Glacier & Waterton Lakes Multi-Adventure Tour - For Families with Teens & Kids
Epic National Parks in Montana & Alberta
Best for ages 9+ (Ages 4+ ok) | Min. age to ride own bike: 7+ | Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Family — Teens & Kids
6 days 5 nights
Activity Level: 1-4
Casual Hotels
From: $4,099 - $4,449 pp dbl occ
($800 for sgl occ)
Journey with your family in magnificent Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks. Travel across Montana’s legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road. Venture to Canada and discover spectacular peaks and valleys with every turn. Paddle white-water rapids on Glacier's Flathead River. By bike, on foot or over water, and from one enchanting mountain lodge to the next, this is the national park adventure your family won’t stop talking about.
Montana & Alberta
Start/End Whitefish
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Discover Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park, a joint World Heritage site shared by the United States and Canada
- Splash in the chilly invigorating waters of crystalline mountain lakes on both sides of the border and savor panoramic views
- Raft down the Flathead River—an exciting and memorable end to an incredible trip; if you're lucky you may spot a bear!
- Explore incredible routes amid alpine streams, towering mountains, virgin forests and wildflower-strewn meadows on bike and foot
Itinerary
6 Days Casual Hotels
Witness astonishing alpine scenery that just won't quit | Bike a scenic route with views of Lake McDonald, formed by retreating glaciers 10,000 years ago | Get an eyeful of the surrounding valley from McGee Meadow Overlook | Drop by the visitor center to learn about the park's geology and wildlife.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
You won't believe the views as you travel along famed Going-to-the-Sun Road | Plunging waterfalls, vast virgin woodland, 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 | Can the stunning turquoise color of glacier-fed St. Mary Lake be for real? | Take in the spectacular mountain peaks that surround Many Glacier Valley.
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
Welcome to Canada! | While the kids join up with local wranglers for a horseback ride through the expansive prairie, adults bike north through ranchland and U-shaped valleys to stunning Waterton Lakes National Park | Options abound: take a boat cruise, paddleboard or kayak on the lakes, explore the trails on foot or horseback, or perhaps dig into some pastries while sipping afternoon tea at our iconic hotel | Savor dinner together as a family in Waterton Village, an unspoiled mountain town.
This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.
Enjoy spectacular views of the sweeping prairies and plains of Montana as adults pedal a roller-coaster route | Visit Two Medicine Valley and contemplate the pristine alpine scenery | Feeling brave? Perhaps you'll opt for a swim in the chilly waters of Two Medicine Lake | Raft down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with expert guides who provide a unique perspective on the flora and fauna along the way.
Located on the park's eastern edge in Blackfeet country; immense timbers hold aloft its expansive lobby ceiling.
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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Activity Level:
1-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
On this Family Trip, liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary and mileage is moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own. While Backroads strives to find roadways that are quiet and off the beaten track, some bike routes on this trip follow heavily trafficked roads. Of course, you're always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier sections of the route. The hiking terrain on this trip includes well-maintained but often rugged mountain trails, with some steep climbs and descents.
Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.
Daily Route Options
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
On this Family Trip, liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary and mileage is moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own. While Backroads strives to find roadways that are quiet and off the beaten track, some bike routes on this trip follow heavily trafficked roads. Of course, you're always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier sections of the route. The hiking terrain on this trip includes well-maintained but often rugged mountain trails, with some steep climbs and descents.
Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the arrow to see all bike options.
Included in your trip price
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Included in your trip price
Backroads is the only travel company to manufacture its own line of kid's bikes. While the wheels might be small, the performance is big—it's the perfect choice for kids. On our Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bikes.
Included in your trip price
The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who aren't yet ready for bike touring.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations & Service Standards
While the accommodations on this trip reflect the natural surroundings of the national parks and provide unparalleled access to the best activities in the area, they are much simpler than is typical of Backroads lodging. Many buildings date back to the turn of the century and have only been minimally renovated, in accordance with park regulations. These historic hotels have basic guest rooms that are not equipped with televisions or air-conditioning. Overall, the service standards can seem slow and casual when compared with the hospitality found on other Backroads trips. Please note that internet and cell phone service are extremely limited throughout the parks.
Meals in National Parks
The National Park lodges we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals at park lodges and the surrounding local restaurants can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
Weather & Itineraries in Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks
Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks are special places where four seasons can occur in one day. For that reason, our itinerary may change based upon road and trail status due to weather (including snow) or animal activity. The opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road is determined by snow levels and weather. The road often opens by the third week of June, but some years it does not open until early July. If the west side of the road is not open, we will shuttle 2½ hours to our trailhead (instead of 1½ hours). Status of Going-to-the-Sun Road can be checked on Glacier National Park’s website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
While the accommodations on this trip reflect the natural surroundings of the national parks and provide unparalleled access to the best activities in the area, they are much simpler than is typical of Backroads lodging. Many buildings date back to the turn of the century and have only been minimally renovated, in accordance with park regulations. These historic hotels have basic guest rooms that are not equipped with televisions or air-conditioning. Overall, the service standards can seem slow and casual when compared with the hospitality found on other Backroads trips. Please note that internet and cell phone service are extremely limited throughout the parks.
The National Park lodges we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals at park lodges and the surrounding local restaurants can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks are special places where four seasons can occur in one day. For that reason, our itinerary may change based upon road and trail status due to weather (including snow) or animal activity. The opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road is determined by snow levels and weather. The road often opens by the third week of June, but some years it does not open until early July. If the west side of the road is not open, we will shuttle 2½ hours to our trailhead (instead of 1½ hours). Status of Going-to-the-Sun Road can be checked on Glacier National Park’s website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm.
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