Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Glacier National Park: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier and Waterton
7 days from Glacier Park International Airport: three nights in Whitefish with Logan Pass and the Middle Fork, two nights inside Many Glacier and a night in Waterton Lakes, Canada.
7 days · Round trip from Kalispell · up to 12 guests
Sunrise on Swiftcurrent Lake in Many Glacier Photo: NPS Photo / Tim Rains, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunrise_at_Many_Glacier_(995eb22d-1dd8-b71b-0bef-cb8eeaf1a0f5).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Kalispell
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Walks of 2 to 5 km most days on mountain trails between about 1,000 and 2,050 m, with an easier choice each time. The longest optional hikes are Hidden Lake (about 8.5 km return) and Grinnell Glacier (about 12 km return, about 490 m up). The raft trip needs no experience. Up to about four hours a day in the van, with stops at least every 90 minutes, and you can sit out any walk.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,205 (estimated price)
- Season
- Late June to mid-September
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Going-to-the-Sun Road at first light and Logan Pass by about 8:15 am, before the car park fills
- The Hidden Lake Overlook trail, where mountain goats and bighorn sheep often graze near the path
- A cruise on Lake McDonald, then a scenic float or whitewater on the Middle Fork of the Flathead
- Marias Pass on the Continental Divide, the lobby of Glacier Park Lodge and Running Eagle Falls at Two Medicine
- Two nights inside Many Glacier: sunrise on Swiftcurrent Lake, two boats and the walk to Grinnell Lake
- Wild Goose Island on St. Mary Lake, then over the border to Waterton Lakes
- The Upper Waterton Lake cruise across the international border and the Prince of Wales Hotel bluff at the end of the day
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,205 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Whitefish
Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) to Whitefish
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Whitefish
- Drive about 30 min
Fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), between Kalispell and Whitefish in the Flathead Valley, and land by about 3 pm; we confirm the group pick-up times with your final itinerary. Your See Sight Tours guide meets you in arrivals, and it is about 25 minutes north to Whitefish, our base for three nights. Whitefish grew up as a railway town on the Great Northern line, and Amtrak's Empire Builder still stops at its 1920s depot. Downtown is a few walkable blocks of shops, galleries and restaurants, with Whitefish Lake a short way beyond and the ski runs of Big Mountain above the town. Check in and take a walk to stretch your legs.
Evening
In the evening your guide briefs the group on the week ahead: what the Going-to-the-Sun Road is like, why tomorrow starts early, how to carry bear spray, and what you need for the day in Canada. Then we sit down together to a welcome dinner in town.
Included
- Pick-up at Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner in Whitefish
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
The Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass
Whitefish to West Glacier, along Lake McDonald and up the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass, then back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Whitefish
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
We leave Whitefish at about 6:15 am, because the car park at Logan Pass fills early on summer mornings and the light on the Garden Wall is best before mid-morning. The Going-to-the-Sun Road, finished in 1932, runs about 80 km across the park. Today we take its western half: the length of Lake McDonald, along McDonald Creek, then the climb cut into the cliffs past the Loop and the Weeping Wall to the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, 2,026 m. Large coaches cannot drive this stretch; our van is sized for the road's limits. From the visitor centre a boardwalk and trail climb through alpine meadows to the Hidden Lake Overlook, where mountain goats and bighorn sheep often graze beside the path.
Afternoon
On the way down we stop at the Bird Woman Falls viewpoint and walk the boardwalk Trail of the Cedars at Avalanche Creek, then sit down to lunch by Lake McDonald.
Evening
We are back in Whitefish in the late afternoon, and the evening is free.
Included
- The Going-to-the-Sun Road from West Glacier to Logan Pass, at the pass by about 8:15 am
- The Hidden Lake Overlook trail from Logan Pass
- The Weeping Wall and the Bird Woman Falls viewpoint
- Trail of the Cedars at Avalanche Creek
- Sit-down lunch by Lake McDonald
Easier option: Walk the first stretch of the Hidden Lake boardwalk through the meadows, then wait at the visitor centre while the others go on to the overlook. If the park has closed the trail for bear activity, everyone walks the meadows or the first stretch of the Highline Trail instead.
More active option: Continue past the overlook down to the shore of Hidden Lake and back, about 8.5 km return in all, dropping about 230 m to the water and climbing back up.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Whitefish
Activity: About 4.3 km return to the Hidden Lake Overlook with about 150 m of climb, above 2,000 m. Snow can lie on the trail into July, and the park sometimes closes it for bear activity; if so we walk the Logan Pass meadows or the first stretch of the Highline Trail instead. If cloud hides the pass, we swap days 2 and 3.
Lake McDonald and the Middle Fork
Whitefish to Apgar and Lake McDonald Lodge, then West Glacier and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, then back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Whitefish
- Drive about 2 h
A later start after yesterday's early one. We leave Whitefish at about 9 am for Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park at about 16 km long, and walk the shore at Apgar, where the water is clear enough to see the red, green and blue stones on the bottom.
Afternoon
From Lake McDonald Lodge we take an hour-long cruise on the lake, with the peaks of the Continental Divide at its head, then sit down to lunch in West Glacier. In the afternoon a local rafting outfitter takes us down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, which forms the park's southern boundary. Choose the scenic float, a gentle few hours on clear green water watching for ospreys and bald eagles, or the whitewater stretch through John Stevens Canyon, with Class II and III rapids. Splash gear and the river guides are included.
Evening
We are back in Whitefish by late afternoon, and the evening and dinner are yours.
Included
- The shore at Apgar on Lake McDonald
- One-hour cruise on Lake McDonald from Lake McDonald Lodge
- Sit-down lunch in West Glacier
- Half-day raft trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with a local outfitter, scenic float or whitewater
Easier option: Take the scenic float rather than the whitewater, or skip the river and spend the afternoon at Apgar or back in Whitefish.
More active option: The whitewater stretch through John Stevens Canyon, Class II and III rapids, paddling with the river guide.
Free time: Evening free in Whitefish
Activity: Rafting outfitters set minimum ages and ask about swimming ability. Bring a change of dry clothes and a warm layer for after the river.
Over Marias Pass to Two Medicine and Many Glacier
Whitefish along the Middle Fork to Marias Pass and East Glacier Park, then Two Medicine and north along the mountain front to Many Glacier
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Many Glacier
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
We pack up after breakfast and leave Whitefish at about 8 am on US Highway 2, which follows the Middle Fork along the park's southern edge to Marias Pass, 1,589 m on the Continental Divide, where the Great Northern Railway crossed the mountains in the early 1890s. Beyond the pass the peaks drop away to the plains of the Blackfeet Reservation.
Afternoon
In East Glacier Park we walk into the lobby of Glacier Park Lodge, built by the railway in 1913 around huge Douglas fir columns, and sit down to lunch in the village. After lunch we turn up the valley to Two Medicine Lake, a quieter corner of the park, with a short walk to Running Eagle Falls on the way. Then it is north along the edge of the mountains to Many Glacier, where we stay two nights, arriving in the late afternoon. At about four hours this is one of the longer days on the road, but it crosses the Divide without driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road twice, and four stops break it up.
Evening
Dinner is included tonight.
Included
- US Highway 2 along the Middle Fork to Marias Pass on the Continental Divide
- The lobby of Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Park
- Sit-down lunch in East Glacier Park
- Running Eagle Falls and Two Medicine Lake
- Dinner in Many Glacier
Easier option: Running Eagle Falls is about 1 km return on a flat, good path, and at Two Medicine you can stay on the lake shore.
Activity: Wind at Marias Pass and Two Medicine can be strong and cold; keep a jacket in the van.
A full day in Many Glacier
Many Glacier: Swiftcurrent Lake, Lake Josephine and Grinnell Lake
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Many Glacier
- By boat
Evening
Many Glacier is the valley most visitors see for a few hours on a day trip; we have it from dawn to dusk. If you want it, your guide walks down to Swiftcurrent Lake for sunrise, when the peaks often reflect in still water and moose sometimes feed along the edges. After breakfast we board the tour boat across Swiftcurrent Lake, walk a short portage and take a second boat across Lake Josephine. From the far landing a gentle trail of about 3 km return leads to Grinnell Lake, milky turquoise with glacier flour, under a cliff streaked with waterfalls. The easy group rides the boats back for a sit-down lunch and a free afternoon by the lake. Hikers carry a packed lunch on up the Grinnell Glacier trail. Late in the day we scan the slopes above the valley with binoculars: grizzly and black bears, bighorn sheep and mountain goats are often seen from the road and the lake shore, at a safe distance. Dinner is included again tonight.
Included
- Optional sunrise walk at Swiftcurrent Lake with your guide
- Tour boats across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine
- Guided walk to Grinnell Lake
- Sit-down lunch, or a packed lunch for the hikers
- Evening wildlife watching with binoculars
- Dinner in Many Glacier
Easier option: Ride the boats there and back and stay near the Lake Josephine landing, or spend the day around Swiftcurrent Lake, whose loop trail is about 4 km and nearly flat.
More active option: The Grinnell Glacier trail from the Lake Josephine boat to the overlook above Upper Grinnell Lake and the glacier, about 12 km return with about 490 m of climb. It usually opens in mid-July; earlier in the season we walk to Redrock Falls instead.
Free time: Afternoon free in Many Glacier
Activity: Bear spray is provided, and your guide shows you how to carry and use it. Boat timetables change with the season and are confirmed with your final itinerary.
St. Mary Lake and over the border to Waterton
Many Glacier to St. Mary Lake and Sun Point, then north over the Chief Mountain border crossing to Waterton Lakes National Park
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Waterton Park
- Drive about 3 h
Morning
After breakfast we drive down the valley and a short way up the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road to St. Mary Lake, for the view this side of the road is known for: Wild Goose Island, a small pine-topped rock in the middle of the lake, with the peaks rising behind. From Sun Point a walk of about 2 km return leads down to Baring Falls. Then we head north through Blackfeet country to the Chief Mountain crossing, open only in summer, and into Alberta with passports in hand. Waterton Lakes and Glacier together form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, created in 1932 and listed by UNESCO in 1995.
Afternoon
After lunch in the townsite we take the cruise down Upper Waterton Lake, which crosses the international border between steep mountain walls. Later, walk to Cameron Falls at the edge of town and watch for the mule deer that wander the streets. Many slopes are still recovering from the 2017 Kenow wildfire, green again with young pines and fireweed.
Evening
We end the day on the bluff by the Prince of Wales Hotel, high above the lake, before a farewell dinner.
Included
- Sun Point, Wild Goose Island and the walk to Baring Falls on St. Mary Lake
- The Chief Mountain border crossing into Canada
- Entry to Waterton Lakes National Park
- Sit-down lunch in Waterton
- Cruise on Upper Waterton Lake
- Cameron Falls and the Prince of Wales Hotel bluff
- Farewell dinner in Waterton
Easier option: Skip the Baring Falls walk and stay at the Sun Point viewpoint; Cameron Falls is a few steps from the road, and we drive up to the hotel bluff.
More active option: The Bear's Hump trail above the townsite, about 2.8 km return with about 200 m of climb, for the view down the length of Upper Waterton Lake.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Waterton
Activity: Keep your passport with you, not in your suitcase. Whether the cruise stops at Goat Haunt on the US shore depends on that year's border arrangements; we confirm the timetable with your final itinerary.
East Glacier and home
Waterton over the border to St. Mary, south to East Glacier Park, then west over Marias Pass to Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 5 h
We leave Waterton at about 7:30 am and cross back into Montana at Chief Mountain, then follow the mountain front south past St. Mary, with long views east across Blackfeet country. At East Glacier Park we stop for coffee by the railway station, where the Empire Builder calls in summer. Then it is west again over Marias Pass and down the Middle Fork, stopping at the Goat Lick overlook, where mountain goats come down to a natural mineral lick above the river, most often in early summer.
Afternoon
We lunch in West Glacier and reach Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) by about 3 pm. Book a flight leaving after about 5 pm. At about 290 km and four and three-quarter hours at the wheel, this is the longest day of the trip and over our usual four-hour limit: Waterton lies north of the border, and the only way back to the airport that avoids re-crossing Logan Pass on a flight day runs round the south end of the park. The border, coffee, the Goat Lick and lunch split it into short legs. If you are staying on, we drop you in Whitefish instead.
Included
- The Chief Mountain border crossing back into the US
- Coffee stop in East Glacier Park
- The Goat Lick overlook on the Middle Fork
- Sit-down lunch in West Glacier
- Drop-off at Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), or in Whitefish
Easier option: For an earlier flight we skip the coffee stop, the Goat Lick and lunch and reach the airport by about 1 pm.
Activity: Book a flight leaving Glacier Park International Airport after about 5 pm.
