South Shore Lake Josephine Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail is popular so you will see many visitors. Also be alert for bears and moose.

Although most people will pair this trail with the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail, the official start of this trail is located off of the road that runs past the Many Glacier Hotel to the boat house. Park at the hotel and follow the road to get to the trailhead.

From the trailhead, the trail heads through a wonderful forest full of birds and small mammals. This entire area is popular with moose and grizzlies, so keep your eyes peeled for these large mammals. As you approach the creek coming out of Stump Lake to Swiftcurrent Lake, you'll meet the junction with the Swiftcurrent Cutoff Trail and continue alongside Stump Lake. The trail roughly follows the shoreline with trees partially obstructing the views.

The trail leaves the creek briefly only to come to the wide outlet of the lake. The trail has a short spur to the lake, and your first amazing view of the lake. The trail, once again enters the trees into a nice, airy forest and loosely follows the lake's shore with intermittent views of the lake. You arrive at a junction with options to continue around the head of the lake, cut up to the Piegan Pass Trail, continue on to Grinnell Lake, or head to the shore of the lake at the boat dock where you can catch a ride back to the foot of the lake.

This content was created by Jake Bramante of Hike 734. Visit hike734.com for more expert Glacier content and maps that help you decide which trail to run.

Forest flowers such as columbine, spiraea, and beargrass. Small mammals such as tree squirrels and chipmunks and a decent chance to see a moose and potentially a bear.