Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The scenery is unreal,…read moreespecially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. For the best experience, definitely get there early and allow plenty of extra time for activities if you're staying outside the park, as traffic can become heavy, especially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. If you're new to the park, I also recommend booking one of the Red Bus Tours. It was a great way to experience the park without the stress of driving or parking, and the guide was very knowledgeable. The Apgar Visitor Center staff were also very helpful and gave great recommendations and information for navigating the park. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and somewhere I would absolutely visit again.

"In string theory, all particles are vibrations on a tiny rubber band; physics is the harmonies on…read morethe string; chemistry is the melodies we play on vibrating strings; the universe is a symphony of strings, and the 'Mind of God' is cosmic music resonating in 11-dimensional hyperspace." Yeah... I repeated that for a while dragging myself up one of Glacier's long, soul-crushingly gorgeous hikes. The views? Unreal. The vibe? Humbling. The legs? Suffering. This park makes you feel small in the best possible way, like the universe is laughing with you, not at you. Sadly, no bear sightings (which honestly feels like Glacier's version of a refund). But I did snag a sweater at the visitor center, staff were so kind I half expected them to adopt me. And let's be real: you'll probably run into a crew of hot Canadians wandering over the border like it's no big deal. Glacier has everything, cosmic philosophy, scenery that'll fry your brain circuits, kind staff, and bonus eye candy from the north. 11/10, would string-theory again.

We were able to hike the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead through Many Glacier on the last day it was…read moreopen for the season (9/19/21) but unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side. It was a constant mist/rain the entire hike and then getting into Grinnell Glacier it was snowing! We arrived at the parking lot by 7AM and there were already 10 cars parked and we started the hike around 7:30. By the time we got back, around 1PM, the lot was full but the rain started coming down more so people were leaving. It's about a 10-11 mile hike RT. During the summer, you can opt to pay to take a boat across Lake Josephine to shorten the hike, but that was the easiest part. The part of the hike where you walk above Lake Josephine is probably the most picturesque - so gorgeous but a little foggy. When you finally get to the Glacier you're greeted with the bluest water bend and snow covered mountains. For this hike, the way back is easier and we were happy about that because we were cold and starting to feel miserable. Would love to do this hike again with better weather but it was still a beautiful one to do! We drove Going-to-the-Sun road and round the Rising Sun Boat Deck parking lot (which was empty during this time) and it was the perfect spot for a nap.

My friends and I hiked to Grinnell Overlook via the Granite park trail. The whole trail was out and…read moreback and a total of about 11.4 miles with around 3500 ft of elevation. Not gonna lie, the last stretch (the Garden Wall) was pretty rough as the trail was very narrow and incredibly rocky, and the wind was constantly screaming and whipping your face (definitely bring a windbreaker and protect your hats!!!). But despite the difficulty for us average hikers and the sad state of our feet afterwards, my friends and I absolutely loved the experience. It wasn't just about the view at the top for us. The entire trail was stunning and since we hiked late September, the red and golden foliage all around us made us feel like we were in another world. We saw various wildlife as well - mostly deer and chipmunks!

Our group ranged in age from 7-69 and everyone enjoyed this gentle loop which included a gorgeous…read morewaterfall and plenty of picture-worthy scenes. The youngest one among us enjoyed clambering up boulders and throwing walks into the river. If you're looking for a family-friendly hike in Glacier, this is it!

Trail is 5.9 miles out and back. Beautiful waterfalls on our way…read more End point is so mesmerizing.

Perfect rafting trip!!!! So affordable ($80 adult & $60 kids) but really fun and safe. Econ was our…read moreguide and he knew the river like the back of his hand. Check in was easy & very clearly explained, transport to the launch site was fun and we all had a blast. We went in mid-August but it sounds like early summer and spring is when the river is really flowing when the snowcap is melting. Would HIGHLY recommend!

