Glacier Guides

What Glacier Guides does

Glacier Guides Inc., doing business as Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, is a privately held, founder-owned outdoor adventure tourism company founded in 1983 and headquartered in West Glacier, Montana. The company operates as an authorized National Park Service concessioner and has held the exclusive designation as Glacier National Park's hiking guide service since 1983. It is co-owned by founders Randy Gayner and Cris Coughlin, with Montana Licensed Outfitter Permit #28096 held by Durand Beougher effective June 16, 2021.

The company provides a coordinated portfolio of guided outdoor experiences centered on Glacier National Park, including whitewater rafting (half-day, full-day, overnight, and private trips on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River through John F. Stevens Canyon), guided hiking (day hikes, multi-day backpacking of 3 to 10 days, and chalet experiences), fly fishing (half-day, full-day, overnight, and permit-only Smith River expeditions), and guided biking with regular and e-bike options along Going-to-the-Sun Road. It also operates lodging assets including the on-site Glacier Guides Lodge, a Guest House vacation rental, and backcountry experiences at Granite Park Chalet. All activities include professional guides certified in Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and NPS Bear Management Training, plus equipment and locally sourced meals from Montana suppliers (Lifeline Cheese, Great Northern Pasta, Half Moon Eggs, Two Bear Farm).

The business model is direct-to-consumer with per-person unit pricing, online and phone reservations, and a May through October operating season. Revenue streams include adventure tours (rafting, hiking, fly fishing, biking), lodging, and equipment rentals, with price points ranging from $62-$84 for entry-level rafting and scenic floats to $2,999-$4,050 for premium multi-day fishing expeditions. The company has received recurring EcoStar Awards for pollution prevention since 2013, the USA Today 10Best Best White Water Rafting Tour award in 2023, and Best of Montana 2022 from Distinctly Montana, supporting premium positioning and earned-media demand generation.

Name

Glacier Guides

Legal name

Glacier Guides Inc.

Website

https://glacierguides.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Glacier Guides and Montana Raft is a privately held, founder-owned outdoor adventure tourism operator founded in 1983 in West Glacier, Montana, providing guided rafting, hiking, fly fishing, biking, and lodging services as the exclusive authorized Glacier National Park hiking guide concessioner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB), Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE), Snow & Mountain Unique Stays (Chalets, Ski Cabins) (THAMADAL)

Keywords

• Guided wilderness tours
• Whitewater rafting services
• Fly fishing guides
• Backcountry hiking
• Adventure tourism outfitter

Headquarters

HQ city

West Glacier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Adventure Tours: Revenue from guided rafting, hiking, fly fishing, and biking tours on per-person pricing. Includes half-day, full-day, and multi-day adventures with varying price points.
2. Lodging: Revenue from Glacier Guides Lodge and Guest House accommodations, plus Granite Park Chalet backcountry experiences.
3. Equipment Rentals: Bike rentals including regular and e-bikes for self-guided touring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Glacier Guides and Montana Raft provides guided outdoor adventure services in and around Glacier National Park, including whitewater rafting, scenic floats, fly fishing, day hikes, multi-day backpacking, and guided biking. The company also operates on-site lodging (Glacier Guides Lodge, Guest House) and backcountry chalet experiences (Granite Park Chalet), with all equipment, safety gear, and meals provided. As an NPS-authorized concessioner, it books per-person or per-boat tours direct-to-consumer through its website and phone line, operating seasonally from May through October.

