With abundant scenic views, great opportunities to see a variety of Glacier's megafauna, a mix of environments, and the most beautiful reward waiting at the end of the route, it's no surprise visitors are drawn to this hike. Grinnell (elev. The glacier is named for George Bird Grinnell, an early American conservationist and explorer, who was also a strong advocate of ensuring the creation of Glacier National Park. [7], "Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park", "Glacier Retreat in Glacier National Park, Montana", "Monitoring and Assessing Glacier Changes and Their Associated Hydrologic and Ecologic Effects in Glacier National Park", "Modeled Climate-Induced Glacier Change in Glacier National Park, 1850–2100", 10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0131:mcigci]2.0.co;2, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grinnell_Glacier&oldid=983149065, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 October 2020, at 14:54. Gould (elev. We hiked the Swiftcurrent Nature walk, the hike to Grinnell lake, and a hike to Akipuni falls, from the Many Glacier Hotel our first 3 days in GNP. With Grinnell Glacier access restricted (Covid), we accessed via the Highline trail (Logan Pass visitor center), climbed to the Grinnell Overlook (via Garden Wall trail), and returned via the Loop trail (to the Loop parking lot for pickup). The glacier is in the Lewis Range and rests on the north flank of Mount Gould at an altitude averaging 7,000 feet (2,100 m), in the Many Glacier region of the park. Grinnell Glacier (Grinnell Lake Overlook) Length: 6.8 miles one way / ~3.8 miles one way to Grinnell Lake Overlook (both distances from Many Glacier Hotel - a boat is available to cross Swiftcurrent and Lake Josephine to knock off 1.7 miles one way) Elevation Gain: 1840 feet. Mount Grinnell is named after George Bird Grinnell. That’s all I can say. Glaciologists have predicted that if carbon dioxide levels increase at a worst-case scenario, all the glaciers in the park, including Grinnell, will disappear by the year 2030. Grinnell Lake is accessible via the Grinnell Glacier Trail and is 3.2 miles (5.1 km) from the Many Glacier Hotel. There is an optional one mile (two miles out and back) spur trail to Grinnell Glacier Overlook that is definitely worth making the extra effort for. [5][6] However, under a modest increase in overall carbon dioxide levels, some glaciers will remain until the year 2277.[6]. On Google Maps, it is labeled “Grinnell Glacier Trailhead.” There is a small parking lot here. The Salamander and Gem Glaciers have shown little change in area over the same period of time. In 1887 he and his party were the first white men to explore the valleys around what is now Swiftcurrent Lake, and were so impressed by the massive glaciers there that members of the expedition—on the spot—named one of them after their leader. Grinnell Glacier lost 45% of its area between 1966 and 2015. Grinnell Glacier is the most frequently visited glacier in Glacier National Park with an incredible trail along the way. In 1850, Grinnell Glacier measured 710 acres (2.9 km2), including the area of The Salamander Glacier, an ice apron or shelf glacier that used to be attached to Grinnell, but is now separate. Seasonal Popularity. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/grinnell-overlook-via-granite-park A Grizzly Bear Spotted on the Grinnell Glacier Trail. Rolling land and additional exploration can easily increase gross elevation to near 2,100 ft. … 2. When compared with images taken over subsequent years, the glacier has obviously retreated substantially. A ranger guided hike daily at 830am to the Grinnell Glacier, at Many Glacier Hotel. It's a detour that should not be skipped! Mount Grinnell is named after George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938), who, beginning in 1885 led several exploratory trips into the area. Had we not made it to the lake and glacier… The first two level miles are spent briefly along Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine’s north shores. Grinnell Glacier, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, USA (60.71345 -144.82736), Brooks Range, North Slope, Alaska, USA (69.27140 -144.91370), Coordinates: 69.27135 -144.91375 69.27145 -144.91365 - Minimum elevation: 5,170 ft - Maximum elevation: 9,020 ft - Average elevation: 6,814 ft, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA (57.37149 -153.18975), Coordinates: 