The 10 Hikes I'll Be Doing Again This Summer

Everyone has their favorite place to visit, restaurant to eat at, or beach to lay out on, but what about favorite hikes? Normally once you've completed a hike you check it off your list and only "go back" via the pictures you took. Depending on the hike, it could have had a grueling amount of elevation gain, it may have been too hot or super rainy, maybe you encountered snow or got blisters on your feet. Normally each hike is its own experience not to be duplicated or replicated ever again.

Lucky for me, I live within a short drive to Glacier National Park in the US, and about a 5 hour drive to may of the Canadian National Parks in the Northern Rockies. I get to repeat hikes as many times as I like and I love this because I really get to know an area and I can see it in different seasons.

This summer I have 10 repeat hikes on my list and I wanted to share WHY I'll be doing them again so maybe it will help you decide which hikes to tackle when you're visiting these parks.

Here are the hikes I'll be doing again this summer, in no particular order:

Triple Divide Pass, Glacier National Park (US)

Triple Divide Pass is a 14.5 mile out-and-back hike that starts in the Cutbank area on the east side of Glacier National Park. This area is not heavily trafficed and does not require a timed vehicle entry like other entrances to Glacier National Park. The entrance isn't well marked from the road but it is inbetween the St Mary's entrance and the Two Medicine entrance on the east side of the park. The parking area is very small, accommodating only a dozen vehicles. There is a campground right across from the parking lot but it was closed in 2024 so I highly recommend checking the NPS.gov website before thinking you'll stay the night there.

The trail starts through a meadow with views of Kupunkamint Mountain to the north and Bad Marriage Mountain to the south. The first four miles take you on Pitamakan Pass trail which follows a stream through a nice wooded area with little elevation gain or loss. Once you hit the intersection of Pitamakan Pass trail and Triple Divide trail, you come out of the forest and start your climb. After passing Atlantic Creek campground, you won't encounter a water source until you return by the campground so stock up if you need to!

The next three miles follow a trail on the side of Mount James in which you will steadily climb 2,000 feet until you reach the pass. The trail follows what used to be the path of a glacier and changes from a dirt trail to carved rock and portions of scree. I personally enjoyed the rate of climb of this trail and didn't find it too terrible. It was steady but not as steeply inclined as many other trails in the park. Do note that this portion of the hike has no shade and no water so be sure to reapply sunscreen/put on a hat and drink water!

The reason I will do this hike again is becuase it is in a pretty secluded area but provides some of the most amazing views once at the pass. The significance of the pass is pretty impressive too. It's called Triple Divide Pass because it is the intersection of two continental divides (technically they meet at the summit of Triple Divide Mountain) which cause water to flow into three different oceans, the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. As far as glaciology goes, Triple Divide peak is considered a horn that was shaped by three different glaciers receding over time. All of the classic formations caused by glacier movement can be seen in the area if you know what to look for.

You can continue over the other side of the pass on a longer multi-day hike but for a day hike, after lunch, pictures and a little scrambling at the pass, your return hike follows the same route back to the trailhead.

Pitamakan-Dawson Loop, Glacier National Park (US)

The Pitamakan-Dawson loop trail starts in the Two Medicine area in the south-east corner of Glacier National Park. This entrance currently does not require a vehicle timed entry reservation but it is a very small area with limited parking and the park staff does close it to incoming traffic if it reaches it's capacity during the day. I saw this happen around 10am almost every day during the peak summertime last summer.

*Pro-tip for Glacier National Park: you can sign up to recieve road closure/opening text updates byt texting GNPROADS to 333111. This is super helpful if you're planning on going to Two Medicine!

I highly recommend doing this 19-mile loop counter-clockwise. The first seven miles has a very gradual elevation increase of only about 1,000 feet. Part of this is in a wooded area that provides some shade until you pop out into the valley between Rising Wolf Mountain and Red Mountain. For a portion of this time you follow a creek until you get back in a wooded area as you approach Oldman Lake. Once you pass the lake you start a relatively steep climb via switchbacks until you reach Pitamakan Pass.

The view from Pitamakan Pass is absolutely stunning! I've studies topographic maps of the area but I was sprised at how much of a drop-off there was down to Pitamakan Lake. You can always turn around at this point and re-follow trail back to Two Medicine but if you're not afraid of heights and have energy left, follow the trail around the back side of Mount Morgan and Flinsch Peak to Dawson Pass. Depending on what month you do this hike in, be prepared for snow on this section of the trail as well as lots of scree. This portion of the trail isn't taxing as far as elevation gain but it is very exposed with steep drops and uneven footing.

