Learn About Glacier Park Here

Glacier Park Activity Guide (2020)

Although Glacier National Park is known for it’s exquisite hiking adventures, the Park and surrounding area offer a multitude of other activities, for all ages. There are many guided activities including; narrated bus tours, boat tours, ranger led day hikes, and whitewater rafting trips among the choices. You can also enjoy numerous kid friendly activities like; bumper boats, go carts, waterslides, and other fun activities. And for the more adventurous, you can rent a watercraft or try the zip lines. No matter what your interests, you’ll find plenty to do for days on end.

Following is a list of activities both inside Glacier Park and just outside the Park. Organized by West Side Activities and East Side Activities will help you decide which side of Glacier Park you would like to vacation on. We have also included a running list of special events scheduled to take place in and around Glacier Park this year.

WestSide_Label

Activities Inside the Park (West Side)

Name: Glacier Park Red Bus Tours
Description: An ideal way to see and learn more about Glacier National Park on vintage 1930 buses
Location #1: Apgar Visitor Center, Apgar, MT
Location #2:  Lake McDonald Lodge, 288 Lake McDonald Lodge Loop, West Glacier, MT
Website: http://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours/west-side-tours/


Name: Glacier Park Boat Company
Description: Enjoy scenic boat rides and tours on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park
Location: 288 Lake McDonald Lodge Loop, West Glacier, MT
Website: http://glacierparkboats.com/tour/lake-mcdonald/


Name: Swan Mountain Outfitters
Description: The only ones to offer horseback trail rides in Glacier National Park
Location: Across the Going-To-The-Sun Rd from Lake McDonald Lodge
Website: https://www.swanmountainglacier.com/trip/lake-mcdonald-trail-rides/


Name: Glacier Guides
Description: The exclusive provider of guided Glacier National Park hiking
Location: 11970 Hwy 2 East, West Glacier, MT
Website: https://glacierguides.com/hiking/


Name: Glacier Park Boat Company
Description: Lake McDonald offers many days of calm water and warm temperatures that beg for canoe rides, paddle board expeditions and kayak adventures
Location #1: The shores of Lake McDonald in Apgar, MT
Website #1: http://glacierparkboats.com/glacier-park-boat-rentals/apgar-rentals/
Location #2: Lake McDonald Lodge, 288 Lake McDonald Lodge Loop, West Glacier, MT
Website #2: http://glacierparkboats.com/glacier-park-boat-rentals/lake-mcdonald-lodge-rentals/


Name: Glacier National Park Rangers
Description: Learn about Glacier Park by joining a Park Ranger led activity
Location: Various trailhead location in Glacier National Park
Website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ranger-led-activities.htm


Name: Sun Tours
Description: Offers daily interpretive tours through Glacier National Park over Going-to-the-Sun Road
Location: Apgar Visitor Center, Apgar, MT
Website: https://www.glaciersuntours.com

Activities Outside the Park (West Side)

Name: Wild River Adventures
Description: Enjoy outfitter guided trips of whitewater rafting, scenic float trips, and fishing trips
Location: 11900 Highway 2 East, West Glacier, MT
Website: https://www.riverwild.com


Name: Glacier Raft Company
Description: Your launch point for a thrilling Glacier National Park white water rafting adventure
Location: 106 Going-To-The-Sun Rd., West Glacier, MT
Website: https://glacierraftco.com/rafting/


Name: Great Northern Rafting
Description: Scenic floats and whitewater rafting adventures on the boundary of Glacier National Park
Location: 12127 US-2 Suite A, West Glacier, MT
Website: https://greatnorthernresort.com/rafting/


Name: Montana Raft
Description: Thrilling Class II-III whitewater trips and relaxing, unbelievably scenic float trips
Location: 11970 Hwy 2 East, West Glacier, MT
Website: https://glacierguides.com/rafting/


Name: Swan Mountain Outfitters
Description: The only ones to offer horseback trail rides in West Glacier
Location: 12000 Highway 2 East, West Glacier, MT
Website: https://www.swanmountainglacier.com/horseback-services/horseback-riding-west-glacier/


Name: Glacier View Golf Course
Description: Play 18 holes of golf with family and friends while enjoying views of Glacier National Park
Location: 640 Riverbend Dr, West Glacier, MT
Website: https://www.glacierviewgolf.com/


