Biking, Hiking & Rafting Tour in Glacier & Waterton Lakes National Parks

Bring the family to Big Sky Country for a multisport adventure in Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks, where jagged peaks reach skyward, vibrant wildflowers carpet valley floors and black bears munch huckleberries in the afternoon sun.

Kids and adults alike will find plenty of ways to discover this unique landscape, from pedaling along mountain roads and horseback riding through open meadows, to walking to a spectacular glacier-fed lake. When you’re ready to cool off, turquoise lakes and crystalline rivers are perfect spots for water play—be it swimming, canoeing or rafting. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep and bald eagles are our frequent companions during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Trip Overview:

• Discover Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park - a joint World Heritage site     shared by the U.S. and Canada
• Incredible biking amid alpine streams, towering mountains, and wildflower-strewn     meadows
• Ride horses and have a cookout at a historic ranch
• Splash in the chilly invigorating waters of mountain lakes - if you like
• Rafting down the Flathead River - an exciting end to an incredible trip
• All meals included except for 1 dinner
• Priced from $2,998 per person

Location: Whitefish, Montana

2012 Dates: July 9th-14th, July 23-28th, Aug 6-11th, Aug 20-25th

2011 Pricing

$2,998 per person
Single Supplement: $670
All meals included except 1 dinner

Day 1: Lake McDonald Biking Route 

Day 2: Shuttle to St. Mary Valley & Sun Point Hike 

Day 3: Waterton Lakes National Park Biking Route

Day 4: Optional Activities in Waterton Lakes National Park 

Day 5: St. Mary Two Medicine Valley Biking Route

Day 6: Shuttle to Moccasin Creek & White-Water Rafting

Routes for All Abilities

Every 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.  Your choices range from a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. 

Day 1

Lake McDonald Biking Route

Meet your trip leaders at 10:30 a.m. at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Montana. Please arrive dressed in your biking clothes with a daypack containing your rain gear, sunglasses, camera, etc. See “Arriving & Departing” for additional logistics information.

After meeting in Whitefish we shuttle to Apgar picnic area at the south end of Lake McDonald and get acquainted over lunch. Afterward your leaders fit your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. Adults set out on their bikes to McGee Meadow Overlook for views of tranquil Lake McDonald and the surrounding valley. Kids arrive by shuttle and join the adults for the relatively level ride to Fish Creek. En route be sure to stop in Apgar Village and check out regionally made crafts in the shops and galleries, or perhaps drop by the visitor center to learn more about the flora and fauna of Glacier National Park. For a special treat, try some delicious huckleberry ice cream. Arriving at Fish Creek, which spills out of Lake McDonald, go for a dip in the chilly waters if you dare! The last part of the adult ride is a scenic stretch along the shore of Lake McDonald to Lake McDonald Lodge. (Kids shuttle this last section because there isn’t a good shoulder to ride on.) Built as a hunting lodge in 1913, it’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After settling in, feel free to visit the gift shop or relax in the lobby—famous western artist Charles M. Russell reputedly scrawled the pictographs you see on the fireplace. This evening we gather for a reception followed by dinner in the lodge’s dining room.

Lodging: Lake McDonald Lodge

Day 2

Shuttle to St. Mary Valley & Sun Point Hike

After a hearty breakfast we shuttle over the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road, said to be the most beautiful 50 miles in the world. Cut into the Garden Wall escarpment, this narrow stretch of highway is the only road connecting the east and west entrances to the park. It crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 feet) and offers breathtaking views of the park’s diverse scenery, from forests and glacial lakes to broad alpine prairies.

We begin our hike from the Jackson Glacier Overlook, setting out through dense pine forests to wildflower patches on the St. Mary Valley floor. St. Mary Falls is a great spot to enjoy a packed lunch with your family. For more miles, take the detour to Virginia Falls. Either way, you’ll have a chance to explore the waterfall-laced cliffs surrounding St. Mary Lake. The till from Jackson Glacier, one of the largest remaining glaciers in the park, creates brilliant turquoise-colored water. In the afternoon we shuttle to Many Glacier Hotel, nestled among high peaks originally dubbed “America’s Little Switzerland.” Take in views of Swiftcurrent Lake from the lodge’s veranda before we sit down to eat in the hotel’s Swiss-themed Ptarmigan Dining Room.

