How to Hike to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
The Cracker Lake hike is hands-down one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park! In this Cracker Lake hiking guide, learn everything you need to know to hike to Cracker Lake, including how to get there, where to stay, when to go, what to expect on the trail, and all our best tips for the Cracker Lake hike!
The Cracker Lake hike in Glacier National Park is a true standout. And in a park filled with nearly 800 miles of jaw-droppingly gorgeous alpine scenery, that’s really saying something!
The first time I saw pictures of this impossibly blue lake in Glacier National Park, I knew I had to go…but sadly it just didn’t happen on our first trip to the park. But on our second trip (because you can’t visit Glacier National Park just once!), I finally got to check off the Cracker Lake hike after nearly five years of anticipation! And let me tell you…it was worth the wait!
It’s a fairly long day hike, but totally worth it. I could not get over the color and beauty of Cracker Lake…it’s absolutely what I would consider to be the best lake in Glacier National Park. But despite this, what I found totally perplexing but amazing at the same time was how uncrowded the Cracker Lake hike was! In a time when the great outdoors is becoming increasingly crowded, Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park somehow remains a bit of a hidden gem.
Because of the views, the solitude, and oh…the amazing wildlife spotting opportunity (!)…the Cracker Lake hike is definitely one of our favorites!
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to hike to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park so that you can enjoy this beautiful piece of Glacier for yourself, too! So, let’s get started, shall we?
In this Cracker Lake hiking guide:
How to get to the Cracker Lake trailhead in Glacier National Park
Where to stay near the Cracker Lake hike in Glacier National Park
Hiking to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park: Our experience
What to pack for the Cracker Lake hike in Glacier National Park
More tips for the Cracker Lake hike in Glacier National Park
More things to do near Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
Where is Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park?
First things first…if you want to hike to Cracker Lake, you need to know how to get there!
The Cracker Lake hike is located in a part of Glacier National Park called Many Glacier. This area is home to our absolute favorite hikes in Glacier National Park, including the Grinnell Glacier hike and the Iceberg Lake hike.
How to get to Cracker Lake
The Many Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park is on the eastern side of the park, off of route 89. It is a completely separate area from the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the most popular route in Glacier.
Instead, the Many Glacier entrance lies just over 8 miles north from the east entrance to the Going-to-the-Sun Road, near the small town of Babb.
The road into Many Glacier and the Cracker Lake hike from route 89 is about 12 miles long, but it’s some of the most amazing scenery you’ll have from the car!
The views on the way to the Cracker Lake trailhead!
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of 2023, the park is requiring reservations to access the Many Glacier area, adding a layer of complication to being able to hike to Cracker Lake. So, let’s get into how exactly to get Many Glacier reservations now, and whether or not it’s possible to do the Cracker Lake hike without one of these reservations…
Many Glacier Reservations
Reservations to visit the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park are required between July 1st and September 10th, between 6 am and 3 pm.
These reservations have to be made in advance (not at the park!) on recreation.gov and cost $2 each. They are good for one day in Many Glacier.
There are two important reservation windows for Many Glacier to be aware of when trying to do the Cracker Lake hike:
One set of reservations are released about 120 days (four months) in advance in block fashion.
March 1st, 8 am MST: All July dates are released for reservation
April 1st, 8 am MST: All August dates are released for reservation
May 1st, 8 am MST: September 1-10th dates are released for reservation
A portion of reservations are released 24 hours in advance (8 am MST the day before you want to go to Many Glacier)
Can you hike to Cracker Lake without a reservation?
Glacier National Park reservations of any kind are notoriously hard to get. So, what if you weren’t able to get reservations to Many Glacier? Well, not all hope is lost. There are still ways you can hike to Cracker Lake without the reservation!
Like we said above, Many Glacier reservations are only needed from July 1st to September 10th, so outside of these dates, you can do the Cracker Lake hike without a Many Glacier reservation. That said, it’s a bit risky to plan your hike outside of these dates because snow on the trails and roads can linger well into June (and sometimes July!) and can start in early September…it really just depends on the year! So if you’re going this route, keep your fingers crossed for good weather!
Another good thing is that during reservation season, reservations are only needed between the hours of 6 am and 3 pm…meaning if you get to the park earlier or later, you don’t need a reservation! Getting to the park early is a good idea for the Cracker Lake trail anyway because it’s a pretty long hike.
