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Visting Glacier National Park
Posted on 6/22/23 at 10:42 pm
Posted on 6/22/23 at 10:42 pm
Where is the best place to stay there? Thx.
7
Posted on 6/23/23 at 4:27 am to Auburn80
The east side is easier and quicker to get into the park and the best hiking is on that side of the park. The west side has much more options as far as rooms and restaurants. Last year we split our trip up and stayed on both sides. We stayed in the Two Medicine area and did 4 days of hiking then moved over to the west side to relax the rest of the week. Most major lodges are booked out well in advance so we used Air BnBs.
Posted on 6/23/23 at 8:12 am to Auburn80
The answer with any National Park is always "inside the park." That's not always possible though. Some have no lodging, all usually book up.
Glacier, my favorite place on earth is probably The Village Inn at Apgar.
That is the view from our room last year. The in-park lodging for Glacier is run by Xanterra. They allow you to book with a deposit, but that deposit is fully refundable up to a few days before arrival. That means that people book and cancel all the time. If booked,check habitually and you run a good chance of finding an opening.
Last year we stayed 3 nights in 3 different rooms. It was a big PITA, but I just grabbed individual nights as they became available. Still worth it for that location.
Glacier, my favorite place on earth is probably The Village Inn at Apgar.
That is the view from our room last year. The in-park lodging for Glacier is run by Xanterra. They allow you to book with a deposit, but that deposit is fully refundable up to a few days before arrival. That means that people book and cancel all the time. If booked,check habitually and you run a good chance of finding an opening.
Last year we stayed 3 nights in 3 different rooms. It was a big PITA, but I just grabbed individual nights as they became available. Still worth it for that location.
Posted on 6/23/23 at 1:49 pm to Auburn80
Inside the park is the only answer. Be flexible and make it work.
Posted on 6/25/23 at 5:32 pm to Athanatos
I hope that's not completely true. Going in 2 weeks and due to availability, booked a nice looking cabin right outside of Whitefish at an Airbnb. Booked several activities in the park though so should get plenty of time in the park.
any fairly easy family friendly hikes recommended? inside and out the park.
I see the Flathead national forest is there and there are some great reviews about the hiking there too.
any fairly easy family friendly hikes recommended? inside and out the park.
I see the Flathead national forest is there and there are some great reviews about the hiking there too.
Posted on 6/25/23 at 7:11 pm to specchaser
quote:Same here. Going mid-July and would have booked inside the park but nothing was available in January when we started making reservations.
Going in 2 weeks and due to availability……
We’re in a lodge on the east side for 2 nights & then 2 nights in a hotel on the west side. We do have a 3 day vehicle pass for GTTSR & a boat ride booked in the Many Glacier area - so we expect to see a lot of the park.
Posted on 6/26/23 at 9:31 am to specchaser
You will be fine outside the park. Being near Whitefish will give you lots of dining options.
Posted on 6/26/23 at 10:17 am to specchaser
Whitefish is a great area but plan on hour or so drive to and from the west park entrance. hopefully you don't run into paving construction.
Posted on 6/26/23 at 2:10 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
The Village Inn at Apgar.
Always stay here the last two nights of our trip and fly out of Kalispell.
Love waking up before the flight for one last dip in the water.
Posted on 6/26/23 at 3:08 pm to Herschal
quote:
Love waking up before the flight for one last dip in the water.
That water will WAKE YOU UP
Posted on 6/26/23 at 11:12 pm to Auburn80
We are staying in Whitefish at ABNB, have all our passes and tours booked. Planning to get up early to contend with the traffic
Posted on 6/30/23 at 2:20 am to specchaser
It’s not completely true, but I found that the value and benefits of staying in the park are substantial. Lines to get in can be long, parking at trail heads difficult. Recreation.gov is difficult to navigate, but persistence pays, especially last minute.
FYI, the entrance at pole bridge used to be unguarded, so you could get in without a park pass and without a line. Obviously that may have changed this year, but don’t just assume the closest entrance will serve you best.
