ReillyQ

We have 2 rooms for 3 nights at Rising Sun Motel at Glacier National Park. I wanted the many glacier area but all were already gone in early February for our August trip.
There are 2 questions: First are the accomodations at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn any nicer than those at Rising Sun - from a comfort, conveniece, cleanliness perspective?
Secondly from a glacier experience standpoint, is the scenery, ambiance, food, etc, any better at one over the other>

I am being encouraged to call daily when it gets closer to our trip in August to see if I can get 2 rooms at Swiftcurrent. Thanks for comments/input, pros or cons.

Mary Ann

spirobulldog

I would start calling every day now. Just make it a part of your routine. You'll probably eventually get what you want. They might charge you the $15 cancellation fee though-Glacier Park Inc is really strict on cancellations of any kind.

Myer

spiro is correct. Call, call, call.

Just to give you an example. I book 2 nights at Swiftcurrent and 4 at Rising Sun for early August. I book them way back.

At that time I wasn't sure who I'd be going with. I figured there were three choices: a friend for the full time, myself for the full time or my daughter for less time.

As of now it's my daughter for 2 nights less. I have not as yet released the 2 extra days just in case something changes as I haven't book the flights yet.

Most likely I will be releasing 2 nights at Rising Sun and that will make somebody happy.

If all you get is Rising Sun, it's only about one hour to Many Glacier. Not really convenient but still possible to drive early.

Which is nicer, which is better, which has access to better food. Personally, if there's food there and the rooms are half decent, I don't care which is a bit better.

Call, call, call.

ReillyQ

Hi

I appreciate the responses, but am curious why both imply swiftcurrent is better (that was my original question). The difficulty in trying to get a cancellation is 2 rooms. I do not want to move one couple only to find (since we have one rental car) that I cannot move both. So before I spend the time on the phone I was just hoping someone could tell me if one is really better than the other from a convenience/comfort/food perspective. Also, for one day we have booked the Crown of the Continent tour (which is only 6 hours total time from rising sun but 8 hours from swift current with driving to other lodges) which leaves us more time to explore.
Thanks anyway.

Myer

I'm not sure if you mean one of the lodgings is better than the other or one area is better than the other.

I'm sure there are more people in the Rising Sun area as it's on the GTTS Road and many people don't do more than drive the road and stop at the viewpoints while Swiftcurrent is in Many Glacier.

I wanted to spend some time in Many Glacier so I booked 2 nights there. I booked 4 nights originally in Rising Sun as I figured I'd drive down to Two Medicine for a day.

I think a good part of a day could be taken up by stopping at viewpoints along GTTS Road and some relatively short hikes.

I was limited somewhat as I wanted to make sure my rooms had two double beds.

Let's look at it another way. Had I not been able to get any nights in Many Glacier I probably would have planned on getting up early one day and drive there.

If I drop the two last days there's a very good chance I won't make it to Two Medicine.

As to rooms. A clean comfortable room with decent food in close proximity is all that I ask for. Luxury isn't a requirement.

How different the two areas are from each other or if it's just different but each has it's own character, I'll only really know after I'm there.

It's really difficult to tell from looking at various web sites as for some people a 10 mile hike is part of the trip. I'm expecting one hike that's probably too long for me but I'll give it a shot. Again, I'll only really know after the trip.

monpetit

Depend which accomodations...
The motel units are the same in comfort between rising sun and swiftcurrent.(only the pine unit in swiftcurrent is less attractive...).
I don't know for the other cabins.
Both are quiet and so only difference is what you have planned to do.
If hiking is your goal, so swiftcurent is better : more hikes, directly from the rooms and some easy(red rocks, swiftcurrent lake, grinnel lake), some moderatly strenous(iceberg lake, cracker lake) some strenous(ptarmigan tunnel, grinnel glacier if hiking from the motel, swiftcurrent pass).
More wildlife in many Glacier.
In Rising sun, you have to drive a little to go to trailhead(only okotomi lake is directly from room..).
But you are closer to other attractions(St mary lake, Logan Pass, some falls easy to hike).
The cafetaria in Rising sun was last year better than the one in Swiftcurrent but it varies with years...
Erik

wave725

I've never stayed in either of the accommodations, but I always recommend the Many Glacier area for scenery. If you do end up in Rising Sun, you can always hang out at night at teh Many Glacier Lodge, whether you're a guest or not. They indoor/outdoor seating and nightly entertainment and you can bring your own beer/wine if you like. It's more like a 30 minute drive at most from Rising Sun to Many Glacier. We stay in East Glacier and it's an hour's drive from there to Many Glacier. Here's a good site for more information about GNP:
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/about...ional-park.htm

ReillyQ

Thanks everyone for your input, it will help us make a decision. Sounds like there are pluses to both and we will have a good experience from either location, just scenery may be better at Swiftcurrent.

Mary Ann

spirobulldog

I want to make sure here. Do you mean Many Glacier Hotel or Swift Current Motor Inn?

Travelkitty

I stayed at the Swift Current Motor Inn and liked it a lot because a lot of trails where easy walking distance and it was nice if I just wanted a quick walk after dinner to go to the lakes.

Rising Sun's location is nice because it is on the GTTS road (which was still closed for snow when I was there), but I think there is less to do right in the immediate walking distance.

Both the cabins and motor lodge were clean but pretty rustic, so I don't think you're going to see much difference in that regard. This is not the place to go if you want fancy rooms. The lodges are certainly more impressive in the public areas and are worth checking out, but the rooms aren't much better than at the other housing options.

But if those are the only rooms you can get, take them. The park is such a special place you won't go wrong wherever you are and you can always drive to the other location for a day.

ReillyQ

Thanks Travelkitty

You confirmed my thoughts on the rooms. We decided with only 3 nights in Glacier we would not be spending much time in the rooms and expected they would all be pretty spartan but wanted to stay in the east side of the park. By staying at Rising Sun we save 2 hours on our going to the Sun Red bus tour which helps. We also wanted to do the St Mary Lake cruise with hike which most people say is better in the morning, so our 2nd full day we can do that and we will be there and then just go over to the Many Glacier area for the rest of that day and in the evening check out the lodge and have dinner. It is also convenient when we go to leave, heading down to Yellowstone. I think it will be the most efficient use of our time. (This is part of a 17 night trip doing Jackson, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore, so we did limit time in each area.)

Thanks to all, regards, Mary Ann

Elainee

The GTTS Red bus tour is excellent!!!