Backpacking the Cracker Lake Trail in Glacier National Park

The Cracker Lake trail is hands down one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park, Montana! It’s a fairly easy hike that will take you to a lake that’s unbelievably blue. At 12.5 miles (20.1 km) long, it’s perfect for a long day hike, or a short backpacking trip!

This guide will tell you about hiking or backpacking the Cracker Lake trail in Glacier National Park, and everything you need to know for the adventure!

Head’s up: some of these links are affiliate links, so I get a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you). But that’s great, because I was going to share anyway, and this helps me keep making free guides for you!

About the Cracker Lake Trail

Before you hit the trail, here’s what you need to know about the Cracker Lake Trail!

Cracker Lake Trail Stats

• Distance: 12.5 miles (20.1 kilometers) round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1617 feet (493 meters)
• Difficulty: Moderate. It’s pretty long, but not very steep.
• Hike Time: I backpacked this trail over two days! I consider myself a pretty average backpacker, and not including time spent at camp, hiking this trail took me 6 hours and 22 minutes. You can check out my hike on Strava – here’s Day 1, and here’s Day 2!

Leave No Trace on the Cracker Lake Trail

Anytime you’re outdoors, it’s essential that you practice Leave No Trace (LNT). LNT is a set of seven principles that help us understand our impact on the outdoors – because while we usually have good intentions, the environment is more fragile than we think, and one snap-second decision can cause damage to the environment that will take the earth years, even decades to repair. This is a pretty popular hike, so it’s super important to make sure to prevent damage!

Leave No Trace means enjoying the outdoors without disrupting nature, as much as it’s possible to do so. Here are the 7 principles of LNT, and how they apply when you hike the Cracker Lake Trail!

• Plan ahead and prepare – read this guide, know what to expect, and bring water. Make sure to have a map handy! I use All Trails for maps.
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces – stay on the trail and don’t take any shortcuts, as this causes erosion, kills plant life, and damages trails.
• Dispose of waste properly – don’t leave trash, or anything else, behind. Pack it out!
• Leave what you find – I know it can be tempting to take a cool rock or leaf, but leave these things where they belong! Animals often use these, and if everyone takes one, the trail won’t be as pretty.
• Minimize campfire impacts – campfires are not allowed on the trail.
• Respect wildlife – don’t approach wild animals, and never feed them. There are often bear and moose sightings on this trail, so be careful, make noise as you hike, and use the bear hang at camp!
• Be considerate of other visitors – yield to uphill hikers, and be respectful – no speakers or loud music.

The Best Time to Hike the Cracker Lake Trail

The best time to hike the Cracker Lake Trail is usually June through October. Snow can linger into June, and sometimes even July, so definitely make sure to check weather conditions, and read recent AllTrails reviews.

Early summer is great for hiking this trail, because the snowmelt causes wildflowers to bloom, and waterfalls are at their fullest. The weather is also ideal for hiking, as it’s not too hot. I Conditions vary year to year, so it will depend on that! Summer is a popular time to visit Glacier National Park, so you can expect to see more people on the trail.

Early fall is beautiful with the leaves changing, and the weather is cooler! Keep in mind that weather can be less predictable, and snow can start to accumulate at high elevations as soon as October.

Don’t Forget Your Pass!

Because the Cracker Lake trail is located in Glacier National Park, you will need a pass to hike. It costs $30 per car, but if you visit national parks often (or at least more than twice a year), I recommend getting an America the Beautiful Pass! It’s an annual pass that will get you into every national park in the country for an entire year, for just $80.

You can purchase either pass on your way into the park, or get an America the Beautiful pass online ahead of time!

How to Get a Permit for Backcountry Camping

Along with the national park pass (which you’ll leave on your dash at the trailhead), you also need a permit to backpack the Cracker Lake trail. You don’t need this for day hikes, but it’s a must if you’re staying overnight!

Backcountry camping at Glacier National Park requires a permit. These can be really competitive in the summer, so it’s best to get one as early as possible! However, this particular trail isn’t as popular, so you’re likely to be able to get one if you’re flexible with dates, and if you go early in the season. You can get your permit at Recreation.gov. The starting area is Many Glacier, and you’ll see Cracker Lake on the list.

This is a popular backpacking trip – so it’s best to get your permit well in advance! However, I got lucky and there were permits available just a few days before my trip, so it can vary. Basically, getting it as soon as possible is your best bet!

After getting the permit online, you will have to pick it up in person from a ranger station. So on your way to the trailhead, or if you’re doing anything else in the park, make sure to make time to do this! The St. Mary Visitor Center is the closest to the trailhead.