Name: Glacier Highline Adventure Park
Description: Experience this outdoor aerial adventure park with 50 activities at varying heights in the treetops and ziplines
Location: 10167 Hwy 2 East, Coram, MT
Website: https://www.glacierhighline.com


Name: Amazing Fun Center
Description: Attractions for the whole family with go carts, bumper boats, human maze, mini golf, and bankshot basketball
Location: 10265 Hwy 2 E, Columbia Falls, MT
Website: http://www.amazingfuncenter.com


Name: Glacier Ziplines
Description: Enjoy their premier zip line experience through the tree tops and unforgettable views
Location: 7840 Hwy 2 E, Columbia Falls, MT
Website: http://glacier-ziplines.com


Name: Montana Vortex
Description: A genuine quantum or gravitational anomaly that may re-define the laws of physics and nature
Location: 7800 Hwy 2 East, Columbia Falls, MT
Website: http://www.montanavortex.com


Name: Big Sky Water Park
Description: Montana’s largest waterpark with water slides, mini golf, bumper cars, and carousel
Location: 7211 Hwy 2 E, Columbia Falls, MT
Website: http://bigskywp.com


Name: Whitefish Mountain Resort
Description: Summer activities include mountain biking, alpine slides, walk in the treetops, and more. In the winter, alpine ski on 4000+ acres with a 3000 ft. vertical drop
Location: 3889 Big Mountain Rd, Whitefish, MT
Website: http://skiwhitefish.com


Name: Northfork Recreation
Description: Rents sea and river kayaks, canoes, bikes, cataraft, and paddleboards
Location: Polebridge, MT
Website: http://northforkrecmt.com/NFR/Home.html


Name: National Bison Range
Description: View Bison in a natural environment as you take the scenic drive over Red Sleep Mountain
Location: 58355 Bison Range Road, Moiese, MT
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/National_Bison_Range/


Name: Glacier Distilling
Description: Stop by The Whiskey Barn for tastings of the small-batch handcrafted whiskey and fine spirits and a tour
Location: 10237 Hwy 2 E., Coram, MT
Website: https://www.glacierdistilling.com/home/


Name: Backslope Brewing
Description: Join them in their tasting room for unfiltered draft beer from their serving tanks. Or enjoy unique, delicious, locally sourced food from their kitchen
Location: 1107 9th St. West, Columbia Falls, MT
Website: https://backslopebrewing.com


Name: Glacier Sun Winery & Tasting Room
Description: Enjoy their boutique tasting room with wines made from Washington and local fruits
Location: 3250 Hwy. 2 East, Kalispell, MT
Website: http://glaciersunwinery.com

EastSide_Label

Activities Inside the Park (East Side)

Name: Glacier Park Red Bus Tours
Description: An ideal way to see and learn more about Glacier National Park on vintage 1930 buses
Location #1: Many Glacier Hotel, 1 Many Glacier Rd., Babb, MT
Location #2: Glacier National Park Lodge, 499 MT-49, East Glacier Park, MT
Website: http://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours/east-side-tours/


Name: Glacier Park Boat Company
Description: Enjoy scenic boat rides and tours on Saint Mary Lake, Two Medicine Lake, or Swiftcurrent/Lake Josephine in Glacier National Park
Location #1: Rising Sun boat dock approximately five miles from St. Mary, MT
Website #1: http://glacierparkboats.com/tour/st-mary-lake-at-rising-sun/
Location #2: Two Medicine Lake boat dock
Website #2: http://glacierparkboats.com/tour/two-medicine/
Location #3: Swiftcurrent Lake boat dock below the Many Glacier Hotel
Website #3: http://glacierparkboats.com/tour/many-glacier/


Name: Swan Mountain Outfitters
Description: The only ones to offer horseback trail rides in Glacier National Park
Location: Across the parking lot from Many Glacier Hotel
Website: https://www.swanmountainglacier.com/trip/many-glacier-trail-rides/


Name: Glacier National Park Rangers
Description: Learn about Glacier Park by joining a Park Ranger led activity
Location: Various trailhead location in Glacier National Park
Website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ranger-led-activities.htm