Once you get to Dawson Pass you follow the trail back down to No-Name Lake and meet back up with more hikers on the trail that goes around the north side of Two Medicine lake. The downhill from Dawson Pass to the lake is pretty steep and could be covered with snow if you go early in the season. Once you link back up with the main trail, the last three miles around Two Medicine Lake are pretty flat and shaded by dense woods.

There are many hikers who do this trail clock-wise and take the first boat of the morning across Two Medicine Lake to cut off three miles of hiking. This is totally an option but the elevation gain going up to Dawson Pass is greater than that going up to Pitamakan Pass so be prepared for that.

Why do I love this trail enough to do it again? I love the variation of scenery along the hike. Everything from fields of wildflowers in the valley to views of snow-capped mountains in the distance to waterfalls and huckleberry patches. I also like how challenging this hike it. It's considered a day hike but 19 miles is a lot! I would only do this hike if I had a campsite at Two Medicine campground as the drive to/from the area would tack on a lot of extra time to an already full day. Not many people do the full loop so you'll have some solitude as you traverse between the two passes.

Plain of Six Glaciers with Big Beehive and Devils Thumb, Banff National Park (CAN)

This combination of hikes adds up to approximately 12 miles and 3,500 feet of elevation gain. I don't believe there's a set route on AllTrails that combines all of these destinations, but it made sense for me to add them all into one once I did a little route recon on a map. If you only have one day to spend at Lake Louise and you want to see as many of the highlights in the area, this is the way to do it!

This hike starts at the Lake Louise parking lot and follows the Lake Louise shore trail for a short bit until you reach the start of the trail to Mirror Lake. A quick stop at mirror lake for a snack is a great idea, then continue on the trail to the left of the lake until you hit a branch of the trail to the right that climbs up to Lake Agnes and the famous Lake Agnes Tea House. I believe there is a trail to the right of Mirror Lake that takes you to the same spot but I think it detours to Little Beehive which I personally don't believe is worth your time and energy if you plan on stopping at Big Beehive.

Once you reach Lake Agnes you have a stunning view of the Devil's Thumb rock formation at the end of the lake and Big Beehive to your left. There is a pit toilet at the tea house that you can use if needed. The next available option is all the way at the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House all the way up the valley. Follow the trail that goes to the right of the lake to the far end, then wraps around the lake and starts to climb to the saddle in between Devil's Thumb and Big Beehive. Once you've reached the saddle, you have a choice: go right to scramble up Devil's Thumb or go left to follow the trail to the Lake Louise lookout atop Big Beehive. If you're crunched for time or are not a fan of rock scrambles, skip Devil's Thumb and follow the trail to the left to Big Beehive. The views of Lake Louise are stunning from this vantage point!

Once you've had a snack or finished your climb, go back to the saddle and take the trail down towards Lake Louise. There is a point where you'll turn right and follow the trail downhill until it rejoins with the primary trail taking you to the Plain of Six Glacier Teahouse. The teahouse is a lovely place to stop and eat lunch before returning on a fully downhill route back to Lake Louise shoreline. Or, if you still have energy, continue on the trail to get to the glacier viewpoint which takes you on the crest of a lateral moraine to the best view of the hanging glaciers of Victoria Glacier on Mount Victoria.

The return trail is all downhill straight to Lake Louise shoreline. Somewhere before you hit the lake you'll start encountering the throngs of tourists that frequent the flat shoreline trail. One of the reasons I like this hike so much is because not many people are willing to go all the way to the end to get such an amazing view of Mount Victoria. I started this hike at 4:00am while it was still dark out so I could see the sunrise at Lake Agnes and Big Beehive. This early start was well worth it becuase I had the trail all to myself and the sunrise was beautiful! Skipping the crowds made for a nice change too. Normally the early portions of this trail are very heavily trafficed and if you want to get a picture with no humans in it, it will be impossible during the day. If you decide to tackle this entire route, I recommend looking up the time for sunrise and starting at least an hour before.

Athabasca Glacier Walk, Jasper National Park (CAN)

Athabasca Glacier is one of the few glaciers in all of the Northern Rockies that you can literally drive to. A massive visitors center has been built right across the highway from the glacier and there is even a parking lot not far from the toe of the glacier. While you can try to fight for a parking spot in this small parking lot and walk out to the viewing point to see the glacier on your own, one of the highlights of my drive to Jasper National Park was stopping at the Columbia Icefields Visitor Center and going on a guided walking tour onto the glacier itself.

