General
YES! Even if you have reservations, be at the dock 20 minutes prior to departure to pick up your tickets. You can lose your seat if you are not at the boat dock ready to load 10 minutes prior to departure time. Keep in mind that parking may take up to 20 minutes on busy days.
No fishing license is required in Glacier National Park, but please reference the Park’s fishing regulations, available at all NPS ranger stations.
Not generally. Once you pass the entrance gates, plan on being free of cell phone service.
No firearms are allowed on any Glacier Park Boat Company boats.
In Glacier, anything’s possible- you might need your down jacket and swim suit in the same day! The weather can and will change very rapidly, and it’s best to dress in layers to protect yourself from the rain, wind, sun and occasional snowstorm. Checking the weather beforehand will give you a good idea of what’s coming up. When the weather is less than ideal, the boats are fully covered and are the PERFECT rainy day activity.
No, but they have a wonderful tour on a historic boat built by the same man, J.W. Swanson, who built some of our historic boats. Here is their website for more information: http://www.watertoncruise.com/
Boat Tours
Changes or cancellations to individual reservations (groups of 14 or less) must be received prior to 5:00 p.m. the day before
the scheduled tour in order to receive a refund for a cancellation.
Changes or cancellations to group reservations (groups of 15 or more) must be received prior to 5:00 p.m. three days before
the scheduled tour in order to receive a refund for a cancellation.
All cancellations will result in an administration fee of $2.00 per seat and will be withheld from the refunded amount.
Yes! Picnic lunches, coffee, or even a drink from the bar is permitted. Of course we appreciate your use of the trash & recycling on the boats or at our ticket offices. Enjoy!
YES! Even if you have reservations, be at the dock 20 minutes prior to departure to pick up your tickets. You can lose your seat if you are not at the boat dock ready to load 10 minutes prior to departure time. Keep in mind that parking may take up to 20 minutes on busy days.
You can see Sexton Glacier from the St. Mary Tour at Rising Sun and Grinnell and Salamander Glaciers from the Many Glacier Boat Tour.
It is up to you and what your schedule allows. If you want to do a longer hike from the boat, book a morning cruise so you have the whole day to enjoy yourself. Check our tour schedules for a full list.
Our boats follow guidelines set by the United States Coast Guard for capacity, and in the height of our summer season it is not uncommon for all locations, all day to have full boat tours. If you want a guaranteed seat on one of our tours, be sure to Make a Reservation. Full payment is due upon making that reservation (Visa and MasterCard). Cancellations and changes can be made. Please see “What is the cancellation policy”.
No. There are restrooms near all our ticket offices, and there are some Park Service outhouses on the trails.
Yes. We can only provide one-way fares from the head of the lakes back to the main dock. One-way tickets are sold at the head of Two Medicine, St. Mary and Lake Josephine at Many Glacier for half price on a space available and cash only basis. Round-trip fares have priority on these pick-ups. Inquire at each location’s ticket office prior to hiking for schedule.
Upon departing a tour to take a hike your boat captain will provide you with a return ticket. Keep that. The captain will also inform you of various pick-up times that are coming back to return guests back to the dock. Choose one and be back to the upper dock in time to get a spot in line. Be warned, sometimes the line is long and you may have to wait for the next scheduled pickup.
The trail between the two boats at Many Glacier covers a hill about the equivalent of walking four flights of stairs, only with a great setting! The trail is paved, but a bit uneven and requires going up and down the other side. It is 0.2 miles one-way. You will have to walk the path both going and returning, but the reward of experiencing both of these magical lakes is worth the effort!
We only allow service dogs on our tours and in our rental boats.
Yes, but it takes some planning. We suggest two, that allows for drive-time, lunch breaks, animal viewing and whatever else you might see along the way in Glacier National Park. For example, you could catch the 9am Many Glacier Boat Tour and hike, drive over the Logan Pass and catch an evening cruise on Lake McDonald. Or vice versa—pick an early and a late cruise and you can probably make it to both in one day.
Guided Hikes and Walks
The pick-up times for return boats are on a space available basis and will be printed on your return ticket. If there are more people waiting for the boat than capacity allows, you may have to wait for the next boat to pick you up. Depending on the schedule, this may be an hour or only a 20 minute wait. Your boat captain will thoroughly explain the pick-up time protocol at each location.
For one-way return times, see the location ticket office prior to your hike. One-way passengers are picked up on a space available basis after all round-trip passengers have loaded.
At any point you can venture out on your own, just please be sure to let your guide know and check the boat return times if you’re still hoping for a ride back.
Depending on the time of year and the weather, our trails can get muddy and even have snow on them into June. Special hiking boots are not necessary as the trails in Glacier National Park are very well maintained, but flip flops are not recommended. Good tennis shoes or running shoes are sufficient.
The guided hikes are available at no additional cost to the boat tour. One of the benefits of taking one of our boat tours with an optional guided hike is the opportunity for interpretation from the boat and on a hike. Plus, hiking with a group is safe and a great way to experience both the water and the trail. If you’ve never been hiking before, our guided hikes are the perfect intro!
Boat Rentals
Sorry, no. Our rental boats are only available to rent on a first come, first serve basis. If you’d like to reserve a tour boat for a private charter, find out more here.
This depends on the type and size of the boat. The capacity for our boats is based on weight restrictions not on the number of passengers. Please consult the location ticket office for info on specific boats and weight restrictions. Rentals are on a first-come-first serve basis.
We only allow service dogs on our tours and in our rental boats.
Reservations
Changes or cancellations to individual reservations (groups of 14 or less) must be received prior to 5:00 p.m. the day before
the scheduled tour in order to receive a refund for a cancellation.
Changes or cancellations to group reservations (groups of 15 or more) must be received prior to 5:00 p.m. three days before
the scheduled tour in order to receive a refund for a cancellation.
All cancellations will result in an administration fee of $2.00 per seat and will be withheld from the refunded amount.
YES! Even if you have reservations, be at the dock 20 minutes prior to departure to pick up your tickets. You can lose your seat if you are not at the boat dock ready to load 10 minutes prior to departure time. Keep in mind that parking may take up to 20 minutes on busy days.
Sorry, no. Our rental boats are only available to rent on a first come, first serve basis. If you’d like to reserve a tour boat for a private charter, find out more here.
Our boats follow guidelines set by the United States Coast Guard for capacity, and in the height of our summer season it is not uncommon for all locations, all day to have full boat tours. If you want a guaranteed seat on one of our tours, be sure to Make a Reservation. Full payment is due upon making that reservation (Visa and MasterCard). Cancellations and changes can be made. Please see “What is the cancellation policy”.
Glacier National Park
No fishing license is required in Glacier National Park, but please reference the Park’s fishing regulations, available at all NPS ranger stations.
Not generally. Once you pass the entrance gates, plan on being free of cell phone service.
In Glacier, anything’s possible- you might need your down jacket and swim suit in the same day! The weather can and will change very rapidly, and it’s best to dress in layers to protect yourself from the rain, wind, sun and occasional snowstorm. Checking the weather beforehand will give you a good idea of what’s coming up. When the weather is less than ideal, the boats are fully covered and are the PERFECT rainy day activity.
You can see Sexton Glacier from the St. Mary Tour at Rising Sun and Grinnell and Salamander Glaciers from the Many Glacier Boat Tour.