacier Trail. Looking at Grinnell Lake from the shore line and then from above is a very interesting experience.
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