Glacier Walking & Hiking
- Two national parks, two countries, one phenomenal trip
- Fantastic hiking in a spellbinding tableau of glacier-carved valleys, broad lakes and majestic peaks
- The stunning Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Spot bighorn sheep, mule deer and maybe even a grizzly
- Panoramic views from the Many Glacier Hotel
Glacier & Waterton Lakes National Parks
It's amazing to consider. Intense pressure from glaciers carved out the beauty in this region - but "pressure" is the last thing you'll feel. Catch sight of a bighorn sheep perched on the edge of a bluff. Get in a morning walk through a forest full of red cedar and fir. Journey on Going-to-the-Sun Road and soak up some of the finest views in northwest Montana. That road is 50 miles of superlative scenery. There are 62 species of mammals here, from diminutive pygmy shrews to majestic mountain goats, grizzly bears and elk, more than 260 species of birds, 780 miles of trails and 10,000 years of natural history. You've got six days and one incredible story to tell.
Day 1 Fantastic hiking in a spellbinding tableau of glacier-carved valleys, broad lakes and majestic peaks 
Follow the Trail of the Cedars through a dense forest to turquoise Avalanche Lake Part of the Polar Bear Club? Go for a swim if you dare!
Day 2 Stunning Going-to-the-Sun Road, "the most beautiful 50 miles in the world" Marvelous geologic features, including Haystack Butte, embellish the landscape as you hike on the Highline Trail Take in gorgeous panoramic views from Logan Pass, the Continental Divide and the grand Many Glacier Hotel.
Days 3-4 Two national parks, two countries In Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park, follow Carthew-Alderson Trail through numerous botanical zones Feel like being active or ready to relax? It's up to you! Options include a boat excursion to the northern gateway of Glacier National Park, walking to Kootenai Lake, shopping in Waterton Townsite, or traditional afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel.
Days 5-6 Spot bighorn sheep, mule deer and maybe even a grizzly Icebergs? In lakes? In the summertime? Hike to a lake cold enough to harbor icebergs well into the warmer months After a scenic boat cruise across Two Medicine Lake, trace the narrow trail to Twin Falls.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This was a dream trip and exceeded all that we hoped for! Glacier was "heaven on earth" and combined with the kindred spirits of our fellow "Backroaders," we became one big family. Thank you for the best trip we have ever taken with your professional staff, organization of EVERY detail, great accommodations & restaurants and knowledge/energetic spirit of our leaders Linden and Jessica! Backroads is truly #1 in our opinion and we look forward to planning our next trip with you....Describing our overall experience would be....the journey of a lifetime with gratitude to Backroads for the best trip of our lives!! Thank you!- Huntersville, NC
The superb leaders along with perfect weather and gorgeous scenery made this Backroads trip one of the best!!! All four Backroads trips I have taken have been excellent....this was my first one hiking and it was great. I'm happy to say that I loved everything from start to finish!- Red Bank, NJ
We think this was one of the best vacations we've ever had. We have never been on a group trip before and were a little apprehensive. This trip put all our fears to rest. We are already thinking about a Backroads trip for next year.- San Jose, CA
Casual Inns
Lake McDonald Lodge
Lake McDonald (1 night) Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
Many Glacier Hotel
Glacier National Park (1 night) An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of the Many Glacier Valley.
Prince of Wales Hotel
Waterton Lakes, Canada (2 nights) This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.
Glacier Park Lodge
East Glacier (1 night) Located on the park's eastern edge in Blackfeet country; immense timbers hold aloft its expansive lobby ceiling. (pool, spa, golf)
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This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 5 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 7.2, 9.3 miles
- 400 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 5, 7.5, 11.8 miles
- 1000 - 2100 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Optional Activities
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 5, 9 miles
- 700 - 1200 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 5, 7.2 miles
- 100 - 400 feet elevation gain
Terrain Description
Glacial lake-view trails, alpine stone paths.More Recommended Trips
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For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Montana tour experts. See our award-winning USA walking tours and hiking tours, USA biking tours and USA multisport tours.