When you’re hiking, be sure to carry the permit with you. Rangers do check!

What to Bring to Hike the Cracker Lake Trail

When you hike the Cracker Lake Trail, here’s what you’ll need to bring! To see all of my favorite gear picks, you can check out my Rockporch.

What to Wear to Hike the Cracker Lake Trail

• Sun Shirt – this is my favorite thing to wear on hikes, as it provides sun protection while keeping you cool. I like the Mountain Hardware Crater Lake Hoodie, and the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie.
• Hiking Pants – I love the REI Trailmade Shorts and usually hike in them, but if you’re hiking in the cold, or want protection from ticks and bugs, I recommend the Trailmade Pants.
• Layers – it can definitely get chilly as you gain elevation, so a lightweight windbreaker or a fleece is a good idea. For cold weather hikes, a down jacket will keep you warm.
• Hiking Shoes – I prefer hiking in sandals and usually hike in my Chacos, but boots are a good idea if you need more ankle support. I love my Danner boots!
• Socks – I love the Darn Tough socks whether I’m wearing sandals or boots. They’re wool, so they stay warm even when wet, and have some padding that’s extra comfy for long days on the trail!

What to Bring to Day Hike the Cracker Lake Trail

• Backpack – you’ll need a backpack for water and snacks. I use a Gregory Nano 18 Hydration Pack for day hikes.
• Water – water is a must, always – and bring more than you think you need. The Gregory backpack comes with a 3L reservoir, which I usually bring, along with a Nalgene water bottle that I put electrolytes in.
• Sunscreen – no matter the time of year, make sure to protect yourself from the sun.
• Headlamp – if you want to get an early start, or stay to watch the sunset, make sure to bring a headlamp. It’s also a good idea to always bring one just in case!
• Trekking Poles – hiking with poles can help with stability, and can be especially helpful if you have knee pain going downhill.

What to Bring to Backpack the Cracker Lake Trail

You’ll need a few more things if you’re backpacking!

• Water Filter – There are plenty of options for filtering water along the trail, so you don’t need to pack a ton of water in for this one. I use a Sawyer Squeeze with a CNOC bladder for filtering, and I filter it into this CNOC collapsible water bottle.
• Tent – somewhere to sleep! I love my super light Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent, along with the footprint.
• Sleeping Bag – I actually use a quilt instead of a bag, and I love this one from Enlightened Equipment.
• Sleeping Pad – an essential for a comfy night of sleep! I use this Therm-a-Rest pad.
• Camp Stove – there’s nothing like having a hot meal on the mountain. I use an MSR Pocket Rocket stove, which is incredibly small, along with this GSI Cookset.
• Food Bag – the campsite on this trail has a pole for hanging your food and scented items, so make sure to bring a bag that can be hung up, along with some cord.
• Backpack – I recently got a ULA Circuit, and absolutely love it!
• Headlamp – an essential for seeing after it gets dark.
• Trowel – there’s a toilet at the campsite, and you should use it for all bathroom needs. But, sometimes… shit happens. Bring a trowel just in case.
• Bidet – I like to bring a bidet so that I can carry less toilet paper. I use this one and attach it to my CNOC water bottle.
• Kula Cloth – again, less toilet paper. If you squat to pee, a Kula Cloth is kind of life changing.
• Kindle – essential for entertainment at camp!
• Bug Spray – the mosquitos can be really brutal, so I definitely recommend bringing some bug spray.
• Bear Spray – it’s highly recommended to carry bear spray on this trail! Hopefully you never need it, but it’s always better to have it.

Bonus Tip: A lot of these links are for my favorite place to buy outdoor gear – Backcountry. If you install the free Lolli extension on your browser, you can earn free Bitcoin when you shop online at certain retailers, including Backcountry. You can transfer it to a crypto wallet, or just cash out to your bank account.

Directions to the Cracker Lake Trailhead

If you’re flying in for your trip, there’s a small airport outside of West Glacier called the Glacier Park International Airport. But, most people fly into the larger airports in Missoula or Great Falls.

Expedia is a good way to find flights and rental cars, I also super recommend signing up for Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – they send you amazing deals, so you can find cheap flights to destinations all over the world. The free account is great and totally worth the few minutes it takes to sign up, and I do recommend the premium account too!

If you fly, you can rent a car through Discover Cars or Rental Cars. But, a great alternative to a rental car is a tiny home on wheels! With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans. Another option for vans is to use Outdoorsy, which is more like Airbnb for campers – you can rent a van, RV, or trailer from a person in the area.

