Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
Touring Glacier National Park’s Lakes in Vintage Boats»
Visitors to Two Medicine, Lake McDonald, St. Mary, Swiftcurrent, Josephine and Waterton Lakes in Glacier National Park can ride across the lake in restored wooden boats from the 1920s. We took two of these tours during our stay in the park. The boats were built for the Great Northern Railway in the 1920s as a means to further tourism in Glacier (thus increasing ridership on the trains.) These boats are now operated by Glacier Park Boat Company in conjunction with the National Park Service.
We took the Sinopah across Two Medicine Lake. The Sinopah is the fleet’s oldest vessel. On the way to the West Shore, a park ranger pointed out the geologic features of the area and told us some of the Blackfeet tribal legends. Once we arrived, we took a guided hike to Twin Falls with the ranger before returning to the dock for the next boat. There is a no-hike option for those who just want to take in the scenery from the water.
We also took the St. Mary Lake tour aboard the Little Chief. This cruise passed close by Wild Goose Island and provided a view of the Sexton Glacier in the distance. Our ticket included a guided hike from the Baring Falls dock to St. Mary Falls.
Four-Minute Video on the History and Current Operation of Glacier’s Historic Boats»
Glacier National Park Posts:
- Running Eagle Falls
- Aster Falls
- Two Medicine Lake
- Twin Falls
- Rising Sun
- Wild Goose Island and Jackson Glacier Overlook
- Logan Pass
- Going To The Sun Road
- St. Mary Lake
- St. Mary Falls
- Avalanche Lake
- Grinell Glacier Trail
- Many Glacier Hotel
- Lake McDonald
- Going to the Sun Virtual Drive
- Saint Mary Falls Virtual Visit
- Lake McDonald Revisited
- Glacier Vintage Boats
Location: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier Park, MT 59434, USA
Designation: National Park, NHL
Date designated or established: 5/11/1910
Date of my visit: 6/24/2018
This sounds wonderful. I hope to do this someday.
Hopefully they reopen next year 🙏🏻
I’ve been on the M.V. International between Waterton Lakes and Goat Haunt Montana. These historic boats provide a great tour for sure. Services are reduced this year due to Covid and the old boat is not sailing. Hope all is well T. Allan
I’d really like to take that tour. Hopefully the world returns to normal someday.🙏🏻
W were lucky enough one year to take a hike guided by Canadian Parks warden and U.S. Ranger from Waterton to Glacier and then take the boat back. That was a real treat. I hope you get the chance to do it as well. Allan
Sounds great 👍🏻
Of boats, mountains and lakes
😀
I hope no one expects to do boat tours at Glacier this year. They are shut down for the entire season!
Hopefully they can reopen next year🙏🏻
What a shame that we missed out on this when we visited Glacier NP in 2018.
You will have to go back (after Covid-19 is over)😀
I’ll add it to the list of all the places we’d like to re-visit! 🙂