Montana
The Best of Glacier National Park
Program No. 21016RJ
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The Best of Glacier National Park
The Best of Glacier National Park
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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.
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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
12 meals (
5B, 3L, 4D
)
3 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Opening Dinner
Location:
Whitefish, MT
Meals:
D
Stay:
Grouse Mountain Lodge
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
At check-in, you will receive your room assignment and collect your Road Scholar welcome packet with the up-to-date schedule and other important information. Here we will meet the Group Leader and complete any necessary paperwork. 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. . Trail selections will be made by Group Leaders each day based on weather, trail conditions, and group ability. Each day, hikers will have a choice between hikes of different levels of difficulty. We will break into hiking groups based on preference and ability. Groups will be led by local experts who will share their knowledge along the trail. Bring a reusable, one-liter, leak-proof water bottle. Restrooms are available at most trailheads. “America the Beautiful” passes cover entrance fees at national parks for up to 4 adults. If you have one of these national park passes, please bring it with you to the program and on field trips. Periods in the daily 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:
After dinner, we will attend a presentation to begin the educational journey of Glacier National Park.
Day
2
Wild Raptors Presentation, Lake McDonald, West Glacier Walks
Location:
East Glacier Village
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Glacier Park Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on and off a motorcoach, driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours each way. Hiking 2 to 5 miles on maintained dirt trails that may be rocky and uneven. Starting elevation approximately 3,200 feet, maximum elevation 4,000 feet. Bring a reusable, one-liter, leak-proof water bottle. Restroom facilities are available at most trailheads.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Get ready for a full day packed with learning. We will be traveling by motor coach to Montana Wild Wings for an interactive wild raptor presentation. These rescued birds of prey will leave you in awe by their resilience, adaptability, and intelligence. From there, we will make our way to the West Glacier entrance to explore Lake McDonald Valley. We'll have a choice between hikes of different levels of difficulty, and break into groups based on preference and ability. Restroom facilities available at most trailheads.
Lunch:
Sack lunches will be provided.
Afternoon:
We’ll begin our exploration of Glacier National Park with an expert-led hike on the Trail of the Cedars, Avalanche Lake Trail, or McDonald Creek Trail (chosen hikes are subject to change due to trail closures, inclement weather, and road construction). Each group will be led by a local expert who will share their knowledge of Glacier along the trail. As we hike, we will learn about the flora, fauna, and geology that characterize this unique ecosystem west of the Continental Divide. After we conclude our expert-led hikes through the beautiful Lake McDonald Valley, we will board the motor coach to complete our journey to Glacier Park Lodge. This is your time to relax after a long day of hiking and continue to immerse yourself in the beauty of the park.
Dinner:
Dinner will be at the lodge.
Evening:
Evening at leisure. Relax, explore the historic Glacier Park Lodge, or stroll the meticulous summer garden.
Day
3
Many Glacier Interpretive Hikes, Indigenous Presentation
Location:
East Glacier Village
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Glacier Park Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motor coach; driving 60 miles, approximately 1 hour each way. Hiking 2 to 4 miles; maintained dirt trails that may be rocky and uneven. Starting elevation approximately 4,900 feet, maximum hiking elevation 5,200 feet. Bring a reusable leak-proof water bottle. Restroom facilities are available at most trailheads.
Breakfast:
At a restaurant in the lodge.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will board the motorcoach to explore the Many Glacier region. The Many Glacier area provides a stunning display of sweeping waterfalls, sprawling meadows, and rising mountains. The Many Glacier Valley feels off the beaten path, often providing wildlife corridors where you may have the opportunity to see marmot, moose, or bear. Arriving outside the Many Glacier Hotel, you will be able to see for yourself why people describe this region as the Switzerland of North America, with the surrounding jagged peaks and the Swiss-style architecture.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have sack lunches.
Afternoon:
We’ll keep an eye out for wildlife and wildflowers as we continue our expert-led hikes. This afternoon, we will take the time to observe untouched alpine meadows and endless craggy peaks. Immerse yourself in the wildlife corridor. If you look closely, you might just see mountain goats dotting the ridge line. We’ll then return to the Many Glacier Hotel for a special presentation followed by dinner in the grand dining room of the hotel.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in the Many Glacier Hotel.
Day
4
Two Medicine Valley, Historic Boat Ride, Running Eagle Falls
Location:
East Glacier Village
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Glacier Park Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off motor coach; driving about 16 miles, approximately 35 minutes each way. Hiking 2 to 4 miles; maintained dirt trails that may be rocky and uneven. Starting elevation approximately 5,100 feet, maximum hiking elevation approximately 5,500 feet.
Breakfast:
At a restaurant in the lodge.
Morning:
Another full day of exploration and discovery awaits. We will set out for the Two Medicine area of the national park. The Two Medicine area is a hidden gem of the park, which is a quick scenic drive from Glacier Park Lodge. We will make a stop to see our first waterfall of the day, Running Eagles Falls. The waterfall receives its nickname, "Trick Falls", because there are actually two separate waterfalls at this location. During the spring run-off, water rushes over the top ledge, creating a 40-foot drop, while obscuring the lower falls. As summer progresses, and the upper falls "dries up," water continues to rush through a sinkhole at the top of the cliff before flowing out of an opening in the cliff face below. When we return to the coach, the meandering, forested road will break away to showcase spectacular sights of the Sinopah and Rising Wolf mountains. We will take a scenic cruise aboard the historic vessel Sinopah, built in 1926. While taking in the breathtaking views on the tranquil lake, the boat tour guide will provide stories and insights amplifying your connection to the landscape. Once we dock at the head of the lake, we will split into hiking groups to explore deeper into this remote wilderness.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have sack lunches.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our exploration of Two Medicine through hikes led by expert field instructors. As we observe evidence of past glaciation, we’ll gain an understanding of how varying natural forces shape the ecosystem. Openings created by avalanches provide unobstructed views of the surrounding peaks. Our hike will provide the opportunity to view the iconic Twin Falls We’ll return to Glacier Park Lodge for an evening on your own. Take some time to relax and freshen up before enjoying dinner on your own at Glacier Park Lodge or exploring the dining options of the quaint town of East Glacier.
Dinner:
Dinner on your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Educational GNP Lectures, Red Bus, Going to the Sun
Location:
Whitefish, MT
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Grouse Mountain Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motor coach and Red Bus; driving about 105 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time on motorcoach, 3 hours riding time on Red Bus. Walking 1 to 2 miles throughout the day; maintained dirt trails, rocky and uneven, paved trails, boardwalk, steep and deep steps. Maximum elevation 6,800 feet.
Breakfast:
At a restaurant in the lodge.
Morning:
In the morning, we will be joined by a local expert to continue expanding our knowledge of the park. After, we will depart for our exploration of St. Mary’s and the Going-to-the-Sun Road. St. Mary’s is a spectacular region where the mountains join the plains. The dry Chinook winds define and curve the trees along the ridgeline, sweeping down to wildflower meadows that merge with the vast prairie grasslands. We’ll enjoy our lunch on your own picnic-style to appreciate the enormity of the 10-mile St. Mary Lake. The lake can attract all sorts of wildlife like elk, mule deer, and grizzly and black bears.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost. Group picnic lunch on your own.
Afternoon:
After our lunch, we will embark on our journey over Going-to-the-Sun Road with the iconic Glacier National Park Red Bus Tours. The history-defining road covers 50 miles, crossing the Continental Divide. This scenic and educational tour highlights the grandeur of the glacially carved mountains and valleys. First, used in the mid-1930s to transport visitors within Glacier, the historic Red Buses were fully restored in 2001 and continue to delight passengers to this day. 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. We’ll stop to stretch our legs and take in the view at Logan Pass, located along the Continental Divide, where waters flow either towards the Pacific or the Atlantic Oceans. (Please Note: The National Park Service alone controls the amount of time our Groups can spend at Logan Pass). Logan Pass is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road with an elevation of 6,646 feet. We’ll continue our journey on Going-to- the-Sun Road and view sky-scraping peaks, cascading waterfalls, and broad alpine meadows teeming with wildflowers and wildlife. Our educational tour will conclude at Lake McDonald Lodge. The motor coach will pick us up from here and we will return to Grouse Mountain Lodge.
Dinner:
At Grouse Mountain Lodge. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Whitefish, MT
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At a restaurant in Grouse Mountain Lodge.
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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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.