Guide to Hermit Trail in Glacier NP: How to hike and where to camp

Glacier National Park is an adventurer’s paradise, offering breathtaking alpine scenery, deep valleys, and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. Among its many trails, the Hermit Trail hike stands out as one of our absolute favorites for hiking, backpacking, and camping. Keep reading for all the essential details you need to plan your visit.

Where is Glacier NP and Hermit trail located

Glacier National Park is located along the Trans-Canada Highway, nestled between Yoho and Mount Revelstoke National Parks. It’s just a 1-hour drive from Revelstoke, 4 hours from Calgary, and 7 hours drive from Vancouver.

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is open year-round, but the ideal time to visit for hiking is from early July to mid-September. During these months, the snow has melted from the peaks, unveiling the park’s stunning landscapes and vibrant wildflowers. This is also when campgrounds are usually open, providing the perfect base for your adventures. However, it’s important to check the Parks Canada website and Trail Condition Report before your trip, as closures can occur due to grizzly activity or avalanche risk.

Hermit Trail Hike details

The Hermit Trail is one of Glacier National Park’s most breathtaking hikes, offering truly majestic landscapes. This challenging trail is rated as hard, not due to technical difficulty, but because of its relentless steepness.

The hike begins with a steep ascent through a lush forest, providing much-needed shade during the summer heat. As you climb higher, the trail becomes more rocky and opens up, rewarding you with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and Rogers Pass below. Along the way, you’ll find a stream perfect for refilling your water. The trail ends at Heather Meadow campground, where you’ll discover a stream, toilets, tent platforms, and epic panoramic views.

Backcountry camping at the top of the Hermit Trail

You can spend the night at the end of the Hermit Trail hike in the Hermit Meadows backcountry campground. It’s one of the most beautiful campsites we’ve ever experienced, with its 360-degree mountain views, expansive meadow, and eight tent platforms. Hermit Meadows campground is open from July 1st to September 30th, though this depends on snow conditions and bear activity.

If you plan to camp here, you’ll need a Discovery or Day Pass and must make a reservation in advance. In 2024, reservations opened four months prior to the desired date of stay, so be sure to plan ahead.

Facilities

Toilets

Facilities on the Hermit Trail include two dry toilets at the official parking area and one open dry toilet at the Hermit Meadows campground at the end of the trail. The toilet at the campground offers minimal privacy, but it does come with a unique perk—you can enjoy mountain views right from the seat!

Bear Cache

At the Hermit Meadows campground, there’s a bear cache provided to store your food and any other smelly items. However, there are no bear hangs available, so we had to leave our backpacks next to our tent platform.

Where to filter water

There are several water sources along the Hermit Trail hike, and a cold, refreshing stream runs right next to the Hermit Meadows campground. It’s the perfect spot to refill and filter your water.

Animals on the trail

As you venture into Grizzly bear territory, it’s crucial to come prepared. Make sure you bring bear spray and keep your camping area free of food scraps to avoid attracting these mighty creatures. Besides Grizzlies, you can also encounter black bears, pikas, mountain goats, and a plethora of flies. Be ready to fend off the relentless mosquitoes by packing your bug spray!

Is there cell services along Hermit trail?

We had cell service at the beginning, sometimes at the end of the Hermit Trail (with Fido and Rogers), and also in certain locations along the way. However, coverage can be spotty in between, so it’s best to be prepared for limited connectivity.

Packing essentials

There’s nothing worse than being unprepared for a hike, especially a multi-day adventure like the Hermit Trail. To ensure you’re ready, here are some essential items you’ll need, along with our favorite gear we’ve trusted for years.

Camping essentials

• Tent: The MSR Freelite 2-person tent is an ultralight and perfect for backpacking. Forever our favorite!
• Backpacking bag: The Osprey Renn Pack 65 L (for women) or The Osprey Rook Pack 65 L (for men are our favorite backpacking bags on the market. 
• Sleeping pad: MEC Reactor 4 and MEC VectAir Insulated LT are our essential sleeping pads.
• Sleeping bag: Kelty Cosmic Synthetic 20 Sleeping bag is what we’ve used for 2+ years – comfortable, lightweight, and keeps us warm until 0 degrees.
• Stove: We are using Wadeo Portable camping stove which is universal for most fuel canisters.

Hiking essentials

• Hiking Poles: One of the hikes that we were glad we had hiking poles for. They really help take the pressure off your knees on the way back and help to distribute load pressure on the way up
• First Aid Kit: You never know when you might need one and this Outdoor Essentials Survival Kit can be lifesaver.
• Bear Spray: If you are hiking in the British Columbia you should carry bear spray with you and know how to use it. During the night we always keep it with us in our tent.
• Sunscreen and hat: There is no shadow and trees at the campground and at the end of the trail so make sure you have sunscreen and hat with you.
• Bug spray: There was so many bugs along the way and at the top so make sure you have bug spray with you. We can recommend Ben’s 30% DEET Mosquito which was working for us.
• Water filter: Staying hydrated is crucial, especially in summer heat. We always carry our Miniwell water filter system to ensure we have access to clean water throughout our hike.
• Powerbank: Trust us, you don’t want to reach the summit only to discover your phone or camera battery is dead. We always bring a INIU powerbank to avoid this frustration and ensure we capture every moment.

Trail map

Hermit Trail: Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Hermit Trail stands out as one of the most challenging yet rewarding hikes we’ve ever undertaken. Spotting a mountain goat, which was a highlight of our Canadian adventures, made the experience truly unforgettable. If you have any questions about the Hermit Trail, feel free to leave a comment below. We’re here to help you get on the trail and ensure you have an amazing adventure of your own!

Disclaimer:
Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you decide to make a purchase through one of our recommended partners. We only recommend products and services we trust and believe will be beneficial to our readers. This helps support our efforts in bringing you valuable content. Thank you for your support!