Glacier Park in winter
When snow closes the high road, Glacier shrinks to a valley you can drive in a morning, and it goes quiet. The plowed road ends near Lake McDonald Lodge, and beyond it the Sun Road becomes a route for skis and snowshoes. Two Tour Glacier days on GetYourGuide and Viator work inside that small open corner. One stays mostly in the van, and the other adds two hours on snowshoes.
What stays open
From roughly November to March, the open part of the west side is the plowed lower Going-to-the-Sun Road, running from West Glacier past Apgar Village to about Lake McDonald Lodge. Beyond that, the road is closed to cars and turns into a route for skiers and snowshoers. For most of the way you drive beside Lake McDonald, which stretches about 10 miles (16 km) and drops to more than 450 ft (137 m), the biggest body of water in Glacier.
Most of what serves summer visitors closes. Lake McDonald Lodge, built in 1913–1914, is shut for the winter, and the tours stop outside it for the view rather than going in. Few services stay open on this side of the park, so bring what you need for the day. In recent winters the park has charged a lower winter rate at the entrance (check the current fees), which matters only if you drive in yourself, since both winter tours include park entry.
The winter driving tour
Tour Glacier's winter driving tour, from ~$250 on Viator (about $253 on GetYourGuide), runs 5–6 hours. It starts at Hungry Horse Dam on the South Fork of the Flathead and enters the park at West Glacier, where the stops include Belton Bridge and Apgar. From there it follows the open lower road along Lake McDonald to the closed lodge, and on the way back it calls at Huckleberry Land for huckleberry treats.
Lunch is a picnic of sandwiches with hot drinks, and park entry is paid. The van picks up in Whitefish (the ski resort included), Kalispell, Columbia Falls, West Glacier and Coram. Reviews could hardly be better, 5.0 from 34 on Viator and 5.0 from 10 on GetYourGuide, with guides such as Adam and Doug praised for their flexibility and their history. The listing promises no hiking through deep snow, which keeps it open to most ages. On one quiet day a guest even got a bonus run to the east side, but that was a call made on the day and is not part of the plan. Its catch is winter itself, with the day confined to the lower valley and short daylight to work with.
A warm van into the snowy valley
Tour Glacier's 5–6-hour winter day, from ~$250, picks up in Whitefish (ski resort included) and in four other towns. The picnic comes with hot drinks, and park entry is covered. Every one of its 34 Viator reviews gives five stars, and you can cancel free until 24 hours before.
Our two picks, one for each season
Drive and snowshoe
Tour Glacier's scenic drive and snowshoe trek, from ~$230 on GetYourGuide (about $250 on Viator), keeps the van for the valley and adds about two hours on snowshoes inside the park. You see West Glacier and Apgar before the walk, and Lake McDonald after it. Snowshoes and poles are provided, and so are hand warmers. Lunch is a picnic with your choice of sandwich. Hot coffee or cocoa comes out by McDonald Creek. The day runs 4–6 hours from the same valley towns as the summer tour.
The catch has two sides. Two hours of effort in snow is proper exercise, so this suits travelers who want to move rather than watch from the van. The reviews are also few, 5.0 from three on GetYourGuide and 4.7 from 13 on Viator, where one of the 13 gave a single star. Tour Glacier also runs a snowshoe-only trek, which we leave out of the comparison because so few reviews back it.
Why leave the driving to a local
Winter driving is the main reason to book a tour here rather than go alone. Snow can fall heavily and shaded corners ice over. Days are short too, and many rental cars come without winter tires. A local guide at the wheel takes all of that off your hands, and the Viator listing makes the same pitch, selling the day as a way to skip both the winter driving and the rental car. Because the van collects at the ski resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort skiers can spend a rest day in the park without touching a car key.
Cold-weather facts
In the depth of winter the thermometer in West Glacier tops out near freezing, about 32 °F (0 °C), with colder nights. Snow is heavy and daylight short. Dress in layers under a warm coat. Pack gloves and a hat plus warm shoes, with sunglasses for the glare off the snow. What to wear and bring on a Glacier tour has the full winter list. Tour Glacier also asks you to leave your lunch choices in the booking's special requirements box.
Wildlife keeps a lower profile in winter. Bears are asleep, and what you notice most may be tracks in fresh snow. Nothing is guaranteed in any season, and our wildlife guide explains what to look for.
A private day, or a summer return
For a party that wants its own vehicle, the private SUV day sold by Privat Tours Worldwide (from ~$1,499 for a group as large as seven) adds a guide and lets you shape 5–8 hours as you like. The catch is a high price backed by only three reviews (all five stars). Ask whether your winter dates work before you book.
If the snowy valley leaves you wanting the high road, come back in summer. Glacier Hikes & Bikes' e-bike tour on the Sun Road, from ~$320, is a guided 6–8-hour ride with lunch. Its catch is that it runs in summer only and has just four reviews. The Sun Road guide covers the summer choices, and the best time for a Glacier tour shows when the road opens.
For a winter base with an easy pickup, see our guide to where to stay. The full price list is in what a Glacier tour costs.