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Nature Walk & Float

About this Trip

Take a couple of easy, short nature walks in Glacier National Park in the morning. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious, homemade sack lunch. Finally, a peaceful floating experience awaits you in the afternoon!

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Pricing

Adult Price: $159

Child Price: $129 (4-11yrs)

Other Price: 8% River User Fee and Glacier National Park Entrance Fee (not included in price)

Guide Tip: Industry rate 18-20% (not included in price)

Specials Plan Your Trip
Trip Length

Dates & Times

9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, July through September
9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, May, June and first half of October

Nature Walk

Difficulty: 2 short, easy walks in Glacier National Park

Each walk is about 1.1 to 1.2 miles, minimal to 180 feet elevation gain and loss

Time: 9:30 a.m. – begins May 7, 2022

Trip Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours

Float

Difficulty: Easy, Family Friendly

Times: Scenic floats begin May 7, 2022. 3:00 pm launch late May through September 16th. 2:15 launch September 21st through October 15th.

Trip Duration: Approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on time of the season

Description: Relax and rejuvenate on this calm, peaceful stretch of river with our friendly, interpretive river guides. Make memories to keep for a lifetime! This rafting experience is appropriate for nearly all ages and abilities.

What To Bring

Comfortable walking shoes, water bottle, camera/phone, binoculars, rain coat, fleece, and your Park Pass.

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Additional Trip Details

Let’s Go For a Couple of Short, Easy Nature Walks in Glacier National Park

Enjoy a ride in our van through the Lake McDonald Valley on the way to our Nature Walks in Glacier. Then, we take a leisurely walk on a .6 mile paved path to the McDonald Creek Oxbow – 1.2 mile round trip. Next, enjoy vistas into the park from the Camas Road. We’ll stop at several viewpoints, such as McGee Meadows and McDonald Creek. Finally, we end up at the Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River. There, we walk the Forest and Fire Nature Trail for about 1.1 miles.

What is provided on the Glacier Nature Walk and Float?

Interpretive Guide with first aid kit and bear spray, van transport, snacks, hiking poles.

Nature Walk in Glacier Itinerary

Times are approximate!

Meet your guide at our West Glacier office at 9:30 am. Next, your guide will do a quick orientation, check your gear, and go over last minute details. We drive into Glacier National Park via the West Glacier entrance, 1 mile from our office. Don’t forget your park pass!

Lake McDonald Valley

Once in Glacier, we will walk 1.2 miles round trip through the Lake McDonald Valley. This is a glaciated valley, and we will walk on the terminal glacial moraine that dams Lake McDonald. This area is characterized by lodgepole pine forest left from a 1927 fire. You’ll delight in seeing the aquamarine waters that flow from Lake McDonald. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for this valley’s resident beaver and moose!

The Forest and Fire Nature Trail

Next, we’ll load up in our van and continue our adventure by driving the short distance to Glacier’s North Fork Valley. Along the way, we’ll stop at various viewpoints until we reach the Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River. Here, we’ll take another short, easy walk on The Forest and Fire Nature Trail. This 1.1 mile loop weaves in and out of new growth lodgepole pine and aspen forest.

The Forest and Fire Nature Trail area burned in 1967 and again in the 2001 Moose Creek Fire. There are beautiful views and fantastic opportunities for interpretation along this loop. You will learn about a variety of tree and plant species, fire impacts, and wildlife inhabitants along the river corridor. Views include Glacier National Park, the North Fork of the Flathead River, and the Flathead National Forest.

This nature walk in Glacier is easy but not completely flat: the trail climbs gains and loses about 180 vertical feet in elevation.

Early Afternoon: Glacier Nature Walk and Float Lunchtime!

After we’re done walking, we’ll return along the same route by van to the Glacier Guides and Montana Raft office. As we drive, be sure to ask your guide any remaining questions that you might have. Our guides are passionate and have encyclopedic knowledge about Glacier National Park — no matter your level of hiking experience, we promise they’ll teach you something new. You’ll end the day knowing more about Glacier National Park than you ever expected!