56.74293 -154.79900 57.99976 -152.15431 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 4,230 ft - Average elevation: 348 ft, Glacier Bay National Park, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA (58.81307 -136.87235), Coordinates: 58.14565 -138.58632 59.48298 -135.31852 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 14,915 ft - Average elevation: 1,847 ft, Kalgin Island, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA (60.42841 -151.95766), Coordinates: 60.34065 -152.08541 60.51522 -151.83409 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 240 ft - Average elevation: 13 ft, Sanak Island, Aleutians East, Alaska, USA (54.43077 -162.69362), Coordinates: 54.36979 -162.83606 54.49162 -162.53277 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 1,733 ft - Average elevation: 23 ft, Tongass National Forest, Yakutat, Alaska, USA (59.55611 -138.98101), Coordinates: 59.11730 -139.86272 59.99484 -138.06600 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 15,060 ft - Average elevation: 2,018 ft, Cordova, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, 99574, USA (60.54394 -145.75891), Coordinates: 60.46414 -145.86321 60.64055 -145.41562 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 6,129 ft - Average elevation: 709 ft, Baranof Island, Sitka, Alaska, USA (56.86233 -135.08332), Coordinates: 56.16128 -135.69402 57.56344 -134.61592 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 5,210 ft - Average elevation: 335 ft, Nome, Alaska, 99762, USA (64.50111 -165.40639), Coordinates: 64.46297 -165.51666 64.56108 -165.32214 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 1,398 ft - Average elevation: 115 ft, Margerie Glacier, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA (58.98038 -137.09447), Coordinates: 58.90921 -137.26678 59.05188 -137.04252 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 9,705 ft - Average elevation: 3,369 ft, Admiralty Island, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, 99820, USA (57.71324 -134.40978), Coordinates: 57.01447 -134.96997 58.41231 -133.79727 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 7,884 ft - Average elevation: 1,125 ft, Tanana River, Manley Hot Springs Road, Manley Hot Springs, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, 99756, USA (64.95895 -150.71276), Coordinates: 64.55117 -151.96814 65.16367 -147.05606 - Minimum elevation: 223 ft - Maximum elevation: 13,062 ft - Average elevation: 1,388 ft, Mount Okmok, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA (53.46755 -168.17541), Coordinates: 53.46750 -168.17546 53.46760 -168.17536 - Minimum elevation: 997 ft - Maximum elevation: 3,662 ft - Average elevation: 1,942 ft, Ruth Glacier, Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, USA (62.89340 -150.65091), Coordinates: 62.67839 -151.05331 63.10843 -150.41423 - Minimum elevation: 587 ft - Maximum elevation: 20,240 ft - Average elevation: 4,905 ft, Shuyak Island, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA (58.55061 -152.47560), Coordinates: 58.46908 -152.67225 58.63213 -152.32693 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 719 ft - Average elevation: 105 ft, Afognak Island, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA (58.23607 -152.60509), Coordinates: 57.98953 -153.22385 58.48250 -151.96273 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,399 ft - Average elevation: 200 ft, Forrester Island, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska, USA (54.80103 -133.52585), Coordinates: 54.76460 -133.54644 54.83751 -133.51151 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 1,359 ft - Average elevation: 36 ft, Catalina Island, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska, USA (55.54760 -133.29267), Coordinates: 55.22760 -133.61267 55.86760 -132.97267 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 3,895 ft - Average elevation: 381 ft, Minnesota Park, Anchorage, Alaska, USA (61.18919 -149.91364), Coordinates: 61.18813 -149.91389 61.19025 -149.91339 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 145 ft - Average elevation: 79 ft, Bering Strait, Alaska, USA (65.97249 -168.79210), Coordinates: 65.97244 -168.79215 65.97254 -168.79205 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 0 ft - Average elevation: 0 ft, Hinchinbrook Island, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, USA (60.35958 -146.34579), Coordinates: 60.23306 -146.73187 60.48609 -146.08227 