Best lodge at Glacier National Park?

I will be doing a backpacking trip to Glacier National Park in August and also plan to spend a couple of nights in a lodge relaxing and doing a little easy sightseeing and day hiking afterwards.

GNP is famous for its grand historic lodges. Can anyone who goes there a lot recommend the best ones. I want one of the historic ones at the park (not a modern hotel) that has good historic flavor, decent rooms, has shops and cafes nearby and is in a good location for visiting interesting parts of the park.

Ones that I am especially interested in are the Prince of Wales at Waterton Park, Glacier Park Lodge (East Glacier), Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. I would especially like to hear from people who have stayed in those.

I’m not the type to stay at NP lodges but since no one has responded to your question I’ll give you my 2 cents worth. I like the St Mary Lake area so I stay at Rising Sun. The accommodations aren’t much to speak of but they do the job for me.

Although I haven’t stayed at any of the historic lodges, I have seen them all. They are nostalgic, full of history and probably ok to stay at but they remind me of the El Tovar in GC. Great to be there but rather creaky and not exactly a modern hotel if you know what I mean. Sort of like Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone.

Lake McDonald Lodge is in a scenic location although the west side of the park isn’t as dramatic as the east (my opinion). There are a few trails in the Lake McDonald area but you’ll find more trails in the Swiftcurrent Lake (Many Glacier) area. Iceberg Lake is a good day hike. The Prince of Wales in Waterton Park is situated on a bluff with a gorgeous view of both the middle and upper Waterton lakes. I haven’t done any hiking there so can’t comment on the trails. If you enjoy canoeing you can paddle into the US at the south end of upper Waterton lake.

If you haven’t been to GNP before, be sure to hike up the Hidden Lake trail above Logan Pass. It’s a short hike to the overlook with a big payoff, view wise. The trail continues down to the lake if you are so inclined. The Highline trail which starts from Logan Pass is a great day hike but be sure to check the shuttle bus schedule to be sure you can get back to your car from the end of the trail at The Loop.

When I think of GNP I think grizzly country. You might want to consider carrying a can of bear spray or bear bells at the very least. Especially if you’re going to be hiking alone. If you’re flying into Montana, you can’t pack the bear spray. You’ll have to buy it there. Mountain lions also roam the park so you need to keep that in the back of your mind too,

Don’t forget your passport – you’ll need it to re-enter the US. I hope you have a great trip.

Following are links to reviews of the lodges.