Name: Sun Tours
Description: Offers daily interpretive tours through Glacier National Park over Going-to-the-Sun Road
Location #1: Izaak Walton Inn, Essex, MT
Location #2: Various locations in East Glacier Park, MT
Location #3: St Mary Lodge, St Mary Visitor Center, and various campgrounds in St Mary, MT
Website: http://glaciersuntours.com


Name: Glacier Park Boat Company
Description #1: Explore remote banks, find a fishing hole or pack a picnic for an afternoon basking in the majestic views Two Medicine offers
Location #1: Two Medicine Boat Dock, Two Medicine Area, Glacier National Park
Website #1: http://glacierparkboats.com/glacier-park-boat-rentals/two-medicine-rentals/
Description #2: Choose your own adventure via canoe, single or double kayaks or rowboats on the quaint and scenic Swiftcurrent Lake
Location #2: Swiftcurrent Lake Boat Dock, Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park
Website #2: http://glacierparkboats.com/glacier-park-boat-rentals/many-glacier-rentals/

Activities Outside the Park (East Side)

Name: Glacier Park Lodge Golf Course
Description: This 9 hole golf course is the oldest grass greens golf course in Montana
Location: 1 Midvale Lane, East Glacier Park, MT
Website: https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/glacier-national-park/east-glacier/golf-at-glacier-park-lodge/


Name: Museum of the Plains Indian
Description: Displays richly varied arts of Northern Plains Tribal peoples including the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Sioux, Assiniboine, Arapaho, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Flathead, Chippewa, and Cree
Location: Junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 89 West, Browning, MT
Website: https://www.doi.gov/iacb/museum-plains-indian-location

Fair_Label

Special Events (2021)

Name: Family Forestry Expo
Description: Exhibitions by mule pack strings and professional lumberjacks. Go on a forestry hike through the woods, and check out all of the fun and educational exhibits in the Forest Service tent
Date & Time: May 8-9 and May 15-16, 2021 – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: 501 Trumbull Canyon Rd, Columbia Falls, MT
Entrance Fee: Free


Name: Marantette Park Concert Series
Description: A different concert featuring local artists every Thursday in Marantette Park sponsored by Columbia Falls Lions Club. The audience is encouraged to bring chairs or blankets
Date & Time: June 18, 2021 – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Don Lawrence amphitheater in Marantette Park, Columbia Falls, MT
Entrance Fee: Donations of $3 per person or $5 per family are requested


Name: Heritage Days Festival
Description: A home town tradition. Boogie to the Bank, Endowment Auction, 3 on 3 Basketball, Parade, Running of the horses, Rodeo, and Market Night make it a special time for families
Date & Time: Beginning July 21, 2021 (refer to http://cfallsheritagedays.com/events.html for dates and times of individual events)
Location: Columbia Falls, MT
Entrance Fee: Free


Name: Huckleberry Days Arts Festival
Description: The Huckleberry Days Arts Festival offers more than 120 vendors of handmade fine art and crafts, along with great food! The 29th annual festival includes a huckleberry dessert bake-off contest, community entertainment and a mobile climbing wall
Date & Time: August 13 to August 15, 2021
→ Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
→ Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
→ Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Depot Park, 504 Railway, Whitefish, MT
Entrance Fee: Free


Name: NW Montana Fair
Description: NW Montana Fair & Rodeo comes alive each year featuring three nights of PRCA Rodeo action, huge concerts, exciting carnival rides, and non-guilty fair food
Date & Time: August 18 to 22, 2021 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily (some barns and exhibit buildings close at 9:00 PM)
Location: Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N Meridian Rd, Kalispell, MT
Entrance Fee: $8.00 Adults (13-65), $5.00 Seniors (65+), $5.00 Child (6-12), Free under age 6


Name: NW Montana Fair Rodeo
Description: PRCA/WPRA rodeo: Bareback Bronc Riding, Barrels. Bull Riding, Calf Roping, Cowgirl’s Barrel Racing, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Tie Down Roping
Date & Time: August 18 to 22, 2021 (gates open at 6:00 PM)
→ Thursday: Gates open 6:00 PM, Show starts 7:30 PM
→ Friday: Gates open 6:00 PM, Show starts 7:30 PM
→ Saturday: Gates open 6:00 PM, Show starts 7:30 PM
Location: Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N Meridian Rd, Kalispell, MT
Entrance Fee: $22 to $55


For a calendar of all current events, visit the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce