This corral is located up the hill from the Many Glacier Hotel at the back of the main parking lot. The Many Glacier valley is characterized by sweeping views. The terrain here receives less rainfall and is much windier than our corrals on the West side of the divide.

We offer several rides from this corral. All rides are conducted at a walking pace ONLY. Trail use is dictated by the Park service and temporary closures or detours may be outside of SMO control.

This corral is NOT accessed via the Going-to-the-Sun-Road within Glacier National Park. It may be subjected to vehicle reservations (aka ticketed entry), heavy traffic, construction delays, and competitive parking. Click here to learn more.

Check-in at the stated time, but please plan to be with us for an extra 45 minutes for paperwork, mandatory safety briefing, and the loading process that is in addition to the listed “time in the saddle”. Time in the saddle is also an approximate.

Need help choosing a ride? Check out this page: Which Ride Should You Choose? While budget and schedule are likely the first things you will determine, your physical fitness is a huge factor and is very important to consider before you even hit the trail: All of our riders are expected to mount the horse from the ground without a mounting block. Be sure to discuss your abilities and expectations with all the members of your party.

To review our complete Cancellation and Refund Policy, please click here.

SWIFTCURRENT LOOP

1 HOUR IN THE SADDLE

$85 per person

This non-stop ride is great for beginners or those with a busy schedule. This ride will be offered in the afternoon, when you’ll appreciate the shade of the lush forest. The trail heads along the side of a slope, then cuts down a rocky avalanche chute to the valley floor. Though the terrain is hilly, don’t expect big views. Instead, you’ll ride right past the quaint “stump lake” tucked away in the forest. This is an enlarged channel connecting Lake Josephine to Swiftcurrent lake and is a quiet spot frequented by moose.

Cracker Flats

2 hours in the saddle

$120 per person

This non-stop ride is offered in the mornings. The trail heads out along the shores of Sherburne Reservoir and on to Cracker Flats, where the old mining town of Altyn once stood at the turn of the century. Though the townsite is long gone, the clear space on “The Flats”  affords 360 degree views of all the mountains surrounding the Many Glacier Valley as well as great opportunities to see wildlife and wildflowers!  Of the two options for two hour rides, Cracker Flats is slightly shorter and the trail is slightly milder.

Josephine Lake

2 hours in the saddle

$120 per person

This non-stop, picturesque horseback ride takes you down the first few miles of the Piegan Trail. As you ride along the heavily forested trail, you’ll catch glimpses of Swiftcurrent Lake, Josephine Lake and the Garden Wall. Keep your eyes peeled for trickling waterfalls and curious animals along the mountain side. This two hour ride is offered in the afternoon only. Of the two options for two hour rides, Josephine Lake is slightly longer and more rigorous. It is often more than two hours by fifteen minutes or so, and the trail has more hills and more forest than Cracker Flats.

Piegan Valley

Half day in the saddle

$215 per person

This morning half day ride winds through a lush green valley chock-full of water features, including streams and creeks and even waterfalls at certain points in the season. The ride offers views of Josephine Lake’s turquoise water, Grinnell Point and distant views of Salamander Glacier. Half way through the ride, riders can dismount, stretch their legs and take in more majestic views before heading back on the horses to the corral. Between our two half day ride options, the Piegan Valley trail is shorter (often less than 4 hours) and less rigorous- the hills are milder and the trail is more sheltered by forest than the Sherburne Overlook ride.

Sherburne Overlook

half day in the saddle

$215 per person

This afternoon half day ride takes you along the historic trail past the Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Falls. You’ll pass in and out of both forests and meadows as you traverse a mountain side, slowly gaining elevation and views as you go. You’ll dismount at the halfway point to stretch your legs before returning the way you came. On the return trip you’ll have excellent views looking down into the Many Glacier Valley. Between our two half day ride options, the Sherburne Overlook trail is longer (four hours or more) and more suited to riders with experience due to it’s steeper terrain and more exposure to the elements.

Many Glacier Full Day Ride

Full day in the saddle

$325 per person

For a full day in the saddle, we are permitted to take guests to either Cracker Lake or Poia Lake. You will NOT choose which trail to go on. Beginning in 2017, the National Park Service mandated equal use across these two trail systems to manage impacts from horses on high-use trails. As a result, the destination of our full day ride will be chosen each day by Swan Mountain staff based on current use numbers and trail conditions. You cannot request or be guaranteed either destination.

Both of these destinations are packed full of majestic views, the potential to spot big game such as moose and bear, and feature a stretch break at a beautiful lake.

• The Cracker Lake trail takes you out along the shores of Lake Sherburne and up along Canyon Creek until you reach it’s outlet and the striking turquoise waters of Cracker Lake.
• The Poia Lake trail takes you up and over Swiftcurrent Ridge. Once we crest the ridge, we will wind down along Kennedy Creek to it’s outlet at the foot of the quiet and pristine Poia lake.

We cannot provide lunch or water, you will need to bring your own. You’ll need your own vehicle to get from the check-in point at our corral to the actual trailhead.

Trail System

Still need help choosing a ride? Check out this page: Which Ride Should You Choose? While budget and schedule are likely the first things you will determine, your physical fitness is a huge factor and is very important to consider before you even hit the trail: All of our riders are expected to mount the horse from the ground without a mounting block. Be sure to discuss your abilities and expectations with all the members of your party.

** HEADER PHOTO BY Trapper Badovinac