We will be in Glacier National Park this July and wondered whether we should stay on the East or West side of the park. Could anyone provide any insight on this?

Also, any comments on St. Mary's Lodge or Lake McDonald Lodge? Other reccommendations on places to stay?

Thank you!

Hi Joy. I have faced your problem, and there is no easy answer. The first time, I camped, in a nice warm sleping bag.

On subsequent trips, when I was older, I have found ALL accommodations within the park and close to the park to be expensive for what you get.

St Mary's Lodge in the words of a friend of mine was a *&*(&(^*(^*(^*(^.
(You fill in the symbols with words of your own selection, but no compliments.)

There is very little on the east side of the park, except in the town of East Glacier. A couple of motels there rate 2 diamonds in the AAA guide.

The Apgar Village Inn on the west side rates 1 diamond.

I will be there this summer for a return visit, and I decided to solve the problem by taking a motel sight unseen in Hungry Horse on the west side.

In 1999, I stayed at a motel in Big Fork and then hiked to the Sperry Chalet for two nights.

I think your best bets on the east side is perhaps the Rising Sun Motel within the park, or go up to Waterton townsite within Waterton National Park.
Motels there are expensive, but at least they are decent.

There are some bed and breakfasts around on the west side, between Apgar and Big Fork, but they are not cheap.
There are some rustic cabins which I would classify as luxurious camping, (you sleep on a bed rather than a poly pad on the ground), but even those are $60 for 4 if they provide the bedding.

To be blunt, I have no recommendations other than a motel in Hungry Horse or Big Fork, or in Waterton. (The Timbers Motel in Big Fork is decent enough as motels go, and the little town has a couple of good places to eat. In years past, it has had a dinner theater. I do not know the current situation because I have not been there since 1999.) In Waterton, I think the Kilmorey Lodge is ok to good.

Hi Bob,

I've been reading a lot of your responses over this website on Glacier so was pleased to have your input!

Since we're traveling with 4 kids (ages range from 5-12), it would be more convenient to stay in the park. That's really the reason we're even thinking of Lake McDonald.

Plus, we're only there for one full day - but are rethinking whether this is adequate.

We're driving down from Calgary through Waterton and then stopping in Glacier. Do you think we'd have time to do the boat trip in Waterton (to Goat Haunt)?

We're starting out early in the morning and may stop at the Museum of Palentology in Drumheller Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump (have you been to either?) but no other planned stops.

Thanks for your help!

We always stay on the east side. It is much less crowded. Since you are coming down the east side, that seems to make sense. Waterton is great.

I would suggest Many Glacier Lodge. It is a neat old lodge in a scenic area off the beaten path (unlike the west side hotels) with some of the best hiking trails in the park.

St Mary's is right on the highway but they do have a new section that looked pretty nice.

Personally, I like the boat trip to Goat Haunt. My son did it for a second time as an adult last summer sith his family. And I plan on repeating it for the 3rd time in July. So I am a little biased.

We like to walk along the river to a wide spot about 3 miles from the boat dock where you can get a good view of Porcupine Ridge. There is a funny incident that happens to some people on that trail. A grouse, which is a small bird, owns that territory, and the male will run after hikers and peck them on the boots. If he weighed 50 pounds, it might not be so funny, but at less than a pound, it is hilarious.

My son stayed overnight in Waterton in the Aspen - Windflower Motel.
In the park itself, he stayed at the motel type accommodation near Many Glacier.
It was the Swift Current Motor Inn.
He said it was ok for one night.
The Apgar Village Inn on the west side is ok for one night as well. I can see wanting to stay in the park. There is a certain allure to doing it, and we can all put up with less than perfect accommodations. After all, the worst in Glacier is 100 times better than what most of the people in many nations have as their only shelter.

If I had a choice between Swift Current and Rising Sun, I would take Swift Current. The scenery there is lovely.
In years past, we have all hiked up to Iceberg Lake. My son and his two boys, ages 7 and 10 went there last year. It is a 10 mile hike, round trip, but these two kids are soccer players, so it was not much of an effort for them. I think it let Dad know that he was 41, and short on conditioning. Mom made it ok.

Thanks Bob. Is the boat trip to Goat Haunt 2 hours each way or round trip?

We decided to spend one night in Waterton (Waterton Lodge) and then drive to West Glacier.

Anybody stayed at the West Glacier Motel (cabins)? We're not looking for luxury but a decent place to spend a few nights.

Thanks.

The trip is about an hour, actually a little less. There is a stop at Goat Haunt. But it is possible to get off, and take a later boat is what I have done.
There are 5 trips a day, according to the schedule on the web, and the cost is $22 C per adult. That figures out to less than $15.00 per person US.

The stop at Goat Haunt is not really long enough than to get a short Ranger talk. But it is not long enough to walk around much.

Bob, could you let me know the name of the website where I could get a schedule of the boat trips to/from Goat Haunt?

Thanks again.