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Montana

Trailside Glacier: Hiking in Glacier National Park

Program No. 4863RJ
Experience Glacier National Park on expert-led hikes, traverse the historic Going-to-the-Sun Road, and explore the stunning Many Glacier Valley!

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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Activity Level: Outdoor: Spirited (11)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Jul 13 - Jul 19, 2024
Starting at
3,099
Jul 20 - Jul 26, 2024
Starting at
3,099
Aug 3 - Aug 9, 2024
Starting at
3,099
Filling Fast!
Aug 10 - Aug 16, 2024
Starting at
3,099
Aug 24 - Aug 30, 2024
Starting at
3,099
Full Inventory
Jul 12 - Jul 18, 2025
Starting at
3,349
Full Inventory
Jul 19 - Jul 25, 2025
Starting at
3,349
Full Inventory
Jul 26 - Aug 1, 2025
Starting at
3,349
Full Inventory
Aug 2 - Aug 8, 2025
Starting at
3,349
Full Inventory
Aug 9 - Aug 15, 2025
Starting at
3,349
Full Inventory
Aug 23 - Aug 29, 2025
Starting at
3,349
Activity Level: Outdoor: Spirited (11)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jul 13 - Jul 19, 2024
Starting at
4,099
Jul 20 - Jul 26, 2024
Starting at
4,099
Aug 3 - Aug 9, 2024
Starting at
4,099
Filling Fast!
Aug 10 - Aug 16, 2024
Starting at
4,099
Aug 24 - Aug 30, 2024
Starting at
4,099
Full Inventory
Jul 12 - Jul 18, 2025
Starting at
4,349
Full Inventory
Jul 19 - Jul 25, 2025
Starting at
4,349
Full Inventory
Jul 26 - Aug 1, 2025
Starting at
4,349
Full Inventory
Aug 2 - Aug 8, 2025
Starting at
4,349
Full Inventory
Aug 9 - Aug 15, 2025
Starting at
4,349
Full Inventory
Aug 23 - Aug 29, 2025
Starting at
4,349
Activity Level: Outdoor: Challenging (4)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Aug 17 - Aug 23, 2024
Starting at
3,199
Aug 31 - Sep 6, 2024
Starting at
3,199
Full Inventory
Aug 16 - Aug 22, 2025
Starting at
3,449
Aug 30 - Sep 5, 2025
Starting at
3,449
Activity Level: Outdoor: Challenging (4)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Aug 17 - Aug 23, 2024
Starting at
4,199
Filling Fast!
Aug 31 - Sep 6, 2024
Starting at
4,199
Full Inventory
Aug 16 - Aug 22, 2025
Starting at
4,449
Aug 30 - Sep 5, 2025
Starting at
4,449

At a Glance

Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise, with over 1 million acres of unspoiled wilderness and over 700 miles of hiking trails. Immerse yourself in the silent grandeur of the mountains as you hike spectacular trails amid soaring peaks, verdant forests, mountain meadows and turquoise lakes. Discover a wealth of natural beauty around every turn of the trail.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Varies by date. OUTDOOR SPIRITED Dates: Hiking 5-8 miles daily on rocky terrain at elevations of 3,000-7,200 feet. OUTDOOR CHALLENGING Dates: Hiking up to 7-12 miles daily on rocky terrain at elevations of 3,000-7,800 feet.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy expert-led hikes on some of the most inspiring trails in Glacier National Park where breathtaking vistas, pristine lakes and wildlife abound.
  • Travel the historic Going-to-the-Sun Road - a National Historic Landmark - for spectacular views of rugged peaks, vast canyons and idyllic waterfalls.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of this intact and wild ecosystem with trail-side lessons as local flora and fauna are encountered, and learn about the geological forces that carved this magnificent landscape thousands of years ago.

General Notes

This program will be split into small groups of about 10 for daily field trips and hikes.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Ellen Horowitz
Ellen Horowitz is a naturalist, writer, hiking leader, and Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide whose outdoor education career spans 40 years. Ellen teaches botany classes at Flathead Valley Community College, and she is a long-time field instructor for the Glacier Institute and Road Scholar. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors including Montana Audubon’s Educator of the Year Award, and magazine writing awards from the National Wildlife Federation. She is the author of the award-winning children’s book, “What I Saw in Glacier.”

