D I R T I N M Y S H O E S L U N C H C R E E K T R A I L GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Lunch Creek "Secret" Hike This short hike on the Lunch Creek Trail will knock your socks off! It's the perfect mix of length, difficulty, and scenery to make it a must-do while in Glacier National Park. Because of its location along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, this hike can't entirely be a secret. Most people won't even think to stop here because the pullout isn't usually marked on the map, but there is still a sign and a decent sized place to park. The reason I consider it to be a secret?? The Lunch Creek Trail isn't an official park trail. It's not maintained nor will you find it on the park's brochures or maps. It's difficult to find any information about what you will see and experience as you hike this trail. You may run into a few people as you hike, but it's likely they just saw the parking area and were curious about where the trail leads. By reading this guide, you can be an informed hiker and have a fabulous experience on the Lunch Creek Trail! What You Need to Know The trail begins at the Lunch Creek parking area and is about 2 miles roundtrip. You'll need to walk across the Going-to-the-Sun Road to begin your hike. There is an obvious but unmarked trail near the creek on the north side of the road. As you start to hike, you'll notice several trails that branch off from one another. Most of them ultimately meet up with each other, but your safest bet for staying on the right route is to stay close to the creek as you hike. In addition to the maze of trails at the bottom of Lunch Creek, you'll also encounter some elevation gain. Several sections are quite steep, but only for a very short amount of time. This part of the hike can be difficult for small children and is a good deterrent for people just looking for a casual stroll. The trail flattens out and follows the creek for the rest of the way after the initial steeper sections.
As you continue hiking, the trail will become easier to follow. It begins to move away from the creek for a moment and you'll be lead through a small meadow. One of the most beautiful aspects of this trail is the many wildflowers that bloom in the area. Because of how it's situated, this meadow is often full of wildflowers well into the summer...even longer than most other areas of the park. Mount Pollock stands majestically in front of you as you hike. This prominent mountain is 9,190 feet above sea level and is a popular place to climb. You may see some climbers making their way up the trail -- Lunch Creek is one of the most direct ways to access the top of Mount Pollock and also its neighbor, Piegan Mountain.
After passing a few small but stunning cascades along the creek, you'll reach a basin. The trail flattens out again here as you work your way to the back of the basin. Keep a lookout for bighorn sheep. They like to hang out around this area and on the cliffs above. At the far end of the basin you'll find a beautiful waterfall. It can have a pretty decent flow early in the summer, but will trickle off as the snowpack melts down. This picture was taken at the end of August when almost all of the snow that feeds the waterfall was already gone. If you travel here earlier in the season, you will likely find snow on the trail and more water flowing through the basin. If you're just out for a casual hike, the trail basically ends here at the waterfall. HOWEVER, you can continue on if you're up for a little scramble and some adventure. I wouldn't recommend continuing past the waterfall if you have small children with you or are uncomfortable with a steep and rocky trail. To continue on, look for the small trail that climbs up the right side of the waterfall. That is the safest way up! You will find some steep and rocky areas that might require use of your hands on occasion. When you reach the top of the waterfall, you'll be standing in another spectacular basin below Mount Pollock.
Quite possibly the best views of the hike {without climbing to the top of the mountain} are looking out from the upper basin. You'll have a panoramic shot of the peaks that surround the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Plan on spending a decent amount of time here rewarding yourself for your hard work! Beyond the upper basin, the trail starts to turn into a climb. I wouldn't recommend going beyond this point unless you are sufficiently experienced and prepared with right climbing gear. Going down the trail from the upper basin is the most challenging part of the hike. Take great care as you travel on the rocks near the waterfall. You'll encounter a maze of trails again toward the end of your hike. If at any point you feel unsafe or too near the water, you may want to backtrack a little and take another trail. As you hike back to your car, enjoy the phenomenal views of Reynolds Mountain in the distance! Getting Here To get here from West Glacier, drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road for 32 miles until you reach Logan Pass. Lunch Creek is a signed pullout less than 1 mile east of Logan Pass, so you'll want to drive past the Pass until you see the pullout on your right. Park here, then cross the road and walk up the stone steps to begin your hike.