For 30 years, I have dreamed of floating down the Flathead river along the legendary snow-capped…read moremountain peaks of Glacier National Park. Over the years, I have looked at dozens (OK, hundreds) of photos of the wet, smiling faces of the boaters splashing and paddling through the whitewater rapids. They always look so happy and excited! Oh, how I wanted to be "that guy" in the photo. In 2024, I decided I had waited long enough and pulled the trigger. With a gentle nudge from my best friend, I booked a 2-day whitewater rafting adventure with Glacier Guides and Montana Raft. It was time- and it was now my turn! We made our way north in June, 2025 crossing through 8 states and into Montana. A day before we arrived at the Glacier Guide office, I received a call from our rafting guide, Zack. He sounded as excited as we were and walked us through the itinerary and what we could expect when we arrived. Very professional! The day had come! When we arrived at the Glacier Guide Office, we were greeted by our guides, Zack and Abby who are absolute Rock Stars and clearly love what they do. They made sure we had all the recommended gear and helped us re-pack our gear into waterproof bags for our Rocky Mountain adventure. We met the others assigned to our boat and got fitted for wet suits, life jackets and helmets. Within an hour, we loaded into our bus and headed north- 2 big, blue rafts in tow. The first day was spent easing down the Flathead River along the banks of Glacier National Park. The views were just beautiful. Our guide on the first day was Abby, who was as funny as she was skilled at navigating the Class II river. Zack floated ahead of us in the "gear boat" which carried all our tents, food and camping gear. We stopped for lunch around noon which gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs and get to know the other members of our party. Bald eagles were observed every so often, as were momma ducks with their babies close by. Everyone was on the lookout for grizzly bears that are common in Glacier, but unfortunately none were seen on our trip. After lunch, we continued down the river for several hours until Zack found a good spot to call "home" for the night. We had a few hours before nightfall and spent our time making camp, hanging wet clothes and enjoying some of the most beautiful mountain views in the world. We helped the guides unload the gear boat before enjoying grilled steak and salmon for dinner. The food was fantastic, as was the fellowship! After dinner, we sat around a little campfire and relaxed with our new friends. Tired from a long day on the water, we all headed to our tents around 10:00 PM. 6:00 AM, daylight and the smell of coffee and bacon stirred us from our tents. With the sounds of the river flowing below, we eased into the new day with a great breakfast before we broke camp, donned our protective gear and loaded our raft. We changed captains and Zack guided us down the river after a safety brief, Abby navigated the "gear boat" a safe distance behind. Another glorious Montana day on the river. The closer we got to the entrance of Glacier Park, the more dramatic the views and more challenging the whitewater became. Zack expertly and safely navigated the Class III rapids, all while we paddled like crazy when the order "All forward!" was given. The last stretch of water had 8 named rapids like "Bone Crusher," "Pinball" and "The Big Squeeze." All of us got drenched to the bone and wouldn't have it any other way. It was the Montana trip of a lifetime and everything I hoped it would be. As our 2-day, overnight adventure came to an end, our guides "high-fived" us and thanked us for joining them. I was sad to leave, I cannot lie. Zack and Abby with Glacier Guides knocked it out of the park- true professionals and an absolute pleasure to be around. I will never forget my Rocky Mountain adventure and am so grateful for the staff of Glacier Guides that helped make a dream come true. I can confidently recommend Glacier Guides to anyone. ~David T. Leuba

What a beautiful spot inside Glacier National Park. We came across this spot since the road to…read moreJackson Glacier is still closed before the season fully opens, and it was beautiful. So much wild life to be seen and even saw a bride and groom getting married at Sun Point. Beautiful and windy so be prepared!

All in all, great trail. A little difficult to navigate using All Trails, as the Sun Point trail…read moreincludes Baring but not the other two, while St. Mary and Virginia has a gap in between and doesn't include Baring, Otherwise, the trail is great. Lots of burned tree remnants remind you of the dangers of forest fires. The three waterfalls are all beautiful. We saw a mama moose and her calf on a sand bank behind the water, and others saw a grizzly bear Baring not long after we were there.

A very gorgeous lake that was a short trek to see and pretty populated. The peaks are in the…read morebackground make it very picturesque. It was a great first stop heading into Glacier National Park for us!

SO BEAUTIFUL! I visited in June and stayed at the cabins right next to Lake McDonald. I made sure…read moreto walk out to Lake McDonald first thing every morning and spent about an hour out there each night before going to bed. The water is perfectly clear and the colored rocks are so unique and cool to look at. I had the opportunity to Kayak on Lake McDonald and it was one of the highlights of my trip!

Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls is a magical West Glacier waterfall. You can access this waterfall…read moreeasily from a footbridge spanning McDonald Creek. Even though there were more rapids and cascades further upstream of this falls, I wanted to check out why the local Native-Americans revere this particular waterfall. Sacred Dancing Cascade Falls is accessible to the eyes from the road. Looking up from the Red Tour Bus, you can gaze up the mountain and see several streaming walls of water. After pulling off the road into a large parking lot, it is a quick walk to the footbridge over the Creek, and after a hike, you will be close enough to where a great view of the cascade can be found, For the local indigenous peoples, this Sacred Waterfall is a spiritual holy place. The mists that rise from the base of the waterfall are thought to connect heaven and earth. They are also thought to be a conduit of our earthly prayers to the Great Creator and where the First Man & First Woman were created by the Moon Transformer. A local tribe member once explained the importance of the Falls by saying the waterfall is a symbol to them of "the cycle of water which renews us for it is the cycle of life." The Sacred Falls is a glorious thing to experience. When you get closer up, seeing the smooth layers of rock scrubbed down by years of powerful water tumbling over it is thrilling. Sacred Dancing Cascade Fall makes you realize the incredible force of water and why the Indians are right to revere such a place as this.

We were up for site seeing, not adventure, so we chose the scenic float. It was fabulous…read more You meet at their offices and get your life vest. They bus you to the start of the journey. You can paddle if you want but not required. There were 4 boats in our group. We floated down the Flathead Middle Fork River. The current keeps you moving so while you are floating, you are making decent time down the river. A few mild rapids make it fun. The guides were wonderful. They worked so well as a team and their camaraderie was fun to watch. Ella was the lead person and she was the guide of our boat. She told us interesting facts and answered tons of questions from us. I felt like we were in the adult boat because it was all older couples and not kids which was awesome. They give you a chance to jump in if you'd like. Our boat passed on getting wet, but the others had kids and family members that made the cold plunge. Eagles and Osprey were the wild life we saw. oh and lots of fish. This was a great experience. Highly recommend it.

Wonderful experience all around! The staff was so nice and knowledgeable. We had Aaron S as our…read moreguide in a raft of 10, including Aaron. He provided us clear and strong direction every step of the way, ensuring we were safe but also had the FUNNEST experience. I came into the experience very nervous since I can't swim, but his preparedness, rafting skills, and clear direction helped me trust him throughout the full process. 10000% recommend!!!

Wild River Adventures scenic float on the Flathead River in West Glacier was the perfect thing for…read moreour large group of 17. We had adults over 70 and toddlers. We felt safe, and in the capable hands of Whitney our guide. The views were magnificent, the opportunities to dip in plentiful and even a yummy cookie break to boot. I would happily do this again and again.

Well organized, supplied everything needed, amazing and clear instructions from Taylor, Elena, and…read moreDrew. Truly top tear guides. Whole trip from start to finish filled with fun facts, history, local tips, information, safety, and even jokes. Could not think of anything lacking or needing change. Perfection. Favorite part of our trip. We had two kids 12 and 7 and they both said it was their favorite part!

Views views views!…read more Great change of pace after days of hiking. I rented a 1 seater kayak from glacier outfitters. It may look like a far walk but it isn't! Totally doable. The staff was very nice to explain everything to me. They showed me the lake map and where to go and not go, etc. Instructions were very clear. I rented 2 hours (they have you 15 mins for the round trip walk). The walk from the rental to the lake I thought was a bit of a walk but it was not bad to haul the kayak there, they are on wheels so it is not bad. You leave the wheels near the trees. Returning the kayak was fairly easy as well. There are lockers available that you can put your stuff if you don't want to take it with you. The minimum number of hours is 2 hours and it was 40 something. Overall it was a good experience! Everything was great. Would recommend and use service again.

We made reservations at Glacier Outfitters for kayaks for the day. (highly recommend reservations)…read more There is a small parking lot and some street parking but it was not a busy day and it was full. We had people waiting for our parking spot when we returned to the car. I'm not sure where people would park when it gets very busy. Perhaps there is another parking lot I didn't see. When you walk up to G.O. you sign waivers, pay the fee and are gathered in an area for instructions. The man who provided the instructions was very informative. Advised us of areas in Flathead Lake to avoid including a rough water area and a few bald eagle's nests as they recently laid eggs. After instructions, you are provided with the kayak, paddle, life jacket and a cart to roll the kayak down to the lake. Now, I'm pretty strong but the kayaks are heavy. I did think to myself, how would someone with less strength get this kayak down to the lake? Something to ask about if you are renting as it is several yards to walk with a heavy kayak. The carts were easy to remove and stash while we spent the day in the lake. When you finish kayaking, you simply load the kayak back on the cart and roll it back to G.O., drop off gear and you are done. We had a great experience with Glacier Outfitters and would use them again.