Parking
There is no road access to Goat Haunt. Reach the Ranger Station by watercraft or a hiking route; this trail’s 2-mile round trip begins at the station. Boat service is seasonal, so confirm current access arrangements.
Overview
About Goat Haunt Overlook Trail
Why go
- A short climb ends at a former lookout with a broad Waterton Valley view.
Heads up
- The climb is steep nearly the whole way, and Goat Haunt takes planning to reach.
The path climbs steadily for nearly the whole mile. Views up the Waterton River drainage open near the top, then the trail ends at the former lookout site above Waterton Valley, with Waterton Lake in view. Give yourself a little time at the end; the valley is the reason to make the climb.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe view is the payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Glacier map
Full mapElevation4,222–5,013 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Glacier alert
- ClosureTwo Medicine Campground closed for 2026 constructionTwo Medicine Campground is closed throughout 2026 because of construction in the Two Medicine developed area.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Glacier Tour Guide
Your drive to Goat Haunt Overlook Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Glacier National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Glacier audio tour- 204 audio storiesacross Glacier’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Wolverine, Mountain Goat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 157 trails, 91 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Our first time to glacier and we used the audio portion for Going to the Sun Road. Wonderful information with perfect advice of what to see and do along the road.”
Trail guide
Hiking Goat Haunt Overlook Trail
A short trail that climbs hardGoat Haunt Overlook Trail is a steep out-and-back from Goat Haunt Ranger Station to the site of…
Goat Haunt Overlook Trail is a steep out-and-back from Goat Haunt Ranger Station to the site of a former fire lookout. It is 2 miles round trip, with a one-mile leg each way and 800 feet of climbing. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours. The walk is compact, but the climb is not casual. It makes sense if you are already at Goat Haunt and want a short hike with a proper uphill effort and a view to earn.
Reach Goat Haunt firstThe two-mile figure starts at Goat Haunt Ranger Station and does not include getting there.
The two-mile figure starts at Goat Haunt Ranger Station and does not include getting there. Goat Haunt has no road access; visitors arrive by watercraft or hike in, most commonly from Waterton. If you cross from Canada to hike, you need a valid passport and must report your entry through CBP ROAM. The short ferry-visit exception is only for round-trip passengers staying under 30 minutes who do not hike past the Ranger Station, so it does not cover this trail. Check current boat service and border-entry instructions before you go.
Useful to knowGoat Haunt Ranger Station has drinking water and a seasonal restroom.
Goat Haunt Ranger Station has drinking water and a seasonal restroom. Pets are not allowed on Glacier's trails. The overlook is a good place to frame Waterton Lake with the forested valley around it; that wider view shows more of the payoff than a tight shot of the peaks.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Glacier
404 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
11 sightingsWolverineMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
1,173 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
1,000 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
395 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
506 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Glacier. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
