Overview

Grasshopper Glacier is a unique natural feature in the Beartooth Mountains of Custer National Park. This glacier is named after the centuries-old grasshoppers that can be seen in the layers of ice.

This glacier was first found in the early 1900’s by a mining geologist named Dr. J.P. Kimball. In 1914 specimens from the glacier were collected and sent to the U.S. Bureau of Entomology to be studied. The creatures in the ice are migratory locusts that have been extinct for over 300 years. Scientists believe these locusts were migrating over this area when a cold storm hit, freezing them in the ice.

Location/Directions

To access the Glacier, head south on Highway 212 towards Cooke City. Near Cooke City, turn north onto Lulu-Goose Lake Road. From here, you must walk the four mile trail that heads up an old road to Goose Lake. The trail then heads northeast to a column connecting Sawtooth Mountain and Iceberg Peak. Grasshopper Glacier is attached to Iceberg Peak on the north side, just past the first rock ridge.

Hours/Seasons

The road to the Glacier is only open between July and September. This is the best time to see the glacier because the snow has melted, creating better visibility of the grasshoppers.

Contact

Beartooth Ranger Station
6811 Highway 212 South
Red Lodge, MT 59068
Tel: (406)446-2103