Frequently Asked Questions
Plan to arrive at the time of your trip, our advertised times are check in times. All trips leave from the Great Northern Resort Office located at 12127 US Highway 2 East, West Glacier. We are located 1 mile SW of the west entrance to Glacier National Park. Look for the red caboose!
Rapids and rivers are subjectively rated Class I through Class V for commercial rafting. Ratings depend on the volume of water, elevation drop in the river, type of watercraft, ease of rescue and recovery and a paddler's experience.
- Family/Scenic— Easy, small regular waves, minimal steering necessary, an introduction to rafting for families with younger children. Trips range from Class I - II.
- Adventure—Numerous, irregular waves with drops and holes for guests already familiar with whitewater or new paddlers who are gung-ho and ready for a real thrill. These trips range from Class III-IV.
Yes, all our whitewater rafting trips are photographed and available for you to see when you return from your trip. We have partnered with SmugMug so you can order your pictures on-line anytime & have them shipped anywhere. Photo USB’s are available in our office (the USB will have all the photos from your rafting trip).
Groups of 10+ receive 10% off, 20+ people receive 15% off and groups of 30+ receive 20% off.
Absolutely! You can purchase a gift certificate for any amount (Remember Great Northern Resort also offers lodging). They make great birthday, anniversary, graduation, and wedding gifts.
You can book on-line or call (800-735-7897) and our staff will gladly assist you with the process.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or Check.
There is no simple answer to this frequently asked question. Some of our trips sell out months in advance, some never sell out. State regulations limit the number of passengers we can carry, so early reservations ensure a spot on your desired trip date. However, if you are looking for a last minute trip, we can often accommodate you.
Always bring medications which you may need on the river or during your stay - asthma inhaler, epi-pen (for bee stings) , etc. should be in a waterproof bag and with you on your trip. If you need a bag, let your guide know. Also, please let your guide know if you have a medical condition.
Pregnant women, persons with a heart condition and anyone with a medical problem that could be affected by the heat, cold, exertion, excitement, etc. of a raft trip should not raft. We reserve the right to refuse anyone the opportunity to participate in any of our adventures because of a medical, physical or size limitation that we feel might expose them to extreme risk. Contact our office with questions concerning these policies.
Our rafts can comfortably hold up to 10 people plus the guide. We do have smaller rafts for smaller groups. We will put your family/friends together in whatever boat most suits your group.
All our guides are professionally trained and it’s not unusual for people to request a guide. If you had a guide that you enjoyed and want to have as a guide again we will do all we can to accommodate that if they are available.
Tipping is not mandatory and certainly a personal choice on the part of our guests. The most commonly asked question by guests each week is “what should I leave for the guide and staff?” Management suggests that each guest budget about 15% of the price of the trip with us. Our seasoned staff is exceptionally competent and courteous and will greatly appreciate a modest gratuity. Letters from our guests about their Great Northern Resort experience are always greatly appreciated too.
Knowing how to swim is not necessary. All our guests are given a Type V lifejacket, which must be worn during the whole trip. We also provide detailed instructions before each Great Northern Resort rafting trip explaining how to float and what to do should you fall out of the boat.