Glacier Boat Dock: Many Glacier's Hidden Gem

The Many Glacier Boat Tour is a classic must-do for visitors to Glacier National Park. The tour starts at the boat dock in front of the Many Glacier Hotel and involves two boats and two lakes. The first boat, Chief Two Guns, takes visitors across Swiftcurrent Lake, after which they disembark and walk 400 yards to the second boat, Morning Eagle, which was built in 1945 and takes them across Lake Josephine. At the upper boat dock on Lake Josephine, hikers can embark on the Grinnell Glacier Trail, while those who don't wish to hike can stay on the boat and return to the hotel. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours and is known for its breathtaking scenery and entertaining captains.

The Many Glacier Boat Tour starts at the dock in front of the Many Glacier Hotel

The Many Glacier Boat Tour is a classic and iconic must-do when visiting Glacier National Park. The tour starts at the boat dock in front of the Many Glacier Hotel, a stunning and historic location nestled on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake. This famous boat tour is actually a two-boat, two-lake experience, and the scenery is breathtaking.

Your journey begins at the Many Glacier Hotel, where you'll board the "Chief Two Guns", a charming and historic wooden boat that will take you across Swiftcurrent Lake. As you cruise towards the far end of the lake, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including bears, moose, and even the occasional mountain goat on the cliffs. Soak in the views of Grinnell Point and Mount Gould—natural wonders that will leave you in awe.

Once you reach the far end of Swiftcurrent Lake, you'll disembark and enjoy a pleasant 400-yard walk to the second wooden boat, the "Morning Eagle", built in 1945. This boat will take you across Lake Josephine, offering a unique glimpse into the past and stunning views of Salamander and Gem Glaciers.

When you reach the head of Lake Josephine, you have the option to stay on the boat and return to the Many Glacier Hotel, or you can choose to disembark and explore the beautiful hiking trails. Popular options include the Grinnell Lake Trail, a pleasant 0.9-mile hike to the turquoise-coloured Grinnell Lake, and the Grinnell Glacier Trail, a more challenging 3.8-mile hike to Grinnell Glacier, one of the best hikes in North America.

The Many Glacier Boat Tour is extremely entertaining, with captains who discuss points of interest and share funny and interesting stories along the way. The tour lasts about an hour and a half, and it's a great way to explore the park with your family, combining stunning views, wildlife spotting, and the opportunity for some incredible hikes.

The tour involves two boats and two lakes, with a short hike in between

The Many Glacier Boat Tour is a unique experience that takes you across two stunning lakes, Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, on two different boats. This tour offers breathtaking views, wildlife spotting opportunities, and a chance to explore the beauty of Glacier National Park. Here's a detailed overview of the tour:

Boarding at Swiftcurrent Lake

The journey begins at the iconic Many Glacier Hotel, nestled on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake. You'll board the "Chief Two Guns," a charming vessel that will take you across the shimmering waters. As you cruise, keep an eye out for wildlife such as bears, moose, and even the occasional mountain goat on the cliffs. Don't forget to soak in the views of Grinnell Point, a natural wonder that will leave you in awe.

A Short Hike to Lake Josephine

After enjoying the tranquility of Swiftcurrent Lake, you'll dock and disembark for a short but steep hike. You'll need to tackle a 0.2-mile to 0.4-mile hike over a hill to reach the shores of Lake Josephine. It's a great way to stretch your legs and take in the surrounding scenery before the next leg of your journey.

Cruising Lake Josephine

Once you arrive at Lake Josephine, you'll board the historic "Morning Eagle," built in 1945. This vessel offers a glimpse into the past as it glides you to the head of the lake. Take in the stunning views of Salamander and Gem Glaciers—it's a photographer's dream!

Hiking Options

When you reach the head of Lake Josephine, you have a choice of hiking options. You can opt for a self-guided hike to Grinnell Lake (1.8 miles) or challenge yourself with the 7-mile hike to Grinnell Glacier. These hikes promise incredible views and an immersive experience in the beauty of the park. Alternatively, if hiking isn't your thing, you can simply relax and enjoy the round trip back across both lakes, taking in the sights for a total of approximately 1.5 hours.

Practical Information

The Many Glacier Boat Tour is operated by the Glacier Park Boat Company and usually runs from June to September. It is a very popular tour, so it's recommended to book your reservations early. The tour costs approximately $40 for adults and $20 for children, and it departs at various times throughout the day, including 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:00 PM. The total round trip tour time is 1.5 hours, and it involves the 0.2-mile to 0.4-mile hike between the two lakes.

The first boat, Chief Two Guns, takes visitors across Swiftcurrent Lake

Glacier National Park is a popular destination during the summer months. The park is located in Montana and is known for its spectacular scenery, wildlife, and hiking trails. One of the most iconic trails in the park is the Grinnell Glacier trail, which offers unbeatable views and a challenging hike.

