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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Hiking Testimonial
Went on a guided hike to Avalanche Trail yesterday with our guide Tom. Perfect way to experience the Park for the first time. I learned so much about the Park as Tom pointed out many interesting points that I would have not known if I went alone. Enjoyed the company of 5 other guests. Took a van ride about 16 miles in to access the Trail. Tom brought lunches for each and we ate halfway through on the shore of a beautiful lake. I enjoyed asking questions to learn and Tom had the answers. I would highly recommend taking a guided hike with Glacier Guides even if you’ve been to the Park before. Glad I did.
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Our Guides
Thank you to Glacier Guides, and more specifically my guide Jeremy for making my 6 day backpacking trip through Glacier such an amazing experience. Jeremy was knowledgeable, patient, prepared, an excellent cook, and a pretty cool dude. Would definitely recommend Glacier Guides to anyone visiting Glacier NP.
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Rafting Testimonial
We had such a great time! Our guide was Nicolette, and she was fantastic. She was so
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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!
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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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Hiking Testimonial
I went on a six day hike with four guys and our guide, Maketa. It was amazing. We had a wide range of ages 35-70 and our guide was able to create the perfect trip for all of us. It is an unbelievable park and we were able to optimize our time there because of the expert planning from Maketa. Glacier Guides was helpful throughout the experience and I wouldn’t have had the same trip any other way. Definitely a FIVE STAR rating. Best trip of my life!
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