Waiting until after 3 pm to hike to Cracker Lake might be possible, but only if you’re a really fast hiker. In mid-summer, the sunlight doesn’t disappear until as late as 10 pm, so if you get started soon after 3 pm (remember you need to account for the time it takes to drive from the entry gate to the trailhead), are a fast hiker, and you don’t really linger at the lake too long, then it’s possible to finish the Cracker Lake hike before dark. If you’re going this route, be sure to pack a headlamp just in case. We wouldn’t particularly recommend doing this because we’d hate to feel rushed on such a gorgeous trail, but if this is your only option, then it’s better than not hiking at all!
Finally, another way you can hike to Cracker Lake without getting a reservation is if you have reservations for some other service within the Many Glacier area…including lodging, camping, or a tour service. You can show the entry gate your service reservation in lieu of a Many Glacier reservation, and it’s good for the number of days your service is for.
Do I Need a Permit to Hike to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
Nope! No permit needed for the Cracker Lake hike!
As we talked about above, you will need a reservation for Many Glacier depending on the time of year and time of day you plan on hiking Cracker Lake.
This reservation is in addition to the general Glacier National Park Pass required to access all areas of the park. This pass is $35 per car and is good for a full 7 consecutive days. You can buy it at the park in person, or online.
Once you have your park pass and reservation, you’re good to hit the trail to Cracker Lake!
How to get to the Cracker Lake trailhead in Glacier National Park
The trailhead for the Cracker Lake hike starts from the parking lot for the Many Glacier Hotel.
The epic Many Glacier Hotel at the start of the Cracker Lake hike
To get here, you’ll take the road to the Many Glacier area of the park described above, located off route 89 about 8 miles north of the St. Mary entrance to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This road starts off as a smooth gravel road, doable in any vehicle. However, when we visited, there was some major road construction going on, which not only made the road a bit rough and slow going, but also caused some delays (for us, up to 40 minutes).
Just before the park entrance, the road became paved and it was smooth sailing from here. As a plus, the views were gorgeous, and got better and better the closer we got.
Once you pass through the Many Glacier entrance, it’s less than a ten minute drive until you see the road to the Many Glacier Hotel on your left. Take this left and you’ll end up in a large parking lot that’s shared by trailheads, horseback tours, and hotel guests. This is one of the most epic parking lots we’ve ever parked at, and you’ll get to stare in jealousy at the gorgeous views of the Many Glacier Hotel before you begin your hike. There’s also one vault toilet here, so be prepared to wait in line for a bit to use it.
The trailhead for the Cracker Lake hike is located at the top of the parking lot near the road.
Look for this trailhead sign to start the Cracker Lake hike
How Long is the Cracker Lake Hike in Glacier National Park?
Here are our hiking stats for the Cracker Lake hike.
Round trip distance: 13.17 miles
Elevation Gain: 1906.2 feet
Time: 7.5 hours *Note this is with about 2 hours of rest at the lake (yes, it was that good!)
Elevation Profile:
How hard is the hike to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park?
The Cracker Lake hike is a fairly long day hike in Glacier National Park, but the good news is that it isn’t very difficult.
For the most part, the Cracker Lake trail has a pretty gradual elevation gain, with only a few short steep sections sprinkled in. And there’s nothing technical to the hike. The trail is very straightforward to follow, too. So, if you’re used to long days on the trail, the Cracker Lake hike should be pretty easy! Not bad when the reward at the end is such a gorgeous lake, right?!
Cracker Lake Trail Map
This map of the Many Glacier area of the park was taken from the NPS. The hike to Cracker Lake is highlighted in blue.
This trail map for Cracker Lake and the entire Many Glacier area is taken from the National Park Service to give you a general idea of where the Cracker Lake hike is and to show trail distances. Definitely use this as a guide, but when you are on the Cracker Lake trail, we definitely recommend buying a more in depth topographic map to use. Like we said above, the Cracker Lake hike is easy and straightforward, but having a map is always good practice and generally recommended…plus, it will be useful if you’re planning on doing other epic hikes in Glacier National Park! We used the Nat Geo map.
