“The main thing is the whole thing. Which is why it seems to me that although Glacier lacks a logo-like defining attraction, it perhaps better than any other place defines the general purpose and value of our National Park System…a monument to the underlying forces of nature, not to the unusual features of it.”
Life Magazine
Glacier National Park, located in northern Montana, captures the imagination of visitors thanks to its stunning “supermodel” alpine scenery. Its outstanding hiking has been voted best in the country and is known for its (sadly) disappearing glaciers. Come visit GNP with us to see what all the hullabaloo is about!
Hiking Glacier National Park
This is a trip for hikers, by hikers. Although we can’t even come close to covering the more than 700 miles of hiking trails in the park, our days here are mostly devoted to wandering the best trails in the park. You need not carry more than a daypack with water, snacks, and an extra layer or two. You will have a professional guide with you on this five-day exploration of Glacier National Park. There will also be an additional professional Glacier Park mountain guide on some days. All our trip leaders are extremely knowledgeable about the area’s flora, fauna, and geography. This adds a richness to your days you wouldn’t be able to create on your own.
Culture & Cuisine
GNP is known for its rich and diverse culture. It is deeply rooted in its history, indigenous heritage, and natural beauty. The park is situated within the traditional territories of several indigenous tribes, including the Blackfeet Nation. Their cultural influence is still present in the area through traditions, stories, and the use of native plants for medicinal and culinary purposes. Glacier National Park has a strong conservation ethos, dating back to its establishment in 1910. The culture of the park emphasizes the protection of its pristine wilderness, including glaciers, diverse ecosystems, and wildlife.
Cuisine in Glacier National Park reflects the rustic and outdoorsy nature of the park, offering a blend of regional American fare and unique dining experiences. Many dining establishments in and around the park incorporate local Montana flavors and ingredients into their menus. This may include dishes featuring locally sourced meats, grains, and produce.
Not Just Hiking
To provide a little respite from hiking we take time to explore the cute town of Whitefish. We will also take a chairlift ride up to the top of Whitefish Mountain, and have a fun and splashy rafting experience down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.
What will be revealed each day is simply inspirational beauty: glacier-carved peaks, steep valleys, an abundance of wildflowers, pristine forests, perfectly clear alpine lakes, and wildlife such as mountain goats and grizzly bears. Trust us, you can try to capture it all on your camera but the images in your mind will be the true repository for this rejuvenating loveliness.
Private Tour Info
Want to make this trip even more memorable? Grab your friends and pick a date.
Start planning your private tourDetails
- Cost Per Person: $3,600
- Single Supplement: $900
- Private Tour Minimum: 8
- Activities: Hiking, Rafting
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Guides: TBD
Other Info: While staying with a roommate is possible in Whitefish for our first two nights, our hotel on the east side of the Park only offers rooms with 1 bed. If you are traveling solo, you will need to pay a single supplement of $450 for your own room.
Book this TourTrip Highlights
- Experience the stunning scenery of one of America's best National Parks
- Enjoy several of the top day hikes in the park, with flexible mileage to match your ability level
- Look for wildlife such as mountain goats, marmots, pikas, and grizzly bears
- Take a ride up the famously scenic Going-To-The-Sun Road
DAY 1
We meet you right after lunch in the cute western resort town of Whitefish, gateway to the craggy peaks, turquoise alpine lakes, and glacier-carved valleys of Glacier National Park. Your discovery of “Glacier Country” commences with a beautiful wildflower-filled hike up the Danny On Memorial Hiking Trail at Whitefish Mountain Resort (3.8 miles). You can also choose to ride the chairlift up and hike back down. Heck, it’s your vacation — you can ride the chairlift both ways if you like! On the way back to town, we’ll stop at the sandy City Beach and have a dip to cool off in the clear waters of Whitefish Lake before checking in to our hotel. Downtown, the shops, and eateries lining the main street of Whitefish beckon — what are you hungry for? Chances are excellent we can find you something delicious for dinner!
DAY 2
Today we’ll rise early and enter Glacier National Park, also known as the Crown of the Continent, to hike one of the park’s most popular trails: the Trail of the Cedars. This is one of the easiest hikes in the park. It takes us through a stunning gorge and old-growth forest then rewards us after only 2 miles with the eye-popping beauty of Avalanche Lake, surrounded by steep walls chock full of waterfalls! If you have the desire to take a dip in a glacial lake (it should be on everyone’s list, we think! And yes, it’s cold!), we’ll take you to the other side of the lake to a lovely beach away from the crowds. This afternoon, we’ll share an exciting raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Flathead, a Wild and Scenic River that helps form the southwestern border of Glacier National Park. In between the Class II and III rapids, we’ll be exposed to the brilliant backcountry beauty of the park. Tonight, we spend one more night exploring and eating in Whitefish.
