Category: Guide Information

Whitewater rafting and scenic floats on the Wild & Scenic Middle Fork of The Flathead River is a favorite summer activity in Northwest Montana. In the summer months, Glacier Guides & Montana Raft spend as much time on the water as we can. Not only because it’s what we do but also because it’s one… Read more »

Glacier Guides and Montana Raft: Our Tips On Being An Environmentally Responsible Business For many years, employees at Glacier Guides and Montana Raft have worked on a program to help our company become a more environmentally responsible business. We provide rafting, hiking, fishing, biking, lodging, and equipment rentals in and around Glacier National Park. As such, we… Read more »

Glacier National Park covers over a million acres of land, is amoungst one of the country’s largest National Parks, has two mountain ranges, 130 lakes and one of the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Additionally, the landscape is said to be over 170 million years old, specifically the mountain ranges, which formed in an… Read more »

There are so many blogs, books and shows out in the world that show people exploring on their own. Sure, it definitely gives you a sense of independence and flexibility, but you could be missing out on an epic and unforgettable Glacier National Park vacation when you ditch the guide. We have a never ending… Read more »

Okay, we know what you’re thinking. Why are you writing about the pit toilets in Glacier National Park? Well, first of all, using the rest room is part of the human experience. Wherever you go, you’re going to need to “go,” if you will. Second, Glacier National Park has some of the best (if not… Read more »

Glacier National Park has over 700 miles of trails, which means endless possibilities and routes for an epic 4-day backpacking adventure. If you didn’t know before, when you go with a guide (Like Glacier Guides) we take care of every little detail to ensure your backpacking trip is enjoyable and memorable from beginning to end…. Read more »

Glacier Guides & Montana Raft has a wide variety of backpacking trips that can suit any skill level. Our trips are also designed to be accessible and affordable, so when you book with us, you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank. If you’re new to the backpacking scene but are looking to take… Read more »

There is a lot to remember when it comes to planning your Glacier National Park vacation. From vehicle reservations & backpacking permits to planned park construction and what to expect day-to-day. We recently met with park staff and got a bit of information regarding what to expect moving forward. Vehicle Reservations If you haven’t heard… Read more »

There’s a lot to coordinate while planning a trip to Glacier National Park. Between vehicle reservations, hitting The Park during that perfect Goldilocks timeframe, seeing Going-to-the-Sun Road and making sure you don’t burn out on day 2. Luckily for you, we here at Glacier Guides and Montana Raft know Glacier National Park like the back… Read more »

Glacier National Park has a variety of hikes in it’s over 700 miles of trails. There’s a chance to take it easy on a family friendly hike like Avalanche Lake or Glacier Guides Wednesday hike to Virginia Falls, but for those of you looking for the ultimate trip that will leave those legs burning and… Read more »

POV: You want to travel to Glacier National Park and have the most epic vacation. You got the time off work, you’ve reserved the dog boarding and booked the flights. Now it’s time for the nitty gritty details of what to do every day and you’re interested in a “one stop shop” kind of place…. Read more »

At Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, we like to say if you’re lucky enough to live in Montana, you’re lucky enough! Montana boasts two gorgeous National Parks, being Glacier National Park, which also dips into Canada, and Yellowstone National Park, which is also in Idaho and Wyoming. Yellowstone was founded March 1st, 1872, making it… Read more »

There’s a lot to think about when vacationing somewhere you’ve never been. Like how close you want to be to town, what activities you want to do, the best restaurants and food you’ve got to try. But more important than that, you want to make sure your money is going to the right places and… Read more »

One of the best parts about summer is the warm weather and somewhat carefree attitude everyone seems to carry. The first couple of weeks, the heat isn’t so bad. If you’re in Montana, you likely endured a long, cold winter, followed by a long, wet, spring. Finally July comes around and you’re itching for some… Read more »

What To Do For 5 Days in May You’re ready to explore, you’ve been dying to go rafting for years, you have seen photos of people biking Going-To-The-Sun Road and want to try it out yourself. And it just so happens, you’re extremely free and ready to roam in May. As luck would have it,… Read more »

If you’re anything like us, you’re getting ready for summer and you’re already planning that trip to Glacier National Park. Visit Glacier Guides where you can raft, hike, fish, bike or stay with us while you’re in town.  While you plan that trip, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with Leave No Trace and best… Read more »

We recommend our fellow Glacier National Park concession partner, Swan Mountain Outfitters, for horseback riding in and around Glacier National Park. Ride horses in the park, then go rafting with us!

