Packages and Options

Day 1. Whitewater Rafting the Flathead River or Hiking to Stanton Lake, Lake McDonald Lodge
Our group assembles at 10:00 a.m. at the Pine Lodge Quality Inn in Whitefish, Montana. Following a short orientation, we launch our rafts on the wild and scenic Flathead River. With paddles in hand, we shoot rapids with names like Jaws, Pinball and Bonecrusher. For those who prefer not to raft, join one of our guides and explore nearby Stanton Lake.
Our arrival at the Lake McDonald Lodge this evening is a fitting introduction to the grand lodges of Glacier National Park. The lodge was built in 1913 and retains its rustic hunting lodge charm with a huge log frame lobby, stone fireplaces and spectacular lakeside setting. A short walk leads to the lake with lovely spots to relax or for a refreshing swim - cold but invigorating!

• Rafting the Flathead River [Class II & III; booties provided ]

Day 2. Biking Going-to-the-Sun Road, Prince of Wales Hotel
In the cool of the morning, we tackle one of America's most remarkable alpine highways, the renowned Going-To-The-Sun Road. An award winning engineering feat completed in 1932, this road provides unforgettable vistas of towering glaciated peaks, giant alpine valleys and the glaciers and snow fields that gave the park it name. As we crest the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, watch for bighorn sheep and mountain goats in the surrounding cliffs and meadows. We then let loose on the downhill run to St. Mary and the eastern side of the park.
From St. Mary we journey north into Canada and the landmark Prince of Wales Hotel in Canada’s sister park to Glacier, Waterton National Park. The hotel is one of three remarkable lodges built by the Great Northern Railroad between 1910 and 1927. Sitting on a promontory overlooking the blue-green waters of Upper Waterton Lake, this 7-story hotel opens to a world famous panorama that looks deep into the heart of the surrounding mountain wilderness. Sip a cup of tea or enjoy a glass of beer or wine while you savor the incredible view through the lobby's wall-to-wall picture windows.

• Going-to-the-Sun Road [distance approximately 40 miles, 3,500 feet of elevation gain/loss]

Day 3. Hiking in Waterton National Park, Prince of Wales Hotel
Our hike today finds us on the Carthew Pass trail, the premier hike in Waterton Lakes National Park. The trail begins at the snow-encrusted headwall of Cameron Lake and ascends through an old growth evergreen forest with some of the largest trees in the park. The shady forest gives way to sun-splashed parklands filled with bear grass and wildflowers. After a steep but rewarding climb, we summit the wind-swept ridge of Carthew Pass and enjoy a sumptuous lunch amid 360 degree alpine splendor. We can return the way we came or enjoy the long descent past sapphire Carthew and Alderson Lakes, dancing waterfalls and lush meadows back to Waterton Village. Opportunities for wildlife sightings are excellent – grizzly and black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose and more all can be seen.

• Cameron Lake to Waterton Village [12 miles via Carthew Pass; steep 2,200 feet of elevation gain, 3,600 feet of elevation loss. Steep scree slopes.]
• Cameron Lake to Carthew Pass [9 miles round trip; 2200 feet of elevation gain, then loss. Steep scree slopes]

Day 4. Mountain Biking in Waterton, Many Glacier Hotel
Swapping back to bikes, this morning we cycle the Snowshoe Trail through the waterfall-filled Bauerman Creek Valley. Towering peaks and massive rock walls appear to grow as we proceed up the valley. After a lovely streamside lunch we take a leisurely walk around the bustling little resort town of Waterton Village.
In the late afternoon, we drive back to Glacier National Park for our final two nights at the Many Glacier Hotel, another of the Great Northern Railroad's masterpieces. This Swiss-style inn looks out onto Swiftcurrent Lake and a stunning mountain panorama considered by many the most wonderful in the park. Take a stroll on the Swiftcurrent lakeshore and watch for grizzlies, mountain goats, elk and bighorn sheep foraging on the vast alpine mountainsides that surround the lodge.

Day 5. Hiking to Grinnell Glacier, Many Glacier Hotel
The Blackfeet Indians called this beautiful valley "waterfalls". Europeans named it "Many Glacier". But there is not a single word that can truly describe this wonderland of glacier-carved mountains, turquoise lakes, vast alpine meadows and the still impressive bulk of Grinnell Glacier itself. Small wonder this is one of the most popular and memorable trails in the park. The trail is also a textbook illustration of the park’s retreating glaciers since Grinnell has lost 70% of is mass over the past 100 years.
• Moderate Option: Grinnell Glacier [11 miles, 1,700 feet of elevation gain, then loss]
• Easy Option: scenic boat cruise [additional cost]
• Easy Option: Nature Loop Hike around Swiftcurrent Lake [3.6 miles total, elevation negligible, self-guided]

Day 6. Biking and Canoeing Two Medicine Lake, Whitefish
Two Medicine Lake has some of the park's most spectacular scenery, and though it's often overlooked, a visit to the park wouldn't be complete without exploring its glacier-gouged lakes and purplish-red mountains. So we begin our last exhilarating day with a quiet bicycle ride along lower Two Medicine Lake. You can also choose to hike along the lake, canoe or kayak on the lake or take a scenic boat ride across the lake and hike on one of several trails amid the surrounding snowy peaks.
Our tour concludes back in Whitefish at approximately 5:30 pm.
• Biking Two Medicine Lake [11.3 miles; 650’ elevation gain]
• Option: scenic boat ride across Two Medicine Lake with various hiking options [distance & elevation change variable]
• Option: kayak or canoe Two Medicine Lake [1 hour, self-guided]

Trip Rating: Moderate
Activities: hike (3 days), bike (2 days), raft (1/2 day), kayak or canoe (optional), guest naturalist

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel. Although these will be on a voluntary basis as of August 2008, it is expected they will become compulsory for all travellers from 12 January 2009. For more information, and to apply online please visit the following website at http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.