This trip is filling up for the upcoming season! Check out our Wyoming's Yellowstone & Tetons Walking & Hiking Tour with new dates just added.

Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour

Couples, Friends & Solos

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

From $3,999 - $4,349 /person

6 days

5 nights

Activity Levels 2-4

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Casual Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

This trip is filling up for the upcoming season! Check out our Wyoming's Yellowstone & Tetons Walking & Hiking Tour with new dates just added.

Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour

Couples, Friends & Solos

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

6 days

5 nights

Activity Levels 2-4

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Casual Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

2024: Jun-Sep 2025: Jun-Sep

From $3,999 - $4,349 /person

National Park Adventures in the US & Canadian Rockies

Fifty miles of superlative scenery on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Sixty-two species of mammals, from pygmy shrews to majestic mountain goats and grizzly bears. More than 260 species of birds, 780 miles of trails and 10,000 years of natural history. And some spectacular national park lodges including the historic Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes, Canada! You've got six days on our Glacier National Park hiking tour. It all adds up to one incredible story to tell.

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Highlights

  • Venture through stunning national parks and two countries on one phenomenally exciting trip—don't forget your passport! 
  • Embark on unforgettable hikes through verdant scenery flanked by towering mountain peaks and snowfields 
  • Travel the Going-to-the-Sun Road as it winds up and over the Continental Divide, showcasing incredible scenery and engineering 
  • Encounter wildlife at every turn, including bighorn sheep, mule deer and possibly a grizzly or black bear
Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour map

Montana & Alberta

Start/End Whitefish

Airports & Travel details*

* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

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Itinerary

Day 1

Description

Things might look a little different here... this is Big Sky Country! • Hike the Trail of the Cedars through a dense forest to turquoise Avalanche Lake • Back at the lodge, take a dip in Glacier National Park's Lake McDonald... if you dare! • Take in the immensity of the Montana night sky from our rustic Swiss-style retreat.

Accommodations

Night 1

Lake McDonald Lodge
Glacier National Park
Casual Hotel

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 2-3

Description

Behold 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 and the Continental Divide on our way to Canada • Stay at the grand Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park, with its soaring roofs, gables, balconies and a timber-framed interior... it's no surprise that it's the most photographed hotel in North America • ​Options abound, including exploring trails on foot, kayaking, shopping in Waterton Townsite or enjoying a cozy afternoon tea at our hotel.

Accommodations

Nights 2-3

Prince of Wales Hotel
Waterton Lakes National Park
Casual Hotel

This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 4-6

Description

Follow the Carthew-Alderson Trail, considered one of the best hikes in Alberta • Amble through numerous botanical life zones and past Forum Peak to the west and Mount Custer to the south • Return to Glacier National Park for a hike in the striking Many Glacier Valley • Walk to a lake cold enough to harbor icebergs well into the warmer months • Spot bighorn sheep, mule deer and maybe even a grizzly bear • The quiet of morning is the perfect time to stroll around Swiftcurrent Lake before traveling along the eastern edge of the park to Whitefish, where our Glacier National Park hiking trip ends.

Accommodations

Nights 4-5

Many Glacier Hotel
Glacier National Park
Casual Hotel

An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. 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, Forests and Surrounding Areas

The properties we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals 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 and Carthew Alderson Trail in Waterton Lakes National Park are determined by snow levels and weather. Going-to-the-Sun Road often opens by the third week of June, but some years it does not open until early July. The Highline Trail, which is accessed via Going-to-the-Sun Road, sometimes opens later than the road. Status of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Highline Trail can be checked on Glacier National Park’s website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm.

Want more information? Download a detailed itinerary.

Itineraries include detailed descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more. It's the perfect tool to help you choose!

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From $3,999 - $4,349 /person

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Hotels

Adventure-Ready Hotels

Ideally located with ready access to trip activities, our Casual hotels are also known for their character and charm.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Night 1

Lake McDonald Lodge
Glacier National Park

Casual Hotel

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.

Nights 2-3

Prince of Wales Hotel
Waterton Lakes National Park

Casual Hotel

This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.

Nights 4-5

Many Glacier Hotel
Glacier National Park

Casual Hotel

An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.

From $3,999 - $4,349 /person

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From $3,999 - $4,349 /person

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Dates & Prices

Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.

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Want more information? Download a detailed itinerary.

Itineraries include detailed descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more. It's the perfect tool to help you choose!

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