Highline Trail / Ptarmigan Tunnel, North Circle, Glacier National Park, Montana hiking

Details for Organizing the Hike

Bus

Bus service in Canada is expensive. There is little competition between companies.

Bus service in the USA is even worse, in our experience.

For a hiking trip in North America you often need a vehicle. Parking is no problem at any of the trailheads.

Calgary <> Waterton bus

There is no bus to Waterton from Calgary, but you can get to Pincher Creek, Alberta (45km from Waterton) by Greyhound Canada bus lines.

From Pincher Creek, you can hire a cab for about C$50 — or there may be a hiker's shuttle meeting the Greyhound. We hitched from Pincher Creek to the Park, contributing C$10 for gas money.

If you miss the bus, there is a hostel in Pincher Creek.

Bus in Montana > Glacier

Good luck using Greyhound Bus Lines in Montana. We have had nothing but problems there. You might try Rim Rock Stages, a local competitor. Like Greyhound, these buses do not go into Glacier National Park.

Flathead Glacier Transportation (800) 829-7039 & Kalispell Taxi and Airport Shuttle (406) 752-2842 offer private transportation service to Glacier from Kalispell. This is convenient if you fly into the airport there.

Train in Montana > Glacier

If you can, travel to Glacier by train. Amtrak stops every day on their Empire Builder Route. You could catch that train in Spokane.

It is not inexpensive. Connect with the hiker's shuttle (see below) in West Glacier.

Shuttle Many Glacier <> Waterton

We recommend the excellent hiker's shuttle, one of the best & most convenient in any Park. Some shuttles only ran July 1 - Sept. 6, 2005. Others ran until late September.

Transport is first-come, first-served. Check the shuttle bus <website> for current fares & schedules.

One alternative you could try is Sun Tours (406 266-9220) who may offer private transport.

Waterton, Canada <> Goat Haunt, USA

A real highlight of our Recommended Route is the boat tour of Waterton Lake from Waterton townsite to Goat Haunt, Montana.

Check the Waterton Inter-nation Shoreline Cruise website for details. The ship normally sails 3 times a day. You need plan your itinerary around when you can connect — or walk about 11km (7mi) instead.