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Known as the Switzerland of North America, Glacier National Park is one of America’s most photogenic places! From hiking the jagged trails to whitewater rafting, your hunger for adventure will be satisfied daily. Join us for an intimate encounter with the land, sky, ice and wide-open spaces on this beautiful multi-sport gay Montana adventure!
Because of its stunning peaks, verdant valleys, and extensive trail system, Glacier National Park is known as the Switzerland of North America. In Glacier wildlife is plentiful. You’ll spot for eagles soaring overhead, moose meandering in the river bottoms, mountain goats grazing in steep meadows, and bears wandering in search of berries. On HE Travel’s multi-sport gay Montana adventure, experience this wilderness by hiking the alpine trails, horseback riding across the foothills, rafting on wild rivers, and ziplining. All the while enjoy national park lodging, great food, and gay camaraderie.
You fly to Glacier International Airport in Kalispell, Montana and will spend the first night in Whitefish, a resort community near Glacier National Park. Explore the small town atmosphere and local spirit of this historic railroad town. Tonight you will meet your HE Travel trip leaders and fellow adventurers at our welcome dinner in downtown Whitefish. Welcome to Big Sky Country!
In the morning we’ll head east to Glacier National Park. The jagged peaks of the Continental Divide constitute the backbone of Glacier. Today, we’ll enjoy a fantastic drive over the exquisite Going to the Sun Road, stopping about half-way to explore hiking trails at Logan Pass with our professional hiking guide. Starting at 6,680 feet, we will experience stunning views of mountain ranges across Montana and into Canada, waterfalls, scores of lakes, and the endless expanse of the Great Plains. While hiking along the Highline Trail, wildlife viewing is typically plentiful and we’ll spot for hoary marmots, ptarmigan, and even mountain goats. If you’re uncomfortable with heights or hope for a shorter hike, we will suggest options. Or you can enjoy more relaxed sightseeing by spending the day on and off the park shuttle, with short visits to many sights until you arrive at the visitor center in St Mary. After our hike, we’ll continue to the eastern side of the park, perhaps stopping along the way for dinner at a unique local café. We then continue on, staying for two nights in more simple but comfortable lodging located deep in one of the most pristine areas of the park, an area called Many Glacier. In the evening, relax while watching the sun set over pristine mountain peaks. After the sun goes down, soak in the star-filled Montana skies.
You have a multitude of hiking options today from our base in Many Glacier. Trails take-off in all directions. You can join the group and hike with our local hiking guide, you can hike independently or perhaps catch a hike led by park ranger. Perhaps you’d like to hike to Iceberg Lake or up the nearby Ptarmigan Tunnel trail. Oftentimes, hikers want to see a living glacier, so they will head to Grinnell Glacier. Perhaps you’ll just want to relax for the day at the nearby grand old dame, the Many Glacier Hotel, and enjoy the views of the mountains and possibly enjoy a boat cruise on Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine (please advise so we can book ahead for you). Whatever you choose to do, you’ll be surrounded by untouched beauty.
After a leisurely start to our day, we depart Many Glacier as we drive south past St Mary and on to the original main gateway for Glacier National Park, East Glacier. For the first fifty years of the park, this was the first stop for travelers arriving from the east on their grand railway vacation, stepping off the train and walking up the flowered path to the stately Glacier Park Lodge, where we’ll stay for two nights. The highlights of Glacier Park Lodge are its manicured grounds, mountain views, and a grand, three-story lobby supported by more than 20 huge Douglas Fir pillars over 40feet high and about 40 inches in diameter Each evening around 9 PM, you can enjoy live music or talks in the hotel lobby. This afternoon will bring us stunning views as we horseback ride along the ridges and valleys looking deep into Glacier National Park and its surrounding plains. Our outfitter has hosted riders of all abilities, so no worries whether you’re a first time rider or a lifetime equestrian. If you’d rather not ride, then your afternoon is free to relax at or get a massage at the lodge, enjoy the lodge’s heated swimming pool or play a round of golf at the lodge’s 9-hole golf course.
Yet more Rocky Mountain beauty and fantastic hiking lures us to nearby Two Medicine Valley. Most hikes are accessed via a scenic boat tour, which we’ll do together. We’ll enjoy a relaxing cruise while listening to the Blackfoot Indian folklore surrounding Two Medicine Valley. Upon docking on the west shore, guests will have the option to either remain on the boat to return to the visitor’s center or step off the boat to access fantastic hiking trails. Hiking today is on your own, so you can hike as much or little as you like. About a mile up the trail is lovely Twin Falls, and you can continue another mile to Upper Two Medicine Lake. Longer hikes will take you to Cobalt Lake, No Name Lake, or all the way up to Dawson Pass. You can then catch a return boat or hike back to the visitor’s center.
Today, we embark on a rafting excursion on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. With class II & III rapids, depending on water flow, this float offers some mellow water as well as some more exciting rapids. If you have an interest, we may be able to run the rapids in two-person inflatable kayaks, which makes for more splashy fun. Afterward we’ll head back to Whitefish for our last two nights.
We have a full day back in Whitefish for some well-deserved R & R. Take advantage of the lodge’s hot tub and spa, treat yourself to a massage, or do nothing at all. For those interested in more adventure, this morning features an exciting zip line tour through the trees high on the mountain at Big Mountain Resort overlooking Whitefish Lake. While flying, you’ll be suspended on long cables which are between 20 and 300 feet above the ground. The length ranges from 100 to 1900 feet long, the longest of any zipline in Montana! The afternoon is free to explore the town. Tonight we relive our week of adventure and say our goodbyes to new friends during our fantastic farewell dinner.
Schedule your flights out of Glacier International Airport anytime. Happy Trails!
Price includes: Airport Shuttle for most airline and train arrivals, Accommodations for 7 nights; All breakfast, 6 lunches, 5 dinners; Two days with professional hiking guides, including hiking one day each along the Continental Divide, if conditions allow, and hiking in the Many Glaciers area; Horseback riding; Historic wooden boat cruise on Two Medicine Lake and the opportunity to hike unguided in that area; Rafting on the Flathead River; Zipline adventure; Entrance fees for included activities; All ground transportation for included itinerary; Services of knowledgeable guides and HE Travel Tour Director. HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage. Not included: Airfare to and from starting and ending points; One lunch and two dinners; Personal items including: alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, and telephone calls; gratuities for guides and HE Travel host. Optional Tour Choices: $1050 Single Supplement (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom)
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