Autumn Road Trip: Exploring Glacier National Park, Montana
Autumn was the perfect time for our ladies’ glamping road trip to Glacier National Park in Montana. The leaves changed from green to yellow, orange, and red, creating a spectacular drive throughout the Park. I haven’t visited Montana in a few decades and had forgotten how stunning Glacier National Park is. There is so much to explore that I’d recommend spending at least a week experiencing as much of the park as possible.
Where to Stay Near Glacier National Park
Of course, one of the major decisions when planning your road trip is where to stay. St Mary Village is the perfect location in East Glacier National Park, with the mountains as your backdrop and West Glacier RV Park & Cabins in the west — both are located right near Park entrances. You can’t get any closer than that!
Tiny Home Village at St. Mary Village
I can’t get enough of the colourful cottages and matching bathhouses in St Mary Village. Each tiny home sleeps about four people, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to enjoy the surroundings and mountain views. Ten colourful homes have energy-efficient appliances, comfortable beds, and jetted tubs in matching bathhouses.
Glacier Park Lodge
For those who prefer to stay in hotel-style accommodation, the Glacier Park Lodge is the perfect place. This is the first hotel built by the Great Northern Railway and has stayed with its rustic roots and boasts the oldest golf course in Montana on the grounds. The rooms are free of televisions and instead have a stunning view of Montana’s mountains. The Lodge has a beautiful stone fireplace where guests can visit, enjoy conversations, and play board games while meeting new people. I’ll never forget tasting buffalo ribs for the first time in the Northern Dining Room! Delicious.
West Glacier RV Park & Cabins
I could easily live in one of the gorgeous new cabins at West Glacier RV Park & Cabins! Each spacious cabin is well-stocked with everything you need for your stay—bring the food! They thought of every detail, from the fun yellow accents to matching dishes and a very comfortable bed. I was pleasantly surprised to find a full bathroom—something I typically look for, and I love to have a bubble bath. Remember, I’m glamping after a day outdoors!
What to See
The accessible areas vary depending on the time of year. In the off-season, roads and some amenities will be closed. I’ll need to go back and drive the full Going-to-the-Sun Road and see more than I could on this September road trip.
Trail of the Cedars
I highly recommend getting out and stretching your legs on this gentle walk through the forest to the waterfalls along a boardwalk. You can hike up above the waterfalls for another view or continue the loop back to the parking lot. The wheelchair-accessible trail that begins not far from Lake McDonald and just the smell of fresh cedar is enough to put a smile on your face! Some of these trees are 4 to 7 feet in diameter and estimated at over 500 years old. Definitely worth the visit. We came across a fallen tree with a fantastic root system that looked like something out of Game of Thrones. My photo doesn’t do it justice as to how large it actually is.
Logan Pass Visitor Center Hike
Even though it was a foggy day, we explored a few trails around the Logan Pass Visitor Center and the beautiful drive-up. We couldn’t see much of Renolds Mountain and Clements Mountain on this visit so that another road trip will be added to my list! Inside the Center, you can’t miss the educational subalpine ecosystem exhibit, souvenir shopping, and a large fireplace to warm up beside.
Where to Eat
Belton Chalet
You must visit the Belton Chalet for unique and delicious locally sourced dishes created by Chef Earl Reynolds. The crème brûlée with huckleberries was most memorable for me!
Backslope Brewing
Seriously, the mac and cheese is a must! For beer lovers, there is a variety of handcrafted beer to taste.
Let me know if you have questions about any of these locations, or email me. When planning your road trip, check the park’s website to ensure that the areas you’d like to access are open. In the off-season, roads may be closed due to weather or maintenance. During our trip, we could not access the full Going-to-the-Sun Road route for this reason.
My visit was hosted by Pursuit Collection, opinions are my own.
