Grinnell Glacier

This is it. Our final day in Glacier. Tomorrow we will move on to other things. I won’t say better things, because after our short trip to Glacier National Park, I really don’t think there are many things better than this…but I’ll move on nonetheless. {Also, isn’t it crazy that nonetheless is an actual word?}

On our final day we got up nice and early and made the long drive from West Glacier all the way to the opposite side of the park to the stunningly preserved Many Glacier Hotel. It was built in 1910 and sits right on Swiftcurrent Lake. When you finally get there it’s like you’ve walked into a postcard. The hotel is idyllic, if a little surreal. The lake is pristine. The mountains are so gorgeous they couldn’t even be dreamed up by Bob Ross himself.

{Above photo: Swiftcurrent Lake}

{Below bottom: Many Glacier Hotel, other photos in the collage: along the Grinnel Glacier Trail}

We left from the hotel and headed to the Grinnel Glacier trail head. Now, next time we visit I think I’ll try to plan things out just a bit better in the time department. You see, there is a boat shuttle that leaves from Many Glacier Hotel that will take you across the lake where you can catch another boat that will take you up the trail a bit. All in all it will shave off a good 1-2 miles off your total hike.

We did not catch the boat.

So that meant another long day of hiking. However, I am very, VERY glad we decided to save this one for last. While the hike was strenuous {a steady incline over 5 miles…then a very steep, rocky climb at the end} it was the biggest payout of any of the trails we hikes while visiting the park.

Along the trail you’ll climb steadily until you are high enough that you look down upon Lake Josephine and eventually Lake Grinnell. You can see Lake Grinnell in the collage above. It’s that brilliantly teal body of water next to the pine tree. Then far, far in the distance you’ll notice a waterfall. As you continue it will become clear that the waterfall is simple melt from Grinnell Glacier, and it is this fall that feeds the lake.

You’ll pass falls closer to the trail and you’ll smell all these amazing smells. You know how men’s fragrances are called “Glacial Waters” and “Mountain Pass” and stuff like that? Well, there is a reason. This whole corner of the world smells like the manliest, best ever, cologne ever made. Forget Axe Bodywash. I want a man who smells as good as the woods around Glacier.

Now, I’m getting off topic again.

Anyway. Remember that steep climb I mentioned earlier? It’s rocky and lasts for a good stretch. Like climbing a rustic stone staircase. Up, up, up. Your quads will tell you to stop. Don’t listen. Keep climbing. Because eventually you’ll get….here.

You’ll walk right up to Grinnell Glacier. Yes, this is what a glacier looks like in summer. And the photo really stinks. It’s breath taking. The water is clear right to the bottom. The ice bergs are so white they sting to look at. And that water, oh the water…it’s a color even Crayola envies. All the fatigue you feel walking up, up, up will be gone as soon as you see the oasis before you.

Before making our descent, we were lucky enough to spy this beauty. Who, even though I was pretty scared, let me get close enough to nab this awesome portrait.

Needless to say, we were left pretty darn tired at the end of our last day. So, after dinner, instead of going for another walk, or finding something else to do…we simply pulled off and waited for the stars to come out. It’s so dark you can see the Milky Way and constellations become a blur of millions of tiny lights in the sky.