Hi,
I will be visiting the area in late september for 3 days. I realize that this is out of season and wondered if anyone could recommend what to do and where to stay.
thanks

If you are travelling alone, please stop in at the Ranger stations to find out if there are group hikes you can enjoy. Glacier is a spectacular national park with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The rangers are a great resource for directing you where your best chances to see wildlife will be. Drive Going to the Sun highway.

That's a very vague questions-have you done any research at all? If not, look at the park's website:
www.nps.gov/glac
and you will find loads of things to do and see and places to stay, depending on your budget, skills and interests.

In the summertime everyone drives going to the Sun Road. We liked the location of Lake Mcdonald lodge, check the web site for park lodging.

Hi devongirl-

I'm not the official Fodors welcomer, but let me welcome you anyway.

You will find on Fodors many people who are more than willing to answer any question, arcane or general. But it would help to provide some more info, such as what are your interests, budget, means of travel, which area of the park you will be near, etc.

Again, welcome.

hi,
thanks for all your advice so far. i have been doing a lot of research but keep getting in a muddle! it would seem that the road to the sun is closed at the moment and there are no ranger guided tours as i will be visiting out of season. Also white water rafting has finished.
i was wondering about hiking near lake mcdonald, is it safe to do this alone? also i thought i could visit bigfork which is supposed to be culturally rich...is it?
i had thought about staying in west glacier for ease of access, but would be open to other ideas.
basically i want to appreciate the beauty of the place and chill out before a long flight home!
any more advice would be greatly appreciated.
oh yeah as for budget.... cheap is good but clean is more important!
thanks

Hi,
Check out the website for the Belton Chalet in West Glacier. Get a room facing away from the tracks unless you like train noise. Izaak Walton Inn is a good alternative but more remote.

Although the Going to the Sun Road is closed right now it could very well be open when you're there and Indian Summer in the Park is spectacular and without crowds. If the road is closed you could still drive over Marias Pass on US 2 and drive up the east side of the Park. You could also drive up the North Fork of the Flathead just west of the Park and visit Polebridge which is on the edge of the world.

A day trip to Bigfork or Whitefish/Big Mountain would be nice.

From the east side of the park you can still get into the park a bit at Many Glacier and Two Medicine. Both of them are worth the trip. Based upon where the construction was in August I bet you will be able to drive part way into the park along Lake McDonald on the Going to the Sun Road and that is a wonderful drive as well.

I hiked the Avalanche Lake trail (just east of the Lake McDonald hotel) alone in August and there were so many people that I was never concerned. It could be different in late September but if you stick to the well traveled trails you should feel comfortable.

Another option for a group hike is to use the Glacier Guides. They have the hiking concession for the park and do group hikes and private hikes. To get a private hike I think you pay for 5 people. We hiked with a glacier guide and really enjoyed the extra information that they provided. They have a website glacierguides.com

I know the park lodges are not inexpensive but I think they are worth the price based on being in the park. We stayed at East Glacier and Many Glacier and both were simple but clean. Many Glacier is wonderful if it is still open in late Sept.

Enjoy your trip.

Try to stay in the park if at all possible.
We stayed at Lake MacDonald Lodge,in the separate motel-strip type lodging, kind of like dorm rooms, similar to the Yellowstone Canyon cabins, if that helps.
Rustic but you can't beat the Location.
And clean.