Glacier National Park Gay Adventure

Day 1: Arrival in Montana

Fly into Glacier International Airport in Kalispell, Montana. We will spend our first night together in Whitefish, a resort community near Glacier National Park. Explore the small-town atmosphere and local spirit of this historic railroad town. Tonight, you will meet your HE Travel trip leaders and fellow adventurers at our welcome dinner in Whitefish. Welcome to Big Sky Country!

Day 2: Rafting on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River

Today, we drive to the western edge of Glacier National Park, for a rafting excursion on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. With class II & III rapids, depending on water flow, this float offers some mellow water as well as some more exciting rapids. If you have an interest, we may be able to run the rapids in two-person inflatable kayaks, which makes for more splashy fun.

Afterward, we’ll continue along the southern border of the park, stopping at a historic inn for a late lunch, then over the pass to the original main gateway for Glacier National Park, a village named East Glacier. For the first few decades of the park, this was the welcoming train stop for the east coast city-slickers excited for their first sight of the Rockies. After days of crossing the high plains, they finally arrived, stepping off the train and walking up the flowered path to the Glacier Park Lodge. A stately log structure built over one-hundred years ago, it sits magnificently on manicured grounds, with the mountains rising behind it. The three-story lobby is supported by more than 40 huge Douglas Fir pillars over 60 feet high and about 40 inches in diameter. This will be our home for the next two nights. Each evening around 9 PM, you can enjoy live music or talks in the hotel lobby.

Day 3: Two Medicine Valley 

On our third day, the Rocky Mountain beauty lures us to nearby Two Medicine Valley, one of the quieter parts of the park. We will stop for a waterfall hike and nature trail before arriving at Two Medicine Lake. Many hikes are accessed via a scenic boat tour, which gives us broad views across the wide valley. Along the way, learn of the Blackfoot Indian folklore surrounding Two Medicine Valley and how it was named.

Upon docking on the west shore, we will have access to an array of fantastic hiking trails. And together with our hiking guide, we will select one or two to immerse ourselves into this peaceful wilderness. About a mile up the trail is lovely Twin Falls, and you can continue another mile to Upper Two Medicine Lake.  We will likely push for Rockwell Falls, and then hike out along the lake and another waterfall, hopefully encountering our first moose along the way. Expect to hike 6 to 8 miles today with 400-800 feet of gain depending on your choice of routes.

Day 4: Horseback Riding and Cruising St. Mary Lake

This morning we rest our legs while we ride into the wilderness on horseback, maybe even up to the ridges that reveal long vistas into Glacier National Park and across the great plains of the Blackfeet Nation. Our outfitter has hosted riders of all abilities, from first-time riders to lifetime equestrians. If you’d rather not ride, then sleep in and enjoy a relaxing morning at the lodge.

This afternoon, we travel north to St. Mary Village, located at the eastern end of the park’s Going to the Sun Road. If time and interest allow, we will drive up that road a way to catch a historic boat ride on yet another glacial lake, St. Mary. Once again, we will be surrounded by towering peaks as we cruise through glistening glacial waters. We might even catch a view of Jackson Glacier at the head of the lake.

We will check into the lodge in St. Mary later that evening, where we’ll stay for two nights. Your room provides a balcony with views overlooking the sun as it sets behind some of the highest peaks of the park. Later, watch the Milky Way as it dances across the sky.

Days 5 and 6: Hiking in the “Switzerland of North America”

One of the most beautiful areas of the park, Many Glacier, offers a multitude of hiking options, with glacial valleys taking off in multiple directions. You can join the group and hike with our local hiking guide, you can hike independently or perhaps catch a hike led by a park ranger. Perhaps you’d like to hike to Iceberg Lake or up the nearby Ptarmigan Tunnel trail. If the winter snow has cleared early, you might even be able to hike the longer trek to Grinnell Glacier. For the group hike today, expect to hike about 10 miles with 1500’ of gain, perhaps with an optional hike to more waterfalls later in the afternoon (3.7 miles/ 250’ gain).

But if you prefer to relax for the day, you can enjoy some shorter walks and hang in the grand lobby of the nearby grand dame, the Many Glacier Hotel. There you can enjoy hospitality and magnificent views. You also have the option to enjoy a boat cruise on Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine (please advise so we can book ahead for you). Whatever you choose to do, you’ll be surrounded by untouched beauty.

Day 6: Going to the Sun Road and Hiking on the Continental Divide

As we have seen this week, the jagged peaks of the Continental Divide constitute the backbone of Glacier. Today, we’ll enjoy a fantastic drive over the exquisite Going to the Sun Road, a feat of engineering and artistry almost a century ago. We stop at the highest point, Logan Pass, and celebrate our last day in the park on the Highline Trail, likely encountering mountain goats, marmots, and wildflowers – and possibly even a bear! Starting at 6,650 feet, we will experience stunning views of mountain ranges across Montana and into Canada. While access to the pass and to this trail is weather dependent and not always available, our professional hiking guide will take us into pristine areas to build on our Glacier National Park experience.

This evening we arrive back at Whitefish to share stories and highlights with each other and to enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner.

Day 8: Departure

Schedule your flights out of Glacier International Airport anytime today. Happy Trails!