Glacier...what to see...where to stay....room choice...

My husband and I are planning a trip to Glacier in late August to celebrate his 60th. We hike a bit (did the Zion hike up to Emerald pools in 105 degrees) but it was tough! Anyway we are BIG FANS of Yellowstone/Tetons and would love to fly somewhere in the middle or incorporate both. We always do a great deal of driving during our trips, so would this be doable? I hear GTTS road is the way to go in Glacier. Is Many Glacier the place to stay? Not too concerned about cost as it is a special occasion. I have read that there are parts of the hotel where you get a lot of outside noise. Any recommendation about room location? Where do we go to see wildlife? Anything must sees in between Glacier and Yellowstone?

Glacier...what to see...where to stay....room choice...

Many Glacier is indeed spectacular. It is also very popular, so you might want to start by seeing what is available during your planned time:

http://www.glacierparkinc.com/

Lakeview room or a suite (which has a balcony) would be my choice.

The hotel is old and rustic, and the rooms are not well soundproofed (last time we had major noise from wind whistling through the cracks between window and frame in the bathroom). But it is worth putting up with for the scenery.

Ideally you would spend a couple of nights there and a couple at the west side of the park, driving the GTTS road to connect the two parts. You should see lots of wildlife on that drive (especially goats at Logan Pass) and also on the road in to Many Glacier.

Stop at Logan Pass (if you can find parking) and take the boardwalk hike out to Hidden Lake overlook, or cross the road and walk a short way on the level but spectacular Highline Trail.

On the west side, there are two lodges on the above website (Lake McDonald Lodge and the Village Inn at Apgar. Another property at Apgar, the Apgar Village Lodge, is managed by a different company:

westglacier.com/west_glacier_park_lodging.php

Apgar is on Lake McDonald, at the west end of the lake. Lake McDonald Lodge is nearer the east end of the lake. From Apgar you look down the lake into the heart of the park.

Glacier...what to see...where to stay....room choice...

We really liked Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. You can try it if you can%26#39;t get what you want at Many Glacier.

Here%26#39;s a link to pictures we took and a trip report.

http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/glacier_np.htm

We tried to show what some of the trails look like too. Fishercap Lake is a short walk from Swiftcurrent and a mile from Many Glacier Hotel. We saw several moose there. In late August, you may need to be there in the early AM or evening when it isn%26#39;t too hot.

Our first visit to Glacier started with flying into Jackson Hole and spending 3 days in Yellowstone before driving to Glacier.

Those pics and stories are under the Yellowstone link on the left.

I always have trouble with noise. In Glacier, I was too tired to hear any noise.

Thanks for the info. I have to tell you I don%26#39;t know if there is ANY PLACE that could top Yellowstone/Tetons/Jackson Hole. From the amount of times that you have been there, I would assume you feel the same. You flew into Jackson Hole, how long did it take to drive to Glacier? Any stops along the way?

Hi Thanks for the info. I have already checked Many Glacier and there is availablity for our scheduled time there. For the rooms it says ';GPL Family or Deluxe Glacier Park Lodge family or deluxe rooms are located in the Main Lodge or the Great Northern Wing. Main lodge family rooms are located on the third floor overlooking the lobby. Great Nothern deluxe rooms are located on the garden level, first or second floors? It doesn%26#39;t say anything about a balcony, just overlooking the lobby or garden level. These are the most expensive rooms, beside the suites. So am I looking at the right rooms for a balcony? Main lodge or North Wing? What is the difference between the east and west side of the park?

Thanks again

Pam

Hi Pam----those rooms you describe are actually at Glacier Park Lodge, not Many Glacier Hotel. It%26#39;s confusing, I know.

There are a number of historic national park inns at Glacier. glacier Park Lodge is probably the most impressive, but the location at East Glacier was chosen to take advantage of the train link, not the view. It is not ';in'; the mountains like Many Glacier Hotel. Check the photos here:

glacierparkinc.com/Lodging/鈥?/a>

Many Glacier Hotel is right on Swiftcurrent Lake, with views across the lake to Grinnell Point. Absolutely spectacular. Google either the name of the hotel or Grinnell Point and you%26#39;ll probably find photos on the web. Or I could post some of my own here. And I%26#39;ll bet there are some in AKJ%26#39;s photos (although they prefer to stay at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, which is not on the lake but is less expensive and closer to some wildlife viewing areas. (They are only a mile apart).

