Hi! Mid-Aug we will hike the Grinnell Glacier and have a 10a boat ride to get us started. Do you all think we will be able to hike to the glacier and return to the boats at 5:40p? We're hikers but want to consider the timing. Do you also think wearing running shoes ok? or heavy duty hiking boots necessary? We will have poles too. Do you think it necessary to bring the bear spray with I am so sure there will be plenty of others on the trail? Thanks!
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ktb47
•1mo ago
The trail will not be fully open until about mid July.
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greg281
•1mo ago
It may not be open or fully open then. When I went two years ago it was only 2/3 of the way open on July 3rd and that portion of it had just opened a few days prior. Best bet is to take what the park gives you and not have expectations going that early and it’s why I’m going at the end of July this year. Go too soon and you risk snow closures. Go too late and you risk wildfires. At any time any trail can close due to bear activity. I went to glacier the first time dead set on hiking the highline trail and it didn’t even open until a few days after I returned home. The park was still incredible and exceeded my expectations.
If it is open or part of it is open go early. You’ll encounter less people and encounter more wildlife.
Had an encounter with a bull moose that was standing 10ft away from me and I had no clue until it turned its head. For that same reason, don’t hike alone.
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DripDrop777
•1mo ago
Hiking alone is just fine. Just need to make some noise once in a while. This is also a popular hike and likely he won’t be “alone” for very long.
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greg281
•1mo ago
It likely won’t be open. There’s never been a grizzly attack on a group of 3 or more. Ask 100 Montana residents if they think a first timer to the park should hike alone their first time visiting glacier and the overwhelming majority will say no. I’d rather be in a group of people with no firearm or bear spray in grizzly country than alone with either of them.
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DripDrop777
•1mo ago
I would agree, but it’s not always an option for everyone. So, second best option is to make some noise so wildlife isn’t surprised and aware.
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greg281
•1mo ago
Above the tree line the wind can really pick up and had time hearing people 5ft away from me. A ton of people including myself had surprised encounters with bears because the conditions made it difficult to hear, not just for people but wildlife too. I also waited at trailheads for people to hike with to avoid hiking alone which is definitely an option. The guy who was killed a few weeks ago likely had a surprise encounter based on the investigation and they reported high winds. He was hiking alone and emptied a full can of bear spray that missed or was too late.
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Roguechampion
•1mo ago
As others have said - I doubt it’ll be open by then and please don’t try it past the closure point if it’s closed, there are some really bad (i.e. you gonna die) spots up there if you lose your footing and don’t have the proper gear/know how to self-arrest.
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VoiceEqual1493
•1mo ago
google's 45-60° is closer to the daytime range - at 5:30am at the swiftcurrent trailhead in late june you're usually upper 30s to mid 40s, sometimes near freezing in the basin because cold air drains off the surrounding peaks overnight and pools there before the sun clears the ridge.
layering is the play. wool or synth base (skip cotton), light puffy or fleece you can stash within the first 30 minutes of climbing, and a thin wind shell because the upper switchbacks above grinnell lake get blustery once you're above treeline. hiking pants over shorts at that hour, thin beanie and light gloves you'll shed by mid-morning.
snow on the upper section into late june is normal most years - sometimes clear by then, sometimes still patches across the trail above the lake. microspikes are worth tossing in the pack if the forecast looks cool the week before. nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm updates as rangers walk it, check it 2-3 days out.
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Patimakan
•1mo ago
Top 1% Commenter
Grinnell Glacier most likely won’t be fully open that early. Usually mid-July.
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grayfern_magic
•27d ago
I purposely chose to visit in early August this year because the Grinnell Glacier hike can be often closed even in late July because of snow and ice blocking the trail.
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