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,855 ft - Average elevation: 184 ft, Gates of the Arctic, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA (67.75084 -153.24746), Coordinates: 67.01944 -156.99942 68.48225 -149.77445 - Minimum elevation: 49 ft - Maximum elevation: 7,678 ft - Average elevation: 1,572 ft, Hagemeister Island, Dillingham, Alaska, USA (58.68275 -160.92787), Coordinates: 58.54612 -161.17740 58.81951 -160.68393 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 1,726 ft - Average elevation: 79 ft, Etolin Island, Wrangell, Alaska, USA (56.13211 -132.36378), Coordinates: 55.91207 -132.72735 56.35216 -132.10197 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 5,827 ft - Average elevation: 722 ft, Chichagof Island, Sitka, Alaska, USA (57.82800 -135.97541), Coordinates: 57.36791 -136.44771 58.28798 -134.82777 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 10,529 ft - Average elevation: 676 ft, Mount Herman, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA (57.91361 -152.38761), Coordinates: 57.91356 -152.38766 57.91366 -152.38756 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 1,579 ft - Average elevation: 259 ft, Kuiu Island, Petersburg Borough, Alaska, USA (56.46916 -133.95945), Coordinates: 56.00051 -134.42240 56.93786 -133.68761 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 6,257 ft - Average elevation: 446 ft, Glennallen, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, USA (62.10725 -145.53021), Coordinates: 62.08725 -145.55021 62.12725 -145.51021 - Minimum elevation: 1,253 ft - Maximum elevation: 1,529 ft - Average elevation: 1,447 ft, Nowitna River, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA (64.04215 -154.37638), Coordinates: 63.94368 -154.66020 64.11438 -154.08941 - Minimum elevation: 298 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,300 ft - Average elevation: 732 ft, Wales, Nome, Alaska, 99783, USA (65.60829 -168.09035), Coordinates: 65.58829 -168.11035 65.62829 -168.07035 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,254 ft - Average elevation: 226 ft, Becharof Lake, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, USA (57.85332 -156.22649), Coordinates: 57.60777 -156.88216 58.09891 -155.94052 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 5,214 ft - Average elevation: 371 ft, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA (59.86870 -150.02532), Coordinates: 59.43258 -150.97674 60.30457 -149.51692 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 6,392 ft - Average elevation: 1,119 ft, Nagai Island, Aleutians East, Alaska, USA (55.07741 -160.02605), Coordinates: 54.86382 -160.25837 55.29084 -159.80864 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,156 ft - Average elevation: 56 ft, Semisopochnoi Island, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, USA (51.94947 179.62596), Coordinates: 51.87175 179.47279 52.02711 179.77298 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 3,957 ft - Average elevation: 285 ft, Mount Spurr, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA (61.29896 -152.25345), Coordinates: 61.29891 -152.25350 61.29901 -152.25340 - Minimum elevation: 6,459 ft - Maximum elevation: 10,939 ft - Average elevation: 8,757 ft, St. George, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, 99591, USA (56.60229 -169.54453), Coordinates: 56.48323 -169.88024 56.67568 -169.37755 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 968 ft - Average elevation: 16 ft, Mount Silverthrone, Denali, Alaska, USA (63.11572 -150.67507), Coordinates: 63.11567 -150.67512 63.11577 -150.67502 - Minimum elevation: 7,693 ft - Maximum elevation: 13,170 ft - Average elevation: 10,505 ft, Aniakchak River, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, USA (56.93053 -158.15638), Coordinates: 56.92957 -158.15692 56.93099 -158.15604 - Minimum elevation: 1,066 ft - Maximum elevation: 3,459 ft - Average elevation: 1,663 ft, Elfin Cove, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA (58.18619 -136.31686), Coordinates: 58.14835 -136.36449 58.22397 -136.27070 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,126 ft - Average elevation: 299 ft, Kichatna Spire, Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, USA (62.42298 -152.72225), Coordinates: 62.42293 -152.72230 62.42303 -152.72220 - Minimum elevation: 4,370 ft - Maximum elevation: 8,816 ft - Average elevation: 6,010 ft, Kasegaluk Lagoon, North Slope, Alaska, USA (69.86951 -162.81104), Coordinates: 69.27511 -163.28911 70.46385 -160.48018 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 3,173 ft - Average elevation: 302 ft, Nabesna, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, USA (62.37133 -143.01263), Coordinates: 62.35133 -143.03263 62.39133 -142.99263 - Minimum elevation: 2,595 ft - Maximum elevation: 6,172 ft - Average elevation: 3,579 ft, Mount Michelson, North Slope, Alaska, USA (69.30744 -144.26956), Coordinates: 69.30739 -144.26961 69.30749 -144.26951 - Minimum elevation: 6,158 ft - Maximum elevation: 8,833 ft - Average elevation: 7,205 ft, Exit Glacier, Harding Ice Field Approach Trail, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA (60.15056 -149.71945), Coordinates: 60.12138 -149.75407 60.18038 -149.63944 - Minimum elevation: 347 ft - Maximum elevation: 5,509 ft - Average elevation: 3,310 ft, Kruzof Island, Sitka, Alaska, USA (57.16663 -135.67203), Coordinates: 56.98960 -135.87736 57.34367 -135.56092 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 3,275 ft - Average elevation: 246 ft, Mitkof Island, Petersburg Borough, Alaska, 99833, USA (56.65856 -132.77623), Coordinates: 56.49458 -132.98233 56.82264 -132.54202 - Minimum elevation: -4 ft - Maximum elevation: 5,719 ft - Average elevation: 574 ft, Unga Island, Aleutians East, Alaska, USA (55.26349 -160.69968), Coordinates: 55.11864 -160.86655 55.40840 -160.45772 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,166 ft - Average elevation: 108 ft, Alaska Peninsula, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, USA (56.97428 -157.73393), Coordinates: 54.80779 -163.42366 59.14095 -153.25040 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 8,285 ft - Average elevation: 220 ft, Leadville Mountain, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska, 99926, USA (55.12580 -131.52644), Coordinates: 55.12575 -131.52649 55.12585 -131.52639 - Minimum elevation: 0 ft - Maximum elevation: 2,313 ft - Average elevation: 489 ft, King Salmon, Bristol Bay, Alaska, USA (58.68843 -156.66184), Coordinates: 58.66843 -156.68184 58.70843 -156.64184 - Minimum elevation: 9 ft - Maximum elevation: 96 ft - Average elevation: 59 ft, Grinnell Glacier, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, USA, Glacier Bay National Park, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA, Kalgin Island, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, Sanak Island, Aleutians East, Alaska, USA, Tongass National Forest, Yakutat, Alaska, USA, Cordova, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, 99574, USA, Margerie Glacier, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA, Admiralty Island, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, 99820, USA, Tanana River, Manley Hot Springs Road, Manley Hot Springs, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, 99756, USA, Mount Okmok, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA, Ruth Glacier, Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, USA, Shuyak Island, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA, Afognak Island, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA, Forrester Island, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska, USA, Catalina Island, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska, USA, Hinchinbrook Island, Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, USA, Gates of the Arctic, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA, Hagemeister Island, Dillingham, Alaska, USA, Kuiu Island, Petersburg Borough, Alaska, USA, Nowitna River, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA, Becharof Lake, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, USA, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, Nagai Island, Aleutians East, Alaska, USA, Semisopochnoi Island, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, USA, Mount Spurr, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, St. George, Unorganized Borough, Alaska, 99591, USA, Aniakchak River, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, USA, Kichatna Spire, Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, USA, Kasegaluk Lagoon, North Slope, Alaska, USA, Mount Michelson, North Slope, Alaska, USA, Exit Glacier, Harding Ice Field Approach Trail, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, Mitkof Island, Petersburg Borough, Alaska, 99833, USA, Alaska Peninsula, Lake and Peninsula, Alaska, USA, Leadville Mountain, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska, 99926, USA.