Cracker Lake Trail

Brief Trail Description

The trail begins at the south end of the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot and eventually follows Caynon Creek to Cracker Lake. It's about five and a half miles to the foot of the lake and another mile or so to the head of the lake, making a round trip of over 12 miles. It took us about 4 hours to get there but only 3 to return. The total elevation gain is about a thousand feet, so it is not a strenuous hike...just somewhat long.

Cracker Lake Trail

The trail leaves Many Glacier and turns left to wind around the base of Allen Mtn., descending almost to the shore of Sherburne Lake, or Sherburne Reservoir. This end of the lake was full of water in July, but later in the season, when the reservoir is drawn down, it can become a mudflat, called "Governor Pond."

After about a mile of hiking, the trail reaches the Cracker Flats Loop horse trail, which goes off to the left. Cracker Flats was the site of the boomtown Altyn at the turn of the century when an ore-mine was built at Cracker Lake. The Cracker Lake trail is often taken on horseback, and that can make the trail somewhat unpleasant if a group of riders uses the trail within a day or so before you do. Since the trail is narrow, you must watch where you step as you hold your nose and shoo flies away.

After another few tenths of a mile, the trail becomes a bit confusing near Allen Creek. You first see a horse trail off to your left. Then a little while later, another horse trail leads to the left to ford the creek. The Cracker Lake foottrail keeps to the right and crosses Allen Creek over a foot bridge a short distance later.

The water for Allen Creek comes from two small lakes, Snow Moon and Falling Leaf. No trail leads to these lakes, but it's possible to follow Allen Creek up to them, a climb of about 1000 feet.

At about 1.5 miles, the trail begins to ascend a ridge between Allen Creek and Canyon Creek, which flows from Cracker Lake. Four switchbacks take you to the top of the ridge. On the way up, you have nice views to the west of the peaks toward Many Glacier and to the east of Canyon Creek far below and to the left of the trail.

You hike along the crest of the ridge for a while and then five switchbacks take you even higher. The switchbacks are long and ascend at a moderate rate. The trail then becomes level or ascends slightly for about a mile and a half, reaching the level of the Canyon Creek, so that you walking along the creek bed.

Along this flat stretch of the trait, the steep walls of Mt. Allen are on your right and the ribbed slopes of Wynn Mtn. are on the left, like the ribs of a giant fossilized dinosaur. As you look south along the canyon, you can see the walls of Cracker and Siyeh Mountains, which enclose Cracker Lake.

After hiking about four miles, bolder strewn Canyon Creek is crossed over a wide foot bridge. This is a pleasant spot for a rest and a snack. You are now on the east side of the creek and the trail climbs gently above Canyon Creek and reaches two short switchbacks that take you higher. The trail then descends slightly to become level with Canyon Creek once more.

You hike in forests of spruce, fir, and pine for about a mile and then ascend a moraine-like rise that takes you out of the forest. Here you can view the valley you hiked up and the peaks north of Sherburne Lake. Two of these moraine-like rises lie between you and Cracker Lake. The south sides of these rises have vegetation but the north sides are rocky. They extend from the bases of the mountains between Wynn and Siyeh mountains, perpendicular to the length of the valley.

Finally, after hiking about five and a half miles, you are treated to a striking view of turquoise Cracker Lake. The suspended silt from Siyeh Glacier, at the head of the lake, gives Cracker Lake its turquoise color. The eastern slopes of Allen Mtn. rise steeply from the west side of the lake. We could see lots of beargrass on those slopes. The slopes of Cracker Mtn. are shallow on the east side of the lake and one can explore this area easily.

The trail stays along the east (left) side of the lake and is quite hilly along the lake. It seems like a long way to the head of the lake. A small campground lies near the head of the lake on the south side of a large reddish outcrop.

The remains of a large ore-crusher from the old Cracker mine lies in a pile a few hundred yards beyond the campground. The mine failed at the beginning of the century and the wagon road leading to it was obliterated later by spring floods.

Apparently, it is possible to walk around the lake, about a mile- round trip, and also find the old mine shaft. We did not manage to do either.

...the following is a sample.

Beargrass along the slopes of Mt. Henkel and Altyn Peak

We began the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail at the north end of the Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge complex, near the motor inn rooms. The trail begins with a steep rise over several hundred yards. This is a spur trail connecting with a trail that begins at Many Glacier Hotel. But starting from Many Glacier adds another mile to the hike. The initial climb is probably the steepest part of the trail until the final ascent to Ptarmigan Tunnel. After this steep section, the trail gradually rises as it bends around the open south slopes of Mt. Henkel and Altyn Peak. The open area offers many pleasant views to the west and south. Because we were at Glacier in mid-July, the Beargrass was in full bloom.