Glacier Park Iceberg Lake Trail

Glacier Park
Iceberg Lake Trail
9.5 miles round trip

This beautiful walk to Iceberg lake is not a level walk, but at times climbing through some of the most scenic areas you will ever enjoy. When you do reach the lake, you will find it is aptly named. This great hike is best done in the warmest part of the summer, as you will climb to an elevation of 6,100 feet by the time you reach this very cold lake. By the time you return, you will have hiked about nine and a half miles

You will drive up "Many Glacier Road" and find the trailhead at the end of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking lot. The trail is called Swiftcurrent Pass at the beginning and soon changes to Ptarmigan Trail. Your trail will take you along the base of Mount Henkel where you will enjoy the forests of Aspen and Lodgepole pine and then lovely meadows of spectacular wild flowers. You will also find many kinds of berry bushes, including huckleberry, which makes this trail a favorite spot of bears too. Occasionally this trail is closed to allow the bear to roam undisturbed. Be sure to check at the trailhead for notices.

As you climb you will have a great view of the Ptarmigan Wall in front of you. Looking closely you will see the Iceberg Lake trail crossing the wall. You will cross Ptarmigan Creek on a bridge, that allows a view of Ptarmigan Falls. Your trail will soon separate but to hike to Iceberg Lake you must stay to your left. You are gaining altitude steadily for the next two miles or so. Keep your eyes open for Mountain goats who may share this high area with you. At a little less than four and a half miles up you will cross Iceberg Creek. Your trail will take you once again through beautiful meadows of Alpine wildflowers. Enjoy and take lots of pictures but please don’t disturb these wonderful plants that Mother Nature has put here for your pleasure. They have adapted to this cold climate and short season, and will either seed themselves or come up from roots that can stand the winter cold. The Glacier Lilies have to start growing through the snow in order to have a few days of blossom.

You will find Iceberg Lake, at an elevation of 6,100 feet, and it lives up to it’s name. Being so high and in an area of very little sun, it stays frozen until late spring and may have ice chunks floating most of the summer.

You have found a lovely lake and enjoyed many scenic spots along your climb. We hope you have taken many pictures along the way and will return again soon. Glacier National Park has so many of these awe inspiring hikes to enjoy. Check out your Nature Trail guide from any Trail head or Visitors Center. The cost is only 50 cents and will be very helpful.

Glacier National Park and Iceberg Lake trail was written by Verna Parks.


	Glacier National Park is located in the northwest corner of Montana, just north of Columbia Falls. The park encompasses more than one million acres and is home to grizzly bear, moose, elk, along with 63 varieties of wild mammals. While most of the roads in Glacier National Park are closed off during the winter, this provides miles and miles of tracks for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Visitors are seldom around in the dead of winter, so the muffled hush of the snow covered woods is especially enticing and serene. A ski or snowshoe trip along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is one of the most scenic roads in North America, is a great option, according to park rangers. The road is closed to cars from September or October until snowmelt, usually in June. Several short hiking trails branch off from the road, which would be excellent for snowshoeing or skiing in the winter season. Once you have your gear, head up to Glacier National Park for an exciting adventure. Guided snowshoe trips are available, led by a park naturalist, and are highly recommended. If you are looking for an informative tour, snowshoeing is an easy way to explore the winter wonderland of this unique park. Snowshoeing will provide even the novice an effortless activity so your senses are more in tune with your environment and your guide's knowledge on the history, wildlife, geology, and biology of this precious ecosystem.
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