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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Biking Testimonial
Amazing time riding bikes on the Going to the sun road! Very helpful staff made sure that we had the best possible time.
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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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Lodging Testimonial
Perfect base from which to explore Glacier National Park. We only had 4 in our group, but the house had plenty of room for more. We picked up groceries on the way from the airport so we could cook breakfast and dinners at the house and spend all day at the Park. Sunflower Cafe across the highway has great options to pack in for trail lunches. We loved all the windows and felt like we were already in the park while in the house. Great to have the laundry there, too to clean up before heading over to the east side of the park for the rest of our stay. I would recommend this house to anyone. visiting Glacier.
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Our Guides
The BEST outfit that we’ve ever been out with! The company promotes giving great service and provides their team with the support and necessary tools to give their customers A WOW experience! The food they provide is amazing. Thanks Judith, Katie, Taylor and Jeff for making our 6 day backpacking trip a blast…and the river rafting!
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Chalet Testimonial
Glacier Guides three day Chalet backpacking trip is about as good as it gets. You get the opportunity to do backcountry hiking led by experienced guides AND you can leave the 40 pound backpack home! All food and sleeping quarters are provided at the Granite Chalet as you day hike through the beauty of Glacier National. Our group was a fun and interesting bunch from all over the U.S. that loved the outdoors and who were very pleasant companions. A great experience run by a truly professional company.
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