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Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks: A Guide to More Than 60 of the Area's Greatest Hiking Adventures (Hiking Glacier & Waterton Lakes National Parks)
by Erik Molvar
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Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter, and GPSby Bob Burns
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Bear Aware 3RD Edition
by Bill Schneider
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  • Iceberg Lake Trail
       4.8 miles elevation gain 1,200 feet
       Crowds, heavily traveled trail.
       Limited Shuttle Service
       Moderate/Strenuous hike


Iceberg Lake Trail is one of the more popular trails in Glacier Park. Iceberg Lake Trail is usually a very crowded trail. Wildflowers can be spectacular on this trail. Iceberg Lake Trail trail is very frequently closed because of bear activity. The trailhead is behind the Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge, take the last right hand turn before the end of Many Glacier Road. There is a small parking area for Iceberg Trail. On most trails in Glacier Park bugs aren't a problem. Iceberg Lake Trail is usually a very buggy trail. The steepest part of Iceberg Lake Trail is at the trailhead, after the initial climb the trail ascends to Iceberg Lake very gradually.

2009/2010 was a light snow year.
2008/2009 was a heavy snow year. This trail wasn't completely clear of snow until mid July.


Iceberg  Lake 2005 Glacier National Park © Shawn Coggins


© Shawn Coggins 2005 Glacier National Park, Montana.
Iceberg Lake, no glacier. July 20, 2005.
by mid August there were no icebergs

iceberg lake 1911 usgs

USGS photo Glacier National Park, Montana.
August 13, 1911.

iceberg glacier 1911 Glacier National Park

USGS photo Glacier National Park, Montana.
Front of glacier at Iceberg Lake, showing crevasses.
August 13, 1911. Alden, W.C. 551


There is no longer a glacier at Iceberg Lake. Barely a permanent snow field.

iceberg on iceberg lake glacier national park © Shawn Coggins 2005



Small Iceberg on Iceberg Lake, July 2005, compared to the icebergs in Upper Grinnell Lake these guys are ice cubes! Of all the trails I've hiked in Glacier Park this is the buggiest.

iceberg 1920



USGS photo August 25, 1920 Alden, W.C. 1040 Glacier National Park Montana.
View of southern part of the front of glacier at Iceberg Glacier, Glacier National Park Montana.
Showing vertical ice cliff, upturned dirt bands, and rock debris on surface.

wildflowers iceberg lake trail glacier national park



Iceberg Lake July 2005 was for me the year of the flowers. The wildflowers below were taken on the meadow next to Iceberg Lake. The amount of wildflowers blooming varies greatly from year to year.

These flowers were taken on the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail a few days before. I've lost track of how many times I've hiked the Iceberg Lake Trail. 2005 was the last year that I hiked Iceberg Lake Trail, trying to get to other trails that I haven't ever hiked.

blue flowers ptarmigan lake 2005 glacier national park  © Shawn Coggins 2005