Full disclosure - I only hiked like 5 mins of this trail, but that's because it was closed for the…read morewinter still despite being Sunday June 29! The trail actually opened in full that Wednesday, so I came just slightly too early. That said, I hiked the loop trail up to the intersection of the highline trail, and walked along to near glacier junction. You can see the continuation of the trail in the distance and it is obviously a gorgeous trail - and quite challenging given the distance, although I'm told the incline is actually fairly gradual. Overall: I'm planning a trip back to glacier next summer a little bit later specifically to do this trail out to grinnell glacier overlook along the garden wall. My trip along the loop was absolutely stunning, so I want to make it out to granite peak chalet again another way. And while it likely won't come as a surprise to anyone planning to hike this trail, do bear in mind the warnings about safety including taking enough water/food, bear spray, and ideally going with someone else (particularly given doing this trail takes pretty much all day).

Difficult but great trail. We did the 3.5 mile each way stretch starting at Logan Pass and ending…read moreat Haystack pass, where we stopped for a picnic lunch. Lots of people made it more difficult, but the reviews were amazing. We even saw our first marmots too. I'd highly recommend this one while at Glacier.

I know there's plenty of wonderful hikes out there. Everyone has their favorites....well, for me,…read moreSt. Mary Falls paired with immaculate Virginia Falls was one of the BEST HIKES I did in all of Glacier National Park!!! This trailhead is located along Going to the Sun Road, past the apex of Logan Pass near the St. Mary section of the park. In all, I'd say it's situated about 12 miles from the eastern entrance of Glacier. There's a parking lot that is relatively small. It certainly fills up at peak times. And...along the road, I didn't find much parking space available. I visited during the afternoon around 4pm and got lucky to find a spot. Here goes, wow....normally I'm just okay with visiting a couple of waterfalls. Here at this St Mary Trail, you can hike to 3 waterfalls....Baring Falls, St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls. The prior day I had visited Baring Falls from the Sun Point Trailhead (which is worthwhile!) so for arriving here at St. Mary, I just had 2 falls to explore. And...a great aspect in navigating to these falls is that they're not too far of a journey. First up, St. Mary Falls is only 1.2 miles from the beginning, and it goes along a very scenic hike with beautiful mountain vistas in the distance. Upon reaching St. Mary Falls, the cascades were quite impressive and beautiful. It was a little congested with plenty of tourists typically hogging space for photo time. Ultimately, I got the opportunity for my own pics and they came out well. Repeating again....the setting is quite tranquil and peaceful with the jagged mountain peaks hovering all around. Also, it's not a strenuous hike getting here. I spent 15 minutes or so staring at St Mary's Falls before continuing on. Now comes to what truly BLEW ME AWAY!. Lol...I know, it's just waterfalls, but Virginia Falls was one of the BEST SIGHTS I ENCOUNTERED IN GLACIER! Truly. From St. Mary Falls it's only 7/10's of a mile further along the trail. Though...getting to Virginia Falls is uphill, more strenuous than getting to St. Mary, but nothing difficult or out of the ordinary. Along this 7/10's of a mile, you will pass another set of chuting waterfalls (much smaller in stature and there's no name for them), but certainly worthy of a picture. Finally! Arriving at Virginia Falls, wow what a wonderful and mesmerizing waterfall! Set against a cliff backdrop with the rushing torrent dropping down like a picture perfect postcard....I was so impressed! Lol....it happened to rain along my hike to Virginia Falls so plenty of visitors went away hiding and I actually had the falls to myself. I couldn't believe my good fortune. So, yeah...before soaking up and immersing myself in the pure scenic joy of this outpouring of water, it was necessary to capture 20 or so photos, both horizontally and vertically....(however I was maneuvering my camera, I couldn't go wrong)... for that glistening "money shot" image! I guess, what I'm trying to explain is the height at which Virginia Falls starts and how it ceremoniously drops from it's peak....it was inspiring. I was truly humbled by the sight. Once I took my full complement of pictures, I had to sit down. Regardless of whether it was wet outside from the rain....here was an opportunity, a moment, to bask in nature and one of the prettiest waterfalls I had confronted in recent memory. I took a good chunk of time here to reflect on where I was, at Glacier National Park....in such a surreal setting. It gave me a chance to reflect on how traveling, engaging the outdoors and tackling the stunning wonders of the world is one of my passions in life. And I don't take for granted, anything, ever. Finally, from Virginia Falls you can continue on the loop eventually making your way to Baring Falls, though according to the map....it looked like a much further trek going forward along the trail (possibly a few more miles). Instead, I turned around and ventured back the way I originally began. In all the path to Virginia Falls, combined with St. Mary Falls along the way...is 3.8 miles round trip. The trek is absolutely worthwhile and not difficult. For the chance to witness these brilliant and radiant waterfalls, St. Mary Hike and Trail is 5 stars as good as it gets and cannot be missed!

