High 5 Favourite Hikes for Youngsters in Glacier Nationwide Park

Glacier Nationwide Park is thought for its miles of breathtaking, majestic surroundings. Many locations within the park have lengthy approaches, require multi-day backpacking journeys, or steep, winding ascents.

With that in thoughts, we spent a month in Glacier discovering probably the most magnificent surroundings that households with younger kids can simply entry. Whether or not you’re visiting Glacier Nationwide Park with your loved ones, together with little ones, or in search of a break from the 10-mile slogs, these hikes will delight. 

When you’d like extra choices than what’s under, take into account the newly launched Falcon guidebook, Climbing with Youngsters Glacier and Waterton Lakes Nationwide Parks: 42 Nice Hikes for Households, written by CleverHiker’s Roxy and Ben Dawson.

A couple of notes on mountaineering with children: 

• It requires extra than simply tossing a water bottle in a backpack (oh the great ol’ days) —it calls for forethought, planning, and consciousness of environmental elements.
• Please take the required precautions earlier than leaping on the paths:
  • Pack snacks, then throw in some extra.
  • Convey layers of every type.
  • Carry bear spray and provides all wildlife loads of area. 
  • Pay attention to path etiquette that usually will get thrown out the window with toddlers main the best way.
  • Observe depart no hint as a lot as potential.
  • Check out the Car Reservation web page on the Glacier Park web site. It has details about when and the place you want reservations to drive a automobile into the park.

For extra info on mountaineering in Glacier, try our Glacier Nationwide Park Backpacking Information. Don’t be intimidated by the “backpacking”; there’s a ton of nice information in there!

Saint Mary and Virginia Falls Path 

• Distance: 3.75 miles complete out and again
• Trailhead: Saint Mary’s Falls Parking Lot
• Elevation Achieve: 500 toes
• Space: Saint Mary, east facet of Going-to-the-Solar Highway

It is a common hike for good motive! It gives a spectacular glimpse into Glacier’s waterfall magic, with minimal effort up entrance and double large rewards by the tip. Parking may be tough in the summertime, so take into account taking the shuttle (which stops simply west of the parking zone and has its personal path to start with) or arriving early.

From the trailhead, you’ll descend previous charred bushes from the 2015 Reynolds Creek Hearth—now blooming with wildflowers—and hopefully catch a glimpse of a moose cooling off within the lake (we did!). 

The primary spotlight is Saint Mary Falls, a thundering three-tiered cascade. It is a good turnaround level for these with toddlers. If you wish to preserve going, proceed previous Saint Mary Falls and also you’ll discover a gorgeous cascade alongside Virginia Creek with pure swimming pools good for a calming snack break or a fast dip.

The ultimate reward is Virginia Falls, a strong 50-foot waterfall tucked into shady woods. This implies it may be a tad cooler so it’s not a super place to take a swim, nevertheless, it is attractive. Mist from the falls retains issues damp, and the up-close views make this probably the most enchanting spots within the park for a mid-hike relaxation or picnic.

Grinnell Lake by way of Boat Journey from Many Glacier Resort

• Distance: 2.8 miles complete out and again
• Trailhead: Boat dock behind the Many Glacier Resort (be aware, the AllTrails hyperlink above outlines the hike with out taking the boat)
• Elevation Achieve: 195 toes
• Space: Many Glacier

This family-friendly journey to Grinnell Lake combines a scenic boat experience with a simple hike, making it one in all our favorites within the Many Glacier Valley. You find yourself using two separate boats—throughout Swiftcurrent Lake after which Lake Josephine—which cuts the hike down to simply 2.8 miles spherical journey.

The boats, Chief Two Weapons and Morning Eagle, supply jaw-dropping views and enjoyable interpretive talks. Reservations replenish rapidly, however waitlists are sometimes profitable, so don’t be discouraged should you’re planning a last-minute journey. We have been in a position to get tickets a number of instances utilizing the waitlist methodology. 

After disembarking the second boat, you’ll discover out there restrooms. Cease right here or start the largely flat, shaded path via old-growth forest. Preserve your eyes peeled for wildlife—moose and bears, notably—and revel in berry patches in late summer season. At path’s finish, the gorgeous glacial blue of Grinnell Lake invitations you to kick off your boots and soak your toes whereas taking in views of Angel Wing, Grinnell Mountain, and Grinnell Falls cascading down the distant cliffs.

Working Eagle Falls 

• Distance: 0.7 miles complete out and again
• Trailhead: Working Eagle Falls (Trick Falls) Nature Path parking zone
• Elevation Achieve: 40 toes
• Space: Two Medication

Working Eagle Falls is a brief, peaceable hike with an enormous payoff. The path begins paved and begins from a well-marked parking space with restrooms and benches. It then leads you thru lush undergrowth and considerable wildflowers. Keep proper on the signed nature path junction and head towards the waterfall. Cross a bridge over Dry Fork earlier than arriving at a viewing platform  – stake out your most popular hangout spot from there. 

