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Montana

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

Program No. 20884RJ
Alongside your grandchild, raft the Flathead River, look for wildlife, enjoy a gondola ride up Big Mountain and race down on an alpine slide on this national park adventure.
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Start
GrandparentNational ParksMulti-SportOutdoor AdventuresAges 8 – 12
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,499 / ADULT
1,749 / CHILD
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals ( 5B, 4L, 4D )
2 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
5 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your Road Scholar nametag (sent previously). “America the Beautiful” passes cover entrance fees at national parks for up to four adults. If you have one of these national park passes, please bring it with you to the program and on our field trips.
Afternoon:
After checking in and receiving your room assignment, please join us for Orientation in the designated 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 current program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and address any questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent/Family program. Grandparents/Family 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 trailheads. 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.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Getting on/off a raft; rafting approximately 2 hours, periods of paddling (according to personal choice), sitting, opportunities to get out and stretch legs. Restroom facilities are available at raft company headquarters. Note: You may not get wet, but if you choose, you may bring a change of dry clothes and a warm layer for after the raft trip.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
To start our week of adventures, we will board a 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 raft down the winding river! As we float along the southern border of Glacier National Park, we will gain a unique perspective of the gorgeous landscape. We’ll learn about the geologic forces that shaped the mountains, appreciate the river’s Wild and Scenic Waterway designation, and learn why this pristine river is such an important part of the ecosystem. We’ll learn about where 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 waterfowl!
Lunch:
At the raft company pavilion, we’ll have a cookout.
Afternoon:
We’ll hop back on the motor coach and head to the town of 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 the changes that are caused by introduced species. We’ll also participate in some hands-on scientific research and learn about insect indicators offor water quality. After, we’ll have time for independent exploration and dinner on your own in Whitefish. The historic downtown is full of western charm and is pedestrian-friendly. Feel free to ask your Group Leader for recommendations on where to dine. The nearby Whitefish Railway Depot was built in 1927 for the Great Northern Railway and is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Check it out if you get a free minute!
Dinner:
Dinner will be on your own in the town of Whitefish.
Evening:
After dinner, we will travel back to the hotel.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach and Red Buses; driving about 100 miles, approximately 5 hours total riding time. Hiking up to 2 miles; maintained dirt trails that may be uneven and rocky boardwalks with deep steps. Logan Pass elevation 6,646 feet, maximum elevation 7,200 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board the motor coach and drive approximately 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 about Montana raptors and the ecosystems they thrive in while being able to view several raptor species up close. These beautiful and educational birds cannot be reintroduced into the wild and are able to provide an impactful understanding of the challenges raptors face today. After the presentation, we will travel to West Glacier to check in for the Red Bus tour.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy sack lunch from a local Hotel en route to West Glacier.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, 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 Buses were fully restored in 2001 and continue to delight passengers today. Their canvas 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 provide visitors with 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 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 West Glacier via the Going-to-the-Sun Road. There, we will hop aboard the motor coach and ride back to the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Getting on/off a gondola and alpine slide. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day, periods of standing/sitting; dirt trails that may be rocky, hilly, uneven. Aerial Adventure is optional and physically demanding. It requires climbing, crouching, and maneuvering through obstacles, a safety harness is required. Elevation maximum 6,800 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motor coach 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 the surrounding areas.
Lunch:
At a restaurant on the summit of Big Mountain.
Afternoon:
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 then 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.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in Kalispell.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Walking about 2 miles, standing during trail-side lessons and activities; dirt trails that may be rocky, slippery, hilly, uneven. Elevation gain 225 feet, maximum elevation 3,410 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
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.
Lunch:
Lunch is provided by Glacier Institute at their scenic Big Creek campus.
Afternoon:
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.
Dinner:
At Lake McDonald Lodge, inside Glacier National Park.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11am.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
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!
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