Best Easy Day Hikes Glacier & Waterton Lakes contains maps and descriptions for 28 hikes. Each of the hikes are relatively short, on well-defined, easy-to-follow trails that take you to some of the area's most spectacular scenery - without taking you to physical extremes.
National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for Glacier National Park contains detailed topographic information and clearly marked trails for both Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park.
Top Trails: Glacier National Park. Local author Jean Arthur leads visitors to secluded trails and unique settings while providing details of current and past human activity, wildlife, and geology.
Glacier National Park hikes by Difficulty Rating
Hiking in Glacier National Park can be quite challenging, and hiking a trail above your fitness level can make for a less than enjoyable day while out on the trail. Below is a list of Glacier National Park hikes sorted by a difficulty rating, and ranked from easiest to hardest hikes. This list is intended to help hikers find a trail that's best suited to their abilities.
Difficulty Rating Defined: a difficulty rating of less than 5 is generally considered to be an easy hike, between 5 and 10 is moderate, and anything over 10 is considered to be a strenuous hike. For a more detailed explanation of the difficulty ratings while hiking in Glacier National Park, please click here.
By clicking on any of the hiking trail names below you'll find more detailed information for each hike, including trail descriptions, directions, key features, photos, elevation profiles and maps.
R/T on the table heading below stands for total round trip mileage.
For a general idea on the location of any hiking trail in Glacier, please visit our park map page.
| Trail Name | General Location | Trail Features | RT Miles | Elevation Gain | Difficulty Rating |
| Running Eagle Falls | Two Medicine | Waterfalls | 0.6 | 15 | 0.63 |
| Baring Falls | St. Mary Lake | Waterfalls | 0.8 | 160 | 1.12 |
| Trail of the Cedars | Lake McDonald | Forest Hike, Waterfalls | 1.0 | 60 | 1.12 |
| Forest and Fire Nature Trail | Lake McDonald | Scenic Views, Wildflowers | 1.1 | 180 | 1.46 |
| Appistoki Falls | Two Medicine | Waterfalls | 1.3 | 175 | 1.65 |
| Paradise Point | Two Medicine | Scenic Lake Views | 1.4 | 220 | 1.84 |
| St. Mary Falls | St. Mary Lake | Waterfalls | 1.7 | 215 | 2.13 |
| Johns Lake Loop | Lake McDonald | Waterfalls, Lake Views | 1.8 | 225 | 2.25 |
| Twin Falls | Two Medicine | Waterfalls | 2.3 | 115 | 2.53 |
| Rocky Point Nature Trail | Lake McDonald | Lake, Scenic Views | 1.9 | 350 | 2.60 |
| Swiftcurrent Lake Nature Trail | Many Glacier | Scenic and Lake Views, Forest | 2.7 | 25 | 2.75 |
| Apikuni Falls | Many Glacier | Waterfalls | 1.7 | 625 | 2.95 |
| Hidden Falls | Many Glacier | Waterfalls, Forest Hike | 2.5 | 250 | 3.00 |
| Aster Falls | Two Medicine | Waterfalls | 2.8 | 320 | 3.44 |
| Grinnell Lake | Many Glacier | Lake, Scenic Views | 3.0 | 220 | 3.44 |
| Deadwood Falls | Logan Pass | Waterfalls, Forest Hike | 2.3 | 665 | 3.63 |
| Hidden Lake Overlook | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 2.7 | 540 | 3.78 |
| Beaver Pond Loop | St. Mary Lake | Meadows, Forest Hike, Historic | 3.6 | 350 | 4.30 |
| Howe Lake | Lake McDonald | Lake | 4.0 | 240 | 4.48 |
| Virginia Falls | St. Mary Lake | Waterfalls | 3.6 | 525 | 4.65 |
| Redrock Falls | Many Glacier | Waterfalls, Lake, Scenic Views | 4.2 | 285 | 4.77 |
| Upper Two Medicine Lake | Two Medicine | Lake Views, Meadows, Wildflowers | 4.8 | 350 | 5.50 |
| Aster Park Overlook | Two Medicine | Scenic Views, Waterfalls | 4.0 | 780 | 5.56 |
| Sun Point Nature Trail | St. Mary Lake | Waterfalls, Lake Views | 4.7 | 460 | 5.62 |
| Upper McDonald Creek Trail | Lake McDonald | Waterfalls, Scenic Views | 5.3 | 210 | 5.72 |
| Avalanche Lake | Lake McDonald | Lake, Waterfalls | 4.5 | 730 | 5.96 |
| Lake Josephine Loop | Many Glacier | Outstanding Lake Views | 5.8 | 225 | 6.25 |
| Ptarmigan Falls | Many Glacier | Oustanding Views, Waterfalls | 5.0 | 768 | 6.54 |
| St. Mary Area Waterfalls Hike | St. Mary Lake | Waterfalls, Lake Views | 5.2 | 700 | 6.60 |
| No Name Lake | Two Medicine | Alpine Lake, Scenic Views | 5.4 | 905 | 7.21 |
| Rockwell Falls | Two Medicine | Waterfalls, Scenic Views, Wildflowers | 7.0 | 375 | 7.75 |
| Dragon's Tail | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows | 5.4 | 1190 | 7.78 |
| Bullhead Lake | Many Glacier | Lakes, Waterfalls, Scenic Views | 7.2 | 425 | 8.05 |
| Hidden Lake | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Lake | 5.4 | 1325 | 8.05 |
| Fish Lake | Lake McDonald | Lake, Forest Hike | 5.8 | 1210 | 8.22 |
| S. Shore St. Mary Lake | St. Mary Lake | Waterfalls, Lake Views | 7.2 | 755 | 8.71 |
| Highline Trail to Haystack Pass | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 7.2 | 825 | 8.85 |
| Preston Park | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 7.1 | 1415 | 9.93 |
| Apgar Lookout | Lake McDonald | Scenic Views, Historic | 7.1 | 1845 | 10.79 |
| Grinnell Glacier | Many Glacier | Outstanding Views, Glaciers | 7.6 | 1840 | 11.28 |
| Florence Falls | Logan Pass | Waterfalls, Forest Hike | 9.8 | 975 | 11.75 |
| Poia Lake | Many Glacier | Lake Views | 8.6 | 1750 | 12.10 |
| Ptarmigan Lake | Many Glacier | Oustanding Views, Alpine Lake | 8.8 | 1700 | 12.20 |
| Iceberg Lake | Many Glacier | Outstanding Views, Alpine Lake | 9.7 | 1275 | 12.25 |
| Scenic Point | Two Medicine | Outstanding Views, Alpine Tundra | 8.0 | 2300 | 12.60 |
| Snyder Lake | Lake McDonald | Subalpine Lake, Scenic Views | 8.7 | 2045 | 12.79 |
| Piegan Pass | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views | 9.2 | 1850 | 12.90 |
| Siyeh Pass | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 8.9 | 2090 | 13.08 |
| Granite Park Chalet (via The Loop) | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Wildflowers | 8.4 | 2450 | 13.30 |
| Medicine Grizzly Lake | Two Medicine | Subalpine Lake, Scenic Views | 12.4 | 625 | 13.65 |
| Belly River Ranger Station | Many Glacier | Outstanding Views, Historic | 12.2 | 915 | 14.03 |
| Cobalt Lake | Two Medicine | Scenic Views, Alpine Lake, Waterfalls, Wildflowers | 11.2 | 1450 | 14.10 |
| Firebrand Pass | Two Medicine | Outstanding Views, Wildflowers | 10.2 | 1950 | 14.10 |
| Dawson Pass | Two Medicine | Outstanding Views | 9.4 | 2450 | 14.30 |
| Siyeh Pass Loop | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 10.4 | 2280 | 14.96 |
| Otokomi Lake | St. Mary Lake | Alpine Lake, Waterfalls | 10.8 | 2180 | 15.16 |
| Ptarmigan Tunnel | Many Glacier | Oustanding Views, Alpine Lake, Historic | 10.7 | 2300 | 15.30 |
| Cracker Lake | Many Glacier | Alpine Lake, Outstanding Views | 12.6 | 1400 | 15.40 |
| Gunsight Lake | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Subalpine Lake, Wildflowers | 12.6 | 1500 | 15.60 |
| Red Eagle Lake | St. Mary Lake | Lake Views, Meadows | 15.0 | 300 | 15.60 |
| Highline Loop | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 11.8 | 1950 | 15.70 |
| Oldman Lake | Two Medicine | Alpine Lake, Outstanding Views | 13.3 | 1850 | 17.00 |
| Quartz Lake Loop | Lake McDonald | Lake Views, Forest Hike | 12.8 | 2350 | 17.50 |
| Gable Pass | Many Glacier | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows | 13.1 | 2250 | 17.60 |
| Mt. Brown Lookout | Lake McDonald | Outstanding Views, Historic | 10.1 | 4250 | 18.60 |
| Huckleberry Mountain Lookout | Lake McDonald | Scenic Views | 12.0 | 3400 | 18.80 |
| Swiftcurrent Pass | Many Glacier | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Lakes | 14.2 | 2400 | 19.00 |
| Sperry Chalet | Lake McDonald | Outstanding Views, Waterfalls | 12.3 | 3360 | 19.02 |
| Two Medicine Pass | Two Medicine | Outstanding Views, Alpine Lake | 14.2 | 2410 | 19.02 |
| Granite Park Chalet (via Highline) | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 15.2 | 1920 | 19.04 |
| Triple Divide Pass | Two Medicine | Outstanding Views | 14.6 | 2400 | 19.40 |
| Pitamakan Pass | Two Medicine | Outstanding Views, Lake Views | 15.4 | 2500 | 20.40 |
| Grinnell Glacier Overlook | Logan Pass | Outstanding Views, Alpine Meadows, Wildflowers | 15.5 | 2830 | 21.16 |