Iceberg Lake

★5.0

Iceberg Lake Trail lined with Bear grass
NPS Natural Resources, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Spectacular turquoise alpine lake in Glacier National Park, known for floating icebergs, towering cliffs, wildflower meadows, and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.

General Information

Length:
9.6–9.8 miles round trip (4.8–4.9 miles one way)
Elevation Gain:
Approximately 1,200–1,765 feet
Difficulty:
Moderate
Hours:
Accessible during Glacier National Park operating hours and seasonal trail conditions
Fees:
Glacier National Park entrance fee required
Pet Policy:
Pets are not allowed on park trails
Closest cities with hotels:
Many Glacier, MT; St. Mary, MT
Seasons:
Late June through September; summer offers the best trail access and chances to see icebergs on the lake
Location:
Iceberg-Ptarmigan Trailhead, behind Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Glacier National Park, MT
Website:
https://www.nps.gov/places/iceberg-lake-trailhead.htm

From West Entrance (70.7 miles): Take Glacier Rte 1 Rd/Going-to-the-Sun Rd to Rte 3 in Babb. Follow Rte 3 to trailhead.

Overview

Iceberg Lake in the Many Glacier area sits below a cirque wall, with Mount Wilbur to the south and Iceberg Peak, which rises more than 3,000 feet above the lake, to the west. Ice floats in the water even in midsummer.

TrailLengthElevation GainHighlights
Iceberg Lake Trail9.6 miles round trip (4.8 one way)About 1,200 feetWildflower meadows, Ptarmigan Falls, and a lake with icebergs; bear country

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Iceberg Lake", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Crater Lake Wizard Island South View
National Park Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted