Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [165]
Rooms, decorated in keeping with the hotel's historic roots, are in the main lodge around the balconies overlooking the lobby or in the adjoining annex. We like the lakeside rooms, for their views of Swiftcurrent Lake. Those who plan to use the room as a place to crash at the end of the day can save money by booking one of the smaller units without a view. A dining room, coffee shop, gift shop, and lounge are in the hotel; nightly performances begin midsummer. All units are nonsmoking.
Rising Sun Motor Inn
Glacier National Park, MT 59936. ☎ 406/ 892-2525. Fax 406/892-1375. www.glacier parkinc.com. 63 units. TEL. $99–$115 double; $101 cottage. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Located 6½ miles from St. Mary, just off Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Rising Sun is a complex made up of a restaurant, a motor inn, cottages, stores, and a service station. The basic rooms are just that—uninspiring motel rooms that are completely adequate for a good night's rest in an excellent location for those who want to explore the eastern side of the park. The cottage rooms (half of a duplex) are more interesting but a bit on the rustic side. All units here are nonsmoking.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
Glacier National Park, MT 59936. ☎ 406/892-2525. Fax 406/892-1375. www.glacierparkinc.com. 88 units and cabins (most cabins without private bathroom). $99–$115 double in motor inn; $45–$77 double in cabin. AE, DISC, MC, V.
The appeal here is for those satisfied with modest prices and decor—primarily active types interested in spending lots of time exploring the backcountry trails. Like Many Glacier, which is just up the street, the inn sits against a mountain backdrop in what is considered a hiker's paradise. Motel rooms have standard decor—functional but nothing special. Cabins are a bit more interesting, with one or two bedrooms and perhaps a bathroom (communal facilities are nearby). There's also a coffee shop and restaurant on the premises. All units are nonsmoking.
Village Inn at Apgar
Glacier National Park, MT 59936. ☎ 406/ 892-2525. Fax 406/892-1375. www.glacier parkinc.com. 36 units. $113–$179 double. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Not to be confused with Apgar Village Lodge (see above), the Village Inn at Apgar is the smallest of the properties GPI operates in Glacier. Located in Apgar Village, the inn is near the general store, cafes, and boat docks. Like its counterparts throughout the park, the Village Inn is comfortably outfitted with modest furnishings, making it a cozy and convenient place to stay. Rooms spread over two floors of the inn; 12 of them have kitchenettes. Second-level rooms have the same lake views as those downstairs, but they have less people traffic. Though you won't find a dining room on the property, the restaurants of Lake McDonald and Apgar are all close by. Close to the Apgar corral and the docks of Lake McDonald, not to a plethora of hiking trails, Apgar Village bustles with activity during the summer. The entire property is nonsmoking.
NEAR THE PARK
If the convenience of staying on Glacier's back porch is important to you, the following are your best bets. However, you'll find a greater variety of accommodations in Whitefish, as well as good eateries and fun nightlife.
IN EAST GLACIER
Backpacker's Inn
P.O. Box 94, East Glacier, MT 59434. ☎ 406/ 226-9392. 8 beds in 1 cabin. $12 per person in single-sex dorms; $25 for 1 person, $35 for 2 people in private cabin. DISC, MC, V. Closed mid-Oct to Apr.
Low-cost sleeping accommodations for those willing to share bathroom facilities are what you get at this dorm-style hostel.
Brownies Grocery and AYH Hostel P.O. Box 229, East Glacier, MT 59434. ☎ 406/ 226-4426 or 406/226-4456. 10 units (all with shared bathroom), 1 family room, 2 bunk rooms. AYH members $13 bunk, $26 double private room, $38 family room; nonmembers $16 bunk, $29 double private room, $41 family room. MC, V. Closed Oct to early May, depending on the weather.
Reservations are recommended at this popular combination grocery store and