Many Glacier with Kids: Family Activities & Easy Trails

The trailhead sits at the west end of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking lot. Walk 0.25 miles on flat terrain to the cutoff, then a short spur leads to Fishercap Lake’s northern shore. The entire walk takes about 15 minutes each way.

Moose frequent the marshy shoreline at dawn and dusk. Stay at least 25 yards back and keep children close — moose are unpredictable, especially cows with calves. Bring binoculars to watch from a safe distance at the beach area.

Start at the Grinnell Trailhead or Many Glacier Hotel and follow the lakeshore path around Swiftcurrent Lake. The trail is flat enough for most 4-year-olds to complete without being carried. Allow 1–1.5 hours at a family pace.

Mount Wilbur and Wynn Mountain tower behind the lake, creating one of the most photographed backdrops in the park. Watch for dippers (small gray birds) hunting along the shoreline and look across the water for bear activity on the far slopes.

Start at the Swiftcurrent Pass Trailhead at the far end of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking area. The trail passes Fishercap Lake at 0.3 miles (watch for moose) and reaches Redrock Lake at 1.7 miles before arriving at the falls.

The red argillite rock gives the area its name and makes the falls especially photogenic. Allow 2–3 hours at a relaxed family pace with snack stops. The trail is well-maintained and mostly flat, with only gentle rises near the end.

The tour departs from the dock near Many Glacier Hotel, crossing Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine aboard historic wooden boats. Guides share geology and wildlife facts along the way. Children under 4 ride free on all departures.

At the far end of Lake Josephine, you can take a one-way ticket ($20.85 adults, $10.40 kids) and hike 0.9 miles one way to the turquoise shore of Grinnell Lake — doable for ages 3 and up. This boat-and-hike combo is the easiest way to reach one of Glacier’s most stunning alpine lakes.

The first quarter mile has a few switchbacks, then the trail opens to sweeping views and a gentle uphill grade through wildflower meadows and subalpine forest. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are common along the upper stretches. The turquoise lake sits in a dramatic cirque at 6,094 feet.

Plan 4.5–5 hours round trip at a family pace. Pack layers — the cirque is significantly colder than the trailhead, even in July. Snow can linger on the final approach through late June, so check trail conditions before heading out.

The 1-hour Swiftcurrent Loop ($110, departs 12:45 pm) is the most popular family option. For a bigger adventure, the 2-hour Josephine Lake ride ($150, departs 2:15 pm) follows the lakeshore with mountain views the entire way. Riders must meet age, height, and weight requirements.

All rides are guided by wranglers who know the trails and wildlife patterns. Grizzly bears and moose are commonly spotted from horseback, giving riders a different vantage point than hikers on the same trails.

The slopes below Apikuni Mountain are a grizzly hotspot visible from the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot. Bring a spotting scope or binoculars and scan the hillsides in the morning and evening. Rangers often set up scopes on the hotel veranda and help visitors identify distant bears.

Moose frequent the willow flats near Swiftcurrent Lake at dawn and dusk. Bighorn sheep appear on the rocky ledges above the lake in late summer. Keep children at least 100 yards from bears and 25 yards from all other large animals per NPS regulations.

Pick up a Junior Ranger activity book ($1 donation) at the Many Glacier Ranger Station, Apgar Visitor Center, Logan Pass, or St. Mary Visitor Center. Activities include wildlife identification, trail observations, and drawing exercises that work well for ages 5–12.

The program is designed to be completed during your park visit. Combine it with one of the Many Glacier ranger talks (check the posted schedule at the hotel and campground) to knock out the ranger program requirement. Present the completed book at any ranger station to earn the badge.

Glacier NPS posts daily ranger program schedules at Many Glacier Hotel, the campground bulletin board, and the ranger station. Programs typically include guided nature walks, evening slide talks, and campfire programs. Topics rotate daily and cover wildlife, geology, fire ecology, and Indigenous history.

The evening campfire program (typically 8:00–9:00 pm) at the campground amphitheater is the most popular family option. Rangers use slideshows and storytelling to bring the valley’s ecology alive. Arrive 15 minutes early to grab a front-row log seat.

The Ptarmigan Dining Room serves breakfast (6:30–10:00 am), lunch (11:30 am–2:30 pm), and dinner (5:00–9:30 pm). It operates first-come, first-served with no reservations. The menu includes grilled salmon, duck breast, Cobb salad, and burgers — most kids gravitate toward the burger and mac-and-cheese options.

Nell’s at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (reopening June 8, 2026 after the construction closure) offers pizza, sandwiches, and grab-and-go items at lower prices. It’s the better choice for families with hangry kids who need food immediately after a trail.

The beach area along the north shore of Swiftcurrent Lake near Many Glacier Hotel is rocky (not sandy), but kids love skipping stones with snow-capped peaks as a backdrop. The water is cold year-round (50–55°F in July), so wading is the realistic option rather than swimming.

Kayak and canoe rentals are available from Glacier Park Boat Company at the dock near Many Glacier Hotel. Paddling on Swiftcurrent Lake with Mount Wilbur towering overhead is an unforgettable family experience.

Many Glacier Campground has 109 sites and reopens mid-May 2026 after being closed for all of 2025 due to water system and road construction. Sites accommodate tents and small RVs (no hookups). Reservations are available through Recreation.gov starting six months before your arrival date.

The campground is walking distance from the Swiftcurrent trailhead, the boat dock, and the Many Glacier Corral. Evening campfire ranger programs at the amphitheater run most nights in July and August. Bear-proof food storage lockers are provided at every site.