Product overview

Glacier Guides and Montana Raft is a unified adventure tourism service offering a coordinated portfolio of guided outdoor experiences centered around Glacier National Park. The company operates as a single integrated service rather than a modular platform, providing whitewater rafting (half-day, full-day, overnight, and private trips), guided hiking (day hikes, backpacking expeditions of 3-10 days, and chalet experiences), fly fishing (half-day, full-day, overnight, and Smith River multi-day trips), and guided biking. Accommodations include the Glacier Guides Lodge and Guest House properties. All activities are booked through a central reservation system and include professional guides with wilderness first aid and bear management training, equipment provision, and locally-sourced meals. The company has held the exclusive designation as Glacier National Park's authorized hiking guide service since 1983.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whitewater Rafting Guided whitewater rafting experiences on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River featuring Class II-III rapids through John F. Stevens Canyon, with half-day to full-day trip options for visitors to Glacier National Park.
• Scenic Floats Relaxed rafting experiences on the Wild and Scenic Middle Fork of the Flathead River suitable for families and all skill levels, offering views of Glacier National Park's southwestern border.
• Day Hikes Guided daily hiking excursions including Two Medicine, Highline Trail, Virginia Falls, and Piegan Pass hikes with expert interpretive guides, van transport, and lunch.
• Backpacking Trips Multi-day guided backcountry hiking adventures including 3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, and 10-day trips through Glacier National Park's wilderness areas.
• Fly Fishing Trips Guided fly fishing excursions on the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River targeting native Westslope Cutthroat, Rainbow, and Brook trout, available as half-day, full-day, and multi-day custom trips.
• Guided Biking Guided bicycle tours including the 5-day Glacier Multisport Adventure, with regular and e-bike rental options available for exploring Going-to-the-Sun Road.
• Granite Park Chalet Experience Three-day guided chalet adventure to the historic Granite Park Chalet, accessible via Highline Trail or Loop Trail, featuring gourmet backcountry meals and access to Grinnell Glacier Overlook and Swiftcurrent Lookout.
• Glacier Guides Lodge On-site lodging property located near the West Glacier entrance featuring breakfast included, comfortable rooms, and shuttle transportation for guided activities.
• Glacier Guides Guest House Vacation rental property accommodating multiple families with full kitchen, laundry facilities, and proximity to Glacier National Park.
• Private Overnight Rafting Adventures Customizable 2-3 day private rafting trips on the Wild and Scenic Middle Fork or North Fork of the Flathead River with choice of whitewater or scenic sections, including camp setup, meals, and equipment.
• Smith River Montana Fishing Trip Five-day permitted Smith River fly fishing expedition offering guided fishing, wildlife watching, river hiking, and camping along the 59-mile permit-only stretch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90 percent staff retention demonstrates exceptional workplace culture and operational expertise

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Glacier National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Authorized concessioner and exclusive hiking guide service provider selected in 1983. Operates under NPS permitting with exclusive rights to provide guided hiking services within the park boundaries.
• Lifeline Cheese (Victor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cheese supplier providing organic, locally sourced dairy products for trail lunches and backcountry meals.
• Great Northern Pasta (Whitefish)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal pasta supplier supporting the company's commitment to locally sourced ingredients for meals.
• Two Bear Farm (Whitefish)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organic farm providing fresh produce for trail lunches and backcountry cooking.
• Belton ChaletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearby historic lodge restaurant offering fine dining for Glacier Guides guests, located across from West Glacier.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership through authorized concessioner status. Guides trained in NPS Bear Management protocols and operate under park service guidelines.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Austin Adventures: National guided small-group adventure tour company focused on national parks including Montana/Glacier itineraries. Comparable in guided multi-day, lodge-based adventure product.
• OARS: Established national whitewater rafting and multi-activity adventure outfitter operating across multiple U.S. rivers. Comparable guided adventure product portfolio and lodging-inclusive trips at a larger scale.
• Backroads: Large active-adventure tour operator offering guided biking, hiking, and multi-sport trips across the U.S. and worldwide. Comparable activity mix and premium guided-trip positioning.
• REI Adventures: National guided adventure travel arm of REI offering hiking, rafting, and multi-sport trips including in Montana/Glacier. Broad incumbent with overlapping product categories and customer base.

Direct peers

• Glacier Raft Company: Long-standing whitewater rafting outfitter operating on the Middle Fork of the Flathead in West Glacier, MT. Directly competes with Glacier Guides on rafting itineraries in the same park gateway.
• Great Northern Whitewater Resort: Resort and rafting outfitter located on the Flathead River near Glacier National Park offering lodging plus guided rafting packages. Directly comparable integrated adventure + lodging model.
• Montana Whitewater: Montana-based rafting and float trip operator offering guided experiences on the Flathead corridor near Glacier National Park. Closely comparable in geography, activity mix, and target customer.
• Wild River Adventures: Glacier-area rafting outfitter running scenic floats and whitewater trips on the Middle Fork Flathead. Overlaps with Glacier Guides on river access, customer type, and seasonal operating window.

Regional players

• Belton Chalet: Historic lodge and restaurant located across from West Glacier, already a cross-promotion partner of Glacier Guides. Comparable lodging and dining positioning targeting Glacier NP visitors in the same micro-market.
• Glacier Park Collection (Glacier Park Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel): Lodging operator running historic in-park hotels (Glacier Park Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel) that anchor multi-day Glacier NP visits. Comparable lodging economics and overlapping guest demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GlacierGuides
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlacierGuidesAndMontanaRaft
• Instagraminstagram.com/glacierguides
• Xx.com/glacierguidesmt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glacier-guides-and-montana-raft-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Glacier Guides