Best Time to Hike to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
The best time to hike to Cracker Lake is between the end of June and mid-September. During this time, the trails in Glacier are generally clear of snow (although depending on the previous winter, snow can linger on the trails into July!).
In general, this is the best time to visit Glacier National Park because all visitor facilities will be open, and the main road through the park – the Going-to-the-Sun Road – is typically only open during this time as well.
Keep in mind that even in the summer, the weather can vary, with chilly nights down to the 40s and 50s. The east side of the park, where Cracker Lake sits, is generally drier and windier than the west side, so come prepared with layers.
Because of the optimal weather, these months are also when Glacier National Park is most crowded. This park gets insanely crowded, but luckily, Cracker Lake has not really been affected…yet. At least in our experience, it wasn’t! We visited mid week during the height of summer at a time when National Parks were really becoming overcrowded, and we felt blissful solitude on the Cracker Lake trail!
We would still recommend an early start when hiking to Cracker Lake, simply because of the distance. We got to the Cracker Lake trailhead at 6:45 am. At this time, the parking lot was about half full…but it seemed it was mostly hotel guests or people coming in for horse riding tours. So parking or crowds isn’t the issue here. It’s just important to give yourself enough time to cover the distance and spend some time enjoying the lake.
Where to Stay Near the Cracker Lake Hike in Glacier National Park
You’ll have a few options for staying near the Cracker Lake hike.
If you are looking to camp near Cracker Lake, there is one campsite in the Many Glacier area of the park. Sites can be reserved for May to September up to six months in advance, but lately, these book up as soon as they open on recreation.gov.
If you weren’t able to snag one of these coveted campsites, then there are a few options for camping near Cracker Lake just outside of the park boundaries. We stayed at both Johnson’s RV Park and Chewing Blackbones. Both were simple, standard campsites at pretty reasonable prices. We particularly loved Chewing Blackbones because if you’re lucky, you can snag a tent site right on Lower St. Mary Lake. Surprisingly, this campground wasn’t crowded at all when we were there, so you can hopefully find a last minute spot there if needed, and it’s really not too far from the Cracker Lake hike.
The sunset from our campsite on Lower St. Mary Lake
The Many Glacier area also has a few lodging options as well, such as the epic Many Glacier Hotel. You’ll have epic views and stay pretty much right at the Cracker Lake hike trailhead, but you’ll definitely be paying for it!
Can You Camp at Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park?
There is a backcountry campsite right at Cracker Lake. It would be pretty awesome to wake up to the view of a stunning blue lake in the morning with barely anyone else around!
So, how do you get a Cracker Lake camping permit?
Well, 70% of all backcountry campsites in Glacier are reserved online in advance at recreation.gov. Reservations open up for campsites at Cracker Lake (and all Glacier backcountry sites) on March 15th at 8 am MST. Be ready to go in your recreation.gov account if you’re looking to snag one on a very particular date!
Since 70% of sites are reservable, that means 30% of Cracker Lake sites are kept for walk-ins. If you’re lucky, you can snag a last- minute permit in person at one of the ranger stations (including the one in Many Glacier) the day before or day of your desired start date…so don’t lose all hope if you didn’t manage to reserve in advance and be sure to get at the station early for the best chance!
The cost of reserving a site costs $10 per permit and $7 per person per night when booked for dates between May 1st to October 31st (which has actually come down significantly in price from previous years!).
Hiking to Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park: Our Experience
The Cracker Lake hike in Glacier was certainly one of our favorites. The trail itself was nothing to write home about, although it still was beautiful…but the main reason to hike the Cracker Lake trail really is for the reward at the end which makes the long hike out to it soooo worth it! Like we mentioned earlier, the whole hike to Cracker Lake is pretty gradual with no real strenuous part. That combined with the surprising solitude and the amazing wildlife spotting opportunity (including bear, moose, pika, and marmots!) made this Glacier National Park hike a true stand out in our books.
Here, we’ll share our experience hiking to Cracker Lake so you can know what to expect and how to prepare!
The hike to Cracker Lake starts off pretty flat and fast. It’s an easy narrow path through the woods that has you wrap around the edge of Sherburne Lake. You’ll start to slowly climb but you quickly get some views once you get around to the other side.
The first part of the Cracker Lake hike in Glacier National Park is pretty flat and easy!
