Swiftcurrent Pass

You start from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn lot and immediately plunge into a trail that earns every bit of its strenuous rating. The first few miles lull you through dense forest along the shores of several lakes — Fishercap, Redrock, Bullhead — each one a postcard that tempts you to call it a day early. Don't. Beyond the lakes, the trail tilts upward in earnest, climbing through alpine meadows exploding with wildflowers in July and August before grinding up a series of switchbacks to the pass itself at around 7,600 feet. The panorama from the top is staggering: the Garden Wall drops away to the west, Grinnell Glacier hangs in the distance, and you can see clear into the Granite Park basin. Nearly fourteen miles round trip with over two thousand feet of climbing means this trail rewards hikers who enjoy a full-day commitment and have the legs to prove it.