Glacier National Park’s iconic Grinnell Glacier Trail is widely regarded as one of the park’s most beautiful and rewarding hikes offering unmatched alpine scenery for visitors to enjoy. Though strenuous at times, Grinnell Glacier Trail it is well worth the effort rewarding hikers with incredibly dramatic vistas including mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, and abundant wildflowers.
Hikers on Grinnell Glacier Trail should be aware that this area is also prime habitat for grizzly bears. Listed as threatened in the contiguous United States and endangered in part of Canada, grizzly bears will normally avoid humans when possible but like humans they often chose the path of least resistance while traveling in steep terrain and human made trails are frequently the obvious choice.
This group of hikers were faced with a tricky grizzly encounter when they discovered a bear on their tail while hiking a cliffside section of Grinnell Glacier Trail with little opportunity to escape. The fact that they were in a group significantly decreased their chances of experiencing a negative encounter as there have been zero reported attacks on groups of four or more in Glacier.
Bears usually move out of the way if they hear people approaching and this group took advantage of this fact as they collectively yelled and blew whistles until the grizzly left the trail.
“If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching.” -Glacier National Park
If you plan to hike Glacier National Park it is strongly recommended to carry bear spray but only to be used as a last resort. Lean more about safely handling a bear encounter at Glacier National Park below.
Glacier National Park Bear Encounter Safety Guidelines:
If you encounter a bear inside the minimum recommended safe distance (100 yards; 91 m), you can decrease your risk by following these guidelines:
- If a bear or other animal is moving in your direction on a trail, get out of its way and let it pass.
- If you can move away, do so. If moving away appears to agitate the bear, stop. In general, bears show agitation by swaying their heads, huffing, and clacking their teeth. Lowered head and laid-back ears also indicate aggression. Bears may stand on their hind legs or approach to get a better view, but these actions are not necessarily signs of aggression. The bear may not have identified you as a person and may be unable to smell or hear you from a distance. Help the bear recognize you as a friendly human.
- Talk quietly.
- Do not run! Back away slowly. Stop if it seems to agitate the bear.
- Use your peripheral vision. Bears may interpret direct eye contact as threatening.
- Continue to move away as the situation allows.
- If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If you are preparing or consuming food, secure it. DO NOT LET THE BEAR GET YOUR FOOD!
- If a bear approaches in a defensive manner (appears agitated and/or charges), stop. Do not run. Talk quietly to the bear. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If contact appears imminent and you do not have bear spray, protect your chest and abdomen by falling to the ground on your stomach, clasp your hands around the back of your neck, and leave your pack on for protection. If the bear attempts to roll you over, try to stay on your stomach. If the attack is defensive, the bear will leave once it recognizes you are not a threat. If the attack is prolonged, FIGHT BACK!
