Near the Park
Those traveling to or from Glacier National Park
usually find themselves staying overnight in one of the
nearby towns. Kalispell and Columbia Falls
are both less than an hour's drive south of the West
Glacier entrance and offer a selection of motels and
hotels for overnight stays. Kalispell (about a half-hour
from the park, Columbia is closer) is a large town with a
full range of visitor services including modern downtown
hotels, many motels, campgrounds, and a variety of
restaurants. Kalispell also seems to be the casino
capital of Montana.
The resort town of Whitefish
is nearby, located five miles west of Columbia Falls.
This is a ski resort and during summer months, Whitefish
is renowned for its fishing and other outdoor pursuits.
Bigfork, a delightful little
resort village on the eastern shore of Flathead Lake, is
a short drive from the West Glacier entrance.
There are communities which are closer to the park,
and lie just outside the park boundaries. These towns and
villages cater to park visitors with stores which sell
camping supplies and motels and campgrounds for those who
are not intending to stay inside the park. Near the park
headquarters, West Glacier has a lodge, several
small motels and an RV park with golf course. This is a
handy place to stay if you're about to enter the park at
the southern entrance and work your way through the park
on the Going To The Sun Road. There are four campgrounds
within three miles of the village.
For those driving outside the southern park boundary
on Highway 2 the Izaak Walton Inn is an historic
hotel with a wonderful ambience. During summer months
this hotel caters to travelers and during the winter it
is the center for what is probably the best cross-country
skiing in the nation. The inn is in the small community
of Essex, where there are also other
accommodations.
East Glacier is just outside the park border at
the southeast corner. Here is the historic Glacier
Park Lodge, built by the Great Northern Railroad for
park tourists and now operated as a summer lodge (see
below for reservations information). There are several
other places to stay in the East Glacier area including
the Bear Creek and Bison guest ranches, as well as
several motels and cabin operations. There are also
several campgrounds in the area, including one in
Browning, 10 miles west.
The village of St. Mary is at the eastern side
of the park, next to the park Visitor Center and the
eastern end of the Going To the Sun Road. St. Mary
Lodge is a large, modern motor hotel operation with a
restaurant, lounge and store. There are three
campgrounds, including a KOA.
Babb is the village at the junction of Highway
89 and Many Glacier Road. This community has three
motels. Only the Chief Mtn. Motel is open
year-round. The road into the park from Babb leads to the
Many Glacier Hotel. There are three campgrounds in
Babb.
Staying in the Park
Of the seven car-campgrounds, only Sprague Creek
Campground is not suitable for trailers. The large
campgrounds at Apgar and St. Mary are near
the two main park entrances and are open year-round with
primitive camping outside of summer months. Many
Glacier and Two Medicine campgrounds have park
services during summer months and then are open as
primitive campsites until snow closes them. The
campgrounds at Bowman Lake, Cut Bank and
Kintla Lake are reached by rough roads so large
RVs and trailer units are not advised to travel to these
sites. All campgrounds are operated on a first come,
first served basis. Private campgrounds are adjacent to
the park, near the major entrances including West Glacier
and St. Mary.
The authorized concessionaire for the park, Glacier
Park, Inc., operates several hotels, inns and lodges
inside the park. Because of the short season here
(usually early June to early-to-mid September),
accommodations fill up quickly and reservations are
generally required months in advance. Rates vary from
under $40 to more than $100. Other accommodations near
the park are as follows. Below are the hotels operated by
the concessionaire and others on the edge of the park as
well as in the neighboring Waterton Lakes National Park
(Canada).
Glacier Park Lodge, the original railway hotel
is an absolute gem, located at the southeast corner of
the park, about a half-hour from the St. Mary park gate.
This is a summer-only operation.
Lake McDonald Lodge, a hotel complex beside the
lake on the west side of the park, with lodge & motel
rooms and cabins.
Many Glacier Hotel, on the shore of
Swiftcurrent Lake, is the park's largest resort with more
than 200 rooms & suites.
Rising Sun Motor Inn, with rustic motel
accommodations, near St. Mary's Lake.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, in the center of the
park near Swiftcurrent Lake & the Many Glaciers
Hotel, with motel and cabin accommodations.
Prince of Wales Hotel, in Waterton Lakes
National Park (Alberta) is a deluxe hotel overlooking the
Waterton Lakes.
For information and reservations contact Glacier Park
Inc.: From the U.S.: (602) 248-6000, from Oct. to
mid-May; (406) 226-5551, from mid-May through September.
From Canada: (403) 236-3400, year-round
Two rustic high-mountain chalets can be reached only
by walking alpine trails. Granite Park Chalet and
Sperry Chalet are historic mountain lodges, built
by Jim and Louis Hill of the Great Northern Railway
around 1914. Reservations for July & August are taken
only in writing to Belton Chalets, P.O. Box 188, West
Glacier, MT 59936.
Staying Near the Park
Izaak Walton Inn, PO Box 653, Essex MT 59916,
(406) 888-5700.
One of the most fascinating places to stay in the
Rockies, this inn was built in 1939 by the Great Northern
Railway to accommodate their service crews. Even today,
helper engines stand by to push the trains (15 to 20
freight trains daily, plus the Amtrak) over the
Continental Divide. Railway buffs understandably love
this place, and others may find themselves becoming train
enthusiasts. There is even a train caboose which sleeps
four available as part of the accommodations. Open all
year, in winter the inn is a renowned cross-country ski
center ($ to $$).
Apgar Village Lodge, West Glacier MT, (406)
888-5484.
Located near the west end of Lake McDonald, facilities
include motel rooms and cottages ($ to $$).
Polebridge Mercantile and Cabins, Polebridge
MT, (406) 888-9926.
These rustic cabins, available year-round, are located
along the scenic north fork of the Flathead River and are
listed on the National Register of Historic Places as
well ($).
Glacier Campground, (406) 387-5689.
One mile west of West Glacier on US 2, attractions here
include volleyball and a barbecue.
Firebrand Pass Campground, (406) 226-5573.
A restaurant and playground are found here, plus full
hook-ups. It's 3 miles west of East Glacier on US Hwy. 2.