There are two companies that operate out of the parking lot of the visitor center and they both offer the same attraction: a guided walk on the glacier itself. I have seen glaciers from a distance before but I know how dangerous they can be to explore so I didn't want to try and walk on it on my own. The company I chose to go through had a 1:10 guide to guest ratio and our walk was a three hour tour of the area surrounding the toe of the glacier along with a walk up the glacier itself. The guide was full of knowledge about glaciology and how they form the landscapes around them as well as all of the safety precautions of walking on one.

I thoroughly enjoyed the "hike" and would like to do it again this coming summer as glaciers are ever changing and I know it will look different every time I see it. The tour was very reasonably priced and the outfitter provided microspikes, hard boots and various other equipment if you needed it.

There is another option for a tour of the glacier but I highly recommend NOT doing this option: the ICE WALKER wheeled vehicle tour. This tour consists of loading a large bus at the Columbia Icefields Visitor Center, then taking the bus across the highway and up over a lateral morraine to a vehicle staging area. There you will transfer from the bus to a smaller bus-like vehicle that is equipped with massive tires that drive you up the steep lateral moraines and onto the glacier itself. At the start of every season, the company that runs this tour basically carves out a top section of the glacier to make a flat area that the vehicles can drive onto and that passengers can get out and walk around on without crampons or microspikes. They are literally slicing layers of ice off of the glacier to make money. I have a big ethical issue with this as we're already seeing glaciers melt at an alarming rate, but now a company is intentionally destroying them to make a profit? This just doesn't sit well with me! I would highly advise against this option and instead support small businesses and local guides to take a walk on the glacier in a way that doesn't harm them.

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park (US)

The Grinnell Glacier trail is probably THE most popular trail in Glacier National Park and for good reason! This is one of two glaciers left in the park that are "easy" to hike to. The other glacier is Sperry Glacier, although getting to this glacier is much more difficult. The trail to Grinnell Glacier is approximately 10 miles long with 2,000 feet of elevation gain. This hike starts from the Many Glacier area of the park which is known for its' wildlife and epic hikes.

The trail winds along two lakes and takes you to a cirque or ampithater-type of rock formation created by the glacier. The third lake is at the toe of the glacier and creates a stunning view of th paternoster lakes you followed on the way in. During the summer high season when the temperatures are warm and the sun is high, many hikers take a polar plunge into this lake to cool off and even try to climb on small chunks of ice that have broken off of the glacier.

This hike is always crowded but you can avoid some of the crowds on the way to the glacier if you leave before sunrise. On your return trip you'll mass the majority of the crowds and you'll thank yourself for leaving early! The trail itself is challenging in parts as there are more steps and rock ledges to walk along than many other hikes in the area but the views along the entire hike are well worth the trouble.

This hike is a favorite for a reason and no season in the park seems complete without at least one trip to Grinnell Glacier!

Swiftcurrent Pass via the Highline Trail, Glacier National Park (US)

This is a hike that can be done as a point-to-point hike or broken down into two seperate hikes: Swiftcurrent Pass and the Highline. If you decide to do the point-to-point version, I recommend starting at Logan Pass and heading out on the Highline trail. Of course you can opt to take the spur trail to the Grinnell Glacier overlook at mile seven or you can skip it. It will add two extra miles to your trip but in my opinion, those miles are worth it!

The Highline trail is an iconic trail in Glacier National Park, as the trail is basically a traverse behind several mountains and which remains rather consistent, elevation-wise, for the entire hike. Most people turn around at Granite Park Chalet and retrace their steps back to Logan Pass but for the full hike I'm talking about here, you will head east at Granit Park Chalet and climb to the saddle in between Swiftcurrent Mountain and the "tail" of Mount Grinnell. The views from Swiftcurrent pass are phenomenal and on a clear day you can see all of the paternoster lakes lined up in a row going down the valley (Bullhead Lakes, Redrock Lake and Fishercap Lake).