DAY 3
The drive to today’s trailhead may be almost as incredible as the hike itself! We take the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road all the way up to Logan Pass, the highest point of the road, at 6,646 feet. From there we embark on a 7.2-mile roundtrip hike on the Highline Trail, which has been called the most scenic hike in America. With every step, there is a “Wow!” — whether it is from looking down upon the tiny cars below on the Going-to-the-Sun road, enjoying the spectacular sweeping views of the valley, or seeing a mama and baby goat frolicking in the daylilies and bear grass. You should also keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, marmots, and even wolverines. Grizzly bears are also occasionally seen in the area. There is absolutely nothing not to love about this hike...unless you have a fear of heights (in which case, we can help you through a short section that hugs a vertical wall and has a steep dropoff on the other side, or arrange a different hike for you). Once we get to Haystack Butte, we’ll unpack our lunches, enjoy the view while we eat, and then head back the way we came, all the way to Logan Pass. From there, it is just a short ride down the other side of the pass to Saint Mary Lake, where we’ll spend our next two nights. St. Mary is where the great plains of Montana stretch to the east and the mountains of Glacier National Park rise up the sky to the west. In other words, it's pretty scenic.
DAY 4
After a peaceful night’s rest and a hearty breakfast, we shuttle to the Many Glacier area of the park, commonly known as the “Switzerland of North America.” Today is “hiker’s choice” and you have the option of many five-star excursions. We recommend starting off with a boat ride across Swiftcurrent Lake, where you’ll then have your choice of a multitude of routes in the Grinnell Glacier Complex, another ultra-scenic area of the park and a place where you can see an actual glacier in Glacier National Park. Whatever you choose will be wonderful as the entire Many Glacier area is magnificent. You can also opt to rent canoes or kayaks and paddle on Swiftcurrent Lake if you’d like to give your feet a break. We’ll visit the historic Many Glacier Hotel, on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake and built over 100 years ago by the Great Northern Railway before returning to St. Mary for a farewell dinner.
DAY 5
You’ll have the option to enjoy a beautiful early morning hike to a waterfall before making the two-hour shuttle back to the Whitefish area and saying our goodbyes.
Book this TourTrip Accommodations
NIGHTS 1 & 2 >> GROUSE MOUNTAIN LODGE / WHITEFISH Located just outside downtown Whitefish, our lodge offers mountain views and expansive grounds. You'll love the cozy lobby and large comfortable rooms.
NIGHTS 3 & 4 >> GREAT BEAR LODGE / ST MARY VILLAGE We saved some of the best views for last — this is one of the most dramatic backdrops of all Glacier National Park hotels. For the next two nights, you'll be staying on the east side of the park in the not-so-aptly named West Hotel!
Book this TourArrival & Departure
Your guide meets you in the cute mountain town of Whitefish, Montana the morning of the first day of the trip, either at your hotel (if you arrive early) or at the Glacier Park International Airport (airport code FCA). We’ll return to the Glacier Airport on the last afternoon of the trip, allowing you to fly out that day. It is served by many major airlines: Alaska, Allegient, American, Delta, and United.
What's Included
- One local Travel Montana guide will accompany each trip. Additional guides can be added depending on group size.
- Our trip prices are based on double occupancy.
- For private trips: If your private group has an odd number of participants, the single supplement for the person getting his/her own room becomes mandatory. You also have the choice to put three people in one room.
- For public trips: If you are coming on a trip solo, you have two options: 1) Pay the single supplement to receive your own room. 2) Ask us to try to find you a roommate of the same gender to share a room with; if we are not successful you will be charged the single supplement and receive your own room.
- All of your meals are included from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 5. Gratuity for these meals is also included. Since we are out on the trail hiking each day, we'll provide trail lunches for you.
- All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day.
- All trail fees and permits are included.
- All costs for extra activities listed in itinerary (rafting, chairlift ride, boat ride) are included.
- NOT INCLUDED: Beverages, desserts, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses and travel to and from the destination.
When To Travel
In general, Montana's best outdoors weather for summer sports is from May to October. However, on this tour we are limited because the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is usually only open from early July through the third Monday in October. Given it can easily snow in the park in October, the best months for this tour are July, August, and September with the fewest crowds being after Labor Day. However, if you are looking to avoid the crowds and can be flexible in our Glacier itinerary, the months of May, June, and early October can be excellent too.
Changes to Your Itinerary
While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience. If there is any one experience that is going to make or break your trip, please discuss this with us in advance! We will attempt to keep our website itinerary as current as possible and communicate any major changes with you in the weeks prior to the tour.
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