View of Sherburne Lake from the Cracker Lake hike
After these views, you’ll go back into the woods with some small stream crossings using wooden bridges. You’ll also pass two trail connections to the Cracker Flats Loop so be sure to follow the signs for Cracker Lake. One thing to note here is that because guided horse trips often use the Cracker Flats Loop trail, there is quite a bit of horse poop along the Cracker Lake hike until you start getting to the more alpine parts…so watch your step! It’s annoying but worth it for the end.
One of a few stream crossings along the Cracker Lake hike
Once you pass the second connection to the loop trail, a set of mild switchbacks begin. I counted about ten, with one very long one in the middle. These switchbacks basically bring you into the valley that you are going to follow for the entire rest of the hike to Cracker Lake. Occasionally along this part, you’ll get glimpses into the pretty cliff-lined valley.
Switchbacks along the hike to Cracker Lake
Views of the valley from the Cracker Lake trail
Once off the switchbacks and as you venture deeper into the valley, there are places where the path gets narrow and overgrown, where it feels like you’re almost bushwacking. Luckily, ticks weren’t an issue here, but it can get pretty buggy here (summer in Glacier National Park can bring lots of flies!...make sure to wear bug spray!).
Some of the dense brush along the Cracker Lake trail in Glacier National Park
Once you leave the forest, this is where the Cracker Lake hike gets good! The views really start to open up to the more epic alpine scenery and this is where the hike starts to really get interesting. You’ll hike through some rocky moraine-type of sections. Here, keep your eye out for cute little pikas!
This is where the Cracker Lake hike starts getting good!
A cute little pika along the Cracker Lake trail!
You’ll cross over a scenic bridge, hop in and out of the brush and woods a bit, and then…finally, you’ll see the epic mountainous backdrop of your final destination! Cracker Lake isn’t in sight yet, though. It looks closer than it actually is. With every hill, I felt like we were going to crest and see the lake, but it was still a while before that happened, because you have to follow the contours of the valley that weave in and out, making the trail a bit longer than it looked like it should be. But the scenery from here on out is pretty stunning so we didn’t mind!
A scenic bridge along the Cracker Lake trail
Getting close! Cracker Lake sits at the base of those mountains.
Finally, about 2.5 hours into the hike, Cracker Lake came into view! Getting that first glimpse of the lake was one of those “wow” moments that I don’t think I can put into words. The blue of the lake contrasted with the green backdrop of the hillsides was almost unreal. No photoshop needed here…the colors really are that vivid…it’s kind of insane!
How crazy are those colors?! Cracker Lake is stunning.
After about another half hour of hiking, we made it to our final stop. We got down to the lake and then walked the herd path around the left side to a rocky overlook just before the Cracker Lake campsite.
We could have stayed here all day. I know I keep saying it but it was absolutely gorgeous. The colors were jaw-dropping and the view back down the lake from the way we came reminded me of the famous Peyto Lake in Banff National Park. We couldn’t stop gawking over it. Even while writing this Cracker Lake hiking guide, I’m starting to gawk all over again! It’s really hard to put into words, so really, just go do the hike to believe us!
Can you see why we loved the Cracker Lake hike?!
From our rocky outcropping, the herd path continued down to the Cracker Lake campsites (we wish we camped here!). We also saw what looked to be a herd path that actually goes up to an old mining area. However, it looked pretty sketchy. Of course, Kevin needed to explore, so he ran up it. He did confirm that it was indeed sketchy loose rock (basically a drainage of scree), but it had an incredible view of the lake from a slightly higher vantage point.
While I waited for Kevin to explore, I sat and admired the colors of Cracker Lake, and also got to watch a few furry critters trying to steal our lunch!
These cute ground squirrels were scampering all around Cracker Lake!
Just keep an eye on them…they might steal your food!
After enjoying the views for almost two hours from our rocky perch, it was, sadly time to head back, as much as we didn’t want to. We savored the last few minutes and then got on our way, taking about 2.5 hours to hike back to the trailhead.
It was hard to say good-bye to Cracker Lake, but the views on the way out weren’t too bad either.
Overall, we think the Cracker Lake hike in Glacier National Park is a super underrated hike. We were met with a ton of solitude despite the fact that it’s probably one of the prettiest lakes I’ve ever laid eyes on.