After a day of long strenuous hikes I wanted to end it with a nice and easy hike. I came here at…read morearound 8pm on a Saturday and there were lots of parking spots in the small parking lot. This trail is closer to the St. Mary entrance of the park but if you're driving through the entirety of the Going-to-the-Sun Road you'll stop by this trailhead. The trail to the St. Mary waterfall is only about 1 mile from the parking lot and there's no elevation at all which makes for a very easy hike. From the St. Mary waterfall you can continue on to the Virginia Falls but I chose not to as the sun was going down and I didn't want to be out on a hike by myself in the near darkness, but the hike to Virginia Falls is not that much further or harder.

Magnificent natural beauty. Lakes, streams, and mountains of majesty surrounding a valley. Bike…read moretrails, picnic areas, and scenic turn offs abound. Came through yesterday, and admission was free. Saw there's a golf course as well. Small town of Waterton with a RV campground, stores and restaurants.

A great park with variety and views right where the Canadian Rockies hit the plains. Good hikes…read moreavailable of all kinds. I was surprised to see a substantial town essentially inside a national park, but it does provide a convenient mix of services including decent restaurants. Especially after the intense crowds of Glacier, this felt like a relief, though you still won't find solitude on the popular trails.

Blackfeet Outfitters is simply the best way to experience Montana life. Offering hunting, fishing,…read moreand jeep tours, this outfitter is the tops in exploring the backcountry of the Blackfeet Reservation near Babb. Words of warning: activities with Algers, your wonderful guide, are not for the tame, but those with an adventurous spirit seeking some guidance from a backcountry expert. This is not safari, just time spent enjoying being alive in a beautiful place. My boyfriend and I chose to do a Jeep Tour with Blackfeet Outfits. Normally, I don't splurge on things I deem to be "touristy," as I hail from a resort town myself and am fairly comfortable outdoors. But, it was September, high bear season, a last minute trip and yadayadayada, so a jeep tour sounded safer. I am SO glad I didn't miss out on the Jeep Tour experience! Other than tranquil Glacier National Park, the time spent with Algers of Blackfeet Outfitters was the highlight of our Montana Excursion. I'm already looking forward to going back next year for fly-fishing, and renting one of the awesome cabins on the property. I saw some mixed reviews online of his lodging. I'm not sure where that stems from, although I assume it's because Babb isn't as glamorous as staying in the Park itself. It is however way more comfortable and a short drive to the Many Glaciers entrance of GNP. For those with RVs, he also has 17 hook ups on site. Best time ever.

Had a great fishing trip it was a great time. The fishing was good but the sight seeing was amazing.read more

For me, Grinnell Lake gets 4.5 stars. The ONLY REASON why I didn't give it 5 stars is because when…read moreI visited in the afternoon, the magnificent backdrop was set against the sun....and admiring this setting against the sun prevented me from capturing the perfect photos. This was quite frustrating! I had read and heard wonderful reviews about this place...the lake and the hike to get here in general. Unfortunately, when I arrived about 3pm, you could pretty much say the sun was a huge obstacle and quite a hindrance on my memories from here. Ultimately, I had to wait for clouds and or move myself to different spots to avoid the sun's beams. Regardless.....everything about this hike was pretty good. Grinnell Lake is located in the more secluded section of the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. When I visited last month, I had to wait in a line of cars just to gain access to Many Glacier. Because this popular part of Glacier NP is quite small in circumference....park rangers were only permitting a limited amount of visitors. Wow, that was quite annoying. Fortunately for me, since I planned my itinerary ahead of time, I was spending the evening here in Many Glacier and told the park ranger that I was sleeping the night at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, (which was the actual truth)...so he allowed me to pass. The trail for Grinnell Lake starts right next door on the grounds of Many Glacier Hotel. You can park wherever...on the side of the streets or in the parking lot. If you have a free moment, absolutely venture inside Many Glacier Hotel and along the grounds as the hotel exudes a rustic/European style - Swiss chalet - certainly lending itself to the heart of this outdoorsy - natural - setting along Josephine Lake. For Grinnell Lake, look for signs for the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail. Here is where you want to go. It's situated towards the rear of Many Glacier Hotel. Ask someone inside the lodge if you need assistance finding the trailhead. From the Swiftcurrent Foot Trail, Grinnell Lake is 3.4 miles EACH WAY! Yes...that's almost 7 miles round trip! And, you could venture further towards Grinnell Glacier....another fantastically recommended trail, but....to Grinnell Glacier, it's 5.9 miles EACH WAY, - and for me....this was too far and took too much time out of the day. Also, it's mentioned in your park's map guide that Grinnell Glacier is a STRENUOUS TRAIL....where - as just hiking to Grinnell Lake is a moderately navigated passageway. Upon trekking beside Josephine Lake making my way towards Grinnell Lake, there were plenty of photo opportunities as the lake was quite picturesque, especially when the sun was at my back. Past Josephine Lake, the surroundings were just alright. Please understand though, this trail is great for those looking to get away and immerse themselves in the back country woods. You can find an easier way to arrive at Grinnell Lake by taking a boat towards the other end of Josephine Lake, getting out and then trekking the remaining distance on. For me, I was okay simply hiking as I didn't want to pay a fee and then wait for a boat to launch. Finally coming upon Grinnell Lake, yes...the hike was worth it. The calm waters here were immaculate. Absolutely perfect....colorful blue/green and turquoise. Along with the majestic and scenic background....you're confronted with a lush green mountain carved away with a running waterfall centered in the heart of it all. This spot and panoramic view was worth it all! All the time spent hiking and traversing my way, coming here made for witnessing this grand view. I was totally impressed! Yeah...leisurely, unobtrusively sitting down and appreciating this landscape is the reason why you come here. I spent a good 45 minutes just relaxing, taking photos and reflecting on how beautiful this place was. And like I mentioned earlier, had it not been for the sun in my way, Grinnell Lake absolutely would have been 5 stars. Lol....so when all is said and done....I HAVE TO RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS....HIKE TO GRINNELL LAKE IN THE MORNING!!! And although from here, it's only a couple more miles along towards Grinnell Glacier (which was highly recommended), I was satisfied that I had explored enough and ventured back towards the Many Glacier Lodge. In all, I spent about 4 - 5 hours hiking over to Grinnell Lake. If you're spending time in this Many Glacier section of Glacier National Park, Grinnell Lake is quite the highlight and should not be missed.

