11 of the Best Glacier National Park Tours

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Looking to book your Glacier National tours for your trip to Montana?

While you don’t need a tour in order to enjoy your time in Glacier National Park, sometimes, it can really enhance the experience when you hear from those who live and breathe the park. Even as someone who grew up there, I occasionally still hop on a tour or two to learn more about the area and see it from a new perspective.

However, knowing which tours are right for you and which give you access to the park without needing reservations can be a little confusing. You can only skip the reservation system if you are working with tour operators associated with the park, meaning you need to do a little research.

I’ll share some of my favorite tours in this article, as well as whether or not they will help you went you want entry without reservations. Plus, which ones I recommend for the most fun!

In summary: This article lists out the best tour options in the park and which ones you might want to book for your trip!

Quick tip: I recommend at least one day on your Glacier itinerary to take a tour–it can be nice to have someone else take over for a little while!

1. White water rafting

⭐4.9/5 stars

Glacier Raft Co. is my go-to company when I recommend rafting tours. They have several options, including a half-day rafting trip where you float through scenic viewpoints, as well as half-day tours that go over Class II and Class III rapids.

It’s a great way to experience the incredible Flathead River and the Middle Fork on your Glacier National Park vacations–and I’ve personally rafted with them and loved it.

I almost always suggest it to clients when I plan their trips since you might be sick of hiking and you want a change of scenery!

⭐BOOK RAFTING TOUR HERE⭐

2. Fly fishing casting lesson

⭐4.9/5 stars

If you have ever wanted to add flying fishing as a thing to do when you’re in Montana, then this can be a good place to start! While the best fly fishing in the state is arguably in the Yellowstone and Big Sky area, you can still get a good idea of what it’s like to cast a line in this quick class.

It’s also conveniently located in West Glacier, so you can participate in a class and head out on your next hiking trail all in one day.

⭐BOOK FLY FISHING CASTING LESSON HERE⭐

3. Private East Glacier and Two Medicine Day Trip

⭐5/5 stars

Want to explore the Two Medicine area of the park but don’t want to deal with the hassle of planning it out yourself and transporting yourself there? This tour takes you from the west side to the east side and allows you to sit back and relax and avoid worrying about seeing the sights.

It’s a full eight hours, so don’t expect to do anything else for the rest of the day. However, if you are looking for a chance to see one of the most areas of the park and you want to rest from driving and dealing with reservations, this can be a good option.

⭐BOOK PRIVATE EAST GLACIER AND TWO MEDICINE DAY TRIP HERE⭐

4. Glacier National Park and Polebridge Day Tour

⭐5/5 stars

Polebridge is one of the more remote areas of Glacier, and it’s often overlooked for other areas of the park that are easier to get to. However, it’s also where you can get some of the famous “bear claw” pastries and enjoy a quieter side to the park that many visitors overlook.

This tour takes you into this area as well as West Glacier, allowing you to see the highlights of each while avoiding dealing with reservations. If you want to get away from the crowds, this is a good way to have an expert take you around and give you an overview on this special area.

⭐BOOK GLACIER NATIONAL PARK AND POLEBRIDGE DAY TOUR HERE⭐

5. Red Bus Tours

Glacier is famous for a few things, but one of them has to be their red buses, or “jammers.” These have been getting visitors to the park around since the 1930s, and that same tradition holds true today. If you love history and you want facts about the park as you visit some of it’s most popular spots, then this is the tour for you.

They also pick up at both the East and West Side departure points of the park, including the Lake McDonald Lodge and Apgar Visitor Center, making it super convenient to catch one.

6. Going-to-the-Sun Road Biking Tour

Before Going-to-the-Sun Road opens to traffic, cyclists are allowed to take the road up either on their own or with a tour from Glacier Guides. I personally took this tour and had a blast working my way up to Logan Pass and exploring the park in the spring when wildflower meadows are in full bloom.

The guides will take you to the Avalanche Lake parking lot, where you will hop on your bike or ebike and journey along Lake McDonald before reaching The Loop. From there, you’ll keep heading up Going-to-the-Sun Road–don’t be surprised if you spot a number of mountain goats once you get closer to the Continental Divide.

For those who want to experience one of the most iconic national parks without the crowds, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so.

Quick tip: You can also take an ebike if you aren’t up for peddling–it’s a long way up and good exercise!

7. Horseback riding

Taking a horse allows you to see the park the way explorers in the region got around, and if you want to feel like you are transported back in time, this tour definitely does the job.

Swan Mountain Outfitters offers options at several locations including the Many Glacier Hotel on the east side, Lake McDonald Lodge, and other spots for full day tours. Several other options are available too if you don’t feel like having a sore butt the next day–three-hour tours are also great!

8. Boat tours

Glacier has a unique history with its boats–the same family has owned Glacier Boat Company for the entire time boats have been running throughout the park, and they do a wonderful job of providing informative tours or getting you from one location to the next. You can book them in advance on their website, or there are a limited number of spots available as walk-ups.

Another reason to consider a boat tour is that it also serves as your reservation ticket for the day! Just print out your confirmation and show it to a park ranger at the checkpoint and they’ll let you through.

9. Sun Tours

Unlike the Red Bus Tours, Sun Tours is based over on the east side of the park. They run interpretive bus tours up to Logan Pass and in Blackfeet Tribal Land. If you want some of the lesser-known perspectives of Glacier, then I highly recommend taking this tour–especially if you are basing yourself on the east side.

Another plus is that their buses are also air conditioned, which can be super nice when you are dealing with some of the summer heat during late July and early August.

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10. Backpacking trips

Want to get out in some of Glacier’s best scenery? Some might argue that you aren’t truly seeing the park unless you head to its backcountry. This isn’t the easiest thing to do–backcountry camping permits usually sell out in minutes on recreation.gov. One way around it is by booking a tour with Glacier Guides on one of their backpacking trips.

These trips are not the cheapest, but if you have never spent any time in the backcountry before and are looking to give it a shot on your trip then they are by far the best company to take you out there.

11. Photography tour

Glacier Photo Guides offers a number of tour options whether you are looking for half-day workshops, or you want to spend more time learning how to take photos with a full or multi-day tour. You also don’t have to be an expert–whether you are a beginning photographer looking to compose a shot or just want some expertise from locals on lighting.

Glacier is one of the most photogenic national parks, and with a little guidance, you can get pictures that will last a lifetime.

Conclusion

You don’t need a tour to enjoy Glacier, but they can absolutely make your trip there more enjoyable depending on what you want to get out of your trip.

I hope this article has helped you narrow down your options for tours and let you know which are going to help you with the reservation systems. As always, if you need any suggestions for tours for your trip, I’m here to help!

Which tours look the most fun to you? Let me know in the comments!