Overview
This active cultural adventure weaves together the story of a people and a place as we witness the annual powwow of the Blackfeet Nation and hike in the grand landscapes they have called home for 10,000 years. With drumming, singing, and spectacular dances, the celebration blends both the old and new traditions of a proud culture. Trip Leader Melissa Scott has spent significant time on the Blackfeet reservation and gives us an insider’s access as we mingle and feel the intensity of the celebrations. After the powwow, we head into Glacier National Park to hike Rocky Mountain trails, seek out the park’s iconic wildlife, and savor stunning Montana sunsets. Our overnights are in national park lodges reminiscent of a bygone era.
We came away with such a wonderful feeling about all that Glacier offers and Melissa helped bring all of our experiences to life. We learned so much and she gave us the time to enjoy it all.
— Patti M., Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Glacier National Park: Blackfeet Powwow
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-3
Browning, Montana / Blackfeet Powwow / Two Medicine Valley
We’ll be immersed into Blackfeet culture at the North American Indian Days Powwow, one of the largest gatherings of US and Canadian tribal members. It’s an unforgettable experience to be there, feeling the power of the drumming, hearing the singing, and watching spectacular dancing and horseback relay races. We’ll also visit the Museum of the Plains Indians and hike in serene Two Medicine Valley, less visited than other parts of Glacier National Park. Overnights are in the grand Glacier Park Lodge, built in 1913.
Days 4-5
Many Glacier Valley / Glacier National Park
The Many Glacier Valley on the eastern side of the park is a hiker’s paradise, known for epic trails, aquamarine lakes, and abundant wildlife. We spend the early mornings looking for wildlife and taking in the mountain sunrises, with refreshing afternoon hikes. One afternoon, we cross Swiftcurrent and Josephine, two of the valley’s stunning glacial lakes, by historic wooden boat, then head to Glacier’s upper reaches for a hike to a stunning teal-blue lake
Days 6-9
St. Mary Lake / Going to the Sun Road
In St. Mary, Montana, near the eastern entrance of Going to the Sun Road, we hike below the ring of angular granite peaks that encircle 10-mile-long St. Mary Lake. Indian paintbrush and lupine should be in bloom on the hills, and long summer evenings give us a chance to savor sunsets in one of the most beautiful places in the world. On our last day, we set out for the must-do drive over Going to-the-Sun Road to reach the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, with our final overnight at forest-ringed Lake McDonald Lodge on the shores of the park’s largest lake. Depart on Day 9.
Glacier National Park: Blackfeet Powwow
