Lincoln Lake Trail

Lincoln Lake Trail is a hard, remote out-and-back from Lincoln Lake parking area on Going-to-the-Sun Road to a cirque lake beyond Snyder Ridge. The mapped corridor is about 8.3 miles each way, or 16.6 miles round trip; allow about 10 hours with breaks and time at the lake. The often-published 8-mile figure is one way. You climb steeply first, drop into the Lincoln Creek drainage, then climb back over Snyder Ridge on the return. This is a full-day hike, not a quick lake stop.

The trail climbs steeply through forest for its first mile and a half or so, then continues across the ridge with more climbing. Fire-scarred openings between standing silver trunks reveal Mount Jackson and the surrounding mountains. After the ridge, the route drops toward Lincoln Creek. At roughly mile 4.4, turn left at the Lincoln Creek Trail junction toward Lincoln Lake.

The last 3.6 miles rise gradually through meadows, with occasional views back toward Mount Jackson. These open stretches can be wet and swampy in early summer. On a 2024 hike, Black-backed Woodpeckers and Mountain Bluebirds were seen among the burned trees; those are possible sightings, not a guarantee.

The lake sits beneath steep cliffs on three sides. Beaver Chief Falls pours over the headwall from Lake Ellen Wilson above into Lincoln Lake below. From the west shore, frame the lower lake with the waterfall and cliff wall for scale; the cascade is most prominent during snowmelt.

The outbound leg gains about 2,250 feet and loses about 800 feet. Retracing the route means climbing the drop toward Lincoln Creek and crossing Snyder Ridge again before the long descent to the road. Give yourself enough daylight and energy for that second climb. Pets are not allowed on Glacier National Park trails or in the backcountry.