Mount Abbott Trail in Glacier National Park
Several summers past we took a day trip and hiked Mount Abbott Trail in Glacier National Park. I would reccomment to stay in the beautiful campground with lots of trees and a river running through it on your visit to Illecillewaet and Asulkan Valleys. You will not be dissapointed with the awe inspiring wilderness!
Clayton Hiking Mount Abbott
To get there: travel north of Revelstoke BC along the Trans Canada Highway for about 45 minutes and watch for the campground on your right – before the Rogers Pass Summitt. The well marked Abbott Trail leads
Mount MacDonald
way up into alpine tundra (the land above the trees) and ends on a narrow ridge. The trail is steep but in very good condition.
As the trail exited the trees into Alpine Meadows, the display of boulders was very interesting!
Boulder and Rock Formations
Mount Abbott Trail and interesting Boulder Formations
Close to the top of Mount Abbott
From the viewpoint a short hike away from Marion Lake, above the Trans Canada Highway,
Marion Lake, above the Trans Canada Highway
hikers can see trains coming from or going into the Connaught tunnel. The tunnel was completed in 1916, as a way to protect rail traffic from the deadly avalanches of Rogers Pass. Hiking the Mount Abbott Trail was one of my favourites.
Near the end of trail, you can stop at the wide mountain top vista, or you can climb for several hundred more yards as the trail runs along a knife like ridge of sheer rock. The trail is not much more than a meter wide with breathtaking views and drop offs that made your stomach queazy!
Glacier National Park Hiking Trail near the top of Abbott Ridge
The top of Abbott Ridge
Mount Abbott Knifelike Ridge
For more information on Glacier National Park try these links;
The Place Names of Rogers Pass
Backpacking in Glacier National Park
Thanks for posting this, we are planning a trip there in a week and are wondering how long this hike is until a major viewpoint. We dont have much time to spend there as we are heading to banff. Is this the trail you would recommend to take if we just did one in Glacier National Park?
Hi Rod,
Because the Mount Abbott hike will take the better part of a day for most folks, I have emailed the person who led my family and I on the hike to post some other options that would suit your schedule.
This hike is 5k one way (very steep)and although there are nice areas along the way, I think most of the panorama views along the trail are blocked by trees. If you are in really good shape you might be able to complete it fast enough – it is worth it!
Thanks so much for responding, I think we are going to skip that one in favour of some other trails near Lake Louise. Again, thanks for your quick reply.
Rod