Iceberg Lake - Glacier National Park, Montana

September 7th, 2015

Iceberg Lake is a beautiful day hike located in Glacier National Park, Montana. We had the privilege of visiting Montana for two months this past summer and this was my second favorite hike. My favorite hike was our 21.1 mile trek from Swiftcurrent Motor Inn to Chief Mountain Trail Head.  These two hikes have the same trail head, so it’s no wonder these two were my favorites. The trail to Iceberg Lake is only about 9.5 miles round trip, so those with less athletic capabilities can handle it. Be forewarned, the beginning of the hike does gain some elevation (about 250 ft of elevation in only .1 miles) so for those with lower extremity joint issues, bring a walking stick.

This trail is popular for those who want to see a grizzly in the wild, but if you’re going on a visual bear hunt, follow these simple yet important rules:

1.Do not approach bears. 

2.Do not feed bears.

3.Always carry bear spray even on short hikes.

4.Always have a hiking buddy 

(So you can outrun them in the event of an attack) Just kidding, but seriously, don’t hike alone. If you are hurt there is no cell service and you could bleed out or die of exposure. Nature is not a game, enjoy responsibly.

The views on this trail are absolutely breathtaking. The hues of rich greens, dark browns, crisp whites, and sultry blues are repeated in the flora as well as the mountains and rocks. The fresh, frigid air is refreshing and invigorating, but can get a little chilly. Mount Wilber, the Continental Divide, and Iceberg Peak loom about the Lake casting it in shadow most of the day. This adds a brooding and beautiful gloom to the scene and creates a pocket of chill. One should definitely bring a windbreaker and plenty of easily removable layers.

There is a gorgeous waterfall on the hike which Emil and I drank from using our LifeStraw. I love being able to drink water anywhere we hike. This is an invaluable tool in an emergency.

I absolutely adored this hike and am glad we were able to fit this into our schedule during our summer visit.