Boat Tours for Families in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park has four narrated boat tours — one on each major lake — all run by Glacier Park Boat Company, the park’s concessioner since 1938. Children under 4 ride free on every tour, and prices start at $20.85 for adults. Two tours include optional guided hikes at no extra cost.
This roundup covers every 2026 tour with verified prices, schedules, accessibility info, and family-specific tips so you can pick the right lake for your crew.
- Children under 4 ride free on all four Glacier boat tours in 2026.
- Two Medicine is the cheapest tour ($20.85 adults) and includes a free guided hike to Twin Falls starting July 1.
- Lake McDonald is the only wheelchair-accessible tour and the only one with an evening departure (7:00 pm).
- Many Glacier visits two lakes and has the best wildlife viewing — grizzlies, moose, mountain goats — but requires a steep 0.2-mile portage walk.
- St. Mary’s 1.5-hour tour stops at Baring Falls and passes Wild Goose Island — the most iconic view in the park.
- Book online at reserve.glacierparkboats.com months ahead for July and August. Arrive 60+ minutes early — dock parking fills fast.
Park entrance is $35 per vehicle (separate from boat tickets). All prices below are from Glacier Park Boat Company’s 2026 schedule. The 2026 Going-to-the-Sun Road vehicle reservation system has been eliminated, so driving access is simpler this year.
Budget families
Young kids
Guided hiking
The 45-minute narrated cruise aboard the historic Sinopah crosses Two Medicine Lake with views of Sinopah Mountain and Rising Wolf Mountain. Guides share Blackfeet tribal stories connected to the valley, giving the tour a cultural depth the other locations lack.
Starting July 1, the 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm departures include a free guided walk to Twin Falls — 1.8 miles round trip with only 25 feet of elevation gain. The whole experience takes about 2.5 hours from parking lot to parking lot. This is the easiest hike-and-boat combo in Glacier.
One-way tickets ($10.40 adults, $5.20 kids) are available walk-up only for families who want to boat across and hike back. Departures run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. GPS: 746 Two Medicine Road, East Glacier Park.
Toddlers
Wheelchair users
Evening cruise
Two historic vessels operate here — the DeSmet (built 1930, listed on the National Register of Historic Vessels) and the Glacier Lily (1985). Both have outside-deck wheelchair seating for standard-size chairs, making this the most accessible tour option in the park.
The 1-hour narrated cruise covers the glacially-carved geology of the lake and its signature emerald water. It departs from Lake McDonald Lodge on Going-to-the-Sun Road, just 11 miles from the West Entrance — the easiest dock to reach from West Glacier lodging.
Departures run 9:30 am to 7:00 pm (the 7:00 pm slot ends September 1). The evening departure is effectively a golden-hour cruise — July sunset in Montana falls around 9:00 pm, so the light on the water is exceptional. No hike add-on and no one-way tickets available.
Photography
Waterfall stop
School-age kids
The 1.5-hour cruise departs from Rising Sun Boat Dock, 5 miles from the East Entrance. Historic boats — the Little Chief (built 1926, on the National Register of Historic Places since 2016) and Joy II — run the route. Every tour includes a 15–20 minute stop at Baring Falls with an easy 5-minute walk.
For more adventure, the 9:00 am guided hike option (available June 25 – Sep 12, guides start July 1) extends the trip to 3.5 hours total. Hikers walk from Baring Falls to St. Mary Falls — 3.2 miles round trip, 250 feet of elevation gain, moderate difficulty. The 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 5:00 pm departures also offer self-guided hike options.
Wheelchair seating is available on outside decks for the 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm departures only. GPS: Rising Sun Boat Ramp (Apple Maps) or 28 Dock Road, Browning (Google Maps).
Wildlife spotting
Older kids (6+)
Adventurous families
This 1.5-hour tour starts on Swiftcurrent Lake aboard the Chief Two Guns, then requires a 0.2-mile portage walk over a steep hill to board the Morning Eagle (built 1945) on Lake Josephine. All passengers must complete this walk — strollers and wheelchairs cannot make the crossing. Wear sturdy shoes.
