Lodging accommodations in West Glacier, Montana. Glacier National Park backcountry chalet hikes to Granite Park Chalet and Sperry Chalet

Ultimate 6 Day Chalet Tour

Difficulty: Moderate

Trip Dates:
07/19/2010
08/08/2010

Trip Duration: 6 days

Price Adult: $1805.00

Price Child: $1805.00

Other Price: add $85 for single supplement at Belton Chalet

View from Granite Park Chalet

Description: This is the ultimate trip of Glacier Park. Hiking into the backcountry with just a day pack while your interpretive guide points out all the details, sample hearty home cooked meals with the best views, and at night enjoy the crisp feel of clean sheets while being miles from any road. We take care of all the details, so you can relax, enjoy the mountain views, get the best shot with your camera, and experience the wilderness of Glacier. We will be exploring the habitat of mountain goats, big horn sheep, grizzly bears, moose, mountain lions, and golden eagles while hiking through glacial valleys and spires. We get the opportunity to hike to and touch Sperry Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the park. The chalets are great examples of the Arts and Crafts architectural period from the turn of the century. We will spend 2 nights at Sperry Chalet (with horse ride to the chalet), 1 night at Belton Chalet (beautifully renovated, historic hotel here in West Glacier) and 2 nights at Granite Park Chalet .

Minimum age: 10. All meals are included from breakfast on day 1 to lunch on day 6 EXCEPT for the dinner on day 3 and breakfast on day 4. Those meals are on your own. The optional 1/2 day raft trip in the afternoon on day 3 is also on your own.

Day 1 Meet at 6:30 AM at our office in West Glacier. Today we go for a morning horse ride, allowing us to take in the views as we arrive at Sperry Chalet. In the afternoon, we can day hike to Lincoln Pass, where we will enjoy views of Mt. Jackson, one of the largest peaks in the park. The hike to Lincoln Pass and back is a beautiful 2 mile hike. First night at Sperry Chalet.

Day 2 Day hike up to Comeau Pass and Sperry Glacier. Here we will have the opportunity to view the glaciated, scoured effects of Sperry Glacier and to touch the glacier itself. The trail to Comeau Pass rises 1600 feet over 3 miles making it a challenging hike, but well worth the effort. Final night at Sperry Chalet.

Day 3 Today we hike back down to Lake McDonald for 6.5 miles through a diverse cedar forest. Return around 3pm to West Glacier. Quick shuttle to the Belton Chalet. Optional 1/2 day raft trip for the later afternoon. Dinner on your own. (The classy restaurant at the Belton Chalet is highly recommended.) Spend that night in the comfy elegance of the Belton Chalet. Refresh, repack and get ready for second part of backcountry excursion.

Day 4 Meet at 8:30 at our office in West Glacier. Drive up the historic Going to the Sun Highway to Logans Pass. Hike for 7.5 miles on the Highline Trail to the famed Granite Park Chalet. This area is a great place to view mountain goats, bighorn sheep and to look for bears in Bear Valley. First night at Granite Park Chalet.

Day 5 Day hike towards Ahern Pass (about 8.5 miles round trip) or Swiftcurrent Look Out (4 miles round trip with a 2500 foot elevation gain), for more views of glaciers, alpine lakes and glacial peaks. Final night at the Granite Park Chalet.

Day 6 Enjoy the morning on your own with coffee by the fire or go for a morning day hike to a glacier overlook. Day hike out in the afternoon for 4.5 miles on the Loop Trail to our shuttle with ice cold beverages. Return to West Glacier by 4 or 5 PM.

Facilities at Sperry and Granite Park Chalets:

There is no electricity nor are there shower facilities at either chalet. Flashlights or small battery lamps are recommended for night use in your room. Both chalets have drinking water available.

Sperry Chalet has a full service dining room with sit-down dining and wait staff. The sleeping accommodations are about 200 feet from the main chalet. The rooms are furnished with single beds and accommodate 2 to 4 people. Linens are provided. The restroom facility is located outside with sinks for washing up. (no baths or hot water).

Granite Park Chalet is equipped with a propane-powered kitchen, and your guide will prepare and serve delicious home cooked meals. Adjacent to the kitchen is a comfy and rustic dining room where you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere. All the sleeping accommodations are in the upper level of the main chalet or the annex about 200 feet from the chalet. The rooms are furnished with single bunk beds (2 to 6 beds per room) and linens are provided. There are pit toilets equipped with toilet paper and hand sanitizer near the main chalet.

Clothing:

When hiking in Glacier's temperamental weather, it is best to dress in layers. By layering clothing you can adjust to the changing temperatures as needed. Synthetic shirts, pants, jackets and socks wick away moisture and dry more quickly than cotton. All of these layers combined are a safety measure that will keep you comfortable and guard against hypothermia. Please bring all the items marked with an asteriks on our packing list for overnight backpacking trips.

Meeting Notes: Meet at 6:30 AM at our main office in West Glacier. We are located 1.5 miles west of West Glacier on Highway 2. Look for the blue raft and the Montana Raft/Glacier Guides sign directly across from Kruger Helicopter.