Montana's Glacier Walking & Hiking Tour
National Park Adventures in the US & Canadian Rockies
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days 5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Casual Hotels
From: $3,849 - $4,099 pp dbl occ
($600 for sgl occ)
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.
Montana & Alberta
Start/End Whitefish
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
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
Itinerary
6 Days Casual Hotels
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.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a large stone fireplace in the lobby and a terrace overlooking the lake.
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.
This historic green-gabled hotel offers vistas of the mountains reflected in glacier-fed lakes.
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.
An early-1900s Swiss chalet-style hotel set on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake amid the peaks of Many Glacier Valley.
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.
From our Guests
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Activity Level: 2-4
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
The 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
What's 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
- 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, Meals & 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; breakfasts and dinners throughout the week may lack variety and tend toward simple ingredients. 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.
Weather 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. 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.
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; breakfasts and dinners throughout the week may lack variety and tend toward simple ingredients. 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.
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. 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.
Featured article
I spent last summer working at the front desk of the Many Glacier Hotel and not a day went by when I didn't feel grateful for the awesomeness of l...
