Harrison Lake

Dogs No Dogs

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

Make sure that the bridges have been put in along the South Boundary Trail, otherwise fords will be necessary.

The trail takes off from the South Boundary Trail which can be reached from West Glacier which is the longer way. The shorter way is to ford the Middle Fork Flathead River which is extremely dangerous in the spring. The ford starts at a pullout just east of mile marker 160 on Hwy 2. Once across the river, find numerous social trails to the South Boundary Trail.

The trail travels up along Harrison Creek through a mixed forest of burned and unburned stands of trees. Views of the creek are occasional and views of the surrounding mountains are fairly restricted. Once at the lake, its mint green waters are a delight. Wooded mountains with jagged rock and snow blanketing the summits line the lake creating a dramatic backdrop.

The trail roughly follows the shoreline dipping in and out of the trees and avalanche chutes, giving you nice views of the lake until you reach the patrol cabin which has a nice shore along the lake. Looking up the valley from the head of the lake reveals the stunning rocky slopes and hanging ice that feed the lake, giving it its wonderful color.

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.

Dense foliage near the river gives way to lodgepole and drier forest and flowers up to the lake. Small mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks and the occasional deer. Forest birds such as warblers, chickadees and nuthatches along the trail with waterfowl at the lake.