Glacier Family Multisport
Bring the family to Big Sky Country for a multisport adventure in Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks, where jagged peaks soar skyward, vibrant wildflowers carpet valley floors, black bears munch huckleberries in the afternoon sun and bald eagles soar overhead. From pedaling along mountain roads and horseback riding, to walking through a valley to a spectacular glacier-fed lake, kids and adults alike will find plenty of ways to discover this unique landscape. When you’re ready to cool off, turquoise lakes and crystalline rivers are perfect spots for water play—be it swimming, canoeing or rafting. And enjoy the unique camaraderie among fellow travelers that comes from sharing tales of the day’s adventures around a crackling campfire.
Day 1 West Glacier
Meet in Whitefish 
After a brief orientation and bike fitting, head out on a warm-up ride in Glacier National Park Pedal to the shore of Lake McDonald, where stunning views of the valley and surrounding mountain peaks await.
Day 2 St. Mary
Travel along celebrated Going-to-the-Sun Road Plunging waterfalls, expansive virgin forests, snowcapped peaks and glacier-carved valleys greet you at every turn Hike through a shady forest of spruce and fir before descending into St. Mary Valley Admire the stunning turquoise color of glacier-fed St. Mary Lake.
Days 3-4 Waterton
Adults pedal to spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park while kids are treated to a horseback ride and cookout What’s your pleasure? Take a boat cruise across Waterton Lake and hike to Rainbow Falls or Kootenai Lake, browse in the shops of Waterton Townsite, or simply relax at the campground.
Days 5-6 Browning
Enjoy spectacular views of the sweeping prairies and plains of Montana as you ride along the eastern border of Glacier into Two Medicine Valley A fun-filled morning of rafting awaits on the Flathead River Expert river-rafting guides provide a unique perspective of the flora and fauna along the way Enjoy a farewell picnic lunch.
WOODED SETTINGS: Deluxe Camping
Apgar Campground (1 night): Situated near Lake McDonald and within easy walking distance of Apgar Village.
Johnson's Campground (1 night): Aspen trees encircle the meadow we call home for the night.
Waterton Townsite Campground (2 nights): Set at the edge of Upper Waterton Lake amid a landscape of jagged peaks.
Lodgepole Gallery & Tipi Village (1 night): Located on 200 acres of pristine prairie on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 1 to 2 4 Route Options Available
- Biking 8, 14, 21, 27 miles
- 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3.7, 5.9, 7.1 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 18, 29, 49 miles (adults)
- 1000 - 2500 feet elevation gain
- Horseback Riding (kids)
Day 4
- Optional Activities
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 8, 15, 35 miles
- 500 - 3500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Whitewater Rafting
On this Family Trip, liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.
Trips 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 | Average Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biking | Walking & Hiking | ||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2009 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
- 7/6-11Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/20-25Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/10-15Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/17-22Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/24-29Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years
Minimum age restriction to raft and horse backing: 5 years
Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:
- 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities and route
- 9+ difficulty of activities and route
- 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
- 3+ riding is on bike paths, making it great for young kids; Burley and Piccolos are available; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)
Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.
Guest Trip Reviews
I'm a great fan of Backroads, and your Trip Leaders are what differentiates you from other active travel companies.- Palo Alto, CA