Curiosity roamed free on Thursday, August 10, 2017. A turquoise blue lake awaited us tucked behind a 6.5 mile hike along a moderately trafficked trail. The Cracker Lake hike gains 1,686 feet in elevation. This was a day of exploration of glacier-like chunks of ice, wild flower filled glacial trickles feeding cracker lake, climbing red rocks along the lake, and diving into the unknown off the shore of the lake. Cracker lake is one of the most magnificent and breathtaking gems in the Montana Mountains.
The trailhead branches off of the back end of the Many Glacier Hotel upper parking lot. After we found a parking spot, we walked past an equestrian setup. The Cracker Lake Trail allows access via horseback and there are groups that you can sign up for that will guide you there via the majestic beasts. We were hiking in and began out trek on the fiber-packed path. There was certainly a fair share of horse business along the initial part of the trail and we were glad to be laced up in our hiking boots. After a couple of hours, we approached a timber bridge that had a sweet handrail. Being bridge engineers, we obviously had to take the obligatory bridge photo (below). I absolutely love trail bridges. Check out all of the amazing views from this day here.
Obligatory Bridge Photo Take on the Cracker Lake Trail
We gradually made our way around the base of the mountain on the left shown below and entered the valley that would lead us to paradise. The photo below does a great job capturing where we came from. As you can see, the landscape was filled with rocky mountains, many pines, and quite a few streams.
Looking Back at the Valley that We Had Just Journeyed Through En-Route to Cracker Lake
By this point, we were roughly 3 or 4 hours into the hike and the end destination was in sight. As we marched on, the bowl that houses Cracker Lake emerged and we eagerly picked up our pace.
The Trail Ahead As We Neared Cracker Lake
Boom. I mean BOOM! We finally emerged over the crest and caught our first glimpse of the lake. Holy smokes. The sediment-filled turquoise water stunned us. The photos and reports that we looked at when we were researching which hikes to do were nowhere close to giving this place justice (and these photos don’t either). This was the bluest water that I’ve ever seen. We had lots to explore and we were just getting started.
Initial Impact: Speechless
We soaked in the view for a few minutes and then became super eager to explore this entire area for the few hours that we had. We continued up the left side of the lake a little ways and found a path down to the lake just before the rock outcrop seen in the above photo. We ventured down to the lake to feel the water and admire its beauty. The lake was both amazing and eerie. The shoreline was rather shallow and had a wide range of glacial sediment and rocks lining the bottom, but the shallows only extended ten or fifteen feet out into the lake where the floor literally drops out and nothing but blue water can be seen. You also could probably guess that the water was not a sauna, but rather a nice and refreshing almost freezing. We got back to the path and made our way around the lake.
Cracker Lake as Seen from the Shore Looking Towards the Back of the Bowl
It became quickly apparent that there was a bit of climbing to be had in this glorious horseshoe. We scoped out the rock outcrop on the left and also had our eye on the ice pack half-way up the mountain shown in the photo below.
A Look at Where Neil and I Would Eventually Climb To (The Ice)
We also read that Cracker Lake is home to an abandoned mine and that equipment from over a century ago still rests by the lake. We kept walking and came across it! This was a really cool look into history. The equipment has obviously seen its share of the elements over time and the entrance to the shaft is caved in, but seeing the remnants of the operation peaked our interest for quite some time. The engine is from Atlas Engine Works from Indianapolis, Indiana. You have to check this out!
The Remnants of a Mine at Cracker Lake
Metal Work by Atlas Engine Works from Indianapolis, Indiana
The back end of the lake had a stone-filled beach that a few hikers began to populate throughout the day. In the photo below you can see two tents (orange and white) set up on the rock outcrop. There are a few backcountry campsites here on Cracker Lake. These sites are a few of the most desired in Glacier National Park (for good reason) and get filled up almost immediately after the permitting operations begin each year. You’re extremely lucky if you get these sites! The three of us hung out there for a few minutes at the beach and then Neil and I decided to start climbing towards the ice half way up the mountain.
The Majestic Cracker Lake Looking Back At the End We just Came From
The climb we embarked on followed a stream up to the ice pack (we researched and found out that the ice we were climbing to is not a glacier. The glacier was on the other side). The stream was filled with various rock formations and wildflowers all around. The views are ALWAYS worth the climb. If there is ever a question, just do it.
A Look Back at the Climb and Cracker Lake
Finally, success! There’s nothing like laying on ice in August!
We Should Have Brought Skis
Cracker Lake
The journey is just as beautiful as the destination.
The Stream Linking This Chunk of Ice and Cracker Lake
After soaking in the views from the ice chunk for a while, Neil and I journeyed back down to meet Rose and to explore a little bit longer on the lake. We jumped in and dove just off the drop-off and the water was extremely refreshing after our hike half-way up the mountain. It was beginning to turn towards late afternoon and we still had a hike out. We spent the rest of our time at the rock outcrop climbing 20 to 30 feet above the water and fueling our thirst for adrenaline.
Mr. Neil Ferguson Climbing on the Rock Outcrop on Cracker Lake
Mr. Neil Ferguson Atop the Rock Outcrop!
The sun began to fade fast and we gathered our belongings and began the trek back to the trailhead. Cracker Lake is a magical place. Put this on your must-see list for Glacier National Park! The water is the most immaculate blue, there is a sweet abandoned mine, and plenty of rocks to fuel your climbing desire. This
*
This is just a reminder to carry out what you carry in. LEAVE NO TRACE! We impact this world more than most, if not all, species and need hold ourselves to high standards when it comes to preserving our planet. Making sure our impact is a positive one STARTS WITH US.
Thank you for reading!
Until the next post,
-Ryan
