The Loop ~ Swiftcurrent Pass Trail

outbuildings glacier park

During the 2008 hiking season this trail didn't open until early August. It is a steep climb with lots of switchbacks up to Granite Park Chalet. The Granite Park Chalet opens June 30, 2009 through September 7, 2009, you can buy snacks and water at Granite Park Chalet. It nice to sit at a table inside the Chalet and drink a semi-chilled drink.
The chalet was designed by architect Samuel L. Bartlett and was built in 1914. Once you get to the Granite Park Chalet you have completed the hardest part of the uphill grind. When the Chalet is not open there is NO WATER available.

As of 7-4-8 snow Line is @ 6,000 feet!
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Swiftcurrent Pass Trail Glacier National Park. This is a tough hike! The view of Bullhead Lake and Many Glacier Valley from Swiftcurrent Pass Trail is the best view on all the trails I have hiked in Glacier National Park. The Loop and Swiftcurrent Pass Trail starts at the Loop. Which is a stop on the Glacier Shuttle. During the 2009 hiking season the newly rebuilt parking area at The Loop should be open and much more accessible as the re-construction of The Going To The Sun Road is hopefully finished in this location. Once the road opens this year I will give more information regarding parking and access.

The Loop and Swiftcurrent Pass Trail is eleven miles long, gains 2,600 feet and drops 2,300 feet. This is a brutal hike, it's worth it but don't ever attempt this as your first hike in Glacier National Park unless you're in superb condition.

The Loop Trail used to be a heavily wooded trail up to Granite Park Chalet until the forest fires of 2003. There is a poster out showing a wall of flames at the Loop. Now the Loop Trail has underbrush but little in the way of shade. The positive side is that you have great views of Heavens Peak. This is another one of Glacier Parks horse trails masquerading as a hiking trail.

sign

From Granite Park Chalet it is just under a mile to Swiftcurrent Pass and seven miles along the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail to Many Glacier Road. It's an easy climb to Swiftcurrent Pass from Granite Park Chalet. After you get Swiftcurrent Pass and begin the descent into the Many Glacier Valley you will be able to see Swiftcurrent Glacier. From the Glacier view spot it's all downhill. After you get to Many Glacier Valley it is four miles over slightly rolling terrain to the Many Glacier parking area. The Eastside shuttle to St Mary starts here. There is a restaurant and a small gift shop/grocery store at the trailhead.

Swiftcurrent Glacier 2007 from Swiftcurrent Pass Trail. This trail is one of four day hike trails that come near a glacier. Two other day hike trails provide a view of a glacier.

swiftcurrent glacier 2007

The trail is in good shape until you get to this rock outcropping. You can't miss it. This is the time to decide if you are going to continue down the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail. The steep final descent of the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail was heavily damaged during the Pineapple Express in the fall of 2006, the trail crew was able to make the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail passable, just barely, in spots. The downhill part of the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail as of late August 2007 was dicey at best and at times dangerous. If your afraid of heights or at some points a very narrow loose surfaced trail, turn around now. Hopefully the trail crew will be able to make some more permanent repairs. If it's raining or foggy I would turn around at this point. If you're hiking over the continental divide on Swiftcurrent Pass or Piegan Pass you will need to get an early start to be able to catch the Many Glacier to St Mary EastSide shuttle. Hitchhiking out of Many Glacier used to be a time honored tradition but I haven't done it for several years. Hitchhiking into Many Glacier would be much more difficult. Since Glacier National Park started free shuttle service along Going to the Sun Road in 2007, hitchhiking in the park will become trickier.

When I get to this rock outcropping I think of Rhinehart's book Through Glacier Park "There was a time when I had thought that a mountain pass was a depression. It is not. A mountain pass is a place where the impossible becomes barely possible. It is a place where wild game has, after much striving, discovered that it may get from one mountain valley to another. Along these game trails men have built new paths. Again and again we rode through long green valleys, the trail slowly rising until it had left timber far below. Then at last we confronted a great rock wall, a seemingly impassable barrier. Up this, by infinite windings, back and forward went the trail. At the top was the pass."

Swiftcurrent Lake, Redrock Lake, two unnamed lakes & finally Bullhead Lake from the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail Glacier National Park usgs 1911

USGS Alden, W.C. 554 Grinnell Mountain on the right. August 15, 1911

It's my understanding that Two Medicine Pass is even more spectacular than this spot on the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail. So far I have only hiked to Cobalt Lake which is about 1,000 feet below Two Medicine Pass.

2009 Schedule for GPI EastSide Shuttle from Many Glacier to St Mary Visitor Center. Be aware that most of the EastSide Shuttles start service on July 1 to co-ordinate with Glacier National Park's shuttle service. Also the schedules are VERY limited. It took me some time in 2007 to find out about the Eastside Shuttle schedules. GPI has done a better job this year with the information. The schedules are also posted at each of the stops. The EastSide Shuttle Fee from Many Glacier to St Mary is $10.00 CASH. Please remember to bring your Glacier Park pass as you will need it to re-enter Glacier Park at the St Mary entrance. The National Park Service cut back on the hours of operation for the Glacier Shuttle in 2008. BEWARE that it may not be possible to get back to your car at The LOOP using Glacier Park Shuttle Service. During 2008 hours of service were 7 am to 7 pm. Since the eastside shuttle leaves Many Glacier at 5:40 pm you would be hard pressed to get a Glacier Park Shuttle back to The Loop. Hopefully the 2009 Shuttle schedule will not be so restrictive.