Many Glacier Hotel & Swift Current Lake - St. Mary, Montana (Part One)

Glacier National Park Road Trip (Fall 2022)

September 14-15, 2022

Many Glacier Hotel & Swift Current Lake

After a lazy morning, we decided to go for a drive and check out Many Glacier Hotel. The 20-mile drive (5 miles of which are on a bumpy gravel road) from our campground was very pretty, especially along Swift Current Creek, which flows from Lake Sherburne. We had hoped to get a drink and sit outside on one of the decks, but we arrived a day too late. The lodge was closed for the season! We enjoyed walking around, taking in the views of the surrounding mountains and beautiful lake.

From the Glacier National Park Lodges website:

Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1914-15, Many Glacier Hotel is situated on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake inside Glacier National Park. This location presents visitors with the Swiss Lounge, Heidi’s Snack Shop, the lakeside Ptarmigan Dining Room as well as a Gift Shop. Red Bus tours, boat cruises, horseback rides, evening ranger programs, and numerous other activities are available at this spectacular lakeside setting, one of the best of any of the national parks.

Partially renovated in 2016, this secluded, five-story hotel contains 2 suites, 7 family rooms and 205 guest rooms offering lakeside, deluxe, standard and value lodging options. All guest rooms at Many Glacier Hotel are rustic, yet comfortable. In keeping with the era in which the hotel was built, the rooms offer guests modest amenities and old-world style accommodations. There are no televisions or air conditioning.

Grinnell Point, Swiftcurrent Mountain, 

Mt. Wilbur, and Iceberg Notch 

Garden Wall, Mt. Gould, 

Angel Wing, and Grinnell Point

I would love to go on one of the Red Bus tours next time we're in Glacier! From the website:

The famous Red Buses serve as an ideal way to see and learn more about Glacier National Park. In fact, the vintage 1930s buses are part of the human history and heritage of the park. As much of the park’s scenery is vertically oriented, the roll-back tops are perfect for providing full views of the stunning mountains, and the area’s signature Big Sky. The guides are seasoned park veterans, who are here because they love the park and enjoy sharing the park with visitors.

The fleet of 33 buses in Glacier is widely considered to be the oldest touring fleet of vehicles anywhere in the world, so due to the historic nature of the Red Buses, seats are not designed to the same standards as today’s buses. The red buses seat 16 people, with 4 across on bench seating. These are snug quarters with limited space. The Red Bus tours tend to sell out on a daily basis, so please don’t expect room to stretch out.

It was a wonderful outing and I hope we go back soon. In addition to a Red Bus tour, I'd love to take a boat cruise around the lake.