Typically, we return to the Glacier Guides and Montana Raft office no later than 1:00 PM. A delicious, homemade sack lunch will be waiting for you. We like to eat, and eat well. Our kitchen sources locally and organically whenever possible. Enjoy our shaded pavilion while you eat, and volleyball, gift shop, and free Wi-Fi between trips! You will have an extended lunch break of about 1.5 hours until you’ll meet for the rafting portion of your trip at 2:30 pm.

After your Nature Walk in Glacier National Park, enjoy an extended lunch break of about 1.5 hours and then a Wild and Scenic raft trip on Glacier National Park’s Middle Fork of the Flathead River. We like to eat, and eat well. Our kitchen sources locally and organically whenever possible. Enjoy our shaded pavilion while you eat, and volleyball, gift shop, and free Wi-Fi between trips! You’ll have about a 1.5 hour break between trips until 2:30 when it’s time to head to the life jacket pavilion to get geared up for the scenic float which leaves at 3:00.

Glacier Nature Walk and Float

This Glacier National Park rafting trip will take you down the scenic section of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, from West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge. This river forms Glacier National Park’s southwestern border. If you would like to explore this gorgeous Wild and Scenic designated river, but are not interested in a whitewater adventure, then this mellow Glacier National Park Scenic Float Trip is for you! Learn more about Glacier Park, historical and cultural considerations, flora and fauna, environmental concerns, river ecology, and much, much more. Next, soak in gorgeous views of Glacier National Park from its stunning Wild and Scenic border river, the Middle Fork Flathead.

Meet your guide at life jacket pavilion by 2:30 and get fitted for lifejackets and any other necessary equipment. Next, if you have an epi-pen or other medication, your guide can stow it safely for you in a dry bag. At 3:00 PM, take a short bus ride — approximately 5 minutes — to the river put in. Finally, your guide will launch the boat and you’ll be floating down the stunning Wild and Scenic Middle Fork of the Flathead River!

Next, you’ll pass through a steep, walled canyon. Views from river right are of Glacier National Park. A highlight is passing through where the Middle and North Forks of the Flathead River come together to form the southern tip of Glacier National Park. Finally, your guide will take the raft out of the water just past the confluence, at Blankenship Bridge. From there, it’s about a 15 minute bus ride back to where you started.

  • Rafting Testimonial

    Great ride! The views were amazing. Connor was our guide and did a great job sharing his knowledge of the route. I actually jumped in the river, and it was quite refreshing! I highly recommend spending time exploring Glacier National Park with Glacier Guides and Montana Raft. They are very professional and make the ride more fun.

    — P.J. Wubbena

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  • Rafting Testimonial

    I highly recommend booking with Glacier Guides. We booked white water rafting for 3 guys and had a blast. We felt like the guides did a really great job of demonstrating their expertise on the water and sharing history about the local area. Joe in particular was a great dude. If you’re in town, these guys are the best!

    — David Williamson

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  • Rafting Testimonial

    If you’re looking to try white water rafting in glacier (which you should!) Glacier Guides is the place to go! My husband and I were on our honeymoon and this was our first rafting experience, and it could not have been better! James was prepared with experience, knowledge and jokes. We felt very safe with James in charge. He also offered numerous places and hikes in the park for all experience levels. Highly recommend!

    — Rebecca Herchenroether

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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!!

    — Jacki Kelly

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  • Rafting Testimonial

    We had such a great time! Our guide was Nicolette, and she was fantastic. She was so
    knowledgeable about the park, river, and everything Montana. We weren’t sure what to expect upon arrival, and ended up making the best memories of our trip. I very highly recommend this company & the relaxing raft tour. Make it a priority if you’re visiting Glacier! Will definitely be back!

    — Amanda Stenzel

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