Hike Upper McDonald Creek and learn Glacier National Park’s water, wildlife, and geology
8 hours
Guide, shuttle, interpretation
Hike Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park with a guide and shuttle transport to the trailhead. Walk through a shaded hemlock forest and learn about wildlife, geology, and ecology along the way.
You must purchase a Glacier National Park Entrance Pass before the hike. Non-US residents (16 and over) must pay an additional $100 per person fee unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass.
The Glacier Institute will give a full refund if the cancelation is 7 days prior to the program. Customers can cancel bookings online.
Yes. You must purchase a Glacier National Park Entrance Pass before the hike. You may enter with a Standard, Annual, or America the Beautiful Pass.
Yes. If you are a non-US resident age 16+, you must pay an additional $100 per person unless you are admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass.
No. A Vehicle Reservation is not required; your participation in the Glacier Institute hike acts as your Vehicle Reservation.
Glacier Institute - 7450 Highway 2 East Columbia Falls, MT 59912 US
Travelers rave about the knowledgeable guides who make every tour exceptional. Names like Megan, Carrie, Wyatt, Anna, and Mark come up repeatedly, with guests praising their deep understanding of the park's geology, wildlife, and flora. The guides strike that perfect balance of being educational without feeling like a lecture, and they're skilled at adapting to different group needs, whether that means hiking at a slower pace or rerouting due to weather closures. The packed lunch option gets consistent praise for being surprisingly good, complete with homemade trail mix. The Going-to-the-Sun Road tours are hugely popular, offering a stress-free way to experience the iconic drive without navigating it yourself. A major perk is the exclusive parking access at popular trailheads, which means less hassle during peak season. Guests appreciate the professional operation, from helpful office staff to the way they handle unexpected situations (one review mentions how quickly the team solved a seating mix-up). The experience consistently delivers stunning scenery, wildlife sightings including bighorn sheep and bears, and that deeper connection to the park that comes from learning its stories. First-time visitors and longtime park lovers alike find value in these educational adventures.
My students love the programming at Big Creek. It is always their favorite memory of seventh grade. This year, they said My favorite memory from Big Creek is when we tried to catch frogs and look at the beaver dam. My favorite memory from Big Creak is catching frogs and getting wet at the beaver pond. My favorite memory from Big Creek was when we went to catch frogs and we saw that bear poop.
Shanna Burchwell
May 27, 2026
My students love the programming at Big Creek. It is always their favorite memory of seventh grade. This year, they said My favorite memory from Big Creek is when we tried to catch frogs and look at the beaver dam. My favorite memory from Big Creak is catching frogs and getting wet at the beaver pond. My favorite memory from Big Creek was when we went to catch frogs and we saw that bear poop.
Shanna Burchwell
May 27, 2026