For those looking to shorten the Grinnell Glacier hike, the Glacier Park Boat Company offers a unique boat tour that takes visitors across two different lakes on two different boats. The first boat, Chief Two Guns, takes visitors across Swiftcurrent Lake, departing from below the Many Glacier Hotel. After a short walk over a hill, visitors then board the second boat, Morning Eagle, on Lake Josephine. This two-lake tour offers stunning views of the most spectacular valley in the park and is a fun and informative way to experience the glaciers.

The Chief Two Guns boat is a historic wooden boat that is part of the Glacier Park Boat Company's tour offering. The boat tour is a great option for those who want to experience the beauty of the glaciers without having to hike the full trail. It is also a convenient way to cut down on hiking distance, saving visitors approximately 2.5 miles each way.

The boat tours are available at various times throughout the day, with the first boat departing at 8:30 am. The total round-trip tour time, including the boat ride and the short hike between the two lakes, is approximately 1.5 hours. However, if you are only using the boat to get to the Grinnell Glacier trailhead, the travel time is about 45 minutes.

The second boat, Morning Eagle, takes visitors across Lake Josephine

The Many Glacier boat tour is a unique experience that takes visitors across two lakes on two different boats. The tour offers incredible views of the park's most spectacular valley and shortens the Grinnell Glacier hike by about 2.5 miles each way. The boat tour begins on Swiftcurrent Lake, just behind the Many Glacier Hotel, where passengers board the Chief Two Guns. After crossing Swiftcurrent Lake, passengers disembark and walk 400 meters over a hill to Lake Josephine, where the Morning Eagle awaits to take them to the upper boat dock and the Grinnell Glacier trail.

The Morning Eagle is a 45-foot wooden vessel constructed in 1945 by J.W. Swanson and Arthur J. Burch. It was originally named Big Chief and was launched on Swiftcurrent Lake before being renamed and moved to Lake Josephine in 1960. The boat was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018 and is named after an elder in the Blackfoot nation. It has a maximum capacity of 49 passengers.

A ride on the Morning Eagle offers splendid vistas of the surrounding mountains and can be taken as a round-trip ride or to shorten the hike to Grinnell Glacier. Passengers are frequently treated to sightings of grizzly bears along the lakeshore. The boat tour is a great option for those who want to experience the beauty of Many Glacier without undertaking the full 12-mile round-trip hike to Grinnell Glacier.

To purchase tickets for the Many Glacier boat tour, visitors can call (406) 257-2426 or visit reserve.glacierparkboats.com. It is recommended to book in advance, especially for large groups, as this is the most popular boat tour location in the park. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the boat dock/ticket office below the Many Glacier Hotel, but this is extremely competitive and not recommended.

The tour offers stunning views of Grinnell Point and Salamander and Gem Glaciers

The Many Glacier boat tour is a great way to experience the stunning scenery of Glacier National Park. The tour begins at the Many Glacier Hotel, with boats departing from the hotel's boat dock. This historic tour is operated by the Glacier Park Boat Company and offers an informative and fun way to take in the sights of the park.

The tour starts on Swiftcurrent Lake, where you will board the Chief Two Guns boat. From there, you will cruise across the lake and take in the breathtaking views of Grinnell Point, with its towering peaks and rugged landscape. As you glide across the lake, you'll be treated to a unique perspective of Grinnell Point, which serves as a stunning backdrop to the crystal-clear waters.

After the cruise across Swiftcurrent Lake, a short walk of about 400 meters over a hill will lead you to Lake Josephine. Here, you will board the Morning Eagle boat for the second leg of your journey. As you sail across Lake Josephine, the majestic Salamander Glacier will come into view. This glacier derives its name from its distinct shape and colouring, which is a result of the serratia bacteria that grows on it. The Salamander Glacier used to be attached to Grinnell Glacier but has since separated and is now a glacier in its own right.

As you continue on Lake Josephine, you will be surrounded by pristine nature and breathtaking vistas. The final leg of the boat tour will bring you to the upper boat dock, where the Grinnell Glacier trail awaits those who wish to explore further. The Grinnell Glacier is a highlight of the park, named after George Bird Grinnell, an early American conservationist and explorer who played a pivotal role in the establishment of Glacier National Park. The glacier sits at an altitude of around 7,000 feet and has been a popular subject for photographers, with images dating back to the mid-19th century during the Little Ice Age.

The Gem Glacier, one of the smallest glaciers in the park, is also visible from the trail. It sits above Grinnell Glacier, nestled in the saddle along the crest of the peaks. While it has lost some height over the years, it has retained its surface area. The boat tour offers a convenient way to access the Grinnell Glacier trail, reducing the hiking distance by about 2.5 miles each way.

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