Swiftcurrent Lake

Northwest > Montana > Glacier National Park > Many Glacier > Swiftcurrent Lake

Grinnell Point and Swiftcurrent Lake from the Many Glacier Hotel
Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Glacially formed alpine lake bordered by forested slopes and rugged peaks creating reflective water views and access to surrounding trails.

General Information

Hours:
Open daily during park hours (typically 24 hours for lake access)
Vehicle access to the area is generally limited to daytime hours during peak season
Fees:
7-day vehicle pass: $35
Motorcycle: $30
Individual entry (on foot/bike): $20
Valid for Glacier National Park
Pet Policy:
Pets are not allowed on trails but are permitted in developed areas such as parking lots and campgrounds
Closest cities with hotels:
St. Mary (30 mi)
Kalispell (150 mi)
Seasons:
Late spring through early fall (best access typically July–September)
Location:
Swiftcurrent Lake, Glacier National Park, MT
Website:
nps.gov/glac

How to Get There

From Kalispell (150 mi): Take US-2 east across the park toward the St. Mary entrance, continue on Going-to-the-Sun Road, then follow signs north toward the Many Glacier area and continue to the lake parking area.

Overview

Swiftcurrent Lake is located in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park. The Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel in the park, is along the east shore of the lake. Many hiking trails originate from the area and scenic tour boats provide access to the lake for visitors.

Swiftcurrent Lake lies at 4,878 feet (1,487 m) above sea level. Nearby lakes include the much larger Lake Sherburne to the east and Lake Josephine to the immediate southwest. The mountains immediately west of the lake rise 3,000 feet (910 m) above the lake. The fast disappearing Grinnell Glacier is one of several glaciers and snowfields that provide water for the streams that replenish the lake. Mount Gould, Grinnell Point and Mount Wilbur are the largest mountains immediately west of the lake.

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

Crater Lake Wizard Island South View
Sunset at Swiftcurrent Lake
Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
daytona-clock
Mt. Grinnell and Swiftcurrent Lake
jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
daytona-clock
Cmichel67, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted