Raft, Ride & Slide in Glacier National Park With Your Grandchild

After you check in and have your room assignment, join us for Orientation in the specified meeting room. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 4:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Local experts will lead hikes and share their knowledge along the trail. We will break into smaller groups for hikes based on preference and ability. We will travel by motorcoach and historic Red Bus. Restrooms are available at most trail heads. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach with our Group Leader and ride to Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort. There, we’ll climb, slide, and “fly” on an aerial adventure obstacle course in the trees. Secured in safety harnesses, we’ll move between the trees on suspended bridges, cable walkways, nets, ladders, and other fun elements. Grandparents can choose to participate in the aerial adventure or may choose to encourage kids from the ground. Next, we’ll board the gondola and chairlift, for a 15-minute scenic ride to the 6,800-foot summit of Big Mountain. At the top, we’ll have breathtaking panoramic views of Glacier National Park, Flathead Valley, and surrounding areas.

At a restaurant on the summit of Big Mountain.

Next, we will be joined by a forest ranger who will give us a presentation about this spectacular part of the Rocky Mountains. We’ll then ride the gondola down the mountain to the start of the Alpine Slide. To end our day on the mountain, we’ll have an exciting ride down the 1,605-foot-long Alpine Slide. The flat, wheeled sleds have hand brakes to control the speed. We’ll whiz around curves, zoom through a tunnel, and fly down straightaways. Note: Kids under 48 inches (4 feet) tall must ride with an adult. We’ll ride back to Kalispell where we will stop for dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel to relax for the remainder of the evening.

At a restaurant in Kalispell.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board the motorcoach and head out for a full-day field trip with Glacier Institute on the border of Glacier National Park. We’ll participate in a variety of fun, instructor-led activities that will capitalize on kids’ natural curiosity. We’ll focus on using different senses to experience and explore the secrets of the natural, wild surroundings.

Lunches provided by Glacier Institute at their scenic Big Creek campus.

This afternoon, we will take the bus to Lake McDonald Lodge where we will attend a musical presentation and have independent time. You might like to explore historic Lake McDonald Lodge, enjoy time with new Road Scholar friends, or just sit by the lake to relax and enjoy the expansive scenery.

At a restaurant inside Glacier National Park.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board the motorcoach and drive about 20 minutes to Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center, a local non-profit that specializes in the rehabilitation of Montana’s birds of prey. We’ll learn all about Montana raptors and the ecosystems they thrive in while being able to view several raptor species up close. These beautiful and educational birds are not able to be reintroduced into the wild and will give us a closer look at the challenges raptors face today. After the presentation, we will travel 31 miles to Apgar Village to enjoy lunch by the shores of Lake McDonald.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy lunch at your leisure at Eddie’s Café located in Apgar in Glacier National Park.

We’ll hop back on the motorcoach and drive to the raft company headquarters in West Glacier. We’ll be outfitted with life jackets and any additional equipment we need. Then it’s a short ride on a bright blue school bus to the river launch. We’ll go on an expert-led rafting trip down the beautiful Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Those feeling adventurous can help paddle the boat through the rapids. Be prepared to get wet! As we float along the southern border of Glacier National Park we will gain a unique perspective of the landscape. We’ll learn about the geologic forces that shaped the landscape, appreciate the river’s Wild and Scenic Waterway designation, and why this pristine river is such an important part of the ecosystem. We’ll learn about where all the water comes from and where it is headed. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife that may be along the shoreline including bears, moose, fox, and water fowl.

At the raft company pavilion, we’ll have a cookout.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board the motorcoach and ride to Whitefish where a local environmental scientist will give us a “big picture” understanding of Whitefish Lake and nearby wetlands. We’ll learn about the complex food web of the lake, the native and introduced fish species found there, and about changes that are caused by introduced species. We’ll also participate in some hands-on scientific research and learn about insect indicators of water quality. Next, we’ll have a quick break for independent exploration in Whitefish. The historic downtown is full of western charm and is pedestrian friendly. Explore the local shops or enjoy a cup of coffee. Feel free to ask your Group Leader for recommendations. The nearby Whitefish Railway Depot was built in 1927 for the Great Northern Railway and is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

We’ll have our sack lunch en transit to Lake McDonald Lodge.

Next, we’ll board a Red Bus and ride along Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass (subject to weather and road conditions). Aboard these iconic vehicles, we’ll be immersed in the natural grandeur of the region with insightful commentary by the drivers. First used in the mid-1930s to transport visitors in Glacier, the historic Red Busses were fully restored in 2001 and continue to delight passengers today. Their canvass roll-back tops allow for unsurpassed views of the towering mountains in every direction. Going-to-the-Sun Road is a National Historic Landmark and the only road that crosses Glacier National Park. The narrow road hugs the cliffside as it winds through the mountains, inspiring awe at every turn. The road was designed to complement the landscape and give visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery Glacier National Park has to offer. Logan Pass is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Located on the Continental Divide at 6,646 feet, waters here flow either toward the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. We’ll set off on an expert-led walking field trip in the subalpine ecosystem. The trail starts at about 6,660 feet and climbs up from there. The trail consists of pavement, a boardwalk with steep and deep steps, and a dirt and rock trail We’ll search for evidence of past glaciers by looking for geological features such as aretes, glacial horns, moraines, and waterfalls. We will also be on the lookout for special plants and animals with unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in the harsh, high elevation environment. Along the way, we may be distracted by meadows teeming with wildflowers and towering snow-capped peaks! At the end of our field trip, we’ll take the Red Buses and return to Apgar via Going-to-the-Sun Road. There, we’ll we will hop back aboard the motorcoach and ride back to the hotel.

At the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!