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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Lodging Testimonial
I had a really pleasant stay at Glacier Guides Lodge. The room was super clean and comfortable and the service was terrific. Transportation for hikes was provided, which was really nice. Would stay there again.
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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!
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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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Chalet Testimonial
Our family of 5 just returned from the 3 day chalet trip with Ryan and Eva and WOW! We’re still coming down from the amazing time we had! First of all, both these guides are just really cool people, super knowledgeable about the history and ecology of the park, and clearly enthusiastic about what they do. The Highline Trail was stunning, Ryan and Eva made sure everyone was comfortable with the pace and pointed out animals, berries, and interesting features when we came across them. After the hike in it was awesome to have a delicious, hot meal prepared FOR us (we felt very fortunate for our dinner after watching the rest of the guest eat freeze dried stuff). I’m so grateful for the gentle push to do the two day hikes we did while up that way; they were so worth the climb and our time at the top of the Swiftcurrent Fire Lookout is one of the absolute highlights of this trip. I want to make a special mention of how great both of these guides where with our children, my boys especially bonded with Ryan and they probably talked both his and Eva’s ears all the way off over the duration of the trip but they were so cool about it. Overall this trip was one we will never forget and always cherish and the fantastic guides and process with your company really made it that much more enjoyable. We hope to come back someday for more adventures!
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Our Guides
Our guide Scott did a great job prepping and leading the tour, which consisted of 6 guests (including myself). The description of the tour and FAQ/prep materials list and itinerary that the company sent over beforehand were very accurate and super helpful! Aside from a quick hail storm, we got great weather and an extremely enjoyable three days of hiking in East Glacier crossing the Continental Divide. Scott did an excellent job of explaining to us how the backcountry permitting system works and from that explanation I was amazed at the amount of work that each guide must put into every single tour. They are truly responsible for everything while you’re out, so having an experienced guide with the right temperament and attitude are a must—especially if things go wrong. I’m glad to say everything went as planned! I was able to spot several animals and some breathtaking scenery alongside good conversation within our group of former strangers. Great job, Scott and Glacier Guides!
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