The Many Glacier area is popular because it is scenic and the center for some of the best hikes in the park. The west side is very nice too. Lake McDonald (on the west side) is more in the forest, and offers some great boating, but it is not as close to the hiking trails that access the high country at the heart of the park.

THANK YOU...That is exactly why I love using this forum. I just checked MANY GLACIER and all they have are the value rooms. Should I book and try to upgrade...do they do that? As for the Glacier Park lodge, which is more expensive????...Is that where I should stay if we go stay in that area later?

Okay another ????... I just checked on other weeks and the Lakeside room is available either Thur -Sat or Mon- Wed, which days are better? Less crowded during the week?

Great! I think either days would be fine. Glacier---especialy the east side of the park---is far enough from things that it%26#39;s not a ';weekend'; kind of place.

There are ranger-led hikes offered every day of the week from there---I can explain more if you are interested. They vary from easy to moderate. There are also boat rentals and horseback riding.

If your husband is a big steak lover you might plan to have dinner at the steak-house in Babb (at the start of the road into Many Glacier) one night. We haven%26#39;t eaten there but the place is legendary.

And depending on your route to Glacier from Yellowstone, you might want to spend one night at Glacier Park Lodge (East Glacier) just to experience the place. It is more oriented toward Native American culture (the park borders the Blackfeet Indian reservation) and the train connection. There are wonderful photos of the ';old days'; when everyone---including many celebrities---arrived on the train.

Once you decide on your days at Many Glacier, then book one or more nights afterward on the west side. That way you can spend a day driving over the GTTS road, with stops along the way, and experience the other side of the park.

So to clarify---if you are coming from Yellowstone, I%26#39;m suggesting 1 night at Glacier Park Lodge, 3 at Many Glacier, and one (or more if you have time) on the west side of the park---wherever you can find the best accommodations. (The lakefront cabins at Apgar get the best reviews here on Tripadvisor).

This will make a nice 60th birthday for your husband.

I would think the week days would be less crowded at Many Glacier. But August is a peak month and it may not make a difference. I would let the availability of rooms decide. Just because you get a lakeview room doesn%26#39;t mean you will have a balcony. Try to get the Lakeside Suite. It has two rooms and two baths which you may not need but you get a balcony. If cost isn%26#39;t a factor that would be my suggestion. You may hear noise in the hall but the hotel is pretty quite after ten or so. As mentioned hike to Fishercap Lake, Hidden lake Overlook at Logan Pass and I would take a boat ride on Swiftcurrent Lake and do the short hike to Grinnell Lake. The scenery at Many Glacier from the common areas is great in case you don%26#39;t get a lakefront room. You might also enjoy the 4 mile roundtrip hike to Avalanche Lake in the Lake McDonald area. You might want to stay one night on the west side after driving across the park. I would recommend Village Inn just for the views of Lake McDonald. The rooms are very dated but when we stayed were very clean. You could also try Lake McDonald Lodge. We stayed there many years ago and were disappointed but it may have improved. The Jammer Tours are a nice way to see the park if you don%26#39;t want to drive, but since you may travel from east to west one day anyway,it%26#39;s not a must. It seems you have gotten a lot of good advice on this forum but keep asking questions if anything else comes up. Have a great trip. Oh and if you fly to Great Falls, Billings or Missoula you can do a big loop.

hank you for being so patient with me....So..Many and Glacier Park are both East?? and west Apgar?. I just booked Many for Thur-Sat, no openings for the extra day, but will keep checking. I got a Lakeside room, twin beds,but doesn%26#39;t matter we will be to interested in the views! As for the hikes, yes we would be interested..nothing to strenuous. What about the Red something tour...or the boat cruises? My husband is definitely a steak lover...do I need to make reservations at the steakhouse name?

Do you suggest anything en route from Yellowstone?