Tips for staying at Many Glacier Hotel
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Many Glacier Hotel is located in the northeastern region of Glacier National Park on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake. Even though the historic hotel was built in 1915 by the Great Northern Railway, it offers one of the best national park lodging options getting you close to nature with spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. In fact, it has earned the name of the “Switzerland of North America!” Even though the rooms are minimalistic and rustic feeling, I loved my stay at the Many Glacier Hotel. Here are some need to know items and tips for staying at Many Glacier Hotel.
Book the hotel as early as possible because it can sell out in the busier weeks. It is only open from June to mid-September.
As there is no air conditioner, reserve a room on a lower floor to stay cool. There was a fan in the room to cool it down some. We never got hot in our room on the lowest of the 5 floors. We also had a lake front room in which the wind cooled it down faster than one of the parkside rooms.
It is nice to stay in a bottom floor, lake front room so that you can walk out and sit on your front porch. But, this is not a necessity as there are many chairs on the lobby’s front porch to allow for sunset photos. (The hotel faces the west.)
The drive to Many Glacier Hotel is on a 12 mile road with many potholes. Watch for cows that roam freely. In fact, these cows were the widest cows I’ve ever seen! You definitely do not want to hit one of them in your rental vehicle. Oh, and they seem to think they own the place.
The Many Glacier area is the best place to see bears in Glacier National Park. There are many bear sightings on the road to Many Glacier Hotel and eating berries up in the mountains.
Bring binoculars. We were able to see grizzlies and black bear from the porch of the hotel.
The Many Glacier area is also one of the best places to see moose in the park.
Parking is behind the hotel about 200 yards up an embankment. There is a handicap parking area close to the hotel. The lot can fill up very quickly due to visitors going on hikes and checking out the hotel. We arrived about 5 PM and did not have trouble finding a parking spot.
There are no elevators in the hotel. Be prepared to carry your luggage to your room. Since we had a room on the lower level, we just drove our vehicle in front of our room in the early morning the day of our departure so we wouldn’t have to carry the luggage up the stairs.
The rooms are old (even with renovations). They are not sound proof. However, we never had difficulty sleeping after our long days exploring.
The bathroom window has a privacy film over it but be cautious standing too close to the window as people outside may be able to see you.
There is complimentary bath soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner in the room. The basic hotel set up is available: coffee, iron/ironing board, hair dryer, etc.
They have Coca Cola! I know that’s not a deal breaker or anything…but I am much more of a Coke gal than Pepsi!
There is plenty of alcohol for purchase in the dining rooms.
You can get a box lunch for $11.95 that includes a choice from 3 different sandwiches, chips, raisins, water, and a cookie.
Sandwiches and snacks are available downstairs in the deli, but they can sell out early in the mornings. It was $8.95 for one sandwich.
Bring some snacks from outside the park to keep in a cooler, if possible. If you do this, it is important to make sure it is completely closed and mouse proof. We had a few mice wake us up trying to get a midnight snack of Oreos. Those suckers were able to climb in the trash can shortly after and wake us up again. We ended up tying them in a bag and hanging over the door. Mice is a given considering the hotel is in the middle of no where and only open about 4 months of the year.
There is NO television, no cell service, and limited internet in the lobby only. You can purchase playing cards in the gift shop to play games with.
Book a lake cruise or guided hike as soon as you know you know your plans as this does sell out or you may be left on a waiting list. (Don’t forget your hiking boots!)
The hotel has a guest services person to answer questions about the national park, what to do, road closures, etc.
There are ranger led programs in the evenings that educate you on such topics as the park’s history, animal habitats, and purpose of fires in the region.
The gigantic fireplace, high ceilings, and comfortable seating in the great room invite guests in the evenings to discuss their day and plans for the next. Many go out on the front porch and sit in the rocking chairs to watch the sunset while others hunt for bears and bighorn sheep in the nearby mountains.
We waited about 30 minutes when we put our name on the dining list about 630 PM to eat in the dining room. There are no advanced reservations in the dining rooms. We were seated alongside the large windows overlooking the lake for a beautiful view of the sunset (despite the smoke in the area). Service was a bit slow due to it being so busy, but staff were kind and the food was delicious!
Seating if first come, first serve and you sit where ever you choose in this restaurant. It seems to be more lively than the other restaurant. We shared a table with another group who kindly let us. Food and service were great in the Swiss Lounge.
I hope these tips on staying at Many Glacier Hotel help you. I loved staying at this secluded, historic hotel and wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. When it came to staying in this rustic hotel, I was prepared for the worst. However, the Many Glacier Hotel exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed my stay. If recommend a stay in this hotel, however, if there is no availability, here are some other hotels in the East Glacier area.
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