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Ellen Horowitz
Ellen Horowitz View biography
Ellen Horowitz is a naturalist, writer, hiking leader, and Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide whose outdoor education career spans 40 years. Ellen teaches botany classes at Flathead Valley Community College, and she is a long-time field instructor for the Glacier Institute and Road Scholar. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors including Montana Audubon’s Educator of the Year Award, and magazine writing awards from the National Wildlife Federation. She is the author of the award-winning children’s book, “What I Saw in Glacier.”
Profile Image of Ashley Mason
Ashley Mason View biography
Ashley started her career at the North Carolina School of the Art but transferred to Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina to receive her B.S. in Geology with a minor in field biology. Ashley then came to Montana to teach for the Glacier Institute and then completed graduate work at The University of Montana – Missoula in Environmental Studies. A veteran naturalist and conservation educator Ashley is a former Ranger Naturalist for Glacier National Park. In 2012 she was voted Audubon Educator of the year.
Profile Image of Denny Olson
Denny Olson View biography
Denny Olson is an acclaimed author with training as a biologist and geologist. He has taught nature for over 30 years. He received an M.S. from the University of Minnesota and has researched beavers, hares, and loons. Using Native American storytelling as a teaching tool; he blends science, humor, and drama, establishing his national reputation as an innovative performer and educator. Denny has applied these skills to his love for Glacier National Park, leading interpretive hikes, Road Scholar birding trips, and doing many park presentations.
Profile Image of Dan'l Moore
Dan'l Moore View biography
Dan’l Moore is a true renaissance man. For many years, he worked with the U.S. Forest Service, utilizing his degree in wildlife resources. He then followed his passion for blacksmithing and has been the proprietor of Coon Hollow Forge since 1990, where he teaches and demonstrates the craft. Dan’l is a gifted musician and member of several local ensembles, as well as an avid hiker and patrol representative of Flathead Nordic Ski Patrol. He has led explorations in Glacier National Park for nearly 10 years.
Profile Image of Megan Chaisson
Megan Chaisson View biography
Megan Chaisson hails from in Concord, Massachusetts and developed a passion for nature early on. After attending Tufts University, she left New England to explore the Rocky Mountains at Glacier National Park in Montana. Enchanted by the free great spaces, she worked as a Park Ranger with Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest for the next ten years. After leading hikes, snowshoeing, boat trips and youth field trips, Megan is now a 7th grade Life Science teacher in Whitefish, Montana.
Profile Image of Helen Pilling
Helen Pilling View biography
Helen has lived in Montana two-thirds of her life now and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She leads hiking, skiing, dog sledding and bicycle adventures and loves to share her knowledge and gratitude of the Northwest with others. Her entrepreneurialism keeps her exceptionally busy playing music, fighting for clean water, creating cases for musical instruments, building bicycle trails, making her special handcrafted licorice, and keeping a positive attitude. Helen’s home base is an off-the-grid cabin she and her husband built in the woods.
Profile Image of Al Koss
Al Koss has lived and worked in the Glacier Park area for over 30 years. His love for the out-of-doors and passion for hiking was well represented in his career with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Al taught environmental education and is a Master Trainer for the Leave No Trace Program. His experience as a Park Naturalist has given him extensive experience and knowledge of the flora and fauna of the park. He enjoys sharing his passion for natural areas with others.
Profile Image of Lisa Flowers
Lisa Flowers View biography
Lisa Flowers received her Ph.D. in Forestry & Conservation from the University of Montana while working as the Director of Conservation Education for the Boone and Crockett Club on the Rocky Mountain Front. Her work has focused on K-12 science, conservation, and wildlife education, primarily in the outdoors. She has coordinated regional and collaborative entities including Crown of the Continent Ecosystem Education Consortium, Roundtable of Crown of the Continent, and Front Range Conservation Education Consortium. When not working, Lisa can be found enjoying the outdoors.
Profile Image of Susan Atkinson
Susan Atkinson View biography
Susan Atkinson is an award-winning architect and professor of environmental design at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has traveled the world researching how people design and build in response to culture and climate. Susan grew up in the Flathead Valley, learning about wildflowers, and spotting grizzlies in Glacier National Park every summer since 1980. She is an avid trail runner who loves fly fishing, spending time with her rescue dog, Clover, and reading about wolverines. She has backpacked around the world.
Profile Image of Lachelle Davis
Lachelle Davis View biography
Lachelle Davis can't get through a day without giving way to her enthusiasm for nature and love of being outdoors. She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Modern Languages and Literature. She now teaches photography and French classes to high school students during the winter and shoulder seasons. During the summers, Lachelle loves trying out new ways to connect with nature, from doing volunteer trail work for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation to keying out flowers along the trail.
Profile Image of Deb Burfeind
Deb Burfeind View biography
Deb Burfeind has lived in the Flathead Valley, Montana for over two decades. She recently retired after twenty years as a school counselor. Deb is married with three children and three grandchildren. Deb is known as a “Glacier snob” and gets up into “The Park” any season to hike, backpack, ski, snowshoe, and volunteer. She also enjoys travel, reading, knitting, and quilting.
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