FYI, the entrance at pole bridge used to be unguarded, so you could get in without a park pass and without a line. Obviously that may have changed this year, but don’t just assume the closest entrance will serve you best.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 8:41 am to Athanatos
quote:
FYI, the entrance at pole bridge used to be unguarded, so you could get in without a park pass and without a line. Obviously that may have changed this year, but don’t just assume the closest entrance will serve you best.
I dont know what year this was but covid changed everything at National Parks. The days of no lines and showing up without reservations are over for the most part. The only things that are still true are if you arrive early and get a mile away from the trailheads you will avoid crowds.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 1:41 pm to idontyield
how is the park in the late afternoon? passes aren't required after 3pm and given my crew are late sleepers, I planned to hit the park late afternoon a couple of days.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 2:55 pm to specchaser
No clue about Glacier as we are going in August.
RMNP is about an 1.5 hour wait to get in at 3pm daily when reservations end for the day.
Prior to covid, you could show up at the national parks with no reservations and find a campsite. Might not be the one you had in mind but you could find one. You could see the sights and not have to plan ahead other than waking up early. Now you need a reservation to camp, enter or in some spots even hike.
RMNP is about an 1.5 hour wait to get in at 3pm daily when reservations end for the day.
Prior to covid, you could show up at the national parks with no reservations and find a campsite. Might not be the one you had in mind but you could find one. You could see the sights and not have to plan ahead other than waking up early. Now you need a reservation to camp, enter or in some spots even hike.
Posted on 7/3/23 at 9:21 am to idontyield
quote:
RMNP is about an 1.5 hour wait to get in at 3pm daily when reservations end for the day.
This is because there is major construction all over RMNP and Estes. Moraine Park is a huge campground and is closed until next year for upgrades. This adds the the number of people trying to get in each day instead of just staying in.
Posted on 7/3/23 at 5:05 pm to idontyield
We are leaving next week for Glacier, Banff, and Jasper NP. My elderly parents both passed away 6 months apart. We decided to take our early 50th anniversary trip and couldn’t find anything available on Xanterra site. Hope CA fires don't delay flights or put damper on our trip. It’s been long 18 mnths of serious caring for them.
Posted on 7/4/23 at 8:08 pm to Auburn80
Columbia falls or Hungry Horse are great places to stay that are really close to the West Entrance.
Posted on 7/4/23 at 8:54 pm to Auburn80
Friend,
The absolute best place to stay in Glacier, and where I have stayed twice, is Sperry Chalet. It is rustic and when we were there bathroom facilities consisted of an outhouse. It requires a three or four hike ri get there, so pack lightly. But the sunsets are incredible. I have not stayed at Granite Park Chalet, but am trying to get a room there this summer.
If you are staying in one of the NPS lodges, Many Glacier Hotel is the pinnacle. With a breath taking view of Grinnell Point, it has the best view of any lodge in the entire NPS, including the Ahwahnee at Yosemite. Here's the view from the Many parking lot. Slightly longer of a drive for most, as Many is on the east side of the park, its view is vastly superior to the lodges on Lake McDonald on the west.
Yours,
TulaneLSU
The absolute best place to stay in Glacier, and where I have stayed twice, is Sperry Chalet. It is rustic and when we were there bathroom facilities consisted of an outhouse. It requires a three or four hike ri get there, so pack lightly. But the sunsets are incredible. I have not stayed at Granite Park Chalet, but am trying to get a room there this summer.
If you are staying in one of the NPS lodges, Many Glacier Hotel is the pinnacle. With a breath taking view of Grinnell Point, it has the best view of any lodge in the entire NPS, including the Ahwahnee at Yosemite. Here's the view from the Many parking lot. Slightly longer of a drive for most, as Many is on the east side of the park, its view is vastly superior to the lodges on Lake McDonald on the west.
Yours,
TulaneLSU
This post was edited on 7/4/23 at 11:22 pm
Posted on 7/5/23 at 7:19 am to Auburn80
Is it as bad to get in and out as Yosemite, if you stay outside the park? We stayed inside YNP and can’t imagine staying outside the park given how long and difficult it is to get in and then park inside.
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