Glacier National Park Boat Tours | Prices & Tickets

Glacier National Park covers over a million acres of land, making it one of the biggest national parks in the United States. It was given its name because of the 25 active glaciers that can be found in the park. But because of the changing seasons, these glaciers move and shift throughout the year. 

Because it’s such a huge expanse of land, there are many lakes and rivers that are held within the borders of the park. And these are home to some awe-inspiring boat trips. With forests to the one side and glaciers to the other, the scenery you’ll take in along the way is truly breathtaking. If you’re looking for the best Glacier National Park boat tours, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best boating experiences that can be found inside the borders of the national park. 

Boat Tours Glacier National Park: What To Expect

A Glacier National Park boat tour is an absolute treat. But it’s not one that allows for a whole lot of sitting back and relaxing. So be prepared to get your hands dirty (or wet) as you’ll be manning the ores along with your touring team. 

While there are a variety of tours within the park, they all involve rafting. So whether you choose the high-energy tour that involves navigating your way down rapids or a relaxed ride on calm waters, it’ll be taking place within a raft. 

If you’re ready to find out a little more about boat tours in Glacier National Park, keep reading and you’ll have a great idea of just what to expect. 

Boat Tour Glacier National Park Prices and Availability

	Glacier National Park: Scenic Raft Trip	$ 101 per person on getyourguide.com	Check Price
	Glacier National Park: Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Trip	US$ 101 per person on getyourguide.com	Check Price
	Glacier National Park: Full-Day Whitewater Rafting Trip	US$ 191 per person on getyourguide.com	Check Price
	Glacier National Park: Whitewater Rafting with Dinner	US$ 139 per person on getyourguide.com	Check Price
	Half Day Scenic Float on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River	From $195 on viator	Check Price
	Half-Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventur	From $95.00 on viator	Check Price
	Half Day Whitewater Rafting Trip	From $93.59 on viator	Check Price
	Full Day Whitewater Adventure Trip with Included Lunch	From $185 on viator	Check Price
	Half Day Glacier National Park Scenic Float	From $95 on viator	Check Price

You can expect to pay between $90 and $130 per person for a Glacier Park boat tour. While this may seem a little on the pricier side, it’s well worth the experience. The scenery that surrounds you every step of the way is completely jaw-dropping. 

If you do opt to go for the calm water trip, then be sure to take your camera with you as the picture opportunities along the way are endless. Your guide will stop frequently to allow everyone to take in the beauty and capture it on their cameras or phones. 

When should you book a boat ride in Glacier National Park

Summer is by far the most pleasant time of year to visit Glacier National Park. If you aim to visit between June and September, you can’t go wrong. That being said, it’s also the busiest time to visit the park, so if you want to escape the crowds, try to get to the park at around 7 am for a little exploration before your boat tour. 

Alternatively, you could book a tour in autumn or spring, when the weather is still fairly mild. But it’s best to wrap up warm as the cold is quite harsh in certain areas of the park, especially near the water. Personally, I would recommend taking a waterproof ski jacket along for the ride to ensure you don’t get soaked to the bone (while it’s rare it can happen if you hit an intense rapid).  

Best Boat Tour in Glacier National Park Options

Although most of the boat rides in Glacier National Park offer much of the same thing, they do differ in location as well as the length of the tour. All these things as well as fitness levels should be taken into consideration when booking your boat tour in Glacier National Park. 

If you’re wondering what is the best boat tour in Glacier National Park, I’m here to present you with the best options so you can make up your mind for yourself. 

Glacier National Park: scenic raft trip

This scenic raft trip offers 2 – 3 hours of complete tranquility. You’ll head down the park’s Middle Fork toward the famed Flathead River. While the boat slowly meanders down the river, your friendly guide will teach you about all the sights you see along the way. 

You’ll learn not only about the flora and fauna in the area but about the history, culture, and wildlife found in the park. You’re likely to spot many an animal along the way. The most popular sightings include eagles, deer, moose, osprey, and bears. But don’t worry, the confines of the boat will keep you safe from any wild animals that may find themselves in your company. 

Your trip will start with a 5-minute bus ride to the West Glacier. There you’ll get a short safety briefing before hopping into the raft. The first portion of your trip will see you floating through a steep-walled canyon. After 2 – 3 hours on the water, you’ll head to shore before taking a 15-minute bus ride back to the office. There you’ll get the opportunity to look through photos taken by your guide, and if you were smart enough to bring your camera along for the trip, you can reflect on your photos as well. 

