Many Glacier Hotel: the location is the reason
We stayed at Many Glacier for three nights. Some of the best hiking in Glacier is right outside the hotel, and after a long day it is hard to beat walking back to your room instead of getting into the car again.
The lake-view room was absolutely worth it for us. Summer sunrise and sunset come early and late, so being able to see Swiftcurrent Lake and the mountains from bed was special. One morning the lake was completely still and the reflections were incredible.
Book early, or keep checking
Glacier National Park Lodges accepts reservations up to 13 months in advance, and the popular properties can sell out quickly. We do not usually plan that far ahead. When we first checked about three months before our trip, there was nothing available.
Instead of giving up, we checked about once a week and searched one night at a time. We booked nights as they appeared, then swapped rooms as better availability opened. We eventually got three separate reservations for the same room type and the hotel was able to keep us in the same room.
For peak-season stays from May 1 through October 14, the current lodge policy allows a full deposit refund when you cancel and obtain a cancellation number at least 14 days before the stay. Verify the policy when you book.
Parking at Many Glacier can be stressful
We arrived around 2:30 p.m. and parking was difficult. Hotel guests did not have a guaranteed individual space in the main lot. We eventually got lucky, but there is additional parking farther up the road. Be prepared to circle or wait during the busy part of the day.
The payoff came the next morning. We did not need to drive to a trailhead or worry about finding another parking spot. We walked out of the hotel and started hiking.
The rooms are historic, in every sense
Some of the bathrooms have been updated and others are very much part of the historic-hotel experience. Our shower literally came with an instruction sheet. Turning it on involved handles labeled A through E and what looked like an eight-step process. We eventually figured it out, but this photo pretty much sums up what we mean when we say Many Glacier Hotel is about the location, not modern luxury.
Lake McDonald Lodge
We only stayed one night on the west side, and that felt about right for our hiking priorities. Lake McDonald gave us a beautiful sunset, easy access to Avalanche Lake and McDonald Falls, and a reason to experience the full Going-to-the-Sun Road drive.
Plan ahead for dinner
Both hotels have restaurants, but they do not take dinner reservations. Everything is first come, first served, and waits can build, especially around normal dinner time. Lake McDonald was particularly busy when we were there.
If you want to eat at the hotel, plan for an early or late dinner, put your name on the list before you actually want to eat, or just be prepared to wait. After a long hiking day, the last thing you want is to come back starving and discover there is a long line for dinner.