Hidden Lake Trail is widely considered one of the best day hikes in Glacier National Park offering visitors the opportunity to experience many of the park’s iconic views with relative ease. Hidden Lake Trail hikers can opt for trips as short as 2.5 miles on boardwalks or challenge themselves with a 5 mile roundtrip over variable terrain to Hidden Lake.
As with any trail inside Glacier National Park, wildlife encounters can happen along Hidden Lake Trail and that includes running into grizzly bears. Glacier is home to approximately 300 grizzlies who generally avoid human contact but close encounters can occur and park recommends visitors hike in groups as grizzlies can see, hear, and smell larger groups more easily and give them time to move away before a close encounter occurs.
Hiking in groups helps decrease the chances of coming in close contact with grizzly bears but it doesn’t guarantee it, especially when the grizzly bear is locked in pursuit of a prey animal. This group of hikers were enjoying a sunny day on Hidden Lake Trail when a grizzly bear chasing a mountain goat sprinted within feet of their position. The hikers packed together into a tight formation, making as much noise as possible to scare the apex predator away. Thankfully the bear was unconcerned with the humans as it sprinted past fully focused on running down the mountain goat.
“All of a sudden he came charging at us! We weren’t really sure where to go but almost started running but we got huddled in a group of about 6 people. 1 had bear spray so a guy took it and was ready. Then the bear suddenly ran to our right and up through us and another group of people.
The best method to remain safe while hiking in grizzly country is to avoid encounters entirely. Precautions include avoiding hiking at dusk and dawn, making noise at regular intervals and hiking in groups. Should you encounter an aggressive grizzly, bear spray has proven to be a highly effective deterrent. Park officials recommend carrying bear spray somewhere readily accessible (not in backpacks) and knowing how to deploy it. Read more about bear safety below:
Glacier National Park Bear Encounter 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!
For more detailed information, watch our Bear Safety video.
