Iceberg Lake Trail

Iceberg Lake Trail is widely considered one of the most spectacular hikes in Glacier National Park, delivering hikers to an impossibly blue cirque lake that retains floating icebergs well into August beneath sheer 3,000-foot cliffs. Beginning at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn complex in the Many Glacier Valley, the trail climbs gradually through open meadows ablaze with beargrass, Indian paintbrush, and glacier lilies before entering a dramatic alpine cirque carved by ancient glaciers. The lake itself sits at 6,094 feet and is ringed by massive walls of gray and red argillite that keep sunlight off the water for most of the day, preserving the ice well beyond the melting season. Grizzly bear sightings are common in the many berry patches along the route, and mountain goats frequently appear on the cliffs above the lake. The Many Glacier area is one of the richest wildlife corridors in the contiguous United States, and bighorn sheep and moose are also regularly spotted. Hikers should carry bear spray and travel in groups. The trail is heavily trafficked and early morning starts are recommended. The sheer scale of the cliffs above the lake and the eerie blue of the glacial water make Iceberg Lake one of the most memorable destinations in the American mountain west.