With a whopping 3,223 named lakes and reservoirs in Montana, it’s safe to say that we’ve got plenty of places to enjoy fishing, swimming, boating and just lounging by the beautiful shore. From Seeley Lake to Flathead Lake to Eastern Montana’s Fort Peck Reservoir, every part of our great state has an abundance of freshwater fun available.
Navin75 / Flickr But there’s something truly surreal about Glacier National Park’s Grinnell Lake. Catching a first glimpse of it from over a hillside after a good hike takes your breath away… it’s so beautifully blue that it looks turquoise. In a state full of stunning lakes and rivers, this body of water really stands out.
peppered jane / Flickr There’s an interesting natural phenomenon behind Grinnell Lake’s opaque turquoise appearance: when rock flour (silt) moves from the Grinnell Glacier into the lake, it mixes with the water and creates its unique hue. The results are astounding.
Viktor Leshchenko / alltrails.com Typically hikers will have until late October to take the Grinnell Lake Trail to the lake. This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the entire park, if not the entire Northwest. The trail, which is well-maintained, takes you beneath the massive melting glacier with sweeping views of hillsides, waterfalls and wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see floating icebergs in the lake from the melting glacier.
Travis Melton / alltrails.com The trail to the lake is 7.2 miles long out and back, but it’s a pretty easy path, and it’s totally worth it. You can also take a boat tour across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine to shorten the distance.
Yaz Obara / alltrails.com Just look at this stunning lake. How lucky are we?
Ryan McKee / Flickr
Have you seen this spot with the bluest water in Montana? If you’re looking for other lovely lakes, try visiting one of these beauties.
Navin75 / Flickr
But there’s something truly surreal about Glacier National Park’s Grinnell Lake. Catching a first glimpse of it from over a hillside after a good hike takes your breath away… it’s so beautifully blue that it looks turquoise. In a state full of stunning lakes and rivers, this body of water really stands out.
peppered jane / Flickr
There’s an interesting natural phenomenon behind Grinnell Lake’s opaque turquoise appearance: when rock flour (silt) moves from the Grinnell Glacier into the lake, it mixes with the water and creates its unique hue. The results are astounding.
Viktor Leshchenko / alltrails.com
Typically hikers will have until late October to take the Grinnell Lake Trail to the lake. This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the entire park, if not the entire Northwest. The trail, which is well-maintained, takes you beneath the massive melting glacier with sweeping views of hillsides, waterfalls and wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see floating icebergs in the lake from the melting glacier.
Travis Melton / alltrails.com
The trail to the lake is 7.2 miles long out and back, but it’s a pretty easy path, and it’s totally worth it. You can also take a boat tour across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine to shorten the distance.
Yaz Obara / alltrails.com
Just look at this stunning lake. How lucky are we?
Ryan McKee / Flickr
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