Crown Jewels: 14 Majestic Hikes in Glacier National Park
Aptly nicknamed the “crown of the continent,” Glacier National Park's majestic mountains and hidden gems are resplendent with regal grandeur.
Aptly nicknamed the “crown of the continent,” Glacier National Park's majestic mountains and hidden gems are resplendent with regal grandeur.
The Crown of the Continent. Naturalist George Bird Grinnell gave this nickname to a rugged swath of Rocky Mountains known as the Lewis Range in 1901. He bestowed the name as the title of an article he wrote for The Century Magazine in which he described the wonder of high mountain peaks, cliff-hanging glaciers, and clear-running streams that form the headwaters of North America’s great rivers.
Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise, with the beauty and majesty of a view from a high mountain pass being many of the top hiking destinations. Of course, the hikes up to renowned saddles like Swiftcurrent Pass or Pitamakan Pass are long and tough — being a strong hiker is a prerequisite to make it up while having a good time too. What about folks that want an easy to moderate hike under 3 miles that will achieve a spectacular view of Glacier’s alpine peaks and lakes? Enter: Hidden Lake Pass. Located a mere 1.5 miles uphill from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, the hike up to Hidden Lake Pass is a popular one. For experienced hikers it will seem crowded, but for the average Glacier visitor, it’s a great foray into the Rocky Mountain permafrost.