Rafting the Flathead River in Glacier National Park
Ride the Flathead Rivers class II & III rapids on a thrilling rafting excursion in Glacier National Park! Featuring when to go, what to bring, and all about our experience.
For a national park experience like no other, take a thrilling whitewater rafting trip down the Flathead River on your visit to Glacier National Park. This is one of the most popular family friendly adventures and a great way to explore Glacier.
Roaring rapids, clear blue water, colorful rocks, beautiful scenery, great guides, and connecting with other travelers make this one of most memorial adventures we had during our visit to Glacier National Park.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
ABOUT RAFTING IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
We choose Glacier Guides Montana Raft for our half day whitewater rafting trip. Voted Top 5 Rafting Companies and the Best Whitewater Rafting in Montana in 2022, Glacier Guides offers half day and full day whitewater rafting trips on class 2 and 3 rapids, as well as, scenic float trips, river dinners, overnight trips, inflatable kayaking, and private rafting trips. They also offer guided hikes, fly fishing, biking, and lodging.
Whitewater rafting trips in Glacier are available early May to mid September with trips held in the mornings and afternoons. Mid June to Labor Day, a photographer is posted at the last rapid to take photos which are available for purchase when you head back to the Glacier Guides Outpost.
Other companies that offer whitewater rafting in Glacier are Glacier Raft Company, Great Northern Resort, Wild River Adventures.
LOCATION & LENGTH
River trips in Glacier National Park explore the John F. Stevens Canyon in the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River. This part of the river runs 8 miles west of the tourist town of West Glacier making it easily accessible.
Half Day river trips float 8 miles down river and take between 2 to 3 hours.
Full Days river trips float 14 miles down river and take between 5 to 6 hours.
WHAT TO BRING
The basic essentials are provided by Glacier Guides, such as, helmets, wetsuits, water shoes, and life jackets. However there are a couple other basic items recommended for a rafting trip.
Water
An insulated water bottle for cold water and a carabiner to hook your water bottle to the raft so it doesn’t fly off while going through the rapids.
Sun Protectant
SPF long sleeve shirts, sunglasses with a strap, hats that can fit under a helmet, as well as sunscreen are great things to wear rafting Glacier in the heat of the summer. You’ll be on the water for a couple hours and there is no shade so it’s best to have good protection from the sun.
Bathing Suit
If you plan to raft early in the season, you’ll need a bathing suit to wear under a wetsuit.
Waterproof Phone Case
You are allowed to take pictures if you’d like. A waterproof phone case, camera or go pro are all good options. I have a waterproof phone case with a strap so I was able to wear it around my neck and tuck it in my life jacket when going through the rapids.
Change of Clothes
It’s a good idea to leave an extra pair of clothes in your car to change into for after the trip.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our adventure on the Flathead River started by meeting up at the Glacier Guides Montana Raft outpost. We checked in at the front desk, dropped our car keys off with the receptionist then headed over to get fitted with our life jackets, water shoes and helmets. If rafting early in the season wetsuits will be provided at no extra cost.
When everyone got suited up, we headed on to the bus for a 20 minute drive to the drop off location where our guides got the rafts situated in the water. From here we all got on the raft and listened to our guide share the safety protocols and the different commands for paddle movements.
During the first few miles of rafting, the water is very calm and relaxing as you make your way through the John F. Stevens Canyon. The guides share facts and tell stories about the area. We also got to connect with everyone in our group which was really fun. During the heat of the summer you’ll be able to jump in the water which feels SO good.
There are 9 class II and III rapids you’ll paddle through with guidance from your guide. The guides will tell you what to do and when to do it so it’s easy to follow along. They are guides for a reason and are experienced in dealing with a variety of situations. Trust your guide.
If you’ve never whitewater rafted before this is a great beginner trip as the rapids aren’t too intense but enough to give you a thrill!
After you’ve gone through the Tunnel, Bonecrusher, Washboard, Big Squeeze, Jaws, Pinball, Repeater, The Notch, and Pumphouse rapids you’ll float under the Belton Bridge, the original entrance to Glacier National Park which is a popular bridge jumping spot. The bus then picks you up and you’ll head back to the outpost. Don’t forget to tip your guide, grab a shirt or a sticker and check out the pictures they’ve taken of you on the raft.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever rafted the Flathead River!
SAVE THIS GUIDE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!
LOOKING FOR MORE MONTANA?
HEY THERE!
WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Plan the perfect trip to Glacier National Park with this complete travel guide! Featuring everything you need to know before you go, including when to visit, what to bring, top things to do, & much more.