This image (from early June) demonstrates the potential for snow even well into the summer. The trail tracing the headwall and heading west toward Iceberg Lake.Įxpect cooler temperatures near the lake. Stone walls and lush vegetation along the trail. You’ll pass above this boisterous falls along the Iceberg Lake trail.Ĭrossing Ptarmigan Creek just above the same-name falls. The steep wall above the trail is criss-crossed with streams and melt water drainages. The trail is well-marked and easy to find, just follow signs toward Iceberg Lake. It gets rockier from this point on and you might encounter snow on the trail even into the summer.Īpproaching the lake, look for bighorn sheep negotiating the steep cliffs the glacial cirque closes in as you finish the last bit of climbing and cross a small creek up ahead.įrozen chunks float in Iceberg Lake and the rocky shoreline offers excellent seats for picnicking and enjoying the dramatic cirque view before backtracking to the trailhead. Hike the midline of Ptarmigan Wall, a giant gray rock face that skyrockets 2,000 ft. Look for Iceberg Notch looming above the lake up ahead. The trail approaches treeline and follows the curve of the headwall west below the sheer rugged ridgeline. You’ll bypass the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail just after the bridge. The trail crosses a bridge at the head of the falls and continues along the valley’s northern slope. Stop for a break and photo opp at Ptarmigan Falls near mile 2.4. Look for an abundance of wild rose, avalanche lily, shooting star, and Indian Paintbrush when there is moisture along the trail. Wilbur (9.321 ft.) looms on the left.Įxposed sections of the greenish-grey rock lining the trail weep with water in the spring and early summer and foster dozens of species of wildflower. Keep a sharp eye out for the sure-footed mammals and make plenty of noise on the trail to avoid surprising a black bear or grizzly. Before the trail tucks behind Mount Wilbur, look left toward the glaciers flanking Swiftcurrent Mountain.Īs the terrain alternates between open forest and alpine meadow, you’ll cruise prime territory for bears, and below prime territory for mountain goats and big horn sheep. The climbing mellows from this point, but you’ll continue gently uphill another 1,000 feet over the next 4.3 miles.Īs the trail levels out, look around for breathtaking snowy-mountain views. Follow signs uphill toward Iceberg Lake, bypassing the trail to the Many Glacier Hotel.Īfter a 250-foot climb, turn left at this signed T-junction just 0.2 miles from the trailhead. The trail starts on the northwest side of the large parking area near cabins and the camp store. For more details about Glacier’s extensive trails, check out their website: nps.gov/glac. The entire climb up the valley’s north side, you’ll have great views of Grinell Point, Mount Grinell, Mount Wilbur, and a snow-filled couilor-Iceberg Notch-the entire climb. The rocky beach is a great place for a snack before backtracking to the trailhead. You’ll bypass the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail and round the top of the Iceberg Creek drainage as the trail approaches treeline and climbs past an unnamed tern lake just before a quick descent to Iceberg Lake’s eastern shoreline. On a gently graded climb, the trail crosses several small creeks and alternates between open pine and spruce forests and weeping, dripping walls en route to Ptarmigan Falls at mile 2.4. Winding from a frontcountry campground area to Iceberg Lake, this 9.2-mile out-and-back in Many Glacier is a moderate day hike with a spectacularly scenic payoff: an iceberg-laden lake perched just below the Continental Divide.įrom the trailhead on the northwest side of the camping cabin parking area, the trail climbs steeply for the first 0.3 miles and then levels out for a westbound traverse below the ridge linking Mount Henkel and Crowfeet Mountain-look for mountain goats on the alpine meadows to the north. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
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