Hikes in Glacier/Waterton National Park

I plan on spending around 4-5 days in this park in mid-August. I'm looking for a couple of different (3-4) over night hikes that aren't too long. I'd like to do a couple hikes all over the park. I'm really interested in hikes that are along ridgelines, go over passes, and summit a couple non-technical peaks. Any suggestions?

Search the section of this forum titled "Trip plans, reports and inquiries." A request to one of the moderators could get your post moved there. Also, I've been told there is a forum on hiking in Glacier NP. I don't know where it is but you could try googling.

Here is a link to the Glacier Park chat: http://glacier.nationalparkschat.com/phpBB3/

There are many great hikes in Glacier, but I find the better ones to be multinights. It can be difficult to find what you want in just an overnight if you don't want to do high mileage.

Not too many trails that follow a ridgeline in Glacier, but don't worry, the views are still great.

Cracker Lake would be a nice overnighter. Elizabeth Lake as well through Ptarmigan Tunnel, but the mileage and elevation gain may be more than you want. I would say the Highline Trail to Granite Park, however in August Granite Park has to be part of a multiday trip (unless you can find room at the Chalet).

Dawson Pass-Pitamakin Pass would be a great overnighter out of the Two Medicine area.

If you are looking at just overnighters, probably consider the Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas. Unlike the east side, on the west side you generally need a day to get high for the views.

In Waterton, you can overnight at Crypt Lake, which is a great hike. I don't think that there is a campsite on the Anderson-Carthew trail there, but it is another good hike.

Campsites are reserved, so check availability on the NPS site. Approximately half the sites are held for walk-ins.

Thanks for all the info. I'll check out all the trails you mentioned on the map.

If you do one hike in Waterton, consider the Crypt Lake trail hike. You take a boat from the town across the lake and get dropped off at the shore/trailhead. Incredible wildflowers, waterfalls, vistas. Heading up, you have to crawl through a tunnel, creep along a cliff holding a wire rope and are rewarded with a nice lunch at this alpine lake before heading back down. We just missed the early return shuttle boat, but hitched a ride back in the boat of Parks Canada staff who had been on the trail trying to locate and "discourage" a brown bear (i.e. grizzly) that had been aggressively trying to get a free lunch from hikers' packs on the trail -- something to be aware of. . . .