The two-lake route passes beneath Grinnell Point and views Salamander Glacier and Gem Glacier on the cliffs above. Wildlife sightings are common — the Many Glacier valley is one of the densest grizzly bear corridors in the lower 48 states. Moose often wade in the shallows near Lake Josephine’s shore.
For hikers, the boat drops you at the head of Lake Josephine for the 1.8-mile walk to Grinnell Lake or the strenuous 7.6-mile round trip to Grinnell Glacier. One-way tickets are available ($20.85 adults, $10.40 kids). Departures run 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Many Glacier road has large potholes — drive carefully.
2026 Prices & Schedule Comparison
All prices are from Glacier Park Boat Company’s official 2026 rate sheet. Under-4s ride free everywhere.
| Tour | Adult | Ages 4–12 | Duration | Season | Hike Option | Wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Medicine | $20.85 | $10.40 | 45 min | Jun 1 – Sep 7 | Twin Falls (free, guided) | No |
| Lake McDonald | $27.80 | $13.90 | 1 hour | May 20 – Sep 26 | None | Yes |
| St. Mary | $41.70 | $20.85 | 1.5 hours | Jun 5 – Sep 12 | Baring/St. Mary Falls | Select times |
| Many Glacier | $41.70 | $20.85 | 1.5 hours | Jun 10 – Sep 19 | Grinnell Lake/Glacier | No |
How to Book & Reservation Tips
Book online at reserve.glacierparkboats.com or call (406) 257-2426. Peak-season tours (July–August) sell out months in advance. Walk-up tickets are sometimes available, but don’t count on it for popular times.
Arrive at least 60 minutes before your departure. Check in at the dock office 30 minutes before boarding. Boarding begins 15 minutes prior. Dock parking lots fill by mid-morning in summer — the earlier your tour, the easier parking will be.
Boat Rentals for Families
Glacier Park Boat Company also rents kayaks, canoes, rowboats, paddleboards, and motorboats at Apgar Village, Lake McDonald Lodge, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier. Rentals are first-come, first-served with no advance booking. Expect to pay $20–$30/hour for non-motorized craft.
For families with kids under 6, motorized rentals are a better bet than kayaks — the lakes are large and wind picks up fast. Life jackets are provided for all sizes. Apgar Village has the most rental inventory and the calmest launch area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age do kids ride free on Glacier boat tours?
Children under 4 ride free on all four Glacier Park Boat Company tours in 2026. Ages 4–12 pay a reduced fare (roughly half the adult price). No ID is required — the captain estimates age at boarding.
Which Glacier boat tour is best for toddlers?
Lake McDonald is the best tour for toddlers. At 1 hour, it’s the shortest cruise. The boarding dock is flat, both boats have outside-deck seating, and there’s no hiking or portage required. It’s also the closest tour to West Glacier lodging (11 miles from the West Entrance).
Are Glacier boat tours wheelchair accessible?
Lake McDonald is the most accessible option — both the DeSmet and Glacier Lily have outside-deck wheelchair seating for standard-size chairs. St. Mary offers wheelchair seating on the 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm departures only. Two Medicine and Many Glacier are not wheelchair accessible.
Do I need reservations for Glacier boat tours?
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for July and August when tours sell out months ahead. Book online at reserve.glacierparkboats.com or call (406) 257-2426. Walk-up tickets are occasionally available at the dock, but availability is not guaranteed during peak season.
Can I combine a boat tour with a hike in Glacier?
Yes — three of the four tours offer hike add-ons. Two Medicine has the easiest option: a free guided walk to Twin Falls (1.8 miles, essentially flat) on the 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm departures starting July 1. St. Mary offers a self-guided hike to St. Mary Falls (3.2 miles, moderate). Many Glacier provides access to Grinnell Lake (1.8 miles) or Grinnell Glacier (7.6 miles, strenuous).
How We Ranked These Tours
We ranked Glacier’s four boat tours based on value per dollar, accessibility for families with young children, and the quality of included extras (guided hikes, scenery, wildlife). All prices and schedules were verified against Glacier Park Boat Company’s official 2026 rate sheet. Accessibility details were cross-referenced with NPS.gov. We prioritized tours that offer the most family-friendly experience without requiring advanced fitness or gear.