My favorite part of this trip:

was the eagles that were so prevalent throughout our trip. The guide says that some tourists are even lucky enough to see the eagles catch their prey. 

Glacier National Park: half-day whitewater rafting trip

This boat trip Glacier National Park has to offer is one of the best. You’ll travel down the middle fork toward Flathead River, navigating a series of category 2 and 3 rapids (classified out of 5). These are nothing to worry about as they’re fairly easy to navigate, especially with your experienced guide using their experience to show you the way. 

Your touring team will have to maneuver their way through a series of 9 different rapids, while your guide gives you paddle commands (so you’re never lost as to what you’re supposed to be doing). At the start of the tour, you’ll be treated to 4 miles of tranquil waters, which gives you ample opportunity to get used to paddling and practicing paddle commands with your guide. 

When you reach the rapid named Bonecrusher, a picture will be taken of you and your crew to take home with you after the trip. At the end of the last rapid, you’ll get a chance to hop in the water and enjoy the cool before hopping back in the boat and rowing to shore. From there, you’ll take a short walk back to the office where you’ll look through the photos taken on the trip. 

My favorite part of this trip:

the comradery between crew members makes this whitewater experience heeps of fun. The refreshing swim toward the end of the journey was also a definite highlight. If you are planning on hopping in the water, be sure to bring a change of clothes so you don’t have to stay in soaking clothes for the rest of the day. 

Glacier National Park: full-day whitewater rafting trip

If you’re looking for a whitewater river rafting experience that is a little more intense than the previously mentioned tours, this may just be for you. Because the trip lasts the entire day (more than 5 hours), it’s ideal for fitter individuals. While anyone can manage, you may be sore for many days afterward if you haven’t done some sort of recent training. 

This tour will also see you taking on category 2 and 3 rapids, so the rapids won’t be more difficult than the ones in the previously mentioned tours, there will simply be more of them. Because the tour lasts almost an entire day, you will stop riverside for a barbeque lunch halfway through. This gives you a chance to recuperate and refuel for the rest of the journey. 

Toward the end of the journey, you’ll enter John Stevens Canyon. This is where you’ll enter a long stretch of whitewater consisting of three category 3 rapids. For those with an adventurous spirit, this is the most exciting part of the entire trip. And you’ll really get to test out your newly acquired rafting skills. 

My favorite part of the trip:

entering the John Stevens Canyon was an experience like no other. The series of rapids contained within really put you to the test, but it’s a challenge you’ll want to rise to again and again. Stopping for lunch on the riverbank also gave the rafting team a chance to chat about the experiences we’d had up to that point. 

Glacier National Park: whitewater rafting with dinner

If you’d prefer to have your meal and bonding moment with the team after all the activity is done, then this tour may be the ideal choice. It includes a 3.5-hour rafting experience, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy dinner together when all the whitewater fun is over. This gives you the chance to reminisce on all the moments your heart skipped a beat along the river. 

On this tour, you’ll also enjoy category 2 and 3 rapids while taking in some fresh mountain air. After a healthy dose of activity, you’ll head to the riverbank for a barbeque dinner where you can choose between beef, chicken, or veggie burgers. After which you’ll be served a delicious dessert. 

After you’ve satisfied your appetite you’ll be treated to a short walk through the park as you make your way back toward your meeting point. But don’t count this section out, it’d yet another way to take in the beautiful surroundings of the park. 

My favorite part of the trip:

while this trip was very similar to the others, just in a different order, the walk gave it a unique twist. It offered a different experience in nature which I wouldn’t want to discount. Being able to immerse ourselves in nature in more than one way made for a blissful day. 

Other Activities in Glacier National Park

While I love my boat trips, Glacier National Park boat rides are far from the only thing on offer in the park. Hiking in the snow, riding snowmobiles, and using an RZR to explore the park are all things I rate very highly. These activities are especially great for the winter months, so if you’re at the park in the off-season, these fun activities will keep you occupied. 

• Half-day 4-seater RZR rental
• Indy 650 snowmobile rental
• Snowshoe rental

Wrapping Up Boat Trips Glacier National Park

If a boat ride in Glacier National Park sounds like your kind of fun, then the tours listed above should be high on your list of things to do. If you are spending a couple of days in Glacier National Park, I would recommend booking obe adventure boat tour and another tranquil scenic tour. This way you get to have a little fun and also take beautiful photographs of the area. 

Enjoy the best boat tours Glacier National Park has to offer!