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Grinnell Glacier Overlook

Glacier Park

Views from the Summits:
Grinnell Glacier Overlook

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

Here are some visitors on the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park, which is basically a great notch in the Garden Wall.  Many visitors every summer take this hike, and no one is ever disappointed.

The Grinnell Glacier Overlook is a very special place that is thousands of feet above the Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park. The view from this overlook is absolutely spectacular, and it's very much worth the hike up the Highline Trail on the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass to see it. This isn't a true summit, but it's still very much worth mentioning in this summit section.

To get to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park, you take the Highline Trail almost to the Granite Park Chalet. About a mile before the chalet, you'll see the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail heading off to the right. It's a fairly steep and steady hike up to the overlook, so make sure you are in proper physical condition before attempting it. But in all honesty, if you get tired, just stop and rest for awhile, enjoy the view, and then continue on. Once you get to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, you'll be glad you made the effort!

The Grinnell Overlook Trail branches off the Highline Trail about 6.8 miles from the Logan Pass parking lot, and it is only about a mile in length. Again, it's a fairly steep, steady hike, but well worth it. You will be able to stand in a great notch on the top of the Garden Wall, and what you will see is breathtaking...

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

This is the classic view from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park.  Directly below us is Salamander Glacier, and hundreds of feet below Salamander is the Grinnell Glacier.  (From this angle it looks like Salamander isn't very high above Grinnell Glacier, but it's actually nearly 500 feet above it.)

The semi-frozen lake just off Grinnell Glacier is Upper Grinnell Lake.   The water from this lake then flows about a thousand feet down several waterfalls until it empties into Grinnell Lake, which is located to the extreme left on this photo.  The huge mountain directly above Grinnell Glacier is the iconic Mount Gould.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

From the notch at the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park, if you work your way to the left, up the ridge, you will get this view of the lakes of the Grinnell and Many Glacier Area.  The semi-frozen lake directly below us is Upper Grinnell Lake, and the next one down is Grinnell Lake.  From there, Lake Josephine is next, and beyond that is Swiftcurrent Lake (not in view), and final lake in the chain, far below us in the distance is Sherburne Lake.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

This is the trail to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park.  We are heading south toward the notch.  Notice the Logan Pass Area (on the Going-to-the-Sun Road) in the distance, which is about 7 miles from here.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

This is a view of the Granite Park Chalet from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail in Glacier National Park.  The mountains in the background are part of Glacier Park's Livingston Range.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

This is a view of the Grinnell Glacier Overlook from the summit of Mount Gould.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

Once you get to the notch at the Grinnell Glacier Overlook and see this view, you'll forget about how tired you were on the trail getting here.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

The further you work you're way up this ridge (south) from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, the more lakes you'll see far below in the Many Glacier Area of Glacier National Park.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

The large peak on the other side of the valley from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park, with the clouds behind it is Allen Mountain.

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Glacier National Park

You will never forget your hike to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook in Glacier National Park!

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