The trail switchbacks down the mountain side and finishes on a relaxing downhill passed all three lakes, ending at Many Glacier campground. While the campground and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn are all closed during the 2025 summer season, there are alternate trails that will take you all the way to Many Glacier Hotel. This summer the logistics of getting out of Many Glacier may be a bit more difficult, but in previous years it was easy to hitch a ride with friendly folks who were heading back to St Mary's or even all the way to Logan Pass. When Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is open, they have public showers that you can buy coins for at the gift shop and you can take a quick shower before the long drive back to your vehicle. If you plan it right, you'll have time for your shower, an ice cream and a beer on the porch of the Motor Inn before you get the hiker's shuttle or hitch a ride back!

I love this trail for several reasons but mainly becuase of the sheer distance you cover in the park in one hike. Topping out at about 20 miles, this hike goes from the heart of the park and the Continental Divide, to the other side of the divide in one of the most wild-life saturated parts of the park. I've seen Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Moose, and a myriad of ground critters on this hike! Talk about bang for your buck! If you have the legs for it and can figure out the logistics of a point-to-point hike, I highly recommend adding this to your list of adventures in Glacier National Park!

Sentinel Pass, Banff National Park (CAN)

Sentinel Pass is an absolute BANGER of a hike! You check off three major boxes with this hike and all in about 7 miles, roundtrip. This hike starts at Lake Moraine in Banff National Park and travels 2,621 feet up through Larch Valley and ends in the rocky pass between Mount Temple and Eiffel Tower. This is a serious amount of elevation gain in a short distance so be prepared with lots of water and determination!

Larch Valley is well known for its fall color changes as the valley below Eiffel Tower is full of this pine tree variation. You pass through the valley and pop out right below the dominating peak of Eiffel Tower. There are a few small alpine lakes in this area that you can stop and have lunch at before you continue on the switchbacks which lead to the pass itself. During the early part of the season, this area is still covered with patches of snow so I recommend bringing hiking poles and be prepared to "post hole" through the snow. I actually found traipsing through the snow extremely enjoyed in the beginning of July and I just laughed my whole way through.

Once you get to the pass, take a much needed break and enjoy the 360 degree views! The pass gets you high enough up that you feel like you could be a rock climber and quickly make your way up the various rock faces to the peaks on either side. I'm not a rock climber so I don't know if that's even possible but it was fun to imagine what it would be like! The trail actually continues down the other side of the pass into Paradise Valley which will eventually connect you back to Lake Louise. If you're bold and want to do an overnight hike, there is a campsite in the valley you can stay at if you're able to snag a permit.

The last "box" that this hike checks is that of Morain Lake. Since you're starting and ending at the lake, I recommend the quick walk up the path to the top of "The Rock Pile" so you can snag a pic with the infamous view of Moraine Lake's turquoise waters. Do note that no personal vehicles are allowed to drive to Moraine Lake. There are multiple shuttle options to take you there, the cheapest being the Parks Canada shuttle which starts at the Lake Louise Ski Area parking lot. Many private tour companies offer shuttles as well for varying prices and starting point.

Skoki Valley Area, Banff National Park (CAN)

I've only been to the Skoki Valley area in the winter. Skoki Lodge is an absolute gem of a backcountry lodge, nestled in the valley about seven miles away from Lake Louise Ski Area. The Lodge is open year-round, save a few days in the shoulder season where they switch crews and reset for each season. It is a full-service lodge that provides food, drinking water, comfy beds, linens, pit toilets and warm fires. I was lucky enough to book two nights there in the beginning of March and I am dying to go back in the summer!

While I don't think I will pay to stay at the lodge over the summer, there is a camprgound right by the lodge for those looking to stay overnight and explore the trails in the valley. The main reason I want to go back to Skoki Valley in the summer is to see what it looks like without all of the snow! The ski in had you climb two passes and cross over the frozen, snow-clad Ptarmigan Lake. If I wouldn't have looked at a map beforehand, I would have had no idea I was skiing over a lake! Obviously the trail in the summer takes you around the lake but I'm excited to see what the terrain looks like without the wind-blown snow masses!

While I don't plan to book a night at Skoki Lodge for the summer, I will definitely go back next winter! The whole experience was so unique (to me as an American) and was very challenging for me. The ski out to the lodge was the longest backcountry ski I've ever done and while there was a designate trail, there were parts where things were so wind blown that I had no idea where the trail was! I can't wait to go back and hopefully be in better shape so I can enjoy the backcountry skiing more.

