With several touring routes throughout Glacier, visitors have their choice of select journeys and departure destinations, broken down into areas, including: East Glacier, Northeast Glacier, West Glacier, Waterton (Canada), and more. we will be spending a little time on both sides of the park and would like to chose a red bus tour for one day, or half day. Our four-hour tour traveling the Going-to-the-Sun Road was full of history, adventure, and entertainment, all within the comfort of this historic small bus. Ford added a bigger engine, power steering, and bigger brakes, then turned the buses back over to the charity, which gave them to the U.S. Government. 2022 > ?? Tour the park in one of our open-air buses that have canvas tops that can roll back to let in the fresh mountain air and can seat up to 17 guests. Boat tours with commentary are available at Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Rising Sun, and Lake McDonald. Guided Tours - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service) The tour will then head back down and continue up the Camas Creek Road with excellent viewing opportunities and a great way to experience the forest fires of 2003 and 2018 and the regrowth of the forest in various stages since both fires. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Is it necessary to purchase a park entry pass to go on a red bus tour? It is a shame because I think the driver makes or breaks the experience. Listened to a podcast (RV Atlas, highly recommend) that told of their experience, so we managed to get a last minute reservation. The red bus has a charming appearance but looks dont always matter! 1-800-786-9220 Red Bus Tours Take Visitors Along Going to the Sun Road Taking a Red Bus Tour at Glacier National Park is a great way to take in its stunning beauty. The knowledge of the park comes from a 300-plus page book that contains the facts and figures and details of the park, which is bigger than Rhode Island. On the west side, you can catch the tour at Lake McDonald Lodge, Apgar Visitor Center and the West Glacier KOA. 2. THE 10 BEST Glacier National Park Tours & Excursions - Tripadvisor These tours begin at Glacier Park Lodge and will start by visiting Glaciers Secret Valley of Two Medicine. Grand landscapes and small-town hospitality make for authentic experiences and unforgettable moments. The best laid plans. Its no ones fault except Mother Nature who dumped 10 of snow 3 weeks ago. But, we have a huge job, and thats preserving it all for our kids and their kids. All tours are round-trip and last from 2.5 9 hours, traversing the Going-to-the-Sun-Road. https://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours/east-side-tours/, Get answers to your questions about Glacier National Park. Tour-takers commented that the bus is a great way to see the park. The red buses seat 16 people, with 4 across on bench seating. But you can always check with the NPS and booking companies for cancellations. He told me about the application process, and in the fall of that year, I went online and applied. First, Id need a commercial drivers license to haul paying passengers, and I would also need to learn about the park. Each member of my family has said the hours spend with Debbie on our Red Bus were the highlight of our week at Glacier Park and Whitefish Lake. With the top up on our bus and wool lap The typical open season is May-September. "I mean, these buses took skill to drive, and imagine the park roads back in the '30s. I tell older visitors on my bus tours that theyve done a pretty good job of preserving the park: visiting, paying entry fees, and paying taxes. Get inspired to plan your next vacation to the Volunteer State. Thats part of the deal. When I found the Glacier Red Bus Tours for my family of 14 (ages 14 - 80+) were booked solidly during June 2021, I found we could charter an entire bus for my family.