Hikers laugh off close grizzly encounter in Glacier National Park

Two hikers in Glacier National Park had only seconds to react when two young grizzly bears barreled down a Swiftcurrent trail on Monday, May 25, coming so close that one account put them about 5 feet away. The pair, including Alyssa Olsen, moved aside as the bears raced past, and the moment that could have turned dangerous instead became a story they were able to laugh about afterward.

Video of the encounter shows just how fast the scene unfolded in Montana’s backcountry. The bears charged straight down the trail, forcing the hikers to clear out of their path rather than freeze in place or try to stay in the middle of the trail. In a park where wildlife sightings are part of the draw, the footage is a blunt reminder that a close look at a bear can turn into an emergency in a matter of moments.

Glacier’s own guidance makes clear why that split-second response mattered. The National Park Service says the park provides habitat for nearly 1,000 bears, and Glacier is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. Bears are active in spring, summer and fall, which puts peak hiking season squarely in the window when visitors are most likely to encounter them. Park officials say visitors need to know bear-safety guidance and carry bear spray.

The May 25 encounter came against a backdrop of recent serious incidents in the park. On August 27, 2025, a backcountry hiker was injured at Lake Janet by a brown-colored bear with two cubs, and officials said that encounter lasted fewer than 30 seconds. ABC News has also reported that the last fatal bear attack in Glacier before a recent 2026 incident was in 1998, when a man was killed by a grizzly bear in the Two Medicine Valley.

That history gives the Swiftcurrent encounter added weight. Glacier’s trails can deliver the kind of close wildlife moment that travelers remember for years, but the park’s bear population and the speed of recent incidents show how quickly those moments can turn from thrilling to dangerous. For hikers heading into the summer season, the lesson is immediate: stay alert, carry bear spray, and treat every trail in Glacier as active bear country.