Glacier Crest Uptrack

Glacier Crest Uptrack follows the summer Glacier Crest hiking trail from the Illecillewaet Valley up through dense forest toward the ridge between the Illecillewaet and Asulkan valleys in Glacier National Park, Rogers Pass. From the Illecillewaet parking area you skin past the old Glacier House site, then pick up the signed Glacier Crest trail and follow it up the valley bottom before it breaks left and begins climbing steadily through mature forest.

The uptrack stays mostly in tight trees and on the established summer path, with short steeper pitches and some braided sections higher up where previous traffic has cut variants through rocky openings. This line is used to access the Glacier Crest ridge for ski touring, where you can choose conservative turnaround points in the trees or continue toward more exposed alpine terrain depending on conditions and group comfort.

This route lies inside Rogers Pass’ avalanche-control corridor, so winter access is governed by Parks Canada’s Winter Permit System. A valid Winter Permit, Winter Parking Permit, national park pass, and compliance with daily area openings are mandatory before leaving the parking lot. Expect artillery control closures, shifting open/closed boundaries, and strictly no travel into closed or prohibited zones; plan with the official Rogers Pass backcountry access map and current avalanche bulletin.

Typical hazards include overhead avalanche paths above the forest, wind slab and storm slab in open glades and on the crest, and tree wells and buried obstacles in the lower forest. Ideal use is as a treed uptrack option in good stability, with careful terrain selection near and above treeline and conservative turnaround decisions when visibility, wind effect, or hazard don’t line up.