Glacier Guide: Best Hikes For Families
It doesn’t get much more beautiful than Glacier National Park. Being a Montana native, one could argue I’m biased, but anyone who has ever had the privilege of driving up the park’s iconic Going-To-The-Sun Road would more than likely agree with me. After all, it’s not called “The Crown of the Continent” for no reason. But don’t let your trip be limited to Logan Pass - this scenic drive is simply the gateway to all Glacier has to offer, including over 700 miles of trails that provide endless hiking opportunities ranging from short walks to extended treks. If you plan to visit Glacier with kids, there are plenty of hikes the whole family can enjoy. From fairly flat trails leading to cascading waterfalls to exposed routes with breathtaking alpine views, these are the best family-friendly hikes in Glacier National Park (from my unique perspective doing these hikes as both a child myself and now as a parent).
Redrock Falls - Located on the east side of the park in the Many Glacier area, this family-friendly trail winds past two shimmering lakes - Fishercap and Redrock - on the way to one of the prettiest waterfalls in all of Glacier. Relatively easy at 3.7 miles roundtrip with only 200ft elevation gain, I highly recommend this hike as it hits all the marks: stunning mountain peak views most of the way, great opportunities to see moose along the water’s edge, and a big payoff at the end when you reach Redrock Falls.
Trail of the Cedars - One of the easiest “hikes” in Glacier, this popular one mile loop takes you through a lush, cool forest of ancient cedar trees with beautiful views of a gorge. Located near Lake McDonald Lodge at the start of Going-To-The-Sun Road (Logan Pass), this is a great place to get out of the car and stretch before or after you make the scenic drive. Being one of the park’s most visited attractions, parking can be quite hard to find during peak season, so as with any of the park’s popular sites, aim to be at the trailhead first thing in the morning or late afternoon to miss the crowds.
Avalanche Lake - If you explore Trail of the Cedars and want to continue on, make your way up through the hemlock forest to Avalanche Lake. It’s a moderate hike at 4.5 miles roundtrip with 730ft elevation gain that leads to an alpine lake with stunning views of steep cliffs and waterfalls. With a large beach along the lake’s shore, it’s a great spot to recharge and enjoy a picnic. A huge benefit of this trail is that 90% of it is densely shaded by the thick tree canopy above, allowing it to be a pleasant hike even on the hottest of days.
Hidden Lake - Located at the very top of Going-To-The-Sun Road, this hike is a must-do while in Glacier! The hike to the top (Hidden Lake Overlook) is completely open and exposed, taking hikers through an alpine meadow of wildflowers and snowfields with magnificent 360 degree views. It’s 1.3 miles to the top with 540ft elevation gain which is a workout but totally doable for young kids (our oldest daughter hiked it without help at 2.5 years old). For those with older kids, continue down to Hidden Lake, a beautiful glacier-carved lake surrounded by soaring peaks. It is quite steep but well worth the journey. Be sure to bring binoculars as this area is known for being one of the best spots in the park to spot wildlife, especially mountain goat and bighorn sheep who are commonly seen grazing on grassy mountain slopes or balancing on sheer rock faces above.
St. Mary and Virginia Falls - A moderately easy out-and-back trail at 3.1 miles roundtrip with 452ft elevation gain, this popular hike off Going-To-The-Sun Road is all about the mesmerizing waterfalls and cascading pools you’ll come across along the journey. Start at the obvious trailhead clearly marked as St. Mary Falls then follow along a level trail to St. Mary Falls before continuing on to Virginia Falls. This hike allows you to pack a lot into a short time - enjoy mountain views, travel along rivers and creeks, pass through a small area that was victim of the 2015 wildfire, ascend up the lovely Virginia Creek Valley, pass multiple smaller cascades positioned between beautiful St. Mary Falls and arguably more impressive Virginia Falls. The main downside of this hike is the limited parking during peak summer season, however, shuttles are available from the St. Mary Visitor Center and run approximately every 15 minutes.
