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Private Guided Backpacking Glacier National Park

Private Guided Backpacking Glacier National Park

A Personalized Experience

**We are now accepting reservations for 2025. It’s best to get your reservation confirmed by  January 1st so that we can get amazing permits & routes in place for the summer. Send us and email or give us a call for more information and to book today!**

Send us an email (info@glacierguides.com) or give us a call (406 387 5555).

A private, custom guided backpacking trip in Glacier National Park is ideal for those hikers who have special backpacking requests, such as less mileage or more layover days. Let us know when and where you want to go. Don’t worry – if you don’t know, we can help you choose!

Or maybe there’s a specific itinerary you’re interested in — we can never guarantee these, but we would love to lend our expertise to your dream trip logistics.

Some of our guests simply prefer to backpack only with family and friends — although we will say that since 1983 it has been a pleasure to watch strangers turn into close friends on plenty of our regularly scheduled backpacking trips. But we get it, sometimes you just feel like you have enough friends already.

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Pricing

Price Per Person: $320/person/day

Requirements: 4 person / $1280/day, 2 day / $2560 minimum

Other: Glacier National Park entrance fee (not included in price)

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

Specials Plan Your Trip

Trip Dates & Details

Difficulty: Easy, Family Friendly, Moderate, or Advanced – you choose!

Dates: 06/01 to 09/30, depending on guide availability. Please give us a call at 406-387-5555 or email us-(info@glacierguides.com) to explore private, custom backpacking in Glacier possibilities.

Trip Duration: 2 to 6 Days – you choose!

Gear Rental: Need to rent some gear for your adventure? No problem! Take a look at our Glacier National Park Equipment Rentals page and reserve what you need when you book!

Trip Length

Reserve Early

When you choose a private, custom guided backpacking trip in Glacier National Park, you choose when and where you’d like to go and who you’d like to hike with.  You’ll want to book now to secure your spot on these exclusive 2025 private backpacking trips!

What Should I Bring?

  • What’s provided? Do you need a sleeping bag? View the complete packing list for additional information.
View Packing List

Additional Trip Details

What’s Included In Private, Custom Backpacking In Glacier Experiences?

Transportation is included, and we can arrange to pick you up from hotels and campgrounds in and around Glacier National Park. Also included is the Vehicle Reservation to Glacier National Park

All meals from lunch on day 1 of your trip through lunch on the last day of your trip are included, too. You will be amazed by what our guides cook for you in the backcountry! We like to eat, and it shows. Our in-house kitchen staff, who assists our guides in trip preparations, believes in sourcing locally, purchasing organic when possible, and fueling your body with the best available, homemade food. You won’t find commercially freeze dried one bag meals on this trip! We can also accommodate nearly any dietary restriction or preference – just ask in advance, please.

Private, Custom Backpacking In Glacier Meeting Notes

Please call our office the day before departure at 406-387-5555 to check-in.  We are located 1.5 miles west of West Glacier on Highway 2. Look for our Glacier Guides and Montana Raft sign on the north side of the highway, between mile marker 151 and 152. Our property is just off the highway, tucked in the trees.

Private Combination Adventure Packages

Want to backpack with your nearest and dearest one day, and have a different kind of fun with them on another? Let us take you whitewater raftingscenic floatingovernight raftingfly fishingovernight fly fishing, or bicycling in Glacier National Park, too! We can always arrange for private experiences – just ask. info@glacierguides.com

I Think I’d Rather Go Day Hiking

Prefer day hiking to backpacking? Don’t forget that we offer regularly scheduled guided hikes in Glacier Monday through Saturday!

We can arrange for custom guided day hikes, too. Please e-mail or call us and we’ll be happy to help you pick the right hike for your group. 406-387-5555

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Typical backpacking mileage ranges from 5 to 12 miles a day, with an average of 8 miles/day. We welcome your personalized mileage requests on a private, custom backpacking trip in Glacier, and will do our very best to accommodate them. However, we cannot guarantee them due to the nature of the permit system in Glacier National Park.
  • On longer trips we sometimes incorporate a layover day. This allows guests to explore the park without a heavy pack. Early season (through June and into first part of July) backpacking trips tend to base camp more, and then day hike to explore the alpine passes. This is due to winter snows lingering in the high country.
  • Elevation gain and loss on an average day will be about 500 to 800 feet, while a more strenuous day will be 2,000 to 3,000 feet, i.e. if you are hiking over a pass. As always, we welcome your requests, but cannot guarantee them.
  • Weight of your backpack will depend on the weight of what you choose to bring. Depending on the length of your trip, your guide will give you 2-8 pounds of food to add to your bag. Most people end up with a pack weight of around 40 pounds. Remember, ounces make pounds! And we offer porter services, too.
  • Our guides pack and prepare all meals and are great backcountry cooks. You’ll enjoy delicious, largely locally sourced and organic meals. We are happy to accommodate special dietary needs upon advanced request. Please let us know what they are when you book your trip.
  • Group size can be no larger than 8 people per backcountry trip. 7 guests per guide.
  • Don’t forget your passport, because some of our trips during mid July through early September either start or end in Waterton, Canada! Please let us know at the time of booking if you don’t have a passport

Notice from the National Park Service re Backpacking Permits

Glacier National Park is a dynamic resource where natural events and conditions are unpredictable. There is a possibility that trail and campground closures, campground environmental conditions, natural events (such as fire, aggressive animals, etc) or other NPS management actions may render a particular itinerary impossible. In the event that this occurs, every effort will be made to provide you with an alternate itinerary. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOUR ROUTE WILL BE PASSABLE OR ITINERARY AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARRIVE. ADVANCE RESERVATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

  • 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!

    — Andrew Rocca

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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.

    — Peter Lemp

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    Glacier National Park Backpacking Trips
  • Hiking Testimonial

    Glacier guides was more than I could’ve imagined! My Friends and I did the 5 day glacier challenge and it was amazing! They offer longer hikes and shorter hikes. I thought I would do all the long hikes but I didn’t every day. Every hike you take is absolutely stunning!! definitely do what your body will allow, you’ll still be very satisfied! Best part of the challenge is most certainly the guides… TOM MATELICH is awesome! he is a wonderful leader, cook, guide, absolutely hilarious and all around great guy! ARI MELINGER-COHEN is super chill and very calming to be around, extremely knowledgeable and very caring. MAKETE ROESCH is magical, super helpful and can pretty much answer anything you want to know (especially about bears and flowers). All these guys are seriously the best and when I go back I will 100% be requesting them. Glacier guides couldn’t have made this experience any better! Forever grateful for their guidance and the love they have for this beautiful place!

    — Britney Doe

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  • Hiking Testimonial

    We did the 3 day backpacking trip with Tom a few weeks ago. It was the BEST experience we could have asked for! We will book again if we get the chance. Unforgettable views and experience. Not to mention the food Tom made with just one little burner was perfect.

    — Ashley Marie

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  • Hiking Testimonial

    What an amazing experience! Just finished a four day backpacking trip with guide, Jen. Jen was extremely professional and so “in tune” to the group. Her knowledge of the surroundings we walked through was incredible. It’s clear she holds a passion for what she does that really shines through. She went above and beyond to help give me a most memorable first time experience at Glacier. Thank you!

    — Jessica Wolf

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