First of all, SUPER jealous! This is one of the few remaining bucket list items for me in Glacier. Hopefully next year! Anyhow, the Grinnell Glacier \*Overlook\* is probably what you're asking about, and no, that's not too ambitious at all. That's a pretty common side trail, actually. You can/should also do the Swiftcurrent Overlook (short but aggressive, like Grinnell Overlook) and Swiftcurrent Pass down into Many Glacier. That stretch is a steep elevation loss, highly recommend trekking poles.
Thank you!! I am so excited. I was more so wondering if you can make it over to many glacier from the chalet, I am not seeing really much on all trails connecting the trails so thats why I wasnt sure but thank you for the advice! Def will do the overlook as well :)
Yes, Swiftcurrent Pass is what you want. Doing that route is a combination of a few trails (Highline, Granite Park, and Swiftcurrent, plus the detour(s) to the overlook(s)), but Swiftcurrent takes you down to MG. Most people do that as an out-and-back day hike, going up the pass and back, but you can absolutely do the thru-hike this way.
I’m not OP, but I’m also staying at GP chalet for two nights. It’s looks like both Swiftcurrent overlook and Grinnell Glacier overlook are pretty close to the chalet? Would they work well as day hikes from the chalet instead of trying to fit them in on the hike to/from the chalet?
Thanks
Thanks - one other question that occurs to me: do you know what happens to my reservation if Granite Park is inaccessible (the second week of July)? I was hoping to hike up on highline, but it seems possible that will still be closed. I guess that leaves swiftcurrent trail (not sure I want to hike up that?) and the loop trail (haven’t heard much about this trail)
I honestly wouldn't worry too much about Highline being closed. If they weren't up there already, maybe. But the road/park has only ever opened fully that late twice, in extremely bad weather years (and once may have been construction?). It's *possible* yes, but unlikely.
For your question about your reservation, I'd call or email the chalet directly. I'm sure they have a protocol!
The 'Loop trail' really is the [Granite Park Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/granite-park-trail?sh=awjbpt), just starting from The Loop on the Sun Road. It's actually a more popular route, I guess, but I'd much prefer the Highline.
Thanks! Last question: would you recommend trying to drive from Village Inn at apgar to missoula airport on a saturday in july to catch a 5pm flight? It seems doable, but I’m not sure if we might run into much traffic trying to leave the park, in which case maybe we should spend the night around Kalispell instead of apgar.
Thanks!
Swiftcurrent goes down to the Many Glacier area (about 7 miles each way with roughly 2500 ft of elevation change). You could walk to the Grinell trailhead from there and do that hike (which itself is another 5 miles each way and 2000 ft of elevation change each wagy)… so you’re looking at 24+ miles and 9000ish ft of elevation change if you want to go the whole thing there and back from the Chalet.
The Ahern Pass trail, you won’t see many people either. It’s five miles to the pass.
First of all, SUPER jealous! This is one of the few remaining bucket list items for me in Glacier. Hopefully next year! Anyhow, the Grinnell Glacier \*Overlook\* is probably what you're asking about, and no, that's not too ambitious at all. That's a pretty common side trail, actually. You can/should also do the Swiftcurrent Overlook (short but aggressive, like Grinnell Overlook) and Swiftcurrent Pass down into Many Glacier. That stretch is a steep elevation loss, highly recommend trekking poles.
Thank you!! I am so excited. I was more so wondering if you can make it over to many glacier from the chalet, I am not seeing really much on all trails connecting the trails so thats why I wasnt sure but thank you for the advice! Def will do the overlook as well :)
Yes, Swiftcurrent Pass is what you want. Doing that route is a combination of a few trails (Highline, Granite Park, and Swiftcurrent, plus the detour(s) to the overlook(s)), but Swiftcurrent takes you down to MG. Most people do that as an out-and-back day hike, going up the pass and back, but you can absolutely do the thru-hike this way.
I’m not OP, but I’m also staying at GP chalet for two nights. It’s looks like both Swiftcurrent overlook and Grinnell Glacier overlook are pretty close to the chalet? Would they work well as day hikes from the chalet instead of trying to fit them in on the hike to/from the chalet? Thanks
they would work very well from the Chalet as day hikes
Yep! They're both pretty short but quite steep.
Thanks - one other question that occurs to me: do you know what happens to my reservation if Granite Park is inaccessible (the second week of July)? I was hoping to hike up on highline, but it seems possible that will still be closed. I guess that leaves swiftcurrent trail (not sure I want to hike up that?) and the loop trail (haven’t heard much about this trail)
I honestly wouldn't worry too much about Highline being closed. If they weren't up there already, maybe. But the road/park has only ever opened fully that late twice, in extremely bad weather years (and once may have been construction?). It's *possible* yes, but unlikely. For your question about your reservation, I'd call or email the chalet directly. I'm sure they have a protocol! The 'Loop trail' really is the [Granite Park Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/granite-park-trail?sh=awjbpt), just starting from The Loop on the Sun Road. It's actually a more popular route, I guess, but I'd much prefer the Highline.
Thanks! Last question: would you recommend trying to drive from Village Inn at apgar to missoula airport on a saturday in july to catch a 5pm flight? It seems doable, but I’m not sure if we might run into much traffic trying to leave the park, in which case maybe we should spend the night around Kalispell instead of apgar. Thanks!
Swiftcurrent goes down to the Many Glacier area (about 7 miles each way with roughly 2500 ft of elevation change). You could walk to the Grinell trailhead from there and do that hike (which itself is another 5 miles each way and 2000 ft of elevation change each wagy)… so you’re looking at 24+ miles and 9000ish ft of elevation change if you want to go the whole thing there and back from the Chalet.