Many Glacier with Kids: Family Activities & Easy Trails

1. Fishercap Lake Trail — best for toddlers

0.6 miles round trip, 19 feet of elevation gain, easy, ages 2 and up. The shortest trail in Many Glacier leads to one of the most reliable moose viewing spots in all of Glacier National Park, and the lake has a small beach area perfect for a picnic while you wait for wildlife to appear.

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.

2. Swiftcurrent Nature Trail — best easy loop

2.6-mile loop, 127 feet of elevation gain, easy, ages 4 and up. A flat loop around Swiftcurrent Lake with jaw-dropping views of Mount Wilbur and the Many Glacier Hotel — completely stroller-friendly on the paved sections near the hotel.

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.

3. Redrock Falls Trail — best waterfall hike

3.6 miles round trip, 230 feet of elevation gain, easy, ages 5 and up. A gentle waterfall hike that passes Fishercap Lake and Redrock Lake before ending at a cascading falls — three destinations in one trail with almost no elevation gain.

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.

4. Many Glacier Boat Tour (Swiftcurrent & Josephine Lakes) — best boat experience

$41.70 adults, $20.85 ages 4–12, children under 4 free; 1.5 hours; 2026 season June 10 – September 19. Two boats cross two lakes with a short guided walk between them, and the narrated cruise gives kids a unique perspective on the valley.

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.

5. Iceberg Lake Trail — best challenge hike

9.5 miles round trip, 1,275 feet of elevation gain, moderate, ages 8 and up. Real icebergs float in the lake well into August. The trail is one of Glacier's most iconic day hikes, and the gradual incline after the initial switchbacks makes it manageable for fit kids who've done 5+ mile hikes before.

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.

6. Horseback riding — Many Glacier Corral

$110–$450, 1 hour to all day, 2026 season June 13 – September 13, ages 8 and up. Swan Mountain Outfitters runs six different rides from the Many Glacier Corral, from a 1-hour Swiftcurrent Loop ($110) to a full-day backcountry ride ($450). It's the only way to see Piegan Valley or Cracker Flats without hiking.

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.

7. Wildlife viewing from Many Glacier Hotel

Free, all ages, June–September. Many Glacier is considered the wildlife capital of Glacier National Park. You can spot grizzly bears, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats from the hotel balcony, parking lot, and nearby meadows — no trail required.

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.

8. Junior Ranger Program

$1.00 donation, ages 5–12, 2–4 hours to complete. The activity book turns every hike and ranger talk into an interactive scavenger hunt, and kids earn an official NPS badge or patch after completing the workbook and attending at least one ranger-led program.

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.

9. Ranger-led programs at Many Glacier

Free, all ages, 30–90 minutes. Free ranger talks cover bears, glaciers, and Blackfeet history in a format that keeps kids engaged, and evening campfire programs at the Many Glacier Campground amphitheater are a highlight of any family visit.

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.

10. Ptarmigan Dining Room & Nell's at Swiftcurrent

$$–$$$, all ages, hours 6:30 am–9:30 pm. Ptarmigan Dining Room at Many Glacier Hotel is the only sit-down restaurant in the valley, with panoramic Swiftcurrent Lake views. Nell's at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is the quick-service alternative for families who need burgers and pizza fast.

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.

11. Swiftcurrent Lake beach & kayak rentals

Free–$$, all ages, June–September. The rocky beach along Swiftcurrent Lake near the hotel is the best place for kids to throw rocks, wade, and decompress after a morning on the trail. Kayak and canoe rentals are available from the boat dock when conditions allow.

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.

12. Many Glacier Campground — best overnight base

$30/night, 109 sites, 2026 season mid-May – September. Staying in the valley eliminates the 12-mile morning drive from Babb and puts you first on the trails. The campground reopens in 2026 after the Swiftcurrent construction closure, with upgraded roads and improved parking.

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.

How we chose these activities

We ranked each activity based on trail distance, elevation gain, age accessibility, wildlife potential, and family value per dollar. Trail data comes from NPS.gov trail descriptions and AllTrails verified measurements. Boat tour pricing was confirmed with Glacier Park Boat Company for the 2026 season. Horseback ride rates come directly from Swan Mountain Outfitters. Wildlife observation data is based on NPS species reports and field observation patterns documented by park naturalists.

Last verified: March 2026. Prices and schedules are subject to change. Always confirm current trail conditions by texting GNPTRAILS to 333111 or checking the NPS 2026 planning page before your visit.