In West Glacier, Belton Chalet looks like an import from Switzerland. In 1910, the chalet first opened when Glacier became a national park. At that time, hostesses dressed as Swiss milkmaids greeted train riders when they arrived. Today, the renovated hotel retains its historic charm. The collection of chalets is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The main chalet houses a restaurant and cozy taproom. Dining also spills out...

The historic Glacier Park Lodge still greets guests with a flowered walkway, much like it did in 1913. While its luxury once lured train riders to Glacier National Park, today the lodge attracts visitors for its historic ambiance. The lodge’s huge lobby still sports tall Douglas fir columns covered with bark. A giant stone fireplace also flanks one wall. On the back deck, lounge chairs invite sitting to...

Built in 1914, Lake McDonald Lodge faced its namesake lake to greet arriving boat passengers. Today, visitors arrive via car or bus to enter through its back door. Despite the changed entry, this iconic Glacier National Park lodge still oozes historic charm. The National Historic Landmark lodge sits on the shore of Lake McDonald. Its  location on Going-to-the-Sun Road allows you to hit the road early. That way you can beat...

Many Glacier has no rival in intimate beauty, wildlife and hiking. In Glacier National Park, the tiny enclave of visitor services tucks like a hub at the base of five valleys. It’s a hiker’s paradise. Even for non-hikers, the views are superb. Below a string of small glaciers along the Continental Divide, Many Glacier centers around Swiftcurrent Lake. A National Historic Landmark hotel perches on...

Built in 2015, Many Glacier Hotel claims one of the most scenic and beloved locations in Glacier National Park. It flanks the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake surrounded by immense peaks. As you would expect, the scenery dwarfs the sprawling National Historic Landmark. Inside, a massive fireplace commands center stage in the four-story lobby while a rebuilt circular stairway leads to the gift shop and...

As its name implies, Rising Sun faces the morning rays. But due to its location tucked under Goat Mountain, shadows drop early in the evening and twilight lingers a long time. In Glacier National Park, Rising Sun shrinks when compared to the immense peaks that tower above it. Sitting on the north shore of St. Mary Lake, it is a small summer-only outpost on Going-to-the-Sun...

The tiny community of St. Mary, Montana hops into action for three months every summer. Motels, cabins and campgrounds serve as springboards to explore Glacier National Park, and the town anchors the eastern entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road. Located at the junction of U.S. 89 and Going-to-the-Sun Road, the bulk of the town sits just outside the park on the Blackfeet Reservation. It contains family-owned restaurants, small stores, gas...

Train history lives at Izaak Walton Inn. Located at Essex, Montana, the inn on the Amtrak line once served as housing for workers clearing the tracks every winter. Today, it houses guests year-round, serves up three meals per day in its restaurant, and makes a unique base camp for visiting Glacier National Park. You can stay in a variety of...