Special Centennial Tours via Historic Red Busses offered to public

To give visitors an opportunity to explore Glacier National Park as people did nearly a century ago, special centennial tours are being offered this year through concessions partnerships.

Glacier's "Grand Heritage Tours" are described as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for visitors to travel aboard the park's famous red buses, its historic tour boats and on horseback.

Participants can "board a restored red bus for a ride from the historic Belton Chalet to Lake McDonald; step onto the DeSmet wooden boat and be motored to the shore of Lake McDonald Lodge; ride horseback to a well-preserved backcountry chalet high in the mountains of Glacier; hike to a glacier over a mountain pass."

Naturalist guides will provide information along the way.

The Grand Heritage East tour begins at the historic Belton Chalet on Aug. 11, reaching Many Glacier Hotel via Granite Park Chalet with a hike over Swiftcurrent Pass into Many Glacier Valley. It will cost $2,700 per couple and be limited to 12 participants.

The Grand Heritage West tour begins at the Belton Chalet on Aug. 18, reaching Sperry Chalet, with an optional hike to Sperry Glacier, and two nights at the chalet. It will cost $2,850 per couple and be limited to 14 participants.

The tours are all-inclusive, covering meals, transportation, luggage transport and gratuities.

The tours are offered through a partnership between the Belton Chalet, Belton Chalet Inc., Glacier Park Inc., the Glacier Park Boat Co., Glacier Guides, Montana House, Sun Tours, and Swan Mountain Outfitters.

More details are available by calling the Belton Chalet at 888-5000 or by e-mail at events@beltonchalet.com.