When considering a trip to Glacier National Park, how long should you stay? A prevailing answer might be “as long as it takes,” which could conceivably be weeks, even months, to begin to soak in all the available wonder. Unfortunately, not all of us have unlimited PTO or the ability to relocate somewhere near the park for a prolonged experience.
But never fear, there are many opportunities to get your Glacier visit in, including guided trips available from Nspire Tours.
Harla Biever, who has been arranging Glacier trips for decades, said it’s possible to have an amazing Glacier experience in three-day or four-day planned excursions. These allow you to see the high points and create great memories but not wear yourself out like some multi-day excursions tend to do.
Even better, Nspire Tours trips to Glacier will also let you take in more of the surrounding countryside, including the wonders of Flathead and Whitefish Lake as well as especially scenic locations in North Idaho.
Along with putting itineraries together for trips, she’s also always eager to give advice on getting the most out of Glacier, including how to get great parking spots, the better dining experiences, recommended spots for viewing wildlife, and where to stay inside and outside of the park.
A typical three-day Nspire Tours Glacier itinerary can include:
>> Day 1
The adventure begins at the historic Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane, where guests meet their guide, their driver and each other at a welcome dinner.
Following breakfast, guests board a Nspire Tours bus and head east into Idaho. The next stop is the Silver Valley, east of Coeur d’Alene, which at one time was one of the world’s top mining districts. There is still active mining that takes place but the community also enjoys plenty of tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities like bicycling and skiing.
The first stop is the Cataldo Mission, the first church in Idaho. The Old Mission State Park also includes a museum and a popular “Sacred Encounters,” exhibit featuring information about the Indians of the Rocky Mountain West and their friendship with Jesuit missionaries.
Next is the Crystal Gold Mine outside of Kellogg, which provides interesting details about the area’s hardrock mining history, followed by a visit to the Oasis Bordello in Wallace, a longtime brothel that now has become a unique museum. Lunch can be enjoyed at the 1313 Club or the Blackbird, both local spots known for extensive menus and fine food.
Crossing into Montana over Lookout Pass requires turning watches ahead an hour and getting ready for the next stop: St. Regis.
It’s a perfect pit stop because it’s also home to Montana’s largest gift shop. Here, you can get everything from Elvis wall hangings to animal pelts to world-famous huckleberry shakes.
The journey continues northeast to Flathead Lake, the largest natural lake in the continental U.S. Visitors are free to explore the charming communities of Bigfork and Kalispell. Then they’ll retire to the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish.
>> Day 2
Glacier beckons, and the park’s West Entrance is now less than an hour away. Once in the Apgar area of the park, guests will board a Red Bus. These open-air buses, also known as ‘jammers,’ have been providing transportation as well as narration for Glacier guests for decades. The park encourages use of the jammers or at least the free National Park Service buses, to reduce traffic and harmful auto exhaust. The drivers also provide valuable commentary about the park’s history.
The Red Bus takes guests up and over Logan Pass along the Going to the Sun Road, a narrow yet scenic roadway that divides the west and east sides of the park. After time to enjoy the summit, the ride continues east to St. Mary Lake for a cruise on this scenic 10-mile-long body of water. Along with a chance to see breathtaking nature views, there’s a good possibility of spotting deer and bears on the shoreline.
Following lunch, the group moves east to the St. Mary Lodge, just outside park’s East gate. Along the way, there are many opportunities to pull over and take photos. After exploring the lodge, which includes a gift shop, snack bar and ice cream parlor, the group heads to the Glacier Park Lodge, an impressive structure built with Douglas fir pillars more than 40 feet high. The building was given the name ‘Omahkoyis,’ or ‘Big Tree Lodge,’ by the Blackfoot Tribe.
After visiting the lodge, the group returns to Grouse Mountain Lodge for the night.
>> Day 3
The Nspire Tours bus departs Whitefish for Kalispell, the largest city in the Flathead area. Guests can have the option of returning to Spokane the same route or flying to their home or next destination via the Kalispell Airport.
The trip west includes stops for lunch and additional sightseeing in Wallace.
Nspire Tours will be offering several multi-day adventures in 2025 including an eye-popping trip to the Skagit Valley in April for the Tulip Festival, a Walla Walla Wine and Museum Tour and more. N
Baring Falls in Glacier National Park is visible from St. Mary Lake or a short hike which begins from Sunrift Gorge.
As Seen in 2024 Summer/Fall
By: Joe Butler
Photography By: Joel Riner