How to See a Glacier

Sexton Glacier, seen from the Siyeh Pass trail, is one of the park's glaciers that can be seen on a day hike. Sexton Glacier has lost more than 25 acres in area since 1966.

Hoping to see one before they are gone, many visitors come to the park to see a glacier. Ironically, Glacier National Park isn't the easiest place to see an active glacier.

Massive glaciers can be viewed with relative ease in Alaska's national parks. Kenai Fjords National Park, Wrangle-St. Elias National Park, and Glacier Bay National Park, are all known for their glacier viewing. In the contiguous United States, glaciers can be seen fairly easily in Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, Grand Teton National Park and others. It is actually North Cascades National Park that boasts the highest concentration of glaciers in the lower 48 but Glacier National Park comes in second with about two dozen active glaciers.

Most of the park’s glaciers are tucked into shadowy niches high along the Continental Divide, cloaked by semi-permanent snowfields. Still, a few glaciers can be seen from the road, a few others can be seen from a short hike, and others can be studied up close after a strenuous hike. Binoculars and a park map can help you tell the difference between snowfields and glaciers throughout the park. Late August and early September, when most of the winter's snow has melted away, is the best time to see the glaciers.

 

Jackson Glacier is the easiest glacier to see in the park and it is the 7th largest.

Where to See a Glacier

Jackson Glacier from Going-to-the-Sun Road Overlook

• The easiest glacier to see in the park.
• Visible from Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road
• 5 miles East of Logan Pass
• Read about all the park's glaciers on wayside exhibits

 

Do you see a salamander shape? The glacier becomes easier to discern as seasonal snow melts.

Salamander Glacier

• Visible from your car as you drive into the Many Glacier area
• Start looking ahead as you drive through the park entrance station
• Salamandar Glacier sits in a basin just above Grinnell Glacier

 

Grinnell Glacier lost 45% of its area between 1966 and 2015.

Grinnell Glacier

• Visible by a very challenging day hike from the Many Glacier area
• 5.1 miles one way via Grinnell Glacier Trailhead
• 4.5 miles one way via concessioner boat from Many Glacier Hotel
• 1,600 feet of elevation gain
• Grinnell is perhaps the most famous glacier in the park

 

In 1910, the park had over 100 glaciers but by 2015 only 26 met the size criteria to be designated active glaciers.

Sperry Glacier

• Very challenging 8.5 miles one way hike from Lake McDonald Lodge
• 5,000 foot elevation gain to reach a view of Sperry Glacier
• Sperry Glacier is the park's most studied glacier

 

With binoculars and a map you can get a good view of Sperry Glacier's headwall from the Hidden Lake Overlook. Sperry lost 133 acres of area between 1966 and 2015.

Sperry Glacier from Hidden Lake Overlook

• A less challenging 1.3 mile hike one way from Logan Pass.
• 600 feet of elevation gain
• Mostly on a boardwalk with stairs.
• The glacier can be seen over the mountains at the far end of Hidden Lake.
• Binoculars and a map will give you the best view.

 

This view of Piegan Glacier from August 8th, 2017 shows how seasonal snow can cover glacier ice until late in the summer.

Piegan Glacier from Preston Park

• Challenging 3.5 mile hike one way from Siyeh Bend Trailhead to start getting views
• 1,350 feet of elevation gain to where you'll start getting good views
• Hike through an alpine meadow, full of wildflowers, with Piegan Glacier looming above

 

Sexton Glacier lost 25% of its area between 1966 and 2015.

Sexton Glacier from the Siyeh Pass Trail

• Very challenging 10 mile hike point to point using the free park shuttle
• 2,300 feet elevation gain and 3,400 feet elevation loss
• Seen from the trail across the valley

 

In late summer, a hiker with binoculars may spot two seldom seen glaciers, Vulture and Two Ocean Glacier. The latter lost 82% of its area between 1966 and 2015.

Vulture & Two Ocean Glaciers from the Highline

• 4 miles of very challenging up and down hiking one way from Logan Pass on the Highline trail
• 950 feet of elevation gain and 450 feet of loss
• Start looking to the North West once you have passed Haystack Butte
• Often done as a point to point hike from Logan Pass to the Loop, about strenuous 12 miles
• These two glaciers are very remote and rare to see

 

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  How to Identify Glaciers

  Can you tell the difference between seasonal snow and glacial ice?

  Duration:

  54 seconds