Updated August 22, 2026
A group of hikers at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park suddenly found themselves sharing the trail with a grizzly bear after the animal emerged through thick fog.
With visibility limited and nowhere for the bear to disappear quickly, the hikers grouped together and began making noise. The grizzly turned away from the commotion, only to move toward another group farther down the trail. Eventually the crowd thinned, leaving the person filming with one final unnerving encounter.
The footage is several years old, but the lesson is especially relevant in late summer. Bears become increasingly focused on finding food during late summer and fall, and the National Park Service urges hikers in bear country to stay alert, travel in groups, make noise and carry accessible bear spray.
What The Hikers Did Right
While any close encounter with a grizzly can become dangerous quickly, the hikers in this video did several things that helped keep the situation from escalating.
They stayed together.
One of the biggest advantages the hikers had was the size of the group. Glacier National Park recommends hiking with others in bear country, noting that traveling in groups significantly reduces the likelihood of a negative encounter. The park has also said there have been no reported bear attacks on groups of four or more people.
They made their presence obvious.
When the grizzly approached, the hikers didn’t remain silent. They grouped together and made noise, clearly letting the bear know that a large number of people were nearby.
They didn’t chase the bear.
As tempting as it can be to get a better photo or video, the goal during a bear encounter should always be to create distance. The hikers allowed the bear room to move away rather than pursuing it down the trail.
They stayed alert after the bear moved away.
A bear disappearing into the trees or fog doesn’t mean the encounter is over. The hikers continued watching the bear’s movements and remained aware of where it was headed.
Glacier National Park continues to recommend hiking in groups, making noise on the trail, never running from a bear, staying aware of your surroundings, and carrying bear spray where it can be reached quickly.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in August 2024 and was updated August 22, 2026 with current Glacier National Park bear-safety guidance and additional context about late-summer bear activity.
