Glacier Repeat Photos

A man stands on a cliff with a camera.
Morton J. Elrod photographing Chaney Glacier in 1911.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) started the Repeat Photography Project in 1997 with a systematic search of Glacier's archives for historic photographs of glaciers in the park. They found many images to work with from early photographers such as Morton Elrod, T.J. Hileman, Ted Marble, F.E. Matthes, and others who scoured the park to publicize its beauty and earn their livings. The USGS scientists then hiked the historic images into the field to rephotograph them from the exact same vantage point.

Historically and today, photographing the glaciers can only occur in a narrow window between late August and October after the previous winter's snow has melted from the ice and before the first snows of autumn. It is only in this late summer season that the glaciers can be clearly seen.

Today, the National Park Service and volunteers take the repeat photos of the park's glaciers. Below you will see pictures of the glaciers taken in late summer between 2015 and 2025. You can see more repeat photographs of the park's glaciers here. You can browse other repeat photos, and unrepeated glacier photos, on the USGS website here.
 

Swiftcurrent Glacier in 2015 and 2025

Landscape of an alpine glacier with mountains behind. Landscape of an alpine glacier with mountains behind.

Left image
Swiftcurrent Glacier as seen from right outside the Swiftcurrent Firelookout on August 5, 2015.
Credit: USGS McKeon

Right image
Swiftcurrent Glacier as seen from right outside the Swiftcurrent Firelookout on August 30, 2025.
Credit: NPS Lombardi

Swiftcurrent Glacier as seen from right outside the Swiftcurrent Firelookout on August 5, 2015 and then again on August 30, 2025. These images was taken from just outside the Swiftcurrent Fire Lookout with a lens at about 50mm. These GPS coordinates mark the approximate location the photos were taken: 48.7856416708407, -113.76693902488566

 

Grinnell Glacier in 2016 and 2025

A mountain glacier tucked against a mountain with a lake forming at its front. A mountain glacier tucked against a mountain with a lake forming at its front.

Left image
Grinnell Glacier from lower Grinnell Ridge on September 27, 2016.
Credit: USGS McKeon

Right image
Grinnell Glacier from Lower Grinnell Ridge on September 6, 2025.
Credit: NPS Lombardi

Grinnell Glacier in 2016 and 2025 as seen from the low saddle along Grinnell Ridge with a lens at 45mm. These GPS coordinates show approximately where the photos were taken: 48.76578692823005, -113.74089797436311

 

Grinnell Glacier in 2021 and 2025

Landscape of an alpine glacier with mountains behind. Landscape of an alpine glacier with mountains behind.

Left image
Grinnell Glacier from Upper Grinnell Ridge on August 29, 2021.
Credit: NPS Lombardi

Right image
Grinnell Glacier from Upper Grinnell Ridge on September 6, 2025.
Credit: NPS Lombardi

Grinnell Glacier as photographed from the upper end point of Grinnell Ridge in 2021 and 2025. Taken with a lens at 35mm. These GPS coordinates mark the approximate location the photos were taken: 48.766761090679644, -113.73644322660631

 

Jackson Glacier in 2021 and 2025

A distant landscape of a glacier with a forest in the foreground. A distant landscape of a glacier with a forest in the foreground.

Left image
Jackson Glacier on August 31, 2021.
Credit: NPS Lombardi

Right image
Jackson Glacier on August 25, 2025.
Credit: NPS Lombardi

Jackson Glacier on August 31, 2021 and again on August 25, 2025. Photographed from the Jackson Glacier Overlook on Going-to-the-Sun Road with a lens at about 150mm at these coordinates: 48.678286679559754, -113.65396800986214

 
 
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People stand in front of a glacier below a mountain.
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People walk around a bright lake with a glacier and mountains in the background.
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People load onto a shuttle bus.
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A green plant sprouts from ashes.
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Last updated: September 9, 2025

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PO Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936

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406-888-7800

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