I can't comment on the service here, only the hike to reach this point. However, the views of the…read moreglacier national park vista from granite peak chalet are absolutely unmatched. Regardless of whether you take the loop trail, the highline, or an alternative to reach this point, it is a welcome sight. Apparently during summer there is a functional restaurant up there too - but when I came on 6/29/25, the seasonal staff member I met said they didn't open until tomorrow! They do NOT have any running water up there so bear it in mind as well - make sure you bring enough ESPECIALLY if you're staying the night in one of the cabins here. Overall - if on the loop trail or highline etc, would absolutely rec hitting the chalet for a photo op, or maybe a snack in summer when it's open.

Great place, Spectacular views, ... Breathtaking hikes, but…read morethey want you out of bed by 8:30 am at the latest. Even though quiet time is 10 pm, people stay up talking (Talking loud) well past that point. You can ask them to whisper, but that doesn't help. There are really no walls between the rooms, just half logs stacked together with an inch and a half of space between the two halve's. No, you can not see into the other room, but you can hear everything from the other room as if there were no walls. The chalet offers ear plugs but that only helps if the other people try to be quiet. Everyone should be told at check in about respect for other guests by being quiet between certain hours because of the walls. So, my point, if your not out of bed by 8:30, even though you have only slept a few hours because of the noise the other guests are making, you will be awakened by the staff going through the empty rooms with their music extremely loud (really dude, that's why they make the earbud). I did ask him to turn it down, the response was totally childish. The next few minutes were filled with multiple, yes multiple, doors slamming accompanied with loud music. He did make an effort to slam the doors. He went down the stairs, came back up, went into the room on the east side of mine, slammed both doors. Then, he went to the room on the west side and slammed those doors. And then he went back to the east room and slammed those doors again. All within a few minutes. I realize the staff gets their time off during the day, and they need that time, but at whose expense!? I really want to go back and hike the trails I didn't do and even spend more time on the trails already done. But that may not be possible, now. The socialities were great if you were face to face, but don't hinder their free time. Only one of the four staff didn't seem to worried about her free time. I guess she was had been there longer or she was having someone make the noise for her. Who knows. All I know, if we weren't on their schedule, ... Really, moving the hot water to the staff counter just because it's after 9:00 am. How subtle can you be, you already had breakfast. Overall, we had a great time at the Granite Park Chalet. I appreciate what this family is doing to make these places more accessible. Thank you (everyone at the office) for the accomodations you made. I could not have made this trip without you.

Wow! What can I say about the most amazing views you will ever see. On your way in you see Chief…read moreMountain which is totally breathtaking. Take in the beautiful views of the glacier mountains, drive the scenic roads looking at wild life and walk around the Waterton Village for gifts/a bite to eat. You also visit the lodge for High Tea for a relaxing afternoon.

Your day in Waterton, Alberta Canada will be amazing…read more You can rent bike and explore scenic roads and paths, have high tea at the historic Prince of Wales hotel, take a hike to enjoy scenic views of this unique landscape, take a boat ride that brings you across Waterton Lake and into the USA, or enjoy food or drink at one of the charming restaurants in the village of Waterton.

The land has been in the family for 4 generations and it shows. These guys are awesome, they are…read morefriendly and show you what to do. The trail is beautiful and totally worth every penny, you even go across a river which is amazing. Love everything about them and what they do.

Loved this experience! excellent friendly guides and bomb proof horses! Highly recommended!read more