- Kalispellstart
- Whitefish3 nights
- Many Glacier2 nights
- Waterton Park1 night
- Kalispellend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Late June can still bring snow at Logan Pass and closed upper trails. July and August are warm, often 20 to 28 C in the valleys, with afternoon thunderstorms and cold nights at Many Glacier. September brings first frosts, autumn colour and fewer people. Late-summer wildfire smoke can haze the views, and fires sometimes close roads or trails. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First visits to Glacier, with the early starts and crowd timing worked out for you
- Travellers who want nights inside Many Glacier, not a day trip to it
- People who like short mountain walks most days, with a longer hike when they feel like it
- Adding Waterton Lakes and a taste of Canada to a Montana trip
- Solo travellers who want a fair single price
Not for you if you want
- Serious hikers looking for long daily trails or backcountry nights
- Travellers who want luxury hotels; the park lodges are historic and simple
- Anyone without a passport valid for Canada and the US
- Visits outside late June to mid-September, when roads and lodges are closed
- Anyone who cannot manage cold mornings and some walking above 2,000 m
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Whitefish3 nights
- Many Glacier2 nights
- Waterton Park1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 3 in Whitefish, 2 in Many Glacier and 1 in Waterton Park, Alberta
- Hotels of a 3-star-plus standard in Whitefish, and hotels or historic park lodges in Many Glacier and Waterton, all with private bathrooms; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) on days 1 and 7, at set group times
- A private van and professional driver for the group from day 1 to day 7, with spare seats and sized for the Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Park entry for the van under the vehicle partner's commercial permit
- The Lake McDonald cruise, the Many Glacier boats across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, and the Upper Waterton Lake cruise
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from the day 1 pick-up to the day 7 drop-off
- Local river guides for the raft trip on the Middle Fork
Activities
- Entrance to Glacier National Park, including the per-person fee for visitors who are not US residents
- Entrance to Waterton Lakes National Park
- The Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass and the Hidden Lake Overlook trail
- The Weeping Wall, the Bird Woman Falls viewpoint and Trail of the Cedars
- Apgar and Lake McDonald
- Half-day raft trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River
- Marias Pass, Glacier Park Lodge, Two Medicine Lake and Running Eagle Falls
- The walk to Grinnell Lake in Many Glacier
- Sun Point, Wild Goose Island and Baring Falls on St. Mary Lake
- Cameron Falls and the Prince of Wales Hotel bluff in Waterton
- The Goat Lick overlook
- A can of bear spray for each guest for the walks
Meals
- 6 breakfasts
- 6 lunches, sit-down on days 2 to 7, with a packed lunch for the hikers on day 5
- 4 dinners: a welcome dinner in Whitefish, two dinners in Many Glacier and a farewell dinner in Waterton
Not included
- International flights to and from Glacier Park International Airport
- Travel insurance
- Passport, and an ESTA, US visa or Canadian visa where needed
- Dinners on days 2 and 3
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, driver and river guides
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses
- Hotel nights before day 1 or after day 7
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,205 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Six nights in hotels or historic park lodges, 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners, both airport transfers, a private van and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, entry to Glacier and Waterton Lakes national parks with the non-resident fee, the Middle Fork raft trip, three boat trips, bear spray and every visit in the day plan.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in one van with spare seats. The van fits the size limits on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which large coaches cannot drive, and it can pull over safely when someone spots a bear or a mountain goat.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with you from the airport pick-up on day 1 to the drop-off on day 7, with a professional driver at the wheel. Local river guides take you down the Middle Fork, and boat crews run the lake cruises.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately. Most walks are 2 to 5 km on mountain trails between about 1,000 and 2,050 m, and every walking day has an easier choice. The longest optional hike is Grinnell Glacier, about 12 km with about 490 m of climb; you can ride the boats and stop at Grinnell Lake instead.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,205 more, about 17 percent of the trip price, and we show it next to the shared price before you book. If you prefer to share, ask us and we will try to pair you with another solo traveller.
When is the best time to go?
Late June to mid-September. The Going-to-the-Sun Road usually opens over Logan Pass between late June and mid-July, depending on snow, so July and August are the surest months, with wildflowers at their best in July. September is cooler and quieter. Late-summer wildfire smoke can haze the views.
How does booking work?
Choose your start date and send a request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until we do. The small group starts from CAD 7,085 per person sharing, with taxes and park fees included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, with your own guide and van, on a date you choose, from CAD 12,755 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section for a separate quote.
Do I need a passport or visa for the day in Canada?
Yes, a valid passport. Day 6 crosses into Canada and day 7 back into the US. Canadian citizens need no visa for the US; most other visitors need an approved ESTA or a US visa that allows re-entry, and some nationalities also need a Canadian visa. Check your own entry rules when you book.
Do I need a vehicle reservation for the Going-to-the-Sun Road?
No. Glacier ran no vehicle reservations in 2026, for the Going-to-the-Sun Road or anywhere else in the park. If the park brings reservations or timed entry back for your year, we arrange the entry for the group's van, so you never join an online release. Park entry is included in your price.
Will we see grizzly bears?
Possibly, but no one can promise it. Many Glacier is known for bears grazing on its open slopes, usually seen through binoculars from a safe distance. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are often seen at Logan Pass, moose around Swiftcurrent Lake and mule deer in Waterton townsite.
Can I combine this trip with Yellowstone?
Yes. Our Yellowstone and Grand Teton trip starts in Bozeman, about five hours by road from Kalispell. Take this trip first, spend a night in Bozeman, then join Yellowstone; ask us and we line up the dates and quote the transfer between the two.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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