Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-5
Casual Hotels
2025: Jun-Sep2026: Jun-Sep
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. You've got six days on our Glacier National Park hiking tour. It all adds up to one incredible story to tell.
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
Start/End Whitefish
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1
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.
Night 1
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
Days 2-3
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 • Options abound, including exploring trails on foot, kayaking, shopping in Waterton Townsite or enjoying a cozy afternoon tea at our hotel.
Nights 2-3
Conveniently perched on the shore of magnificent Waterton Lake, this quaint property offers spacious and comfortable rooms.
Days 4-6
Follow the Carthew-Alderson Trail, considered one of the best hikes in Alberta • Amble through numerous botanical life zones up to a ridgeline for sweeping views of Waterton Lake and the border with the United States • 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.
Nights 4-5
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
What's Included
See moreStraight 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.
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 over a hundred years 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 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.
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.
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
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
*Deluxe Hotel
Conveniently perched on the shore of magnificent Waterton Lake, this quaint property offers spacious and comfortable rooms.
Nights 4-5
Casual Hotel
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 41 customers
Fabulously Fun!
Engaging leaders, exquisite scenery and the ability to hike as little or as much as you like made this a fantastic trip! Everything was well organized, and if there were hiccups, the leaders handled everything. I was very impressed with every aspect of the experience.
Excellent trip!
I had such an amazing time on this trip! From our amazing leaders Nate and Tasha, to our awesome historic hotels, delicious food, beautiful hikes, plenty of delicious snacks and more, this far exceeded my expectations! I will definitely be using Backroads again and I've told all of my friends they should do the same.
Finally got to hike this iconic park
Glacier National Park has become so popular that it seemed logical to us not to waste our time trying to navigate timed entries, lodging, and hiking in the Park by ourselves. To have rooms at 3 popular park lodges and experienced guides take us on iconic hikes was such a pleasure. Backroads provided great support, and more than enough snacks and food for the trails. We had all the pleasure and none of the drudgery of visiting this popular national park.
Fantastic guides-Beautiful scenery-BEST TRIP EVER!
Andrew and Ayinde were the absolute best guides for this trip! They were fun, engaging, informative, accommodating,—- their attention to detail was second to none! They were organized, prompt and prepared. Everything about this trip exceeded my expectations! I made new friends and lots of beautiful memories! I cannot wait for the next Backroads trip!
Exceptional in every way
I am still on a high from the trip. The hikes and the scenery, the exceptional guides, Andrew and Ayinde, and the lovely group of guests I was lucky enough to meet made it one of the best trips ever. I was one of only three singles in a group of 17 but everybody was exceptionally friendly and inclusive. It was an opportunity to meet wonderful people I would have not met otherwise. Andrew and Ayinde were even able to arrange the best weather, with the only rain occurring on our vin trip back to the US.
The best trip ever!
Devon and Andrew are 5 star guides. They always went the extra mile or more to make sure everyone's needs were met. The hikes and the scenery are amazing! Thanks
Spectacular trip
The Glacier tour exceeded expectations. Our group leaders, Brendan and Brenton, went above and beyond every day whether talking about the upcoming activities, laying out a yummy snack and lunch spread, and touching base with each traveler throughout the day/hike. They are passionate about what they do, knowledgeable, and are very skilled at keeping a group of 17 people on time, focused, and happy. And they are so much fun! Their fabulousness was matched by the jaw-dropping beauty of Glacier and the vistas awaiting us on every hike. The hikes are amazing and in some cases, challenging., but worth it. If you enjoy hiking along mountain paths and enjoying nature, this is a trip you must take.
Absolutely reeling from how amazing our trip was
This was me and my friend's first trip with Backroads. It's hard to put into words how much I loved it, but I will certainly try. Although 6 days isn't a lot in Glacier National Park, I feel absolutely satisfied with the hikes we did. Some were challenging, but we absolutely felt supported and are so glad that we did them. It was so nice to receive so much context and information about the area that we would have totally missed if we had been traveling by ourselves, or even if we had been traveling with different guides day-to-day. And our trip leaders!!! Truly the most knowledgable, helpful, kind and FUN guides we could have ever hoped to ask for. Backroads clearly values the entire guest experience, not just the hiking/activities, and it shows.
One of the best hiking experiences I have ever had!
Each day our leaders, Devin and Zoey, personally checked in with us. Provided many choices for packing our lunches and snacks. The trails were breathtaking and we were given choices as to the distance we wanted to go. I would highly recommend Backroads for an adventure!
Glacier & Waterton - parks built for hikers!
Exploring Glacier National Park (MT) & Waterton National Park (Canada) during the summer you'll find wildflowers, wildlife and a variety trails of every terrain and for every comfort level. We saw bears, bear-clawed trees, floating icebergs and the most gorgeous wildflower covered trails. You'll clock a ton of miles (if you choose the long routes each day) and be rewarded with breathtaking views. If you're new to Backroads, you're in for a real treat - the Backroads Leaders (shout out to Sophie & Devin) will bring the park to life and be there for you every step of the way.
Dates & Prices
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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