Ptarmigan Tunnel, Glacier National Park (US)

One of the most unique hikes I've ever hiked is Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park. The trail starts from the Many Glacier area on the east side of the park and follows the same trail for Iceberg Lake for three miles. An abrupt right turn is the start of a steady climb through the forest, around Ptarmigan lake and up the switchbacks to a saddle with a tunnel going through it! The saddle (known as Red Gap) isn't just dirt, but it's a very rocky area which is why in the early days of the park, a tunnel was dug connecting the two sides instead of a trail going up and over the rocky saddle.

Once you walk through the massive steel doors to the tunnel, you'll be in the dark for the whole 250 foot length of the tunnel until you pop out on the other side in the Belly River Valley. It truly feels like you're entering Narnia on the other side of the tunnel as there is trail cut into the side of the mountain, winding all the way down to Helen Lake which is seen in the distance.

What amazes me the most about this trail is the condition of the trail on the other side of the tunnel. In some areas the trail looks like it could be wide enough for a car to travel on it and there are even rail guards on the side of the trail made out of rocks to keep you from the edge. In the early days of the park, the main method of transportation was horseback, not by foot, so many trails were constructed to accommodate horses. I've rarely seen hikers explore much down this part of the trail so if you venture down a bit, you'll be rewarded with peace and quiet and a new, stunning view around every turn.

One point to note with this trail is that the window in which the tunnel is open every summer is very small. Park rangers normally open the tunnel doors in July and close them by the end of August. Keep an eye on the trail status page on the NPS.gov website for Glacier National Park to make sure the tunnel is open before you head out!

Gunsight Pass, Glacier National Park (US)

I've Gunsight Pass, a nearly 20 mile point-to-point hike, on my list of hikes to do for some time but every time I went to do it, I would run in to weather issues or it would be too late in the season and the bridges crossing the rivers on the route would be taken down. Last summer, on a whim, I checked the backcountry campsite availability and I snagged a spot at Lake Ellen Wilson for one night. This campground is the mid-way point on the hike and is right between the two passes you have to climb.

I did this hike in mid-August and chose to park my car at Lake McDonald Lodge where I would be exiting the trail the next day. Luckily the park's shuttles where still running at that time so I jumped on a shuttle up to Logan Pass, then I transferred to the east-bound shuttle and got off at the Jackson Glacier overlook stop which is where the trail started.

I started the first leg of the hike at 10:30am which is a very late start for me! I knew what time sunset was and I knew I had to hike about 11.5 miles to get to my campsite so I was ok with the late start. It took my just shy of six hours to climb the 3,000 feet up to Gunsight pass and back down to Lake Ellen Wilson. The first few miles of the hike to the foot of Gunsight Lake were nothing remarkable. They were relatively flat which was nice but I paid my dues going up the pass! This portio of the hike was everything I dreamed it would be! Stunnignn views of Gunsight Lake below, a quick peek at Jackson Glacier, a family of mountain goats following me on the trail and some of the most spectacular geology I've ever seen! After I finished this hike I went on YouTube to learn about the rock formations and colored bands that I saw on the way up the pass. I took so many pictures and videos as this area was truly stunning!

When I finally made it down to the campsite, I chose a site that had a beauiful view of the lake with the mountains behind it. There was another family of mountain goats that were a little too friendly, trying to lick the salt off of my sweaty pack and curiously poking their heads into my tent. The wind picked up during the night and shook my tent around like an empty bag of chips on a windy beach. Needless to say I didn't sleep the best but at least I was warm!

The second haldf of the hike startetd with a climb up Lincoln pass which wasn't even half as hard or long as the climb up Gunsight Pass. After hitting the pass I could see down the trail to the famous Sperry Chalet, perched high on a cliff overlooking the valley to Lake McDonald. I wish I had snagged a second night at the campground by Sperry Chalet as I really wanted to climb Comeau Pass and get to see Sperry Glacier but that campground is always booked and very hard to find a last minute spot at. So I continued the slog down from Sperry Chalet to Lake McDonald Lodge. This is the worst part of this hike as the downhill is something pretty fierce and my knees were killing me after only a mile.

It was a really hot sunny day for this second part and I'm really thankful I wasn't going uphill but it just seemed to draw out forever. This was the only portion of the hike that I did not enjoy but I kept thinking about a nice warm shower and the huckleberry bear claw I had waiting for me when I got back!

The main reason I want to do this hike again is because somehow all of the pictures and videos I took during this hike got erased from my phone! It was such a beautiful hike and I'd really like those memories back! This time I'll add another night at Sperry Chalet so I can hike to the glacier...and not erase my pictures!

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