Named for a legendary Blackfeet warrior girl, Working Eagle Falls seems to pour from the middle of a cliff. Throughout excessive water, it varieties a uncommon double waterfall, cascading over and thru the rock on the identical time. 

Convey snacks and a towel—this can be a great spot to chill off and linger. Take the character path again for a quieter return alongside Two Medication Creek and interpretive indicators about native vegetation and their conventional makes use of.

Deadwood Falls 

• Distance: 2.3 miles complete out and again
• Trailhead: Jackson Glacier Overlook / Gunsight Move Trailhead
• Elevation Achieve: 600 toes
• Space: Apgar, west facet of Going-to-the-Solar Highway

Although a part of the longer Gunsight Move Path, the out-and-back hike to Deadwood Falls gives a fast style of Glacier Nationwide Park’s gorgeous backcountry. Beginning on the Gunsight Move Trailhead on the east facet of the parking space, the path descends via forested terrain with mountain views earlier than arriving on the falls. The slender path winds via dense vegetation—we suggest lengthy pants, particularly for small children. Relying on the time of 12 months, you may barely see over the vegetation. 

On the backside, Deadwood Falls rewards hikers with a collection of cascades spilling over rock and fallen timber (therefore the title). It’s a enjoyable place to discover, wade, and find out how water shapes the land. Use warning across the step ledges. 

Simply don’t neglect—what goes down should come again up. The return hike climbs almost 600 toes over just a little greater than a mile, so make sure everybody has the vitality for the regular uphill end.

Lake Josephine

• Distance: 5.1 miles complete lollipop
• Trailhead: Grinnell Trailhead
• Elevation Achieve: 250 toes
• Space: Many Glacier

This largely flat, family-friendly loop within the Many Glacier Valley is a scenic gem, passing three lakes with large mountain views. Start on the common Grinnell Trailhead. If parking is scarce, there are a lot of choices to begin this hike between that trailhead and the Many Glacier Resort. After passing Stump Lake, the path winds via the forest to achieve the peaceable south shore of Lake Josephine—preserve a watch out for moose, as sightings are frequent right here. The boat dock on the far finish of the lake gives relaxation cease with a shelter and a rest room.

Return by way of the north shore path, which is extra open and common with hikers headed to Grinnell Glacier. Don’t neglect to show round and admire the dramatic views of Mount Grinnell and Angel Wing. This lollipop loop is nice for a full day of relaxed mountaineering, wildlife recognizing, and lakeside lounging. The mileage could also be daunting for some, however the rolling, straightforward elevation and big views make it a wonderful selection for a distance push.

Gear Suggestions for Climbing with Youngsters

To analysis these hikes and write Climbing with Youngsters Glacier and Waterton Lakes Nationwide Parks, we spent a month in Glacier tenting and mountaineering day-after-day. Listed here are a number of of our favorites that obtained us via the month.

Osprey Poco Premium

We hiked with the Poco Plus and Osprey has since come out with the Poco Premium, which we’ve examined and like. The Poco Plus was our go-to selection for carrying our two-year-old round. He did miles and miles on this pack. The Poco Premium is one in all our absolute favorites in our greatest child backpack carriers for mountaineering information. You possibly can learn a extra in-depth evaluate of it written by Ben.

Smartwool Hike Mild Cushion – Youngsters and Adults

Don’t underestimate the significance of socks for mountaineering children! Our toddler would do virtually a mile in his little socks and sneakers and we wished him in wool to stop blisters attributable to sweaty toes, and to maintain him heat when situations modified. These socks are additionally one in all our high choices in our greatest mountaineering socks information.

LEKI Makalu Cork Lite Poles

We often solely seize poles once we’re tackling a 14er in Colorado or have enormous backpacking packs on our backs, however when carrying the child backpack service, they’re a should. They preserve you steady when the burden you’re carrying decides to pitch himself all the best way to the suitable and also you’re making an attempt to go left. These poles are probably the most sturdy in our information to the most effective trekking poles.

Petzl Tikkid Youngsters Headlamp

Tenting with a child is all about conserving it enjoyable. We had hours again at our campsite exploring and studying. This headlamp saved it straightforward to maintain the enjoyable going after darkish. It’s light-weight, doesn’t blind the adults round you, and has an automated shutoff so the batteries don’t run out when it’s inevitably left on and forgotten about. This headlamp is our high choice for teenagers in our gear information to the most effective headlamps.

We regularly say parenting is less complicated once we’re adventuring. Every part is novel, there’s all the time a brand new path, and the snacks are plentiful. We hope you may have the possibility to discover these hikes! And should you’re actually into planning an journey in Glacier, try Climbing with Youngsters Glacier and Waterton Lakes Nationwide Parks.