Hiking FAQ
What should we wear hiking?
Please refer to our detailed packing lists for overnight trips and day trips to properly prepare.
How fit do we need to be for backpacking trips?
Reasonably fit. Daily mileage averages six to eight miles per day, but can be much shorter or much longer. A short day is 3.5 miles and a long day is 12 miles. The weight of an average pack is 35 to 40 pounds. If you are worried about the weight or have youngsters who need help, ask about our Porter Service. The highest elevation you can expect to attain is about 8,000 feet with the valley floors at about 4,000-5,000 feet.
What's provided?
All food, cooking gear, water filter and first aid supplies necessary for your trip will be provided. We have tents, sleeping bags, thermarests and backpacks available for rent. View our packing lists for day trips and overnight trips.
What about the bears?
There are bears (black and grizzlies) in Glacier and we occasionally see them, but we’ve never had a problem in our 35+ years in business. Guides carry pepper spray just in case and go through NPS Bear Management training.
Where in Glacier National Park do you guide trips?
All of our backpacking trips visit remote parts of the Park, but for several reasons we cannot guarantee a particular hike ahead of time. We must take into account the interest and abilities of our guests, snow conditions, trail crew work, trail closures and availability of backcountry camping sites. We ask guests when making a reservation about special interests and abilities and always try to find an appropriate itinerary based on their requests.
Can we bring alcohol?
We do not recommend bringing too much alcohol on our trips (weight is the main factor). You are certainly allowed to bring it though. Many people like bringing a celebratory beer for the trailhead at the end of the trip. Let us know if you want to do this, and we can arrange for it to be put in your shuttle vehicle.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
We'd love to answer them.
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Our Guides
My family and I went on a white water raft with Nicolette and it was one of the best experiences! Nic has such an awesome personality and really made an already awesome experience even better. The views you get to see along this ride are great. I highly recommend taking a trip with this company!
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Group Trip Testimonial
My group of 6 had an absolute BLAST on our rafting trip. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, and they provide great service. Very happy with our experience here!
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Rafting Testimonial
Holy cow this place is awesome! Right from the start, everyone was so nice and friendly and fun! Our family headed down the river for the scenic float with our three littles (9, 7 & 3) and my FIL and MIL (who cannot swim and is terrified of water!). We had the best time and our guide Nicolette was super knowledgeable about the river and the area. After the float we stayed for dinner and, let me just tell you, it blew my expectations out of the water! I was expecting to get our main course with a couple sides but they had that PLUS crazy yummy appetizers AND dessert too! I cannot recommend Montana Raft enough! If you have time, do the dinner option. You will not be disappointed!!
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Lodging Testimonial
This was the perfect lodge before our backcountry adventure in Glacier National Park! The location was perfect for our needs. Bed and pillows were super comfortable and Don accommodated our early departure by having all the breakfast things ready an hour earlier. And it was a block from a great meal at the Belton Chalet for dinner.
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Biking Testimonial
We rented two e-bikes and were super happy with the experience! This outfitters location is great for picking up bikes bc there is a bike path that leads all the way back into West Glacier so you don’t have to transport your bikes by car or ride on the road to get into the park to start biking. We left our rental car in the lot all day and headed out directly from the bike lot to get our day started. Checking out the bikes and returning them was super easy and quick – we had made reservations on line which I highly recommend to ensure you get an e-bike if you want one and to ensure you get one that is the right size – very important especially if you’re short like me (5’2″) cause these bikes are a bit heavy and even the smallest size is still pretty big. No issues with the bike quality and e-biking the going to the sun road was SO much fun and doable for anybody whose ridden a bike before – you def don’t have to be a bike pro to have a good time.
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