Hey everyone, I was wondering if you would be willing to give input on a planned trip to Glacier in late July. I have read all past texags posts about Glacier and got over-ambitious. So I need to either: switch 1 or 2 big hikes for shorter hikes or plan to hike 1 or 2 of the long ones part-way. Thoughts?

TLDR Begin: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

All of this is contingent on Glacier's opening up according to plan.

I have read all past texags posts about Glacier to pull my hike/sight list together, and I have "the perfect trip." However, my wife wisely pointed out that the combined mileage and "difficulty level" (see note below) is a little beyond my family's reach. So, I need to either choose to do some hikes part-way or else switch to some easier hikes.

Any input you would have would be appreciated. For example: "Drop this hike entirely. Switch this hike for that hike. Just hike that hike as far as you can and it's still worth it. Etc."

* I'm using difficulty level based on this websites rankings/method, which makes sense to me: http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glacier-national-park-day-hikes.htm
Formula: Trail Difficulty Rating = Mileage + (2 x elevation gain / 1000).
Example 1: 2 mile hike with 1,000 foot elevation gain = 4.0 difficulty.
Example 2: My family was well-spent but not totally dead after Guadalupe Peak in warm weather in Texas.
We couldn't have hiked it again the next day.
Guadalupe Peak Hike = 8.5mi + (2 x 3,000 ft gain / 1000ft) = 8.5 + 6 = 14.5.

Boats are not running this summer, so there are no boat shortcuts, which means some hikes are longer.

My comment about water filtering is really about how much water weight I'm packing.

I live in San Antonio to give an idea of altitude acclimation.

Hikes are shown in this hike format: Hike name (miles, elevation gain, difficulty rating).

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The PLAN
Day 0 Drive from Spokane and set up camp.

Day 1 Get Acclimated. Trail of the cedars (1.0, 60ft, 1.1) and Avalanche lake (4.5 miles, 730ft, 6)

Day 2
Highline Trail (7.2mi to Haystack Pass, 825ft, 8.9)
- and? -
Hidden Lake (Overlook 2.7mi, 540ft, 3.8)

Day 3 Many Glacier Hotel and Grinnell Glacier (11mi, 2200ft, 15.6) (Can filter water on hike)

Day 4 REST DAY!!! Eat Bear Claw at Pole Bridge Mercantile; Kintla Lake and Bowman Lake

Day 5 Move Campsites and one of:
Iceberg Lake (9.7mi, 1275ft, 12.25) (Can filter water)
-or-
Redrock Falls (4.2mi, 285ft, 4.8) (trail continues: Bullhead Lake, Swiftcurrent Pass)

Day 6 One of:
Scenic Point (8.0mi, 2300ft, 12.6?) IIII (Very Sunny. Must pack in all water)
-or-
Running Eagle Falls (.6mi, 15ft, .6) and Paradise Point (1.4mi, 220ft, 1.8) and ???
Wild Goose Island Lookout at sunset

Day 7
St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls (3.6mi, 525ft, 4.7)
Baring Falls/Sunrift gorge (.8mi)
Two Sisters Cafe
Drive to Spokane


Just missed the cut (but would reconsider)
Grinnell Lake (7.5mi, 351ft, 8.0)
Sun Point Nature Trail (4.7mi)
Hidden Falls (7.5mi)
John's Lake Loop (1.8mi)
Logan Pass, Siyeh Pass (8.9mi, 2090ft, 13.1)
Swiftcurrent Pass (14.2mi)


Thanks in advance for any suggestions, comments, etc.

I've hiked extensively in the park. Mostly day hikes/ very little overnights. Thoughts:

If you plan on parking at Logan pass get there crack of dawn early. Like 830 at the latest or it will be full.

I love one way hikes. The best 1 way or loops in the park are highline to Swiftcurrent pass then down to many glacier.

Siyeh bend loop down to sun rift gorge is probably my favorite hike. Just wonderful. Took my whiny 8 yr old last year so definitely doable.

Don't overlook two medicine. For a challenging loop the pitikaman (spelling?) pass loop is great but with no boat it is long.

If you're at many glacier, heading over to waterton park is worth it. Crypt lake hike is another great one. They got ravaged by fires 2 years ago

Be prepared for combat hiking on anything less than 5 miles round trip.

I started backpacking a few years ago and love it. I would highly recommend the all trails app/website. Pay for the pro subscription - its pretty cheap compared to all the other stuff you buy when you get into this hobby. I love all trails because of the reviews, recordings, pictures, etc.. You're on the right track with your formula but there are other factors that make trails more or less difficult. 500 ft of elevation gain or drop per mile is pretty tough and, of course, altitude makes it exponentially harder. Trail conditions and access to water are also big factors. Reviews on all trails will give you a pretty good idea if you will be hiking through snow, loose gravel, scree, switchbacks, etc etc. Plus, you can record your hikes along with pictures and build your resume. I love all trails.

One good thing about hiking in the national parks is you can call the rangers and get updates on trail conditions. One bad thing is having to reserve camp sites and having to rigidly stick to your hiking plan and reservations. Not sure if you're planning overnight camping stops or just day hikes. I've done 3-4 day trips in both Cascades NP and Olympic NP. You will see lots of people and will likely be sharing campsites with others. You may also have sites that have composting toilets which beats the $hi+ out of digging a cat hole first thing in the morning. All in all, I prefer hiking/camping in national forests now but it was nice having a ranger looking out for us when we first started.

If you do plan to do overnight backpacking trips, I also recommend The First 40 Miles podcast. Really good info for free. Glacier is big brown bear country, I'm sure you probably knew that. I was there in mid July a few years ago and we couldn't get to the upper parking lot because of the snow. My family up there sent pictures a few weeks ago of the bull dozers and track hoes clearing the roads so you may have better luck.

Sorry, that may have been a bit outside of what you were asking for. Just got excited to talk about backpacking!

I'd definitely go Cracker Lake or the Continental Divide if you can handle it, and Iceberg lake is really cool. I last went in 03, and my trip was cut short due to forest fires in the area.

Grinnell Glacier

Fishercap Lake - only about 10 min hike to get there but good spot to see moose.