Lodging: Many Glacier Hotel

Day 3

Waterton Lakes National Park Biking Route

Youngsters get ready for a fun day of horseback riding and a cookout at the Nelson Ranch. They’ll get to ride alongside “real” cowboys while hearing stories of how the Nelson family homesteaded the land in 1898. (Please note that the minimum age for horseback riding is 5 years old.) While the kids saddle up, adults also gear up for a day in the saddle. Set your sights north to the Canadian border and pedal on rolling hills through ranchland interspersed with stands of aspen. After a five-mile climb to an overlook, you’re rewarded with awe-inspiring views of Chief Mountain. As legend has it, a Flathead Indian climbed the 9,056-foot mountain on a vision quest, leaving behind a bison skull he ostensibly used as a pillow. The story’s authenticity was buoyed in 1892 when Henry L. Stimson (future Secretary of State) and his climbing party found a decomposed bison skull on the summit.

Leaving the lookout, you’ll encounter more hills and cross several small rivers before tackling a two-mile climb to Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park, which along with Glacier National Park, makes up the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in commemoration of the long history of friendship between the United States and Canada. The route ends at the Prince of Wales Hotel, where parents and kids reunite. This historic hotel, perched above picturesque Waterton Lake and surrounded by jagged peaks—where “the mountains meet the prairie,”—is one of the most photographed hotels in North America. This evening grown-ups dine nearby at Kootenai Brown’s Restaurant, while the younger set is treated to a special night of pizza and fun in Waterton Townsite.

Lodging: Prince of Wales Hotel

Day 4

Optional Activities in Waterton Lakes National Park

The day is yours to do as you please—even if that is simply relaxing. Hike, bike or go horseback riding. Or perhaps you’d like to fish, kayak or take a cruise on Waterton Lake. (Please note that horseback riding, fishing, kayaking and the cruise are not included in the trip price.) Consider hopping aboard the boat to Goat Haunt, the northern gateway to Glacier National Park, and then hiking to Rainbow Falls or Kootenai Lake—you might even spot a moose or two! Or walk up to Goat Haunt Overlook for spectacular views of Waterton Lake and look for lakeside birds, including kingfishers, spotted sandpipers, red-naped sapsuckers and white-crowned sparrows. If you’re in the mood to shop, head into Waterton Townsite and scout for souvenirs. Whatever you and your family choose to do, you’ll be surrounded by a spellbinding tableau of peaks, broad lakes and rugged glacial valleys. You’re on your own for dinner in Waterton Townsite—your leaders will be happy to recommend their favorite restaurants.

Lodging: Prince of Wales Hotel

Day 5

St. Mary Two Medicine Valley Biking Route

This morning we shuttle south to the town of St. Mary, set amid an alpine landscape of meadows, and forests of willow, aspen, cottonwood and maple. Adults bike along Glacier’s eastern border, which rests in the rain shadow of the Continental Divide and is characterized by broad areas of prairie. Along the route, you’ll be treated to excellent vistas of the vast Montana plains and the long sweep of mountains in the west. Kids begin riding from the entrance of Two Medicine Valley, accompanied by views of uniquely named peaks such as Lone Walker, Painted Tepee, Rising Wolf and Almost-a-Dog. They meet up with the adults to complete the ride, which ends at Two Medicine Lake. If time allows you can enjoy a scenic boat ride or, if it’s warm, a swim in the refreshingly cool lake. Our home for the night is Glacier Park Lodge. Built in 1913, this grand hotel features a lobby lined with massive 40-foot-high Douglas fir pillars—hence the lodge’s Blackfoot nickname Oom-Coo-La-Mush-Taw (or “Big Tree Lodge”). Tonight we feast on tasty Mexican fare at a favorite local’s spot and toast to our fun-filled Glacier vacation. 

Lodging: Glacier Park Lodge

Day 6

Shuttle to Moccasin Creek & White-Water Rafting

What better way to cap off the trip than with an exciting white-water rafting adventure? Don’t worry if you’re new to rafting; our experienced guides will get you geared up and teach you the basic skills for a safe and fun family outing. (Please note that the minimum age for rafting is 5 years old, though our local guides may raise the age restriction if conditions warrant.) Paddle through relaxing flat sections and Class II and III rapids, enjoying splashes of chilly mountain water and the gorgeous alpine scenery. Watch for eagles and ospreys overhead, or an elk sipping from the river’s edge. A delicious picnic lunch awaits us at our West Glacier landing spot—hearty enough to satisfy the appetites of paddlers of all ages. Afterward we shuttle to Glacier International Airport and Whitefish hotels.