Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park!

In a country full of outstanding wild places, Glacier National Park still stands apart: it’s truly one of the most majestic outdoor places in America.  It seems to encapsulate the spirit of the American West ~ with wide open vistas, rugged mountains, & endless opportunities to engage with nature.  And one of the best ways to see the park is by hiking one of its most iconic trails: the Iceberg Lake Trail, which TripAdvisor rates as the #3 thing to do in the entire park.  This post will tell you everything you need to know about hiking “Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park!”

Iconic Glacier National Park (photo taken on the Going-to-the-Sun Road).

Map of Glacier National Park

To get your bearings, check out the map below: the only major airport near the park is Glacier Park International Airport (FLA), located in nearby Kalispell.  From there, it’s a short drive to the park’s West Entrance.  You’ll see that the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (near the base of Iceberg Lake Trail) lies to the north ~ & if you zoom into the map, you can actually see the trail that leads between the Inn & Iceberg Lake.

Taking the Going-to-the-Sun Road

If you’re staying anywhere near the West Entrance for Glacier National Park like we did, you’ll need to take the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road to reach Iceberg Lake Trail.  It stretches over 50 miles throughout the park, & is rated the #2 thing to do in Glacier ~ so by taking it en route to your hike, you’ll see two of the park’s top-rated sights in one day!  We drove this iconic highway on July 4th weekend, & literally kept pulling over, as often as we possibly could…it was sooo stunning!!!

Stunning Lake McDonald greets you shortly after entering the West Park Entrance.

Stunning views on Logan Pass, while driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road en route to Iceberg Lake Trail.

We HAD to pull over at this crazy turquoise lake for photos! Sooo many photo ops in Glacier…

 Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park!

Now, let’s get to the hike itself.  To reach the base of the trail, type either “Iceberg Lake Trailhead” or “Swiftcurrent Motor Inn” into your GPS/Google maps.  The trailhead parking lot was full when we got there (it fits about 15 cars), so we parked in Swiftcurrent’s large parking lot.  The hike starts right behind their cabins.  Many Glacier Campground & the Many Glacier Hotel are the nearest lodging options to Iceberg Lake Trail. 

Wildflowers, towering trees, & rugged mountain views are all staples of the Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park.

The Iceberg Lake Trail is steepest in the very beginning: after that, it’s pretty smooth sailing, with a gentle incline most of the way.  If you enjoy trail-running, this trail is IDEAL for you!!  I trail-ran most of the way, & found it relatively gentle on my knees.  Likewise, active kids should be fine on the trail, unless they get bored.  Note: there are many bear sightings in this area, so make plenty of noise, carry bear spray, and/or hike in larger groups.

While on the trail, a family of bighorn sheep passed by on the ridge just above us.

VIEWS.

 Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park!

Iceberg Lake Trail is well-marked with good signage, & though my friend & I separated for a bit, neither of us had any problem following the trail.  There were also just enough people on the trail: enough to not feel alone, but not too many that you don’t have ample time for solitude & reflection (& this was on a busy holiday weekend).  

We hiked to Iceberg Lake in early July, & as you can see, there was a LOT of ice in the lake. If you hike later in the summer, there may not be as much…

Iceberg Lake.

Up by the lake, I spotted a lone deer, just off the main trail.

My friend Nina, making her way down the Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park ~ back towards Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.

Where to Stay in Glacier National Park

If you enjoy hiking, & that’ll be your main event while visiting the park: stay in the Many Glacier area, where many hikes begin.  Your options here include: the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Many Glacier Hotel, & the Many Glacier Campground.  Swiftcurrent is a little more rustic, while the Many Glacier Hotel sits overlooking Swiftcurrent Lake, with a more upscale vibe, as well as incredible lake & mountain views. 

For upscale mountain chic & VIEWS, VIEWS, VIEWS ~ stay at the Many Glacier Hotel (near most of the park’s iconic hiking trails).

If you’d prefer to stay closer to the West Entrance, near a wider variety of activities & amenities, such as kayaking, biking, & fishing, try the lakefront Lake McDonald Lodge.  They offer hotel rooms, dorms, & cottages ~ & they also have a cute restaurant & bar that we frequented regularly (from our nearby campground).  A cheaper option is Motel Lake McDonald, or one of Glacier’s 13 campgrounds, which are spread out all throughout the park.

Lake McDonald Lodge, near the West Entrance, is one of your most upscale lodging options in Glacier National Park.

 Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park!

Thanks for reading this post on “Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park!”  Have you been to Glacier National Park?  If so, where did you stay & where did you hike?  Let me know in the comments below!

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