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. It all adds up to one incredible story to tell.
Day 1 Follow the Trail of the Cedars through a dense forest to turquoise Avalanche Lake | Go for a swim, if you dare!
Day 2 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.
Days 3-4 In Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park, follow the Carthew-Alderson Trail, considered one of the best hikes in Alberta | The trail leads through numerous botanical life zones and past the Forum Peak to the west and Mount Custer to the south | Options abound today, including a boat excursion to the northern gateway of Glacier National Park, walking to Kootenay Lake, shopping in Waterton Townsite or afternoon tea at our hotel.
Days 5-6 Spot bighorn sheep, mule deer and maybe even a grizzly bear | In the striking Many Glacier Valley, hike to a lake cold enough to harbor icebergs well into the warmer months | Take a scenic cruise across Two Medicine Lake aboard a boat that's been a fixture here since the late 1920s | Trace a narrow trail to Twin Falls, a cascade divided by an island | Continuing through dense forests and meadows, emerge onto an open hillside bursting with wildflowers.
A life dream for me, yet exceeded my expectations!!! My only regret: it ended so soon :( It was so beautiful, just the right amount of challenging, and amazinly, I overcame my fear of heights thanks to the support of our wonderful Backroads leaders, Lexi and Jimmy. I'm a better person because I did this trip.- Houston TX
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. Read the 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.
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Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.
Located on the park's eastern edge in Blackfeet country; immense timbers hold aloft its expansive lobby ceiling. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 11 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 11 customers
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
A life dream for me, yet exceeded my expectations!!! My only regret: it ended so soon :( It was so beautiful, just the right amount of challenging, and amazinly, I overcame my fear of heights thanks to the support of our wonderful Backroads leaders, Lexi and Jimmy. I'm a better person because I did this trip.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
Glacier and Waterton Lakes are among the most stunningly beautiful places on the earth, and going there with Backroads makes it entirely enjoyable and easy -- easy that is in the planning and preparation (they take care of all the details). Some of the hikes were quite challenging, but so worth it for the beauty we got to see. They selected incredible routes for our hikes. Loved getting to know all the other people in our group. And our Backroads leaders were awesome in every way -- fun and caring, well-prepared and professional.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
This was my first Backroads trip, and it was one of the best trips I have taken. This trip showcased the best of Glacier National Park.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Steve
Our lunch spot at iceberg lake
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
The trip couldn't have been better. It met all of our expectations for seeing Glacier and Waterton, including seeing the sites as we drove to different parts of the parks, and experiencing the park via the various hikes we took, and staying in the iconic national park hotels along the way. The Backroads guides were so well prepared, and so nurturing to our group, they made every day fun and hassle free. The other guests on the trip were a fun group of people, with an easy comradery established quickly amongst the group. It was a true vacation and a great way to see Glacier and Waterton.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
Loved this trip. Great hikes everyday that were moderately hard but incredibly scenic. Each hike was different in its own way. The Backroads leaders were so good...knowledgeable, accommodating, fun!
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
Great site, hikes and photo ops! Such a beautiful place and we were so lucky with the timing in July, beautiful weather and everything was in bloom. Great trails and leaders!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by John on the trail
Bear Grass
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
Exceeded all of our expectations - beautiful part of the country, fantastic hiking and scenery - wildflowers and bear grass were in bloom and glorious, great trip leader! Was wonderful to be able to just relax and totally turn off my brain and take in all the natural beauty. Felt like we were in such wonderful competent hands in every respect.
Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
We have already recommended this trip to friends. Going with Backroads is a great way to travel to an area that you are unfamiliar with - you get the best of the hikes and accommodations in the area with expert guides!
And, don't pass up a swim in iceberg lake!! ;)
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Kathy
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
It was a tremendous trip with an amazing sense of immersion in our beautiful country; an experience that will last a life time - or until the next trip!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Tim C
Iceberg Lake
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Comments about Glacier & Waterton Lakes Walking & Hiking Tour:
It was an amazing trip. Hikes were great, my wife and I liked the more challenging hikes better. Good balance of group time and being able to go out on your own. Can't say enough about the trip leaders and local guides....they really made the trip for us!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Images shared by Mat227
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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.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 6 | 650 | ||||||||
| 2 | 7 | 1100 | 9 | 1700 | ||||||
| 3 | 5* | 1000 | 8* | 1200 | 11 | 2300 | 13 | 2400 | ||
| Optional Kayaking on Cameron Lake | ||||||||||
| 4 | Optional Hiking, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Kayaking or Boat Cruise in Waterton Lakes National Park | |||||||||
| 5 | 5 | 400 | 10 | 1300 | ||||||
| 6 | 5 | 400 | 8 | 500 | ||||||
Note: The terrain on this trip includes well-maintained but often rugged mountain trails, with some steep climbs and descents.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Glacier National Park requires that its official hiking guides accompany every group on the trail. But while other active travel companies see this as a chance for their own guides to take a break, Backroads stays with you every step of the way. Our Trip Leaders complement the Glacier guides’ expertise with their own deep knowledge – not just of the stunning surroundings, but of what you expect from a seamless, fully supported active travel experience.
In Glacier and Waterton Lakes you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
On our Glacier and Waterton Lakes trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Backroads has been inviting active travelers to explore our own backyard since Jimmy Carter was in the White House. We offer more trips than anyone else in Glacier and Waterton Lakes, and we've spent more years finding the best ones. What keeps it real is having a consistent vision and the same passionately committed leadership for nearly four decades.
In addition to the ideal balance of comfort and hospitality in our choice of lodgings, this trip featuring Casual Hotels includes nearly all of your meals, plus everything from cocktail receptions to the best snacks along the road. So there's rarely a need to reach for your wallet – we've got you covered.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
We design and support our Glacier and Waterton Lakes trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Glacier and Waterton Lakes—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Glacier and Waterton Lakes that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group of 16 or more. If your party has fewer than 16 guests, or your preferred date is not available, call or email us and we'll work together to find a trip just for you.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
