![]() NPS PHOTO Trail conditions and status will be changing frequently this summer. Please scroll down and check the trail status section to see which trails are open. Day Hike PlanningGood day hikes are plentiful. There is a lot of great information, like lists of hikes (including distances and elevation gain), in the links below to the individual area maps. Remember, you should not expect any cell phone reception within the backcountry, so discuss plans ahead of time.Visitor center staff will be happy to assist you with your choices and explain popular trails in park. Check the Ranger-led Activity Guide to find out when you can join a ranger on trail. Hike Smart In the backcountry, little mistakes can quickly become big emergencies. Follow our advice to stay safe and be prepared.
What to Bring Hiking
Area Trail Maps
Trail StatusDetailed reports on trail status are available on our Trail Status page. Trails, backcountry campgrounds, and other areas of the park that have closures, or are posted for safety reasons, are listed on our Trail and Area Closure page. The reports are updated each morning or anytime new information is obtained. A rule of thumb, earlier in the summer, lower elevation trails and trails near the boundary of Glacier National Park are snow free. By mid to late July, trails in the higher elevations, over mountain passes and on the Continental Divide are snow free. Day Trip PlanIf you are taking a day hike, please consider completing the voluntary Day Trip Plan (pdf) form and leaving it with the front desk of your hotel or a traveling companion that is not hiking with you. This voluntary form can help you plan your trip and could be a valuable tool for search and rescue efforts if needed. Completion of this form does not mean a search will be initiated for you if you do not return. However, if you are reported overdue from a hike, this document would help search personnel concentrate search efforts along your intended route saving critical time and possibly reducing risks to those that go looking for you. If you are staying inside the park, you are welcome to leave a copy of this form with your hotel's front desk. All forms will be destroyed 30 days after the date completed. Again, this form is not intended to imply that our hotel concessioner or the National Park Service will be monitoring your return and does not mean a search will be initiated. If a search is initiated because others reported you overdue, the National Park Service will check with the hotels to see if a Day Trip Plan (pdf) was filed and use it to help focus their search efforts. Plan well and enjoy your hike! Nature TrailsThere are trails for all hiking abilities. Some self-guided walks interpret trailside features with signs. The Trail of the Cedars, Forest and Fire, Hidden Lake, Running Eagle Falls, and Swiftcurrent Nature Trails encourage hikers to experience Glacier National Park at their own pace. The Trail of the Cedars and Running Eagle Falls trails are wheelchair accessible. Additional Planning ResourcesWe have flickr photo albums of some popular hikes. Visitor center bookstores carry a complete line of trail guides, topographic maps and field guides to aid the hiker. Publications are also available by mail. Visit the Glacier National Park Conservancy online store. Overnight TripsHikers planning to camp overnight in Glacier's backcountry must stop at the Agpar Backcountry Office, St. Mary Visitor Center, or other ranger station to obtain a backcountry permit. Visit our Backcountry Camping page for in-depth information about backcountry camping. Guided HikesHiking alone is not recommended and there are opportunites to join groups if you would like.
![]() Leave No TraceMany people fall in love with Glacier and then want to learn how to reduce their impact. ![]() Wilderness CampingGlacier's backcountry camping program is designed to minimize resource impacts while providing positive visitor experiences. |
Last updated: February 25, 2021