2021 Glacier Itinerary: What To Do, Eat, and Drink While the Many Glacier Road Is Under Construction

Six Days in Glacier’s Backcountry Backpacking in Glacier National Park is our passion. As a company, we were founded because of the need we saw for ecologically sensitive backpacking in Glacier Park. That was back in 1983. Since then, we’ve taken thousands of guests on 2, 3, 4, 6, and even 10 day backpacking tours of… Read more »

Hiking Siyeh Pass in Glacier National Park Siyeh Pass Hike Profile Glacier Guides Difficulty Rating: Strenuous.  Elevation Gain: 2,240 ft./683 m (3,440 ft./1,048 m descent) Mileage: 10.1 miles (16.3 km) round trip.  Hiking Time (estimate): Allow 3 ½ -4 hours to reach the pass, 1 hour for lunch, and 3- 3 ½ hours to complete… Read more »

Otokomi Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana This hike explores the Rising Sun Area. Nestled in a bright red cirque known as the Rose Basin, Hiking Otokomi Lake Glacier National Park is perfect for anyone looking for something challenging and very little foot traffic. The Otokomi Lake trail provides opportunities to learn about glaciation, forest fire… Read more »

The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park Hike Profile If expansive vistas and alpine meadows excite you, then hiking Highline Trail in Glacier National Park is perfect for you. This trail traverses the western side of the Continental Divide, the glacially carved ridge that divides our continent’ss watersheds. This trail is characterized by gentle ups… Read more »

Top 5 FAQ About Backpacking in Glacier National Park #1: What’s up with the backcountry permit system for 2023? Before you take off on your epic adventure, make sure you head to Recreation.gov or the permitting office the day your trip begins to snag a backpacking permit. Glacier National Park is transitioning to Recreation.gov for… Read more »

Hiking Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park Hiking Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park is a dance between meadow and forest. It’s the perfect butt-kicking, beautiful hike. Glacier Guides Difficulty Rating: Strenuous. Elevation Gain: 2,300 ft. Mileage: 10.6 miles. Hiking Time (estimate): Allow 4-4½ hours to reach the tunnel, 1 hour for lunch, and 3-3½… Read more »

4 Best Challenging Glacier National Park Hikes Are you ready to graduate from easy and intermediate hikes in Glacier National Park? You’ve gotten familiar with bear spray, blister prevention and treatment, and how to treat water? Awesome. You may be ready for what we like to call challenging Glacier National Park hikes! These are strenuous… Read more »

There are 734 fabulous miles of trails in Glacier National Park, often referred to as the Hiker’s National Park. Glacier holds over a million acres of wonder, and you really can’t pick a “bad” trail. After all, hiking is always what you make of it. But today I’m going to play favorites, and talk about… Read more »

So for this week’s Throwback Thursday, we’re thinking of river time, and throwing it back to last August, and one perfect afternoon, whitewater rafting Paola Creek to Cascadilla, on the southern boundary of Glacier National Park.

It’s so hard to say goodbye to hiking Glacier National Park for the year. But a foot of snow blanketed the park last night, and shut down the Going to the Sun Road at St. Mary and Lake McDonald. Here at Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, we explore our beloved backyard year round, but the closure of… Read more »

One of the most common questions I get about guiding is “How does Glacier National Park backcountry cooking work?” So, in this week’s blog, I’m sharing some of my best tips and tricks for cooking amazing food in the middle of nowhere. Today I present you with …

One of our favorite day trips is the Friday hike to Iceberg Lake. It’s 9.5 miles out and back with a relatively mild elevation gain of 1275 ft.