And in terms of wildlife spotting, there’s definitely a lot of potential on the Cracker Lake hike!
We apparently missed two moose sitting right along the trail, according to a couple we crossed paths with on the trail. Also, a grizzly bear apparently had been walking the entire length of Cracker Lake and even swimming in the lake all morning! A pair of hikers just ten minutes ahead of us saw it and turned around, but by the time we got to the lake, he had retreated into some of the lake-side brush and we never saw him come out the entire time we were there. Some people even told us there was a moose swimming in the lake early in the morning. So, I guess the moral of this story is to start your hike even earlier than us if you want to see the wildlife! We did get to see a moose on the hillside on the far side of the lake (binoculars or a good zoom camera will help here), and we saw some pikas and marmots!
We saw this moose on the far side of Cracker Lake!
What to Pack for the Cracker Lake Hike in Glacier National Park
Here are some specific items we would recommend you have for hiking to Cracker Lake:
Sunscreen/hat – The first half of the hike is mostly shaded in the woods, but once you get to the more alpine part, the Cracker Lake trail is pretty exposed and the summer sun can be strong.
Bug spray – The summer in Glacier means lots of flies!
Good pair of hiking shoes/boots
Layers/rain gear – Be prepared for any kind of weather!
Long pants - Because there are quite a few overgrown areas, it might be best to wear long pants and even long sleeves for an extra layer of protection.
Water/snacks – Bring plenty of water (at least 3 liters) and snacks for the long hike.
Bear spray – More on this below, but grizzlies are commonly spotted on the Cracker Lake trail, so be properly prepared and definitely carry this spray. You can buy it from an outdoor store or rent it for a day.
More Tips for the Cracker Lake Hike in Glacier National Park
Most of our best tips for the Cracker Lake hike have already been mentioned in various spots in this guide, including:
Checking the NPS sites for things like trail status, road conditions, and campground and backcountry reservations. The NPS site is a great resource for visiting Glacier National Park!
Getting an early start, especially if you want to spot wildlife, which often comes out at dawn or dusk.
Being prepared for all kinds of weather…wind, rain, and cold.
But I think one more very important thing to mention regarding the hike to Cracker Lake is bear safety.
When you’re hiking in Glacier National Park, you’re hiking in bear country. Both black bears and grizzlies are common here…as we mentioned above, there was even one right at Cracker Lake itself!
Before hiking to Cracker Lake, review information about how to hike safely in bear country. Be sure to check the trail status (a trail may be closed due to high bear activity) or ask a ranger about any recent bear activity. Avoid hiking solo, make your presence on the trail known through light talking or use of a bear bell, stay vigilant of your surroundings, and definitely carry bear spray and know how to use it as a last resort.
Always practice leave no trace principles on the trail and at campsites and don’t leave any trash behind or food unattended.
We’ve never had any issues along a trail in Glacier National Park, but things do happen, so it’s always best to be prepared!
More Things to Do Near Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
Chances are you haven’t come all the way to Glacier just to hike to Cracker Lake! If you’re looking for more of Glacier National Park’s best hikes, check out some of our other guides to help you plan!
BEST HIKES IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. Check out our comprehensive guide to all the Best Hikes in Glacier National Park with Itineraries. We share all of our favorite hikes in Glacier throughout the park, plus all our best tips along with one to four day hiking itineraries. If you’re unsure of which hikes n Glacier National Park to do, start here!
PITAMAKAN PASS. If you want to avoid crowded trails in Glacier, then head to Two Medicine and be sure to read our complete guide to Hiking to Pitamakan Pass in Glacier National Park.
GRINNELL GLACIER. The Grinnell Glacier Hike in Glacier National Park is one of our absolute favorites!
HIGHLINE TRAIL. The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park is a classic Glacier hike on everyone’s bucket list…learn about the logistics of this point-to-point hike in our comprehensive guide!
ICEBERG LAKE. The Iceberg Lake Trail is one of Glacier’s most popular trails. Find out why an how to hike it in our complete hiking guide!
The Cracker Lake hike is a definite must-do in Glacier National Park. We hope we convinced you to add it to your to-do list and that this guide helped you plan! If you have any questions about hiking to Cracker Lake, let us know in the comments!