Lodges of Glacier National Park

Arrive at Chicago Union Station and board the Empire Builder. Settle into your onboard accommodations and prepare for your overnight rail journey. Travelers may elect to travel from Seattle or points in between and meet their Tour Manager in East Glacier, MT. Overnight train.

Spend the day on the train admiring the changing scenery as the train ventures across the stunning Gassman Coulee Trestle and onward across the North Dakota prairies and grasslands before reaching Glacier National Park. As you arrive in East Glacier, check into the Glacier Park Lodge built by the Great Northern Railway on land purchased from a tribe of the Blackfeet Nation. When the hotel opened, hundreds of Blackfeet Indians gathered on the grounds in teepees for a celebration. The original timber is still in place and is thought to be around 900 years old. Aside from gazing over the mountain views from your room, you can enjoy the lodge's restaurant, espresso stand, outdoor pool, nine-hole golf course, or spa. Overnight East Glacier, MT.

Today is yours at leisure to explore Glacier National Park. Discover the park's highlights during a variety of optional activities. There are endless hiking trails that weave through the forests and up to scenic lookouts, and the beautiful lakes are ideal for kayaking, boating, and fishing. Make arrangements in advance or ask your Tour Manager for suggestions.

For a more structured day, join an optional excursion that travels through the picturesque Many Glacier region to Many Glacier Hotel. Overnight East Glacier, MT.

• Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge this morning and a chance to dive into the region's indigenous heritage at the Museum of the Plains Indian. This museum, built in 1941, showcases a collection of art and history from the tribal people of the Northern Plains. Exhibits featuring toys, tools, clothing, and baby carriers piece together the unique cultures of the northern tribes. Following your visit, continue toward St. Mary's Lodge. This rustic haven was constructed in the early 1950s at the apex of Going-to-the-Sun Road and Looking Glass Highway, giving it an ideal location for adventures of all types. Behind the lodge, a sparkling lake and breathtaking mountains allow you to begin and end your day surrounded by dramatic views of Glacier. Overnight St. Mary, MT.

• Breakfast

Travelers visiting Glacier National Park in July will and August embark on a cruise of St. Mary's Lake today. This lake is set off Going-to-the-Sun Road and offers a fantastic vantage point from which to see pyramid-shaped mountains and Sexton Glacier. The cruise ventures past Wild Goose Island, renowned for its incredible beauty, and to Baring Falls, where travelers can step off the boat for a short walk to the falls. Keep your camera handy for picture-perfect scenes during the cruise, then enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to continue exploring Glacier National Park. For a change in pace while exploring the trails, consider doing so on horseback or by mountain bike. Ranger-led activities and optional excursions throughout the park are meaningful ways to experience the spectacular beauty throughout these protected lands. Consider ending your day lakeside, watching the rainbow hues of a mountain sunset reflect off the pristine water.

September departures will have the entirety of the day at leisure to continue experiencing the wonders held in Glacier National Park.

Overnight St. Mary, MT.

• Breakfast

Glacier's famous Red Jammer buses are your chariot to see some of the park's most awe-inspiring sights today. The vintage 1930s buses feature roll-back tops so you can take in and photograph the panoramic views with a Big Sky backdrop. A park guide leads your tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road, sharing history and stories about Glacier National Park along the way. After weaving along the dramatic byway, arrive at Lake McDonald Lodge, a Swiss chalet-style hotel on the shores of the park's largest lake. The rustic yet comfortable rooms offer modest amenities with anything but modest views. Overnight Lake McDonald, MT.

• Breakfast

Wake to birds singing and the light rustle of the trees on your last day in the park. There are endless opportunities to explore the Glacier's majestic surroundings during your free time this morning. Take one final hike, perhaps on the Trail of the Cedars, or seek out one of the waterfalls that complement the lush landscape.

Travelers visiting Glacier National Park in September will instead spend their morning on the water, cruising across the emerald-hued expanses of Lake McDonald. This beautiful, crystal-clear lake is set on the park's west side and is surrounded by snow-dusted peaks and lush forests. The cruise takes place aboard the historic DeSmet, a ship built nearly 100 years ago that has earned a spot on the National Register for Historic Vessels. Panoramic views of the Continental Divide are just one of the things you will enjoy during this hour-long experience.

Both departures leave the park aboard a deluxe motorcoach this afternoon bound for the historic resort town of Whitefish, MT, at the edge of Glacier National Park. Spend the rest of your day wandering the main drag, popping into the specialty shops and restaurants, or stopping for a craft beer in a brewery. Whitefish, MT.

• Breakfast

Your grand adventure through Glacier National Park and its charming lodges ends today. A group transfer to Whitefish's Amtrak station or Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell accommodates flights after 1:00 p.m.

• Breakfast