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Logging Lake Trail
Includes Logging Lake, Grace Lake
Logging Lake with evening alpenglow, Glacier National Park
Logging Lake Trail
Includes Logging Lake, Grace Lake
Trailhead: The Inside North Fork Road (a.k.a. Glacier Route 7)
Distance: 4.4 miles to Foot of Logging Lake (one way)
Distance: 11.4 miles to Head of Logging Lake (one way)
Distance: 13.4 miles to Head of Grace Lake (one way)
Elevation Gain: 477 vertical feet
The hike to Logging Lake in Glacier National Park is a pleasant day hike that takes you into a seldom visited lake and seldom visited area of the North Fork Area of Glacier National Park. The hike itself to Logging Lake is practically level, with only a 477 vertical foot elevation gain through the course of 11.4 miles. This is not among our favorite Glacier Park hikes, but nonetheless is quite scenic once you reach this secluded lake, and the hike through the old growth conifers, which is typical of the west side of Glacier National Park, is always an enjoyable treat.
Finding The Trailhead
The trailhead to the Logging Lake Trail is located along the Inside North Fork Road, also known as Glacier Route 7. Once you get to the Polebridge Ranger Station, enter Glacier Park here and take the first right that you encounter along this gravel road.
To get to the Polebridge Ranger Station, take a right at Apgar Village and keep going past the junction to the Fish Creek Campground. This nicely paved road, known as the Camas Road, lasts about 11 miles. Once you cross the North Fork of the Flathead River, you will then take another right onto the mostly unpaved Outside North Fork Road for about 14 miles. Just about a half mile beyond the historic Polebridge Mercantile is the Polebridge Ranger Station, which is the northwest entrance to Glacier National Park.
Once you enter Glacier National Park at the Polebridge Ranger Station, in less than 200 yards you will encounter a junction on this gravel road. Take a right here (south), which is known as the "Inside North Fork Road" or also known as "Glacier Route 7".
The trailhead to the Logging Lake Trail is approximately 7 miles southward along this remote gravel road. More specifically,Logging Lake Trail is about 3 miles south of Quartz Creek Campground and only a few hundred yards north (before) the Logging Creek Campground, which are also located along the Inside North Fork Road. (See map at bottom of page)
The Hike to Logging Lake...
This pleasant Glacier Park hike takes you through old growth conifer forests as it works its way to Logging Lake. You will see Logging Creek to your right (south) as the trail enters this seldom visited area of Glacier National Park. As is quite typical of the west side Glacier Park hikes, you will not get a view of classic Glacier Park mountains until you actually reach Logging Lake.... well, that's not completely true because you will hike through an old forest fire area (mid 2000's) where there is a view of the Livingston Range for awhile. From the shore of Logging Lake near the foot, you will be able to see several remote peaks of the great Livingston Range such as Mount Geduhn and Anaconda Peak.
Logging Lake Trailhead (mile 0.0)
The Logging Lake Trail in Glacier National Park will take you through a gorgeous old growth conifer forest.
As we mentioned earlier, the Logging Lake trailhead is located along the Inside North Fork Road, also known as Glacier Route 7, between Quartz Creek Campground and Logging Creek Campground. The hike initially works its way up to a nicely forested plateau, and then levels off for several miles. Periodically you will be able to see Logging Creek below you to your right (south).
There is a section of the Logging Lake Trail in Glacier National Park where you have to hike through an old forest fire that burned in the mid 2000s. It does however give you a nice view of the Livingston Range.
Logging Lake Foot (mile 4.4)
Logging Lake, Glacier National Park.
After hiking 4.4 miles along the Logging Lake Trail, you will finally reach the foot of Logging Lake. The trail then follows the north shore of Logging Lake as it works its way towards the head of the lake through a gorgeous dense forest.
Logging Lake Patrol Cabin Trail Junction (mile 4.9)
The Logging Lake Patrol Cabin in Glacier National Park was built in 1930.
After hiking about a half of a mile along the north shore of Logging Lake, you will encounter the Logging Lake Patrol Cabin Trail Junction. To visit this historic cabin take a right, and the cabin is only about a third of a mile from the main trail, and rests along the shore of Logging Lake. Built in 1930, the historic Logging Lake Patrol Cabin is utilized by backcountry rangers who are patrolling this remote west side section of Glacier National Park.
Logging Lake Campground (Foot) Trail Junction (mile 5.0)
Five miles into your Glacier Park hiking adventure to Logging Lake, you will reach the Logging Lake Campground (Foot).
This Glacier National Park back country campground is for hikers who are making the Logging Lake hike an overnight, multi-day experience, and they are probably going to visit Grace Lake, which is located about a mile beyond the head of Logging Lake.
The Logging Lake Campground is actually located only about a third of a mile off the main Logging Lake Trail.
You will encounter the Logging Lake Campground Trail junction, and it is here you can take a right if you'd like to see the campground, as well as probably the best view of Logging Lake along the entire trail. This is a great place to stop and have a nice lunch while enjoying the wonderful surroundings.
We really lucked out and captured this amazing evening alpenglow on Logging Lake in Glacier National Park.
Adair Campground (mile 9.8)
If you choose to keep hiking further along the Logging Lake Trail in Glacier National Park, you will reach the Adair Campground in a little less than 5 miles (4.8 miles). The Adair Campground is yet another back country campground for those hikers wishing to spend several days in the Logging Lake Area.
Head of Logging Lake (mile 11.4)
In about a half of a mile up the trail, if you choose to keep going, you will then reach the head of Logging Lake. You are now 11.4 miles from the trailhead.
Want to keep going? Grace Lake (mile 12.4)
Logging Lake Trail sign indicating the mileage to Adair Campground and Grace Lake Campground.
If you still want to go further up the Logging Lake Trail, you will encounter Grace Lake and the Grace Lake Campground in about another mile. The head of Grace Lake, which is still another mile beyond the Grace Lake Campground, marks the end of the Logging Lake Trail. You are now in some really remote country which very few people ever get to see. You are also nestled at the base of some large remote mountains of the Livingston Range, such as Logging Mountain, Vulture Peak, Mount Geduhn, Anaconda Peak and Trapper Peak. Standing at the head of Grace Lake in Glacier National Park, you are now 13.4 miles from the trailhead of Logging Lake Trail.
Onward to Grace Lake along the Logging Lake Trail in Glacier National Park.
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