Took 3 days to do this absolute stunner of a trial. Stayed at Lewis Meadows on night one and at Elk Lake on night two. Would definitely recommend this pairing of campsites if doing two nights - both for spreading out the distance/elevation and for vibes.
The hike to Lewis Meadows is flat and short enough that by getting a morning start I was able to get to camp around midday and snag one of the prime spots right by the river and just relax. The spots are close together but the river is so loud that it will likely drown out your neighbors. The same cannot be said for Elk Lake, which is so quiet you could hear practically everything.
Elk Lake was a great base camp for hiking to the glacier. There were maybe a dozen people on the trail up & down with me that were doing it from Lewis Meadows, but boy was I happy to stop my return hike at the lake. The portion of the hike from lewis Meadows to camp 12.4 has a few spots where you can approach the river bank and watch the grey-blue water roaring and splashing its way downstream - definitely make sure to stop for views!
The hike to Glacier Meadows has one of the absolutely most beautiful views looking down into the river valley but I have to be honest I did not like the rope ladder experience down the washout - I can’t believe people were doing it with packs on. It felt strong enough and not too bad once actually on the ladder, but the approach/dismount at the top is really loose and slippery and not much in the way of an actual ledge.
The hike to the lateral moraine from Glacier Meadows felt like it was going pretty much straight up, mostly on talus and very exposed (wear sunscreen!). Where the trail becomes camouflaged into the rocks there are cairns here and there to help you keep track of it. Despite how you may be feeling as you reach the top, the view of the glacier wipes everything away. Words can’t really describe just how impressive and amazing it is.
Overall the trail is in great condition and easy to follow. No snow anywhere on the trail, and all of the streams & creeks were dry or low enough to not get your feet wet. Wildlife - saw several deer and lots of cute tiny creatures like banana slugs, frogs, butterflies, etc. Very few bugs along the trail or at either of the campsites. Berries were pretty much all picked over except for a few at the start of the glacier trail. Most of the wildflowers were on the way to glacier meadows & blue glacier. Despite how popular the trail is, I had plenty of time alone once I got past Five Mile Island.
Arrived around 9am on a Friday and there was no line to get in and plenty of parking. When I left on Sunday afternoon it was much busier but still no line and some available parking.
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