The trailhead for this hike is above the Many Glacier Hotel. From Kalispell, you’ll take Highway 2 going north, and get on Highway 89 for a little bit. From Great Falls, you’ll take highway 89 going west.

You’ll make a left off of Highway 89 onto Rt 3 – but don’t forget to detour to the St. Mary’s Visitor Center if you haven’t picked up your backpacking permit yet! After about 12 miles, you’ll be at the trailhead. The parking area is pretty big, but busy.

Cracker Lake Trailhead Coordinates: 48.796325, -113.655648

Hiking the Cracker Lake Trail

Once you’ve parked and are ready to start hiking, here’s what you can expect on the Cracker Lake Trail!

Cracker Lake Horse Trail

The hike begins on the south end of the parking lot, and the Cracker Lake trailhead is clearly marked. For about two miles, the trail is shared with the horse route, and I won’t lie, it’s a little unpleasant – the horse poop is avoidable, but the swarms of flies that you’ll pass are pretty gross. But, I promise it gets better soon! There are really beautiful views of Lake Sherburn to distract you.

Forested Trail

Soon, you’ll find yourself in the forest. There are some creek crossings, but the big ones had bridges going across them, and the small ones were easily traversable. The forest opens up occasionally and you’ll get views of the mountains, and some waterfalls.

Exposed Ridge

About 3.5 miles in, you’ll exit the forest and find yourself on the exposed ridge. The views here are really incredible – you’re surrounded by the mountains! It only gets better, and soon, you’ll get a glimpse of the incredibly blue water of Cracker Lake below. This means you’re close – under a mile to go. Soon, you’ll pass the pit toilet – then, just over the hill, you’ll be at the campsites.

Cracker Lake

If you’re camping, the first thing you should do (BEFORE GOING TO YOUR CAMPSITE) is secure your food and any scented items. There’s a bear hang that you’ll use, or of course, you can stop to eat before you set up camp. This is because wildlife, such as bears, are attracted to the smells, so for your safety and theirs, no food should enter your campsite.

When bears get human food, they want more and often become aggressive – which leads to them being killed for the safety of park visitors. Don’t let that happen! Secure your food! The cooking area is next to the bear hang, so this is the only place where food should ever be.

There are three campsites at Cracker Lake – all of them have great views! Choose your favorite and set up camp. The wind was awful when I was camped here, and I put a few rocks in the bottom of my tent to keep it from flying away. I also didn’t put my rain fly on the tent, because I like to look at the stars, but I regretted this when the wind got really bad at night and dust was flying everywhere. So, just keep in mind that it can get really windy at night!

You can walk down to the shore of Cracker Lake, filter water there, go swimming if you’re brave, or just enjoy the view!

Back to the Trailhead

You’ll go back to the trailhead the same way you came!

Where to Stay Near the Cracker Lake Trail

You can camp at the lake if you got a permit, but if this hike is part of a trip to Glacier National Park, there are some great places to stay nearby!

camping Near Glacier National Park

There are campsites in the park, but I recommend staying just outside of it, because it’ll be quieter, and easier to find a spot. I recommend using The Dyrt – it’s the best way to find campsites. You can use the free version to find campsites, but with The Dyrt Pro you’ll also be able to see the boundaries of national forest land just outside of the park. You can stay in one of the paid campsites, or, in the national forest, you can camp just about anywhere for free! You can try The Dyrt before you commit, so click here for a free trial.

There are plenty of options for free camping near Glacier National Park – so check out this guide to learn how to find free campsites!

hotels NEar the Cracker Lake Trail

The town closest to the trail is East Glacier Park, and there are plenty of places to stay in this area.

Some options for places to stay:

• Summit Mountain Lodge
• Glacier Park Lodge
• Two Medicine Inn

For more options, check out Booking.com, or VRBO!

Cabins, Glamping, & Yurts

For a unique place to stay during your trip, check out Hipcamp! It’s like Airbnb for campsites – and you can find yurts (like this one), cabins, glamping sites, and more. 

You can even get $10 off your first booking here!

A Camper van

With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans. Another option is to use Outdoorsy, which is more like Airbnb – you can rent vans, RVs, and trailers from people who live nearby!

More Adventures Near the Cracker Lake Trail

Have you hiked this trail, or are you adding it to your bucket list? Let me know in a comment below!

For another incredible backpacking trail, check out Medicine Grizzly Lake in Glacier National Park!

Pin any of these